p. 
 
OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
THE TRAPPER'S HOME. 
 
Bill Bidden, Trapper 
 
 OS 
 
 LIFE IN THE NORTHWEST 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWARD S. ELLIS 
 
 AUTHOR OP "NATHAN TODD," "LIFE OP PONTIAC, THE 
 OONSPiaATOR," "LAND OP MYSTERY," RTC. 
 
 NEW YORK 
 HURST & COMPANY 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
Ckw^RioHT, 1910, 
 
 BY 
 
 'MUB^ & COMPAlTil 
 
1 r'/. 
 
 I *^1 
 
 4r^ 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTBR PAGE 
 
 I. Out Late at Night 9 
 
 II. A New Friend 32 
 
 III. The Trapper's Story 48 
 
 IV. The Trapping Grounds 72 
 
 V. Conversations and Plans 98 
 
 VI. Still in the Dark— The Canoe Again 116 
 
 VII. Alone in the Wilderness i34 
 
 VIII. Trapping Among the Indians 153 
 
 IX. The Buffalo Hunt and its Consequences 174 
 
 X. An A^^•ful Awakening 19^ 
 
 XI. The Brigade and an Old Friend 210 
 
 XII. Found at Last 237 
 
 UB2S12S 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 The Trapper's Home Frontispiece 
 
 FAGB 
 
 " What's your handle, stranger ? " 41 
 
 " Gave a snort of alarm and plunged headlong away into the 
 
 droves." 6i 
 
 " Looking back saw a host of savage forms/' 79 
 
 ** In the stem, with a guiding oar, sat a young female." 93 
 
 " I could see his two coal-black eyes glittering plainly." 145 
 
 " Setting up a wild yell, the Indians scattered and plunged 
 
 after them." 177 
 
 ** Without losing a moment, we mounted and struck to the 
 
 northward." 203 
 
 " A fight ! a fight ! make a ring for them." 213 
 
 ** No less personage than Nat stepped ashore." 239 
 
 "Hilloft, youl" 251 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER; 
 
 OR, 
 
 LIFE IN THE NORTHWEST. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OUT LATE AT XIGHT. 
 
 " How is it, Nat? Any light yet? " 
 
 " Not the least sign of one, and it's my opinion 
 it will be a long time before we see another." 
 
 " What! you haven't given up all hopes of reach- 
 ing the camp? I hope not, as I don't relish the 
 idea of camping out to-night." 
 
 " Nor I either ; but Fm thinking it will come to 
 that sooner or later." 
 
 " Well, there are several hours yet, in which w^e 
 must plod onward," I added, trudging wearily 
 behind my companion. 
 
 Before going further, I may as well introduce 
 my friend and myself. My companion answered 
 
 9 
 
JO BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 to the name of Nathan Todd, and was a native of 
 Maine. He was a tall, lank individual, with long, 
 attentuated limbs and an awkward appearance gen- 
 erally. He was very meager and muscular, and 
 when roused to a heat of passion, as quick and pow- 
 erful as the panther. His gait was an ungainly, 
 straddling one, and he was seemingly capable of 
 anything but speed; but on one or two occasions 
 since leaving the States, he had shown a fleetness 
 of foot which was truly wonderful. He was a 
 good, open-hearted fellow, and one who, when 
 driven to the wall, would be a dangerous enemy. 
 Once or twice, however, he had shown the white 
 feather, and his natural timidity would often evince 
 itself. As a consequence, Nat was not, perhaps, 
 the safest companion in the hour of danger; but, 
 for all that, there was no one in our party whose 
 presence I would have preferred upon the night 
 in which I introduce him to notice. There was no 
 imminent peril threatening us, and Nat was a cap- 
 ital companion, who could while-away the hours, 
 if he chose, with his inexhaustible store of anec- 
 dote and humor. I knew he entertained a warm 
 affection for me, and would brave almost any dan- 
 ger rather than be suspected of his only deficiency. 
 A single intimation would decide his course in a 
 moment. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. n 
 
 Nat wore a singular dress — half savage and half 
 civilized. The pants and shoes were such as are 
 fashionable in the enlightened world ; but a capa- 
 cious hunting-shirt encased his body, secured 
 around the waist by a heavy band, and much the 
 same as are worn by the hunters and natives of the 
 Far West at the present day. The most striking 
 part of his dress, however, was the hat. This he 
 had brought with him from Maine, and it really 
 seemed indestructible. It was a gray color, and 
 having lost its band a long time before, had ac- 
 quired the shape of a cone. When it rested on his 
 head, the edge reached the shoulders behind, and 
 the eyebrows in front, and the pointed peak v/as 
 far off above the crown. 
 
 Nathan Todd's face was full of shrewdness and 
 good humor. He had a large, curved nose, broad 
 mouth, and a fine blue eye. The chin was retreat- 
 ing; but this drawback was modified partly by a 
 long tuft of yellow hair, the only signs of beard 
 upon his face, except a shadowy mustache. The 
 hair was long and sandy, and harmonized well with 
 the rest of his countenance. There was ever a 
 contraction of the eyebrows — a sort of unspoken 
 question — so often seen in persons from " down 
 east," which indicated a prying, curious disposition. 
 
 As for myself, my name is William Relmond, and 
 
12 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 I hail from one of the middle States. Shortly after 
 the announcement of the discovery of gold in Cali- 
 fornia, I was seized with the lunacy that was 
 carrying its thousands to the Pacific coast. I was 
 well situated i<n life at home, but that was not con- 
 sidered. I must go and fish up a fabulous fortune 
 also. I had one brother and several sisters, but 
 our parents had been dead for some years, and we 
 were residing with an uncle, the guardian of each, 
 until maturity. A favorable opportunity offering 
 I had made some preparation for the legal profes- 
 sion ; but I was never inclined to Coke, and had no 
 intention of pursuing the practice of the law in 
 after life. At the age of twenty, then, without a 
 settled purpose in life, I determined to make a 
 journey to the El Dorado of the New World. I was 
 not influenced solely by the love of gain, in taking 
 this step, but the love of adventure urged me irre- 
 sistibly on. I had heard wonderful stories of the 
 boundless prairies, of the wandering hordes of In- 
 dians, their millions of buffaloes and horses, and the 
 vast, billowy ocean of verdure and sunshine, and the 
 Far West seemed the paradise of the world to 
 me. 
 
 I was provided with an ample outfit at home, 
 and departed amid the tears of my good uncle and 
 affectionate sisters. I proceeded by the usua! 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. j^ 
 
 route to Independence, Missouri, where I made 
 inquiries of the trains which were constantly leav- 
 ing the point for Oregon and California. In my 
 wanderings, I stumbled upon Nat Todd, my pres- 
 ent companion. He had just arrived from his dis- 
 tant home, where he had left a widowed mother 
 and a disconsolate sweetheart. But he said he was 
 going to return, in just two years from the day he 
 left, with a " rousing heap " of money, and intended 
 to buy " Squire Hunt's farm," take Alminy down 
 there, and live the rest of his life. His frankness 
 and humor impressed me favorably ; and, lafter 
 a short conversation, we grasped hands, and swore 
 to remain by each other till our adventures were 
 terminated by death or a happy denouement. 
 
