One of the two experienced mountaineers with Carson on that eventful journey, declared afterward, that had any other living man than he been at the head of the party not one would have escaped.

The achievement certainly ranks among the most extraordinary of the many performed by a most extraordinary man.
It would be thought that after such an experience, Carson would be content to settle down and give his entire attention to his ranche.
While it cannot be said that he neglected his duties as a farmer, yet he loved the mountains and prairies too well ever to abandon them altogether.
He and Maxwell, his old friend, determined on having one more old fashioned beaver hunt, such as they were accustomed to a score of years before.

They did not mean it should be child's play and they admitted no amateur hunters and trappers: all were veterans of years' standing, and, when the party was fully made up, they numbered about a score.
The expedition was a memorable one.

They fixed upon one of the longest and most dangerous routes, which included many Rocky Mountain streams and involved every possible kind of danger.
In one respect, the party were pleasantly disappointed.

Years before the beavers had been so effectively cleaned out that they expected to find very few if any; but because the business had been so little followed for so long a time, the animals had increased very fast and therefore the trappers met with great success.
They began operation on the South Fork of the Platte and finally ended on the Arkansas.