Captain Lee had for sale, and then, as Carson's engagement with
the Captain was ended, he attached himself to the other body. He
remained, however, only a few weeks, for he saw there were so many
that they could never take enough peltries to bring much money
to the individual members. He decided to do as he had done before
-- arrange an expedition of his own. He had but to make known his
intentions, when he had more applicants than he could accept. He
selected three, who it is needless to say had no superiors in the
whole party. The little company then turned the heads of their
horses toward Laramie River.

At that day, the section abounded with beaver, and although the
summer is not the time when their fur is in the best condition, the
party trapped on the stream and its tributaries until cold weather
set in. They met with far greater success than could have come to
them had they stayed with the principal company of trappers. But
they had no wish to spend the winter alone in the mountains and
gathering their stock together, they set out to rejoin their old
companions.

One day, after they had gone into camp, Carson, leaving his horse
in charge of his friends, set out on foot to hunt some game for
their evening meal. They had seen no signs of Indians, though they
never forgot to be on their guard against them. Game was not very
abundant and Carson was obliged to go a long ways before he caught
sight of some elk grazing on the side of a hill. Well aware of
the difficulty of getting within gunshot of the timid animals, the
hunter advanced by a circuitous course toward a clump of trees,
which would give him the needed shelter; but while creeping toward
the point he had fixed upon as the one from which to fire, the