its true light.

In the first place, it must be remembered that Kit Carson was a
man of slight figure and was never noted for his strength. Many of
his companions were much more powerful, though none was so quick and
active in his movements. His wonderful success lay in his coolness,
agility, skill and bravery, which never "overleaped itself." As we
have stated, he was below the medium stature, and never could have
attained a tithe of his renown, had his muscular strength formed
a necessary part of his requirements.

On the other hand, the Indian thief whom he was pursuing, was
exceptionally powerful, athletic and one of the most desperate men
on the whole frontier. He cared nothing for Carson, nor for any
single member of the company he had left. He would expect pursuit
and would be on the watch for it. Whenever he caught sight of those
who were seeking him, he would not abandon the horses and flee.
Far from it: he would stand his ground, and if his booty should
be wrested from him the men who did it would be compelled to the
fiercest kind of fight. He would not run from the attack of two or
three persons: much less from one of the most insignificant men in
the entire company.

The course of Carson illustrated another marked feature of
his character -- that of loyalty to his friends and resolution in
carrying through any task he undertook. Where scarcely one man in a
multitude would have pushed forward, he advanced without hesitation.
He deliberately resolved to attack a fierce criminal who was as fully
armed as he, as daring and perfect in his knowledge of woodcraft,
and much his superior in strength.