But they had no wish to spend the winter alone in the mountains and gathering their stock together, they set out to rejoin their old companions.
One day, after they had gone into camp, Carson, leaving his horse in charge of his friends, set out on foot to hunt some game for their evening meal.

They had seen no signs of Indians, though they never forgot to be on their guard against them.

Game was not very abundant and Carson was obliged to go a long ways before he caught sight of some elk grazing on the side of a hill.

Well aware of the difficulty of getting within gunshot of the timid animals, the hunter advanced by a circuitous course toward a clump of trees, which would give him the needed shelter; but while creeping toward the point he had fixed upon as the one from which to fire, the creatures scented danger and began moving off.

This compelled him to fire at long range, but he was successful and brought down the finest of the group.
The smoke was curling upward from the rifle of Carson, when he was startled by a tremendous crashing beside him, and, turning his head, he saw two enormous grizzly bears making for him at full speed.