 We engaged places in a train which left the next 
 day. This company numbered nigh two hundred 
 persons, and was composed of all kinds of charac- 
 ters, except females. There were French voya- 
 geiirs, Irishmen, and an agent of one of the west- 
 ern fur companies, and the majority of the rest 
 were those just from the plow or the workshop. 
 They had secured the services of an experienced 
 guide, and were well equipped for the perilous 
 journey before them. 
 
 The overland route, at this time, was so alive 
 .with passing emigrants, that few, depredations were 
 
H 
 
 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 committed by the Indians. The savages sometimes 
 hung around companies, but as there were almost 
 always other whites in sight, they rarely ventured 
 upon any greater crime than pilfering. Nothing 
 worthy of note occurred upon the journey for a 
 length of time. We experienced the usual mishaps 
 and trials of emigrants, but nothing more startling. 
 We sometimes lost a part of our baggage and pro- 
 visions in crossing the rivers, and were greatly dis- 
 comforted by the terrific storms which often rage 
 in these regions. Then, again, we traveled mile 
 after mile, and hour after hour upon the dry, mo- 
 notonous, glistening rolling prairie, so wearied and 
 tired of the scene that we hardly exchanged a 
 syllable for hours at a stretch. 
 
 At last, the plains of Kansas were reached. On 
 the day in which I introduce my friend and myself 
 to notice, we had descried a solitary antelope at a 
 great distance upon the prairie, and set out to bring 
 it down. We left our horses behind, hoping to 
 reach the animal by stratagem. I approached it 
 near enough to wound it, when it made off with the 
 speed of the wind. Expecting to see it give out 
 each moment, we followed it mile after mile, until 
 gathering darkness warned us that night was at 
 hand, when we halted in alarm, and were compelled 
 to allow the antelope to escape, while we endeavored 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. jc 
 
 to retrace our steps. The caravan was nowhere in 
 sight, and we doubted not that it had disappeared 
 hours before. We left the train about noon, and 
 had been warned that they would not halt or wait 
 for us, and should we lose them, they would take 
 no pains to hunt us up. But we heeded not this, 
 as we expected to keep them constantly in view, 
 and have the antelope cooked for our supper. 
 
 But I have shown how widely we were mis- 
 taken. We were compelled to see the night shut 
 down around us, without bringing us any hope of 
 spending it with our friends ; and at a late hour 
 we were still plodding aimlessly over the prairie. 
 
 " No light yet, Nat ? " I asked, for the twentieth 
 time. 
 
 " Well, I should think you had asked that 
 question about often enough, to be suited with my 
 answer." 
 
 " I expect to ask it a dozen times more." 
 
 " Then I'll just answer at once for all, so I won't 
 be troubled agin with talkin'. No! there's the an- 
 swer." 
 
 " I don't know but what you are right, Nat We 
 must have come a long distance, utterly unconscious 
 of it, in our eagerness to get that plaguey antelope, 
 and it is useless to hope to reach camp again before 
 morning." 
 
l6 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 " That's my opinion, exactly. That camp, I 
 opine, is a good dozen miles off yet." 
 
 ** Then we may have a chance of reaching it still 
 before morning, as this bright moon favors us." 
 
 The moon, full and clear, had arisen an hour 
 before, and its light illumined the prairie for a 
 great distance around. Far away, on every hand, 
 we could discern the blue outline of the horizon, 
 while the prairie seemed to roll up against it like 
 the dark boundaries of a mighty ocean. Every- 
 thing was as silent and motionless as though we 
 were treading a region of death. 
 . Mile after mile, we trudged on, beguiling the 
 time by conversation. The ground was dry and 
 hard, and the vegetation scarce and stunted. The 
 day had been quite warm, and there was a delicious 
 coolness about the evening air that made it pleasant 
 to walk an hour or so; but as more than double 
 that time had expired since we commenced, it had 
 long been exceedingly wearisome to us. 
 
 '' I wonder whether those fellows will go a foot 
 out of the way to pick us up," muttered Nat, half 
 to himself. 
 
 " I don't believe they will. They told us tliey 
 wouldn't and they value their time too highly to 
 waste it for a couple who are of no account to them, 
 especially since we can fall in with other trains." 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. ly 
 
 " I reckon they're of some account to us, being 
 they have got both our horses and considerable of 
 our traveling apparatus." 
 
 " That is too true, Nat. In fact, since we have 
 been walking here, I have persuaded myself that 
 those fellows would, just as likely as not, turn 
 something out of the way to get rid of us." 
 
 " Somehow or other, I've felt just the same for a 
 week." 
 
 " Then, if we value our property, we mustn't let 
 them slip." 
 
 " No ; I'll be shot, if we must ! " exclaimed Nat, 
 half angrily, striking at once into a more rapid 
 walk. " If they run off with my mare, I'll— I'll— " 
 and again he strode faster over the prairie. 
 
 Long — long, we journeyed in silence. Nat's 
 apprehensions had been aroused, and he was will- 
 ing to walk the whole night to come up with those 
 in whose honesty he had so little faith. Now and 
 then he would mutter incoherently to himself and 
 shoot ahead, keeping me almost on a run to main- 
 tain my place beside him. Suddenly he halted, and 
 turned upon me with an expression I shall never 
 forget. I could see his eyes expanded to twice their 
 usual size, and his whole face aglow beneath his 
 monstrous hat, as he asked in a cold whisper: 
 
 "Wonder if there's In j ins about to-night.?*' 
 
jg BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 I laughed outright. 
 
 " Why, Nat, you ain't afraid, are you ? " 
 
 "Who said I was afraid? I just asked a ques- 
 tion." 
 
 " What possessed you to ask such a question ? " 
 
 " Don't know ; just come into my mind. Do 
 you s'pose there are any Injins roving round the 
 country to-night ? " 
 
 " I am sure I cannot tell, but I think it extremely 
 probable. Are you fearful that there are some upon 
 our trail ? " 
 
 " There might be ! No ; I was thinking if we 
 should come across any of them, they might be able 
 to tell us whether any of them chaps think we're 
 lost, and have run off with my mare." 
 
 ** Should we meet a lot of those savages, no 
 doubt they would tell us something else besides 
 that." 
 
 " I expect so," and he wheeled around and strode 
 ahead again. It was now getting near midnight, 
 and I was completely worn out. It was out of the 
 question to reach the camp that night, and we might 
 as v/ell submit to our fate at once, so I spoke rather 
 decidedly. 
 
 " I'm tired of this." 
 
 Nat turned and looked at me a second, and then 
 answered : 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 19 
 
 " So am I. We've to camp out to night, and 
 there's no use in waiting till morning afore we do 
 it. Ain't it lucky you brought your blanket with 
 you? It would go hard to do without that to- 
 night." 
 
 " I brought it with me by merest chance, not 
 thinking I should need it. It was indeed fortunate ; 
 and now let us prepare to use it." 
 
