CHAPTER IV 



LA BONTE and his companions proceeded up 

 the river, the Black Hills on their left hand, 

 from which several small creeks or feeders 

 swell the waters of the North Fork. Along these 

 they hunted unsuccessfully for beaver sign, and 

 it was evident the spring hunt had almost exter- 

 minated the animal in this vicinity. Following 

 Deer Creek to the ridge of the Black Hills, they 

 crossed the mountain on to the waters of the Medi- 

 cine Bow, and here they discovered a few lodges, 

 and La Bonte set his first trap. He and old Luke 

 finding cuttings near the camp, followed the sign 

 along the bank, until the practiced eye of the 

 latter discovered a slide, where the beaver had 

 ascended the bank to chop the trunk of a cotton- 

 wood, and convey the bark to its lodge. Taking a 

 trap from his sack, the old hunter, after setting 

 the trigger, placed it carefully under the M^ater, 

 where the slide entered the stream, securing the 

 chain to the stem of a sapling on the bank ; while 

 a stick, also attached to the trap by a thong, 

 floated down the stream, to mark the position of 

 the trap should the animal carry it away. A little 



further on, and near another run, three traps were 



130 



