trod, as they fell back from one tree to another, continually making
their bullets tell with terrible effect on their foes. The three men
who had been sent back with the horses had joined their comrades soon
after they had commenced retreating. They had heard the incessant
firing and had become convinced that the fight was hotly contested and
that their services were required. On their joining, the whole party
resolved to make one more stand, and as soon as the Indians saw this,
they wavered and finally drew off. Both sides had now, seemingly, had
enough of fighting, and hostilities soon after entirely ceased, the
savages marching back and leaving the whites masters of the field.
Several of the trappers were slightly, but none dangerously, wounded.
The Indians had paid dearly, in numbers killed, for their rascality.
Finding the coast clear, Carson and his men set out and soon rejoined
their comrades on the Arkansas River. In the Spring, after having
_cached_ their fur, the whole band departed for Laramie River on
another expedition.

While on the south fork of the Platte, two of the party deserted,
taking with them three of their best animals. Suspecting their design,
Gaunt sent Kit Carson and another man in pursuit of the fugitives, who
had one day the start. As was suspected, the two deserters had gone
to the camp where the beaver fur was concealed and buried. They had
succeeded in digging it up and stealing about three hundred pounds of
this valuable property, belonging to the company in general, share and
share alike. Carson and his companion failed entirely in their
efforts to find the two men. Doubtless they never lived to enjoy their
ill-gotten wealth; for, notwithstanding careful search was made, the
men were never heard from afterwards. It is probable that they were
killed by Indians, a fate which they, at least, richly merited.