STEEP TRAILS 



while the buffalo, antelope, deer, etc., fur- 

 nished a royal supply of food. In a few months 

 their pack-animals would be laden with thou- 

 sands of dollars' worth of fur. 



Next season they would venture farther, 

 and again farther, meanwhile growing rapidly 

 wilder, getting acquainted with the Indian 

 tribes, and usually marrying among them. 

 Thenceforward no danger could stay them 

 in their exciting pursuit. Wherever there were 

 beaver they would go, however far or wild, 

 — the wilder the better, provided their scalps 

 could be saved. Oftentimes they were com- 

 pelled to set their traps and visit them by 

 night and lie hid during the day, when oper- 

 ating in the neighborhood of hostile Indians. 

 Not then venturing to make a fire or shoot 

 game, they lived on the raw flesh of the beaver, 

 perhaps seasoned with wild cresses or berries. 

 Then, returning to the trading-stations, they 

 would spend their hard earnings in a few weeks 

 of dissipation and "good time," and go again 

 to the bears and beavers, until at length a bul- 

 let or arrow would end all. One after another 

 would be missed by some friend or trader at 

 the autumn rendezvous, reported killed by 

 the Indians, and — forgotten. Some men of 

 this class have, from superior skill or fortune, 

 escaped every danger, lived to a good old age, 



322 



