84 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



dropped from the young hunter's eye, and rolled down his cheek — 

 the last for many a long year. 



In the forks of the northern branch of the Platte, formed by the 

 junction of the Laramie, they found a big village of the Sioux 

 encamped near the station of one of the fur companies. Here 

 the party broke up ; many, finding the alcohol of the traders an 

 impediment to their further progress, remained some time in the 

 vicinity, while La Bonte, Luke, and a trapper named Marcelline, 

 started in a few days to the mountains, to trap on Sweet Water 

 and Medicine Bow. They had leisure, however, to observe all 

 the rascalities connected with the Indian trade, although at this 

 season (August) hardly commenced. However, a band of Indians 

 having come in with several packs of last year's robes, and being 

 anxious to start speedily on their return, a trader from one of the 

 forts had erected his lodge in the village. 



Here he set to work immediately, to induce the Indians to trade. 

 First, a chief appoints three "soldiers" to guard the trader's lodge 

 from intrusion ; and these sentries among the thieving fraternity 

 can be invariably trusted. Then the Indians are invited to have 

 a drink — a taste of the fire-water being given to all to incite them 

 to trade. As the crowd presses upon the entrance to the lodge, 

 and those in rear become impatient, some large-mouthed savage 

 who has received a portion of the spirit, makes his way, with his 

 mouth full of the hquor and cheeks distended, through the throng, 

 and is instantly surrounded by his particular friends. Drawing 

 the face of each, by turns, near his own, he squirts a small quan- 

 tity into his open mouth, until the supply is exhausted, when he 

 returns for more, and repeats the generous distribution. 



When paying for the robes, the traders, in measuring out the 

 liquor in a tin half-pint cup, thrust the thumb or the four fingers of 

 the hand into the measure, in order that it may contain the less, 

 or not unfrequently fill the bottom with melted buflalo fat, with 

 the same object. So greedy are the Indians, that they never dis- 