 There was not much choice on the hard but warm 
 earth. My blanket was ample and sufficient for 
 us both. After some search, a small depression was 
 selected, and in this I spread my heavy blanket. 
 We then stretched ourselves upon it, pulled the 
 ends over us, being sure to inclose our rifles in its 
 folds, and resigned ourselves to sleep. In that 
 lone hour, I forgot not that there was one arm upon 
 which I could rely, and One only who could watch 
 over me until morning, and to that protection I 
 appealed. 
 
 Ere the sun was fairly above the horizon, we 
 were up and upon our way. Knowing the company 
 would not be in motion for several hours, we hoped 
 to reach them before they breakfasted, and have a 
 laugh over our night's adventure. Nat led the way, 
 and took long, rapid strides over the ground, 
 seemingly oblivious of the existence of any one else. 
 I kept beside him, now and then venturing a remark. 
 
20 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 but receiving no answer or intimation that I was 
 heard. 
 
 Suddenly, my friend came to a dead halt, dropped 
 the butt of his rifle to the earth with a ringing 
 clamp, and wheeled upon me with one of those in- 
 describable looks. I had seen these before, so that 
 I knew something unusual was agitating him. 
 
 "What's the trouble now?" 
 
 " It's no use ; we'll never see that company agin." 
 
 " What makes you think thus ? " 
 
 ** I know so. I had a dream last night that my 
 mare was gone for ever and ever, and I know she 
 is. Don't you remember that fur agent told us 
 they'd change the direction they's traveling some 
 time yesterday? They hadn't done it when we left 
 them, and they done it as soon as we got out of 
 sight, I warrant." 
 
 I now remembered hearing our guide remark, 
 as also did the fur agent with us, that the trail we 
 were following made an abrupt bend some miles 
 ahead. We were traveling northeast at that time, 
 and the contemplated change was nearly due south- 
 west. This fact had entirely escaped our minds, 
 until it now occurred to Nat, and we had, con- 
 sequently, been proceeding in a wrong direction. 
 By referring to the sun, we found we had gone far 
 too much to the east in order to intercept the train, 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 21 
 
 whicii was now in all probability many leagues to 
 the southwest. 
 
 This was a discovery which was overwhelming. 
 We had then been journeying in a direction which 
 had brought us not a foot nearer the company than 
 if we had remained motionless; and it was certain 
 that the party was irrecoverably lost. 
 
 ** This is a pleasant discovery, Nat." 
 
 " Very." 
 
 " I see no hope for your mare. She is probably 
 a good day's journey distant, and we do not know 
 what direction to take to reach her." 
 
 " That's it," replied Nat, ill-humoredly ; " if I 
 knowed sure what way to tramp to find her, I 
 wouldn't stop till I'd laid my hands on her for a 
 certainty ; but this trudging along, and just as like 
 as not going away from her all the time, isn't the 
 thing." 
 
 " I see no course left then, but to proceed south, 
 in the hope of falling in with some emigrant train, 
 or in striking the Oregon trail, north, and getting 
 into California ahead of them." 
 
 "The Oregon trail will have to be our destina- 
 tion, then. If these fellows find they've got the 
 start of us, they won't give us a chance to come up 
 again, and we might as well try to catch the whirl- 
 wind as to follow them. No; we must try the 
 
22 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 ready for them when they come. How far is the 
 trail off?" 
 
 " It ean't be more than a day's journey ; the trail 
 follows the Platte through Nebraska, and I'm 
 pretty sure we can reach it by nightfall, if we pro- 
 ceed pretty steadily and rapidly." 
 
 The day was clear and pleasant, and the sky 
 devoid of the least signs of threatening storm. 
 There were two or three white clouds straggling 
 off in the western horizon, but the sky was of a 
 deep clear blue. We were now proceeding in a 
 northward direction, intending to strike the Platte 
 at the nearest point. South, east, and west the 
 small waving hills of the prairie stretched, unre- 
 lieved by the slightest object, except in the west 
 the far-off outline of some mountain-peak was just 
 visible, resembling a slight pointed cloud against 
 the blue sky. This disappeared at noon, and we 
 were again like wanderers upon the illimitable sea. 
 A short time after, Nat's keen vision detected a 
 number of black, moving specks far to the west- 
 ward. 
 
 " An emigrant train, perhaps," I suggested. 
 
 " They're Pawnee In j ins as sure as the world, and 
 we'd better give them a wide berth." 
 
 "Pawnee Indians! How do you know tViat? 
 You never have been in this section before ? " 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. ^^ 
 
 " That's true, but you don't s'pose I started out 
 here without first larning something 'bout the coun- 
 try and folks, do you? If you do, you're mighty 
 mistaken. Just let me know in what part of the 
 country we are, and I'll let you know what sights 
 you will see, that is, if we are going to see any 
 at all. But let's keep to the east; I don't want to 
 keep them Pawnees in sight." 
 
 " The Pawnee Indians are reported friendly to 
 the whites." 
 
 " Exactly ; but have they been reported honest ? 
 If they should come upon us and take a fancy to 
 our rifles, what is there to prevent them from tak- 
 ing them? And," added Nat, with a shrewd shake 
 of his head. " I've not faith enough in their 
 good intentions to want 'em in sight at this par- 
 ticular time." 
 
 There was a great deal of reason in his remarks, 
 and it was not unwillingly that I turned my face 
 more to the northeast, and soon saw them disappear 
 from view. 
 
 Some time toward the middle of the afternoon 
 we descried a solitary buffalo ahead. He had 
 apparently left his friends and wandered about as 
 though entirely lost. After considerable difficulty 
 we approached nigh enough to bring him down. 
 He was quite poor, and his flesh was strong and 
 
2^ BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 Oregon trail, and get into California first, and be 
 tough; but we were glad enough to get it, such as 
 it was. He was thrown on his face, with his knees 
 bent under him, a keen knife run along the spine 
 with just sufficient force to penetrate the skin, which 
 was then pulled down each side. This done, we cut 
 the choice portions out. Nat reserved the buffalo- 
 skin for his blanket, and the rest was thrown away. 
 We made a hearty meal, and about the middle of 
 the afternoon again set forward, hoping to accom- 
 plish quite a distance ere nightfall. 
 
 Just at dark we reached a stream of considerable 
 size, which I afterward learned was the Republi- 
 can Fork of Nebraska. The point at which we 
 struck it, was about where it leaves the territory 
 of Kansas and enters Nebraska. Although no con- 
 siderable stream, we concluded not to cross it be- 
 fore morning, and we made arrangements for pass- 
 ing the night upon its banks. There was consider- 
 able timber at different points, and a goodly quantity 
 of driftwood lay scattered along its banks. As 
 the river was quite low, we gathered several arm- 
 fuls, and had a fire soon started. We had brought 
 some meat of the slain buffalo with us, but con- 
 cluded not to cook supper, as our appetites were 
 satiated. 
 
 Seated round our fire, half-hidden in a depres- 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 25 
 
 sion in the river bottom, with the dark, glistening 
 stream flowing silently by, and smoking our pipes, 
 we naturally fell into an easy conversation. 
 
 " We can't be far from the ' trail,' can we ? " 
 asked Nat. 
 
