Soon  after  Kit  and  Fremont,  travelling  in  advance


ADVENTUEES  OF  KIT  CAESON.  39

of  the  i^arty,  struck  a  trail,  showing  they  were  on  a
travelled  route.  They  also  found  a  limited  supply
of  feed  for  the  cattle.  The  following  party  were
directed  by  a  preconcerted  signal  to  rest  here,  and
the  two  went  on  ahead  again.
They  had  not  proceeded  far  before  they  struck  the
central  ridge  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  the  greatest  of
California's  mountains.  They  made  a  thorough  ex-
amination and  found  that  they  had  sustained  small
losses,  considering  the  hardships  which  they  had  en-
countered. Sixty-seven  of  their  animals  remained
sure-footed.  Their  firelight  brought  many  Indians
into  camp,  almost  naked.  One  old  man,  who  seemed
the  most  intelligent  of  the  lot,  gave  Kit  Carson  to
understand  that  it  was  six  sleeps  between  them
and  where  the  other  whites  were  to  be  found.  That
the  snow  was  away  over  our  heads.
If,  however,  we  should  follow  the  windings  of  the
river  it  would  bring  us  to  a  large  lake  where  there
was  plenty  of  big  fish.  People  lived  there  and  we
could  stay  till  Spring.  Much  of  this  talk  was  only
interpreted  by  the  fact  that  Kit  Carson  was  an  adept
in  the  sign  language  of  the  Indians.  They  were
told,  however,  that  the  animals  and  people  were
strong,  and  that  we  should  go  on.  But  that  if  he
would  furnish  a  guide,  we  would  make  a  way  through
the  snow.  Then  was  displayed  some  scarlet  cloth
and  shining  trinkets,  and  he  was  shown  what  would
be  given  for  a  guide.
