CHAPTER XI.
On the Green River--In the Blackfoot Country--The Blackfeet--An Unwelcome Visit--The Pursuit and Parley--Dissolution of the Peace Congress.
The day was drawing to a close when Carson set out for camp, which wasnot reached until after dark. His companions did not feel any specialalarm over his continued absence, for the good reason that they wereconfident he could take care of himself no matter in what labyrinth ofperil he might become involved.
It was too late to send for the carcass of the elk and more than likelyit had already been devoured by wolves. So the trappers made theirbreakfast on one of the beavers found in their traps, and went intocamp to await the arrival of the main body of trappers, which Carsonwas confident would come that way. Some days later they put in anappearance, and the company proceeded to the general rendezvous on GreenRiver, where were found assembled the principal trappers of the RockyMountains. There were fully two hundred divided into two camps. What ahistory could have been written from the thrilling experiences of such abody of men!
They had gathered at the rendezvous to buy what supplies they neededand to dispose of their peltries. It was several weeks before thenegotiations were over, when the assemblage broke up into smallercompanies which started for their destinations hundreds of miles apart.
Carson joined a party numbering about fifty who intended to trap nearthe headwaters of the Missouri. Hundreds of beavers had been taken inthat section, but poor success went with the large band of which Carsonwas a member. That was bad enough, but they were in a neighborhoodwhich, it may be said, was the very heart of the Blackfoot country,and those hostiles were never more active and vigilant in their warfareagainst the invaders.
The Blackfeet or Satsika today, are the most westerly tribe of theAlgonquin family of Indians, extending from the Hudson Bay to theMissouri and Yellowstone. They number over 12,000 warriors about equallydivided between Montana and British America. They have always beena daring and warlike people, and the early explorers of the Far Westprobably met with more trouble from them than from any other tribe onthe continent.
Carson and his companions ran in difficulty at once. The Blackfeetseemed to swarm through the woods, and sent in their treacherous shotsfrom the most unexpected quarters. Whoever made the round of the trapsin the morning was almost certain to be fired upon. Matters becameso bad that after a time the trappers decided to leave the country.Accordingly they made their way to the Big Snake River where theywent into quarters for the winter. Even there they were not safe frommolestation at the hands of their old enemies the Blackfeet.
One night, when there was no moon or stars, a band of warriors stoleinto camp and ran off about twenty of the best horses. This outragetouched the hunters in the most sensitive part of their nature, andthe truth no sooner became known than they unanimously agreed that theanimals not only should be recovered but the audacious aggressors shouldbe chastised.
Twelve men were selected for the most difficult and dangerous task andneed we give the name of the youth who was made the leader?
With his usual promptness, Carson took the trail which was followedwithout trouble over the snow. The Blackfeet had reason to fear somesuch demonstration, and they hurried off with such speed that they werenot overtaken until fifty miles from camp.
The situation was a novel one. The Indians had come to a halt and thehorses were grazing on the side of a hill where the wind had blown awaythe snow. The Blackfeet had on snowshoes which gave them an advantageover the trappers. The latter galloped in the direction of theirhorses, the moment they caught sight of them. The Blackfeet fired at thetrappers, who returned a scattering volley but no one was hurt on eitherside. Then followed skirmishing and manoeuvering for several minutes,without either party gaining advantage. Finally the Blackfeet asked fora parley to which the trappers assented.
In accordance with the usual custom, one of the Indians advanced to apoint midway between the two parties and halted. At the same time, oneof the trappers went forward, the rest of the whites and red men keepingtheir distance and watching them.
The Blackfoot opened business by what might be termed an apology whichwas no more genuine than many made by his civilized brethren undersomewhat similar circumstances. He expressed great surprise to learnthat the horses belonged to their good friends the trappers. They hadsupposed all along that they were the property of the Snake Indianswhom the Blackfeet considered it their duty to despoil on every suitableoccasion.
This glaring misrepresentation did not deceive the man who was acting asspokesman for his side. By way of reply, he asked that if such wasthe case, why had not the Blackfeet come forward on discovering theirmistake, greeted their white brothers as friends and returned theirproperty to them.
The replies were evasive and the hunters became convinced that theIndians were seeking to gain time for some sinister purpose; but a fullparley having been agreed upon, both parties left their guns behind andadvanced to where their representatives were holding their interview.
The Blackfeet still professed the most ardent friendship, and as anemphatic token of the same, produced the calumet and began smoking thepipe of peace. The tobacco having been lit, each took several whiffsand then passed it to his neighbor, who did the same until the round wascompleted. This solemn pledge of good will having been exchanged, theconvention or peace congress was opened as may be said, in due andancient form.
Carson and his companions were distrustful from the start, though it washard for them to decide the meaning of the prolonged negotiations, sinceno one could see what the Blackfeet were to gain by such a course. Theymay have hoped to deceive the hunters and throw them off their guard,but, if such was the case, they failed.
First of all, the leading warriors indulged in several long speecheswhich were without point, but what was said in reply could admit of nodoubt as to its meaning. The trappers understood the Blackfoot tonguewell enough to make their responses models in the way of brevity andforce. They said that it was idle to talk of friendship or peace untilthe stolen property was returned to its owners. The Indians stillattempted to postpone or evade, but the complainants were in no moodfor trifling and they repeated their declaration more positively thanbefore.
The Blackfeet were much more numerous than the whites, and confident oftheir strength, began to bluster and to assert that whatever they didwould be dictated by their own wishes and not by any fear of theirvisitors. Whether they desired to avoid a fight or not can only beconjectured, but they finally sent back to where the horses weretethered and caused five of the worst to be picked out and broughtforward.
When the trappers inquired the meaning of this proceeding, the Indianssaid that it was the best they could do and the hunters must be content.
This last insult was the spark which exploded the magazine. Instantlyevery white man ran for his gun, and the Blackfeet did the same. A fewseconds after they wheeled about and the sanguinary fight began.
Kit Carson and a companion were the first to obtain their guns and asa consequence they led the advance. Each selected a warrior who waspartially hidden by the trunk of a tree. Carson was in the act offiring, when he observed that his friend was examining the lock of hisgun all unmindful of the fact that one of the Blackfeet had levelled hisweapon directly at his breast. On the instant, Kit changed his aim andshot the savage dead, thereby saving the life of his friend, who couldnot have escaped had the weapon of his adversary been discharged.
The Life of Kit Carson: Hunter, Trapper, Guide, Indian Agent and Colonel U.S.A. Page 11