 " Farther than I suspected," I answered. " The 
 Republican Fork, which I am convinced is the 
 stream out there, is over fifty miles from the 
 Platte, which, with several other streams must be 
 crossed before the trail is reached." 
 
 " Fudge ! I don't believe I can head off them 
 fellows after all, and my old mare and overcoat 
 will go to thunder." 
 
 " They will go somewhere where you will never 
 see them again." 
 
 " I know I'm bound to lose 'em, and I shan't 
 think any more about them.'* 
 
 *' That's the best plan, Nat. They are no great 
 loss." 
 
 " I sh'd like to knew whether that greaser or 
 fur agent took them though," interrupted my 
 friend, earnestly. 
 
 After this he fell into a fit of musing, and we 
 remained silent for some time. When the fire had 
 burnt low, I arose and replenished it. Nat looked 
 anxiously at the roaring blaze, carrying ashes and 
 
26 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 cinders high in the air, and reflecting far out 
 upon the dark river, and he remarked: 
 
 " Wonder if some Injins won't see that." 
 
 " I guess not. We are so low down the bank 
 that I think It can be visible for no considerable 
 distance upon the prairie, and the bend in the river 
 fortunately saves us from view up or down the 
 stream. The only point from which it would 
 attract attention is directly across from us." 
 
 " And it looks suspicious enough there," repeated 
 Nat, in a whisper, removing his pipe and gazing 
 across the river. 
 
 It did indeed look gloomy, forbidding, and 
 threatening. Our fire was nearly on the level with 
 the water, which rolled darkly and noisily at our 
 very feet; and when its crackling blaze arose high- 
 er than usual, the low face of the opposite shore 
 was struck by the light. At such times I could not 
 help reflecting what favorable chances were af- 
 forded any foe who might be lurking opposite. I 
 involuntarily shrunk from the fire, and felt relieved 
 when the shore blended with the darkness. 
 
 It began to grow quite late, the fire had smold- 
 ered low, when Nat, removing his cap, turned 
 upon me with : 
 
 "What do you think of our journey to Cali- 
 fornia ? " 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 2/ 
 
 I was at a loss to comprehend his meaning, and 
 looked at him for an explanation. 
 
 " I mean to ask whether you feel in such a hurry 
 to get to mines as you did when we were in In- 
 dependence ? " 
 
 Now, to confess the truth, the experience of the 
 last week or two, and especially of the last two 
 days, had done much toward dampening the ardor 
 which I once thought could never leave me; and 
 I believe, had I possessed moral courage enough, 
 I should have seized the first opportunity to re- 
 turn to the comforts of a home, where I possessed 
 enough to satisfy any sensible person's ambition. 
 Still I hesitated to commit myself. 
 
 " I cannot say that I am ; but what induced you 
 to " 
 
 " I'm sick of this business," interrupted Nat, 
 lengthening his legs with a spiteful jerk, and look- 
 ing disgustedly into the fire. 
 
 " What has come over you ? " I asked, half- 
 amused at his manner. 
 
 " Well there's that mare " 
 
 " But you promised not to think of her." 
 
 " How can I help it, I should like to know ? 
 She's gone sure, and there's that overcoat, that 
 cost me four dollars and a half in Lubec; and 
 Alminy made a big pocket in it on purpose for mc 
 
28 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 to fill full of gold chunks ; and I should like to know 
 how I am going to do it, when a Greaser has got 
 it." 
 
 " I am afraid that that would not be the only 
 difficulty you would be likely to experience, Nat, in 
 getting it filled." 
 
 '' And my jack-knife was in the coat-pocket, I 
 declare ! " exclaimed he, suddenly starting up and 
 pinching alternately one pocket and then another. 
 " Yes, sir, that's gone, too ; that's worse than all 
 the rest," he added, despairingly, falling upon his 
 elbow, and gazing abstractedly into the fire. 
 
 " That's a trifling loss, surely, as you have your 
 hunting-knife." 
 
 " I've a good notion to get up and go back now," 
 he .added, not heeding my remark. " I'm sick of 
 this business. It's bad enough to lose the mare, 
 but when the knife is gone I can't stand it." 
 
 I knew this was but a momentary despondency 
 with my friend, and for the sake of whiling away 
 the time before sleep, I was inclined to humor it. 
 
 " But what will you do for that gold that you 
 was going to buy Deacon Hunt's farm with for 
 your Alminy? " 
 
 " Let her go without it," he answered, gruffly, 
 without removing his gaze from the fire. " She 
 can get along without it. I believe she only 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 29 
 
 coaxed me to go off to Calif orny to get me out of 
 the way, so that mean Bill Hawkins might take 
 my place. If he does come any such game, he'll 
 catch it when I get back." 
 
 I laughed deeply, but silently, as I witnessed 
 his appearance at these remarks. It was so earnest 
 and feeling, that it was impossible to resist its 
 ludicrousness. 
 
 " Nat," said I, after a moment's thought, in which 
 my mind had taken an altogether different channel, 
 " I am free to own that I have little faith in our 
 success in California. I left home in a flush of 
 excitement, without considering the consequences 
 of such a rash step, and they are now beginning 
 to present themselves. I propose that we seek 
 our fortune elsewhere. The fact that gold exists 
 in California is now known all over the world, and 
 we know there is not the remotest corner of her 
 territory which is not swarming with hundreds 
 who leave no means untried to amass their for- 
 tunes. I have no desire to wrangle and grope with 
 them, and would much rather seek wealth else- 
 where." 
 
 "But where else?" 
 
 " If gold exists in one spot on the Pacific coast, 
 it is right to suppose it exists in many others, and 
 what is to prevent our finding it ? " 
 
ip BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 " Have you thought of any place ? " 
 
 " It seems to me that in Oregon, among the 
 spurs of the Rocky Mountains, there must be fabu- 
 lous quantities of the precious metal." 
 
 '* But why hasn't it been found ? " 
 
 " Oregon is thinly settled, and no suspicion has 
 led them to search for it." 
 
 " Well, let us dream upon it." 
 
 A few more fagots were forthwith heaped upon 
 the fire, and then we lay down for the night's 
 rest. 
 
 My companion had lain but a minute, when he 
 suddenly sprang to his feet, and exclaimed : 
 
 " Hurrah for Oregon ! " 
 
 '* Be careful," I admonished ; " your indiscre- 
 tion may be fatal. That wall of darkness across 
 the river looks gloomy and threatening enough to 
 me." 
 
 " It does — ^hello ! Fm shot — no, I ain't, neither." 
 
 That instant the report of a rifle burst from the 
 other bank, and the bullet whizzed within an inch 
 of my companion's face. 
 
 " Heavens 1 are we attacked ! " I ejaculated, 
 starting back from the fire. 
 
 " I believe so," replied Nat, cowering behind 
 me. 
 
 We listened silently and fearfully, but heard no 
 
BILL tsiODON, TRAPPER. 31 
 
 more. The fire smoldered to embers, the river grew 
 darker, and the night, moonless and cold, settled 
 upon us. But no sleep visited my eyelids that night. 
 Till the gray dawn of morning I listened, but heard 
 no more. 
 
