They had one cause of solicitude, which to any person unfamiliar with mountain life would have been very serious; the place abounded with rattlesnakes.  The whole region seemed to be a favorite rendezvous for these venomous reptiles.  These mountaineers, however, had become so thoroughly acquainted with their habits, as to sleep in the midst of them without anxiety.  In the night the rattlesnake seldom moves, in the daytime with his rattles he gives chivalric warning before he strikes with his fangs.  Consequently it is not often that the trapper or the Indian is bitten.

Our travellers carefully examined the ground over which they reared their frail shelters, and then folded in their blankets or buffalo robes, experienced no solicitude.  About midnight a faithful dog began to bark furiously.  It was not doubted that the sagacious animal scented the approach of Indians.  Every trapper was instantly on his feet, with his rifle in his hand.  Their attention was immediately directed to the horses.  The Indians were professional thieves, not murderers; they were in search of booty, not of revenge.  And when they sought to take the lives of the trappers, it was merely as a necessary means for attaining their end of robbery.

It subsequently appeared that the Indians were undoubtedly near, and that the dog had not given a false alarm.  The savages probably from their covert, saw that the animals were strongly tethered, and that the trappers were on the alert.  Any attempt to stampede the horses, would expose them to the bullets of these unerring marksmen.  They therefore withdrew, waiting for a more favorable opportunity.  After an hour of watching, the trappers, about seventeen in number, having posted an extra guard, lay down again, but not for sleep.  They expected every moment to see a band of mounted savages, perhaps several hundred in number, coming with the sweep of the whirlwind upon their horses, and yelling like demons, as they drove the terrified animals far away into the wilderness.  The night, however, passed away without further disturbance.  As the morning dawned serene and cloudless upon them, all suspicions seem to have been dispelled.  They replenished their fires, cooked their savory breakfast, and decided to remain for a day or two in their delightful encampment.  The region abounded with the most desirable game, and it was thought that beaver might be found in the adjacent streams.

Kit Carson had a remarkably retentive memory, and a wonderful aptitude for comprehending the mazes of rivers, mountains, and valleys.  He had very thoroughly studied the geography of these regions, and told his companions that at a distance of a few miles, there was a much larger stream than that upon which they were encamped; and that he had been informed that beaver were to be found there in abundance.  There were two ways of approaching that stream; the shorter, but more difficult one, was by clambering over a mountain ridge several hundred feet high, and then descending into the valley beyond, through which the river flowed.  The other and much longer route, was to follow down the small stream upon whose banks they were encamped, for several miles, until they reached its entrance into the larger river.