LIFE IN THE FAE 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 the Arkansa, were camped a 

 hand of trappers on a creek called Bijou. It was the 

 month of October, when the early frosts of the coining 

 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 Mountains 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 strips 

 of buffalo-meat were hanging in process of cure, showed 

 that the party had settled themselves here in order to lay 

 in a store of provisions, or, as it is termed in the language 

 of the mountains, " to make meat." Round the camp fed 

 twelve or fifteen mules and horses, their fore-legs confined 

 by hobbles of raw hide ; and, guarding these animals, 

 two men paced backwards and forwards, driving in the 

 stragglers, ascending ever and anon the bluffs which over- 

 hung the river, and leaning on their long rifles, whilst they 

 swept with their eyes the surrounding prairie. Three or 



A 



