CHAPTER X. 



FIRE ON THE MOUNTAINS. NARROW ESCAPE. 

 THE BEAVER REGION. TRAPPING BEAVER. 



ON the morning after the fight with the bear, I gave 

 some final directions in regard to Joe and his animals, 

 and once more started forth alone. In fording the 

 Yampah river, I came near losing my cimaron. I had 

 taken it on the mule with me, and not being used to such 

 a position, it struggled and broke from me, and fell into 

 deep water. With some difficulty I succeeded in grasping 

 it by the horns, and dragged it along through the water, 

 till young Oregon ascended the opposite bank of the 

 stream, when it was once more permitted to run by the 

 side of old Flygrass. The old mule had become much 

 attached to Fondle, and I was very glad for her sake, as 

 well as my own, that the pet was saved. 



I travelled all the morning over an undulating road, 

 crossing several streams, and " hugging" the base of the 

 (70) 



