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 heaver " sign," and it was evident the 

 spring hunt had almost exterminated 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 Medicine 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 discov- 

 ered 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 "sack," the old hunter, after setting the trig- 

 ger, placed it carefully under the water, 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 ani- 

 mal carry it away. A little farther on, and near another " run," 

 three traps were set ; and over these Luke placed a little stick, 

 which he first dipped into a mysterious-looking phial containing 

 his " medicine."* 



The next morning they visited the traps, and had the satisfac- 

 tion of finding three fine beaver secured in the first three they 

 visited, and the fourth, which had been carried away, they dis- 



* A substance obtained from a gland in the scrotum of the beaver, and used to 

 attract that animal to the trap. 



