They were swarming all along the old Santa Fe Trail, on the watch for parties whom they could overwhelm and destroy.
Such being the case, Carson resorted to the bold artifice of making a trail of his own.

He reduced his escort to ten experienced mountaineers and then struck out upon his new route.

He rode northward from Taos until within a region rarely visited by hostiles, when he changed his course by the compass several times.

By this means, he reached Fort Kearney on the Platte and finally arrived at Fort Leavenworth.

Not only had he avoided all trouble with Indians, but by following the new route, had found abundance of game so that the entire trip was but little more than a pleasure excursion.
All danger was over at Fort Leavenworth, where he parted from his escort and went alone to Washington.