108 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



tain ; but from this point it became a torrent, and it was 

 only by dint of incredible exertions that they reached the 

 summit of the ridge. Game was exceedingly scarce in the 

 vicinity, and they suffered extremely from hunger, hav- 

 ing, on more than one occasion, recourse to the parfleche 

 soles of their mocassins to allay its pangs. Old Bill, how- 

 ever, never grumbled ; he chewed away at his shoes with 

 relish even, and as long as he had a pipeful of tobacco in 

 his pouch was a happy man. Starvation was as yet far 

 off, for all their animals were in existence ; but as they 

 were in a country where it was difficult to procure a re- 

 mount, each trapper hesitated to sacrifice one of his horses 

 to his appetite. 



From the summit of the ridge, Bill recognised the 

 country on the opposite side to that whence they had just 

 ascended as familiar to him, and pronounced it to be full 

 of beaver, as well as abounding in the less desirable com- 

 modity of Indians. This was the valley lying about the 

 lakes now called Eustis and Biddle, in which are many 

 thermal and mineral springs, well known to the trappers 

 by the names of the Soda, Beer, and Brimstone Springs, and 

 regarded by them with no little awe and curiosity, as 

 being the breathing-places of his Satanic majesty consid- 

 ered, moreover, to be the "biggest kind" of "medicine" 

 to be found in the mountains. If truth be told, old Bill 

 hardly relished the idea of entering this country, which 

 he pronounced to be of "bad medicine" notoriety, but 

 nevertheless agreed to guide them to the best trapping- 

 ground. 



One day they reached a creek full of beaver-sign, and 

 determined to halt here and establish their headquarters, 

 while they trapped in the neighbourhood. "We must here 

 observe, that at this period which was one of consider- 

 able rivalry amongst the various trading companies in the 

 Indian territory the Indians, having become possessed of 

 arms and ammunition in great quantities, had grown un- 

 usually daring and persevering in their attacks on the 

 white hunters who passed through their country, and con- 

 sequently the trappers were compelled to roam about in 