32 
 
 MILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 A NEW FRIEND. 
 
 As the light of morning overspread the stream 
 and prairie, I felt an unspeakable sense of relief. 
 Not a moment of sleep had visited me that night, 
 although Nat's extreme fear toward midnight gave 
 way to his drowsiness, and he slept long and heavily. 
 
 " Come, wake up, Nat ! '' said I, shaking him as 
 soon as I saw that day was at hand. 
 
 " How ? what's the matter ? " said he, rubbing 
 his eyes, and gaping confusedly about him. 
 
 " Day is at hand, and we must be on our way 
 
 to Oregfon." 
 
 'fc.' 
 
 He hastily rose, and we commenced our simple 
 preparations. I ran up the river bank, and swept 
 the prairie to the south of us to satisfy myself that 
 no wandering Indians were in sight. The whole 
 plain was visible, and with a feeling akin to joy, I 
 reported the fact to Nat. He, however, was not 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 33 
 
 satisfied with my survey, as he had more than once 
 before detected objects that had escaped my vision, 
 and he ascended a high roll in the bank, some dis- 
 tance up, and took a long, careful, scrutinizing 
 sweep of the whole horizon. Feeling satisfied that 
 he would be no more rewarded for his pains than 
 I was, I started the fire, and commenced cooking 
 some of our buffalo, I had been engaged in this 
 for a minute or so, when I heard Nat call, in a 
 hoarse, anxious, half-whisper: 
 
 " Come here, quick ! " 
 
 I hurried to his side and eagerly asked him the 
 cause of agitation. 
 
 " Why, just look yonder, if that ain't enough to 
 agitate one, then I don't know what is.'* 
 
 He pointed across the river, out upon the prairie ; 
 and following the direction of his finger, I saw not 
 more than a mile or two away a single horseman 
 proceeding leisurely from us. 
 
 " Who can that be ? " I asked half to myself, 
 still watching the receding figure. 
 
 " Why he's the one that sent that bullet across 
 the water after us, and I'm thinking it's lucky for 
 him, he's going another way. If I should get my 
 hands on him, he would remember the time.'* 
 
24 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 And Nat extended his arms energetically, and 
 shook his head spitefully by way of emphasizing 
 his remark. 
 
 I continued gazing after the unknown person. 
 At first I supposed it was an Indian, but at that 
 distance, and with his back toward us, it was al- 
 most impossible to judge accurately. A moment's 
 thought convinced me that it was a white man. I 
 could make out the hunting-cap of the trapper,, and 
 was soon satisfied he belonged to that class. His 
 horse was walking leisurely along, and he seemed 
 totally unaware of the proximity of strangers. 
 
 But who could it be? Was it he who had fired 
 the well-nigh fatal shot? And what meant his 
 actions in thus willfully leaving us? These and 
 similar questions I asked myself, without taking 
 my eyes from him, or heeding the numerous ques- 
 tions and remarks my companion was uttering. 
 But, of course, I could give no satisfactory solu- 
 tion, and when his figure had grown to be but a 
 dim speck in the '"Jistance, I turned to Nat. 
 
 " We may see him again ; but, if I don't know 
 him, I know one thing, Fm wonderfully hungry 
 just now." 
 
 We partook of a hearty breakfast, my appetite 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 35 
 
 for which was considerably weakened by the 
 occurrence just narrated. Without much difficuUy 
 we forded the Republican Fork, being compelled 
 only to swim a few strokes in the channel, and 
 reached the opposite side, with dry powder and 
 food. 
 
 Here we made a careful search of the shore, and 
 ascertained enough to settle beyond a doubt the 
 identity of the horseman with the would-be assas- 
 sin of the night before. His footprints could be 
 seen, and the place where he had slept upon the 
 ground, together with the scraps of meat. By ex- 
 amining the tracks of his horse, we discovered 
 that both hind feet were shod; this decided our 
 question of his being a white man; and although 
 it cleared up one doubt, left us in a greater one. 
 He could not have avoided the knowledge that we 
 were of the same blood, and what demoniacal wish 
 could lead him to seek the life of two harmless 
 wanderers? Be he who he might, it was with no 
 very Christian feelings toward him that we took 
 the trail of his horse, and pursued it. 
 
 Our course after the first five miles, swerved 
 considerably to the northwest. From the actions 
 of the stranger, it was evident he understood the 
 
^6 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 character of the country, and we judged the short- 
 est way of reaching the Oregon trail would be by 
 following him. The footprints of his animal were 
 distinctly marked, and we had no difficulty in keep- 
 ing them. 
 
 At noon we forded a stream, and shortly after 
 another, both considerably less than the Republican 
 Fork. On the northern bank of the latter, were 
 the still glowing coals of the stranger's camp-fire, 
 and we judged he could be at no great distance. 
 The country here was of a slightly different charac- 
 ter from the rolling prairie over which we had 
 journeyed thus far. There were hills quite eleva- 
 ted, and, now and then, groves of timber. In 
 the river bottoms were numerous cottonwoods 
 and elder; these natural causes so obstructed our 
 view, that we might approach our unknown enemy 
 very nigh without knowing it. Nat was quite 
 nervous, and invariably sheered off from the for- 
 bidding groves of timber, striking the trail upon 
 the opposite side at a safe distance. 
 
 In this way we traveled onward through the 
 entire day. No signs of Indians were seen, and 
 we anticipated little trouble from them, as they 
 were friendly at this time, and the most they would 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 37 
 
 do would be to rob us of some of our trinkets or 
 rifles. 
 
 At sundown we left our guiding trail and struck 
 off toward a small stream to camp for the night. 
 When we reached it, and decided upon the spot, 
 Nat remarked seriously : 
 
 " I say, Relmond, that feller might be near 
 enough to give us another shot afore morning, and 
 I'm going to see whether his trail crosses the brook 
 out there or not." 
 
 So saying, he wheeled and ran back to the spot 
 where we had left it. It was still bright enough 
 to follow it, and bending his head down to keep it 
 in view, he continued upon a rapid run. I was 
 upon the point of warning him against thus run- 
 ning into danger, but not feeling much apprehen- 
 sion for his safety, I turned my back toward him. 
 A minute after, I heard his footsteps again, and, 
 looking up, saw him coming with full speed toward 
 me, his eyes dilated to their utmost extent, and with 
 every appearance of terror. 
 
 " He's there ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 " Where ? " I asked, catching his excitement. 
 
 " Just across the stream up there ; I liked to have 
 run right into him afore I knowed it. See there ! " 
 
3d BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 As Nat spoke, I saw the glimmering of a fire 
 through the trees, and heard the whinny of a horse. 
 
 "Didn't he see you?" 
 
 " Yes, I know he did. When I splashed into 
 the water like a fool, he looked up at me and 
 grunted; I seen him pick up his rifle, and then I 
 put, expecting each moment to feel a ball in me." 
 
 " I thought you intended laying hands on him 
 if an opportunity offered," I remarked, with a 
 laugh. 
 
 " I declare, I forgot that," he replied, somewhat 
 crestfallen. 
 
