CHAPTER XXI.


Carson Starts for the States -- The Encampment of Captain Cook and
his Dragoons -- Carson Undertakes a Delicate and Dangerous Mission
-- The Perilous Journey -- Return of Carson and the Mexican Boy --
Encounter with Four Utah Indians -- Arrival at Bent's Fort.

Early in the year 1843, Kit Carson married his second wife
and shortly after agreed to accompany an expedition of Bent & St.
Vrain's wagons to the States. When part way across the plains,
they struck the old Santa Fe trail and came upon an encampment of
Captain Cook with four companies of United States Dragoons.

They were engaged in escorting a train of Mexican wagons to the
boundary line between New Mexico and the United States. The train
was a very valuable one and an escort of a hundred men were hired
to accompany it through the Indian country.

The situation of this train was an alarming one. It was the duty
of Captain Cook and his soldiers to guard it as far as the fording
of the Arkansas, at that time the boundary line between the two
countries. There was good reason for believing that a strong band
of Texan rangers were waiting beyond, with the intention of attacking
and plundering the train. Indeed the Mexican who had it in charge
had received information that left no possible doubt of the fact.

His face lighted up when he recognized Kit Carson. Hardly waiting