They found on arriving at that quaint town, that there was great
demand for peltries and prices were correspondingly high. They
sold out their stock for a very liberal price, and Kit's friend,
despite his advice, went on a carousal which soon squandered all
their hard earned wages. Kit himself, however, had not lost the
lesson he learned under somewhat similar circumstances, and he laid
away his funds, against the proverbial rainy day.

By this time the character of Carson was fairly formed. He was
resolute, self reliant, sober, thoughtful, cool headed, wonderfully
quick to grasp all the points of a situation, chivalrous, agile as
a panther, a perfect master of woodcraft, and withal, charmingly
modest.

While Carson was in Taos, waiting for some favorable opening to
present itself, he met Captain Lee, formerly of the United States
Army, but who was then a member of the firm of Bent and St. Vrain,
engaged for so many years in furnishing supplies to those who
visited the mountains and plains. Captain Lee at that time was
thus employed and knowing the value of a man like Carson, he made
him so liberal an offer that he accepted it on the spot.

In the Autumn of 1832, with a train of mules loaded with such goods
as were needed by trappers, Captain Lee, Carson and a number of
men started northward to find their purchasers. They followed the
well worn mule path leading from New Mexico to California and which
had been known for years as the "Old Spanish Trail."

They reached White River without mishap, and made their way down it
until Green River was forded, when they struck across the country