Carson was attracted by the fine, manly and intellectual appearance
of Fremont, and, learning he was in search of a skilful mountaineer,
he introduced himself, referring in a modest fashion to his experience
in the west and expressing the belief that he could be of service
to the explorer.

Fremont was an excellent judge of character and was favorably
impressed with Carson from the first. The answers to the inquiries
which he made concerning the famous guide and mountaineer, were
satisfactory in the highest degree. He engaged Carson as his guide,
agreeing to pay him a salary of one hundred dollars a month.

The party of explorers were mainly gathered in St. Louis. It was
composed mostly of Creole and Canadian voyageurs, Charles Preuss,
a learned German, a young son of Colonel Benton (which statesman
was the father in law of Fremont), several other friends, including
a noted mountaineer named Maxwell, who was employed as the hunter
of the party. Including the commander, the entire company numbered
twenty-eight.

With this party of explorers Fremont ascended the Missouri until
the mouth of the Kansas was reached, when they disembarked and
made their preparations for the long and dangerous journey before
them. The march westward began June 10, 1842.

The course lay along the banks of the Kansas. All the party were
well armed and well mounted, excepting eight men, each of whom
drove a cart, drawn by two mules. These carts contained the stores,
baggage and instruments of the expedition. A number of spare horses