IN THE OLD WEST 157 



rendezvous early in the fall, where they quickly 

 disposed of their peltries, and were once more on 

 " the loose." 



Here La Bonte married a Snake squaw, with 

 whom he crossed the mountains and proceeded to 

 the Platte through the Bayou Salade, where he pur- 

 chased of the Yutas, a commodious lodge, with the 

 necessary poles, &c. ; and being now rich in mules 

 and horses, and in all things necessary for otium 

 cum dignitate, he took unto himself another wife, 

 as by mountain law allowed; and thus equipped, 

 with both his better halves attired in all the glory 

 of " fofarraw," he went his way rejoicing. 



In a snug little valley lying under the shadow 

 of the mountains, watered by Vermilion Creek, and 

 in which abundance of buffalo, elk, deer, and ante- 

 lope fed and fattened on the rich grass, La Bonte 

 raised his lodge, employing himself in hunting, 

 and fully occupying his wives' time in dressing 

 the skins of the many animals he killed. Here he 

 enjoyed himself amazingly until the commence- 

 ment of winter, when he determined to cross to the 

 North Fork and trade his skins, of which he had 

 now as many packs as his animals could carry. 

 It happened that he one day left his camp, to 

 spend a couple of days hunting buffalo in the 

 mountains, whither the bulls were now resorting, 

 intending to '* put out " for Platte on his return. 

 His hunt, however, led him farther into the moun- 

 tains than he anticipated, and it was only on the 



