tier ING IN NORTH DAKOTAS ¢1.) ° 125 
otter traps along Apple Creek. My line reached several 
miles beyond the old military crossing, with an every 
morning ride of twenty miles or more. 
About the ZOth of October, we pulled in both lines, Mr. 
Mercer going to the rendezvous at Painted Woods while 
Mr. Williams and I again launched our rickety craft and 
floated down a few miles and landed at Sibley Island. 
Here we found Messrs.Suttles and Miller, two enter- 
prising young Canadians running a successful woodyard 
for the accommodation of passing steamboats. They 
had a strong stockaded dwelling house for defense against 
Indian war parties; good stables; plenty of provisions 
of all kinds; anda cellar full of wine made from the native 
grape,—of which the Island abounded—and with no 
neighbors within twenty-five miles of them to share their 
good cheer. 
After enjoying the hospitalities of these primitive 
wilderness nabobs for an evening, we continued trapping 
along the river to within a few miles of Fort Rice, when 
our absent partner came to us with a newly purchased 
team, soclosing up a successful autumn trap, we all re- 
turned to the Painted Woods for winter quarters. 
