While we were here, Uncle Kit made a proposition that himself, Jim Beckwith, Jim Bridger and myself take a trip to the head of the Missouri river and put in the winter trapping.

He said he wanted to make this trip and then quit the business, saying:  “I have business enough at home to attend to, but I have always had an anxiety to take a trip to the headwaters of the Missouri river.”

The four of us returned to Taos, arriving there just in time to celebrate the Fourth of July, arriving on the second, and now I was home again in my fine buckskin suit.  The night of the fourth we all attended a big fandango, and had a huge time.  I was somewhat over my bashfulness by this time, and by the assistance of Mrs. Carson and two or three other ladies present, I was enabled to get through in pretty good shape.  After that night’s dancing, I felt that if I were back at the Fort, where I tried to dance my first set, I would show them how dancing first began.

CHAPTER XIX.

A warm time in A cold country.—­A band of Bannocks chase us into A storm that saves us.—­Kit Carson slightly wounded.—­Beckwith makes A century run.

We remained at Taos until August first, then, all being ready for our northern trip, each man taking his own saddle-horse and five pack horses, we made the start for the headwaters of the Missouri river.  We crossed the Platte where it leaves the mountains, and the next day we met a band of Arapahoes, who informed us that the Sioux were on the war-path, and that Gen. Harney was stationed on North Platte with a considerable body of soldiers.  The day following, after having crossed the Cache-la-Poudre, we reached Gen. Harney’s camp.  The General, being a good friend of Uncle Kit and Jim Bridger, insisted on our being his guests, so we took supper with him and camped there for the night.

While at the supper table, Jim Beckwith told the General who I was and what I had been doing the last three years, following which I took Lieut.  Jackson’s letter from my pocket and handed it to the General.  I had never seen the inside of the letter myself.  The General read the letter the second time, and looking up at me, he said: 

“Yes, I’ll give you a job; you can start in to-morrow if you like.”

Before I had time to answer him, Uncle Kit spoke up, saying:  “General, I have employed him for the next six months and I cannot get along without him.”

At this the General said:  “Mr. Carson, your business is not urgent and mine is, and I insist on the young man taking a position with me for the remainder of the summer.”

I said:  “General, I did not show you that letter with the intention of asking you for employment, but simply to show you the standing I have with the people where I have been.”