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Following the recession of the snow, reat 'spring gold rush of 1849 In the forefront of

these, outpacing thereatest traveler of his day, the hunter and scout, Kit Carson The new

post of Fort Kearny on the Platte; the old one, Fort Laramie in the

foothills of the Rockies--he touched thereen;

and as the sun warrass slopes of the North Platte and the

Sater, so that his horses could paw out a living, he crowded on

ard He was a er

"How, Chardon!" said he as he drove in his two light packs, riding alone

as was his usual way, evading Indian eyes as he of all men best knew

how

"How, Kit! You're early Why?" The trader's chief clerk turned to send a

boy for Vasquez, Bridger's partner "Light, Kit, and eat"

"Where's Bridger?" demanded Carson "I've coovernon? Mon Dieu! But Jeem"--he spread out his hands--"Jeeold news Maybe-so

we knohy Jeeust-Settemb H'all of an' at once he'll took the trail

h'after the h'eht hio h'on with those h'erant beyon' Hall,

beyon' the fork for Californ' He'll not come back No one knohat has