The sufferings of Carson were great. His wounds continued bleeding
and froze upon the dressings, which were of the most primitive
character. And yet not once through those hours of anguish did he
utter a word of complaint. Many a strong man would have cried out
in his agony, but one might have sat within arm's length of the
mountaineer without knowing he was hurt at all.

More than that, Carson took his part in the council which was
held in the cold and darkness. The conclusion reached was that the
party of trappers were not strong enough to pursue the Blackfeet,
and the proper course to pursue was to rejoin the main body and
report what had been done. It would then be time enough to decide
upon their future action.

When this programme was carried out, a larger party of hunters
under the lead of an experienced mountaineer resumed the pursuit;
but nothing could be found of the savages. They had utilized the
grace allowed them so well that it was impossible to overtake or
trace them, and the indignant trappers were obliged to submit to
their loss.

The severe cold moderated, and, as spring was close at hand the
hunters pushed their trapping operations along the Green and Snake
Rivers, meeting with unbounded success. They gathered more peltries
than they had dared to hope for, and when warm weather approached,
went into quarters where they remained until the following fall,
a party of traders having brought them all the supplies they needed.

The rugged constitution of Carson and his temperate habits caused