LIFE IN THE FAK WEST 



CHAPTER I. 



AWAY to the head-waters of the Platte, where several 

 small streams run into the south fork of that river, 

 and head in the broken ridges of the "Divide" which 

 separates the valleys of the Platte and Arkansa, were 

 camped a band of trappers on a creek called Bijou. It 

 was the month of October, when the early frosts of the 

 coming winter had crisped and dyed with sober brown 

 the leaves of the cherry and quaking ash belting the 

 brooks ; and the ridges and peaks of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains were already covered with a glittering mantle of 

 snow, sparkling in the still powerful rays of the autumn 

 sun. 



The camp had all the appearance of permanency ; 

 for not only did it comprise one or two unusually 

 comfortable shanties, but the numerous stages on which 

 huge stripes of buffalo meat were hanging in process of 

 cure, showed that the party had settled themselves 



A 