 After some further conversation, I decided to 
 make the acquaintance of the person who had 
 occupied so much of our thoughts. Nat opposed 
 this, and urged me to get farther from him ; but a 
 meaning hint changed his views at once, and he 
 readily acquiesced. He would not be prevailed 
 upon, however, to accompany me, but promised to 
 come to my aid if I should need help during the 
 interview. So leaving him, I started boldly up the 
 stream. 
 
 When I reached the point opposite the stranger's 
 camp-fire, I stumbled and coughed .so as to attract 
 his attention. I saw him raise his eyes and hur- 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 3^ 
 
 riedly scan me, but he gave no further evidence of 
 anxiety, and I unhesitatingly sprang across the 
 stream, and made my way toward him. Before I 
 halted, I saw that he was a trapper. He was re- 
 clining upon the ground, before a small fire, and 
 smoking a short black pipe, in a sort of dreamy 
 reverie. 
 
 " Good evening, my friend," I said, cheerfully, 
 approaching within a few feet of him. He raised 
 his eyes a moment, and then suffered them lazily 
 to fall again, and continue their vacant stare into 
 the fire. " Quite a pleasant evening," I continued, 
 seating myself near him. 
 
 '* Umph ! " he grunted, removing his pipe, and 
 rising to the upright position. He looked at me a 
 second with a pair of eyes of sharp, glittering black- 
 ness, and then asked: " Chaw, stranger ? " 
 
 " I sometimes use the weed, but not in that 
 form," I replied, handing a piece to him. He 
 wrenched off a huge mouthful with a vigorous 
 twist of his head, and returned it without a word. 
 This done, he sank back to his former position 
 and reverie. 
 
 "Excuse me, friend," said I, moving rather im- 
 patiently, and determined to force a conversation 
 
40 BILI BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 Upon him, "but I hope you will permit a few 
 questions ? " 
 
 " Go ahead, stranger," he answered, gruffly. 
 
 " Are you traveling alone in this section ? " 
 
 " I reckon I ar', 'cept the hoss which 'ar a team." 
 
 " Follow trapping and hunting, I presume ? " 
 
 " What's yer handle, stranger ? " he suddenly 
 asked, as he came to the upright position, and look- 
 ing at me with more interest. 
 
 " William Relmond, from New Jersey." 
 
 "Whar's that place?" 
 
 " It is one of the Middle States, quite a distance 
 from here." 
 
 " What mought you be doin' in these parts ? " 
 
 " I and my friend out yonder are on our way to 
 Oregon." 
 
 " Umph ! you're pretty green 'uns." 
 
 " Now I suppose you will have no objection to 
 giving me your name." 
 
 " My handle's Bill Biddon, and I'm on my way 
 to trappin'-grounds up country." 
 
 "How far distant?" 
 
 " A heap ; somewhar up 'bove the Yallerstone." 
 
 "Do you generally go upon these journeys 
 alone?" 
 
" What's your handle, stranger ? " 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 43 
 
 " Sometimes I does, and sometimes I doesn't." 
 I ceased my questions for a few moments, for 
 fear of provoking him. As his route, as far as it 
 extended, would be in our direction, I determined 
 to keep his company if I could gain his consent. 
 He was a splendid specimen of the physical man. 
 He was rather short, but heavy and thick-set, with 
 a com.pactness of frame that showed a terrible 
 strength slumbering in his muscles. His face was 
 broad, covered by a thin, straggling beard of 
 grizzled gray, and several ridged scars were visible 
 in different parts of it. His brows were beetling 
 and lowering, and beneath them a couple of black 
 eyes fairly snapt at times with electric fire. His 
 mouth was broad, and though one could plainly 
 see a whirlwind of terrific passion might be called 
 into life within his breast, yet there was, also in his 
 face, the index of a heart alive to good humor and 
 frankness. I saw that, if approached skillfully, his 
 heart could be reached. He was evidently the 
 creature of odd whims and fancies and caprice, 
 feeling as well satisfied without the society of 
 his fellow-man as with it — one of those strange 
 beings, a hero of a hundred perils, who was satis- 
 fied to lose his life in the mighty wilderness of the 
 
44 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 Far West, without a single one suspecting or car- 
 ing for his fate. 
 
 " Would you have any objections to my friend 
 and myself accompanying you, that is, as far as 
 you should proceed in our direction ? " 
 
 He looked steadily at me a moment, and an- 
 swered, " You kin go with me ef you wants ; but I 
 knows as how you're green, and yer needn't s'pose 
 I'm goin' to hold in fur yer. Yers as never does 
 that thing." 
 
 " Oh, I shouldn't expect you to. Of course, we 
 will make it a point not to interfere in the least with 
 your plans and movements." 
 
 " Whar is yer other chap? S'pose it war him 
 what come peakin' through yer a while ago ; had 
 a notion of spilin' his picter fur his imper- 
 dence." 
 
 " I will go bring him.," I answered, rising and 
 moving off. But as I stepped across the stream, I 
 discerned the top of Nat's white hat, just above 
 a small box-elder ; and moving on, saw his eye fixed 
 with an eager stare upon the trapper. 
 
 " Don't he look savage ? " he whispered, as I 
 came to him. 
 
 " Not very. Are you afraid of him ? " 
 
 " No ; but I wonder whether he — whether he 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 45 
 
 knows anything about the old mare and my 
 knife." 
 
 " Perhaps so ; come and see. He just now asked 
 for you." 
 
 " Asked for me ? " repeated Nat, stepping back. 
 " What does he want of me ? " 
 
 " Nothing in particular. I just mentioned your 
 name, and he asked where you were. Come along ; 
 I hope you ain't afraid ? " 
 
 " Afraid ! I should like to see the man I'm afraid 
 of ! " exclaimed my companion in an almost in- 
 audible whisper, as he tremblingly followed me 
 across the brook, and to the spot where Biddon, 
 the trapper, was lying. 
 
 " My friend, Nathan Todd, Biddon." 
 
 " How are you ? Very happy to make your 
 acquaintance," and Nat nervously extended his 
 hand. 
 
 ** How're yer ? " grunted Biddon, with a slight 
 jerk of his head, and not noticing the proffered 
 hand. 
 
 " Been a most exceedingly beautiful day," ven- 
 tured Nat, quickly and nervously. 
 
 I saw the trapper was not particularly impressed 
 with him, and I took up the conversation. I made 
 several unimportant inquiries, and learned in the 
 course of them, that our friend. Bill Biddon, was 
 
^5 -B^J^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 about forty years of age, and had followed trap- 
 ping and hunting for over twenty years. He was 
 a native of Missouri, and Westport was the depot 
 for his peltries. For the last two or three years 
 he had made all his excursions alone. He was 
 quite a famous trapper, and the fur company which 
 he patronized gave him a fine outfit and paid him 
 well for his skins. He possessed a magnificently- 
 mounted rifle, and his horse, he informed me, had 
 few superiors among the fleetest mustangs of the 
 south. Both of these were presented him by the 
 company mentioned. 
 
 " Why ain't you got horses ? " he asked, looking 
 toward me. 
 
 " They were both stolen from us." 
 
 " I don't s'pose you've seen anything of a com- 
 pany with a mare, short-tailed, that limped a little, 
 and an overcoat that had a knife in the pocket ? " 
 asked Nat, eagerly. 
 
 " Not that I knows on," answered Biddon, with 
 a twinkle of humor. 
 
 I gave the particulars of our loss, and then asked, 
 without due thought: 
 
 " Did you not camp upon the banks of the 
 Republican Fork last night?" 
 
 " Yas ; what'd yer want to know fur ? " 
 
 " Oh, nothing, nothing," quickly answered Nat. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. . 47 
 
 I believe the trapper understood my allusion, and 
 I hoped he would give an explanation of his act; 
 but he made no reference to it, and, after further 
 conversation, we all la)' down in slumber. 
 
^g BILL BIDDON, TRAPPBR. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE trapper's STORY. 
 
 I WAS aroused from my slumber, before it was 
 yet light, by Biddon shaking me and calling in 
 my ear: 
 
 " Come, you chaps, you've got only two minutes 
 to swaller yer feed in." 
 
 Nat was already moving about, and I sprang to 
 my feet, determined to continue in my friend's 
 good graces, if such a thing were possible, by a 
 cheerful acquiescence in all his reasonable wishes. 
 Our fire was kindled, a hasty breakfast swallowed, 
 and just as the sun made its appearance above 
 the prairie, we moved off toward the north. , 
 
 Long before noon we reached the Platte, and 
 forded it at the point where Fort Grattan now 
 stands. The Platte, during the winter months, is 
 a boisterous stream of great width, but in summer 
 it is very shallow (from which circumstance it de- 
 rives its name), and at the dry season it almost 
 ceases running, and dwindles down to an innumer* 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. aq 
 
 able number of stagnant pools. As It was now the 
 summer season, we walked over without more than 
 merely wetting our shoes. The Oregon trail fol- 
 lows the northern shore of this stream to Washing- 
 ton Territory, or to what was Oregon at the time 
 of which I write. Leaving the Platte, we shaped 
 our course toward the northwest, so as to strike 
 the southern spur of the Black Hills. From Bid- 
 don's conversation, I found that his destination 
 was the neighborhood of the head-waters of the 
 Tongue or Powder River, which have their 
 canons in the Black Hills. 
 
 As he allowed his horse to proceed upon a moder- 
 ate walk, we had no trouble in keeping him com- 
 pany. We generally started at the first indication 
 of morning, halting now and then to slake our 
 thirst in the numerous streams which crossed our 
 path, and resting an hour at noon. At sunset we 
 struck camp upon some small stream, cooked our 
 evening meal, spent an hour or two in smoking and 
 conversation, and turned in for the night. 
 
 The country over which we now journeyed was 
 much better timbered than any through which we 
 had yet passed. For an entire day after crossing 
 the Platte, we met with thousands of the ash, elm, 
 walnut, and cottonwood trees. The bark of the 
 latter, I was surprised to observe, was greatly rel- 
 
CO BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 ished by the trapper's horse, he often preferring 
 it to the rich, succulent grass which so abounds 
 in this region. Besides this there were signs of the 
 buffalo, antelope, and hundreds of other animals. 
 
 One night we halted upon the bank of a large 
 stream some miles north of the Platte, which emp- 
 tied into the Missouri. It was quite broad and 
 rapid, and near the center of the channel a small, 
 sandy island was visible. We passed over this 
 while fording the stream, and I noticed that Biddon 
 walked around it, and surveyed several spots with 
 more than com.mon interest. I did not question 
 him then, but at night, when we were stretched 
 before the fire, with our soothing pipes, I ventured 
 the inquiry. 
 
 " I seed sights on that chunk of mud one time," 
 said he, with a dark frown. 
 
 " What was it ? — what was it ? " asked Nat, 
 eagerly. 
 
 " Here's as what don't like to think of that time, 
 lugh ! " he answered, seeming still unwilling to re- 
 fer to it. 
 
 " Why not ? " I asked, beginning to partake of 
 Nat's curiosity. 
 
 " It makes a feller's blood bile ; but, howsom- 
 ever," he added, brightening up, " if you wants to 
 hear it, yer kin." 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 5I 
 
 " We do by all means ; please give it." 
 *' Yas, that ar' war' a time of general wipin' out, 
 and this yer water that now looks as black as a 
 wolf's mouth, run red that night! It war' nigh 
 onto ten year ago that it happened. I was down 
 in Westport one day in the summer when a feller 
 slapped me on the shoulder and axed me ef I 
 wanted a job. I tole him I didn't care much, but 
 if he's a mind to fork over, and it wan't desprit 
 hard, and too much like work, Fs his man. He 
 said as how thar' war' a lot of fellers camped out 
 on the prairie, as war gwine to start for Oregon, 
 and as wanted a guide ; and heerin' me spoken on as 
 suthin' extronnery, why he like to know ef I would- 
 n't go; he'd make the pay all right. I cut around 
 the stump awhile and at last 'eluded to go. I went 
 out onto the perarie, and seed the company. They 
 were men, women, and children, 'specially the last 
 ones. I seed they wanted good watchin', and I 
 kinder hinted they'd find trouble afore they'd reach 
 Oregon, 
 
 ** There weren't many folks trampin' these parts 
 then, and them as did go, had to make up thar 
 minds to see fight and ha'r-raisin'. B'ars and 
 beavers, they did! The reds war the same then 
 all over, arter you get clear of the States, and no 
 feller's ha'c war his own till he'd lost it. 
 
^ BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 " We started the next day, and struck the Platte 
 afore night. There war but twenty good men, an' 
 I made half of 'em stand watch that night just to 
 get their hands in. In course they didn't see noth- 
 in', 'cept one straddlin' chap, like this feller yer 
 that is called Nat. He said as how he seed won- 
 ders, he did, and thar war a hundred reds crawl- 
 in' round the camp all night. 
 
 " We went purty slow, as it weren't best to 
 hurry the teams; but we hadn't been two days on 
 the way afore the fools got into the all-firedest scrab- 
 ble I ever seed. I don't know what it come 'bout, 
 but it war so big, they split company, and part 
 of 'em crossed over and camped on t'other side 
 the Platte. I tole 'em they'd see stars purty soon, 
 if they didn't splice agin, but they's too rearin' 
 to do it, and I said if they's a mind to be sich 
 fools, they mought be fur all me, and I'd let 'em 
 go on alone. Howsomever, the smallest party 
 hung on fur me not to leave 'em, and I 'eluded 
 to stay with • 'em as I knowed purty well they'd 
 need me all the time. 
 
 " The biggest company as had crossed the Platte, 
 kept on by it, and so the others said they'd leave 
 it and cut across fur Oregon. I tole 'em this war 
 the best way, and so we left 'em. Them I war with 
 war a heap the smallest, and had but three or four 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 53 
 
 men and five or six women and children. What 
 made things look wuss, I seed 'signs' when we 
 parted, and I knowed purty well the reds smelt 
 what war goin' on. And 'bout a dozen times in the 
 afternoon I could see 'em oif on the perarie stealin' 
 long and dodgin' through cover. I knowed that 
 the imps were follerin' us, seein' the other war a 
 heap more powerful nor us. 
 
 " Things got so dubersome afore night, I said 
 to the men ef they'd take the advice of a feller as 
 knowed what he war 'bout, they'd turn round and 
 never stop till they cotched the others; for ef they 
 didn't, they'd cotch it at night ; reds war 1x5Ut them 
 as thick as flies. They said how ef I's 'fraid I 
 mought go back, but as for them they'd go through 
 fire and blazes 'fore they would. I felt riled 'nough 
 at this to leave 'em, and I would ef it hadn't been 
 fur them poor women; they looked so sorrerful I 
 made up my mind to stick to 'em fur thar sake. 
 
 " We reached the stream just as it war growing 
 dark, and the reds had got so sassy, that five or six 
 of 'em stood a little ways off and watched us. This 
 scart the women and men, and they axed me what 
 war to be done? The women cried and wanted 
 to coax the In j ins up to give 'em sunkthin' to get 
 thar good will, but they war cross and sulky, and 
 didn't say much. 
 
cj BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 " After some talk and a heap of cryin', we 'eluded 
 to camp on that piece of sand in the river. The 
 teams war drew over and we follered. The water 
 war some deeper nor now, and it took us a long 
 time to land ; but we got over at last. As soon as we 
 war clean over, I commenced fixing up things fur 
 the reds. We didn't build no fire, but put the teams 
 together near the middle, and the women inside 
 'em. There war four men without me, and I set 
 'em round the place to watch fur sign. I made 'em 
 all squat flat down on the mud close to the water, 
 and told 'em to blaze away at anything they 
 seed, ef it war a beaver or otter, and gave 'em 
 pertickler orders not to wink both eyes at a time. 
 I seed they's skerish, and there weren't no danger 
 of thar snoozin' on watch. 
 
 " I's pretty sartin the reds would come some of 
 thar tricks, and come down the river ; so I went up 
 to the upper part of the thing, and laid in the mud 
 myself to watch fur 'em. I knowed, too, they 
 wouldn't be 'bout 'fore purty late, so I took a 
 short nap as I laid in the mud. When I woke up 
 the moon war up in the sky, and the river had riz 
 so my pegs war in the water. I flapped out, but 
 didn't see nothin' yet. I sneaked down round by 
 t'other fellers, and found 'em all wide awake; and 
 they said, too, as how they hadn't seen nothin' 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 55 
 
 'cept the river war gettin' higher, which they kinder 
 thought the In j ins mought 've done. Jist as I war 
 going back I heard some of the purtiest singin' 
 in the world. Fust, I thought it war an Injin, ef 
 it hadn't been so nice ; then I 'eluded it must be an 
 angel. I listened, and found it came from the 
 wagons. I crept up and seed two little girls all 
 'lone clus by the wagons, a singin' sunkthin'. Shoot 
 me! ef it didn't make me feel watery to see them.. 
 The moon war shinin' down through the flyin' 
 clouds, right out on 'em. They sot with their 
 arms round each other and war bare-headed, and 
 ef I hadn't knowed 'em I'd swore they were angels 
 sure. I axed what they were singin' for, and they 
 said the In j ins war goin' to come after 'em that 
 night, and they war singin' to their mother in 
 heaven to keep 'em away. Shoot me ! when one of 
 'em throwed her little white arms round my neck 
 and kissed my ugly meat-trap, I couldn't stand it. 
 I went up to my place again and lad down in the 
 mud. 
 
 " It was gettin' colder, and the wind comin' up, 
 drew the white clouds 'fore the moon, makin' it all 
 black. But when it come out agin I seed sunkthin' 
 comin' down the river that looked like a log. I dug 
 down deeper into the mud, and set my peepers on it, 
 fur I knowed thar war sunkthin' else thar, too. It 
 
c5 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 come right on and struck the mud a little ways 
 from me. I didn't stir 'cept to kinder loose my 
 knife. The log stuck a minute, and then swung 
 round and went down the river. I knowed the boys 
 would see it, and I didn't leave my place. Thinkin* 
 as how this war only sent down to see what we'd 
 do, I war lookin' fur other things, when I heard a 
 noise in the water, and, shoot me, ef a sneakin' red 
 didn't come up out of the water, and commence 
 crawlin' toward whar the gals war singin'. (Jist 
 put a little fodder on the lire.) " 
 
 I sprang up and threw on some fagots, and then 
 seated myself and anxiously awaited the rest of his 
 story. He put away his pipe, filled his mouth with 
 tobacco, and, after several annoying delays, re- 
 sumed : 
 
 ''Thar weren't no time to lose. I crept 'long 
 behind him mighty sly, and afore he knowed it, 
 come down spank onto him. I didn't make no 
 noise nor he either. I jist grabbed his gullet and 
 finished him with my knife. I then crawled back 
 agin, and, shoot me, ef I didn't see forty logs 
 comin' down on us; the river war full of 'em. 
 
 " I jumped up and hollered to the other fellers to 
 look out. They came up aside me and stood ready, 
 but it weren't no use. 'Fore we knowed it, I seed 
 over forty of 'em 'long 'side us. We blazed into 'em 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 57 
 
 and went to usin' our knives, but I knowed it 
 wouldn't do. They set up a yell and pitched fur 
 the wagons, while 'bout a dozen went at us. The 
 fust thing I knowed the whole four boys were down 
 and thar ha'r raised, and the women screechin* 
 murder. It made me desprit, and I reckon I done 
 some tall work that night. Most these beauty spots 
 on my mug come from that scrimmage. I seed a red 
 dart by me with that little gal as was singin', and 
 cotched a dead red's gun and let drive at him; but 
 the gun weren't loaded, and so the devil run off 
 with her. 
 
 *' The oxes war bellerin', the horses snortin', and 
 the tomahawks stoppin' the women's screams; the 
 redskins war howlin' and yellin' like all mad, and as 
 I had got some big cuts and knocks, I 'eluded it 
 best to move quarters. So I made a jump for the 
 stream, took a long dive, and swam for the shore. 
 I come up 'bout whar you're setting, and I made a 
 heap of tracks 'fore daylight come." 
 
 *' And did you never hear anything of the chil- 
 dren captured upon that night ? " 
 
 " I never seed 'em agin ; but I come 'cross a chap 
 at Fort Laramie when I went down agin, what said 
 he'd seen a gal 'mong some the redskins up in these 
 parts, and I've thought p'r'aps it mought be one of 
 'em, and agm it moughtn't." 
 
eg BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 " Did you say that all happened out there ? " asked 
 Nat, jerking his thumb toward the island mentioned, 
 without turning his face. 
 
 " I reckon I did." 
 
 "Bet there's a lot of In j ins there now!" ex- 
 claimed he, turning his head in that direction. 
 
 " Jist as like as not," returned Biddon, with a sly 
 look at me. 
 
 " I'm goin' to sleep then," and rolling himself up 
 in his buffalo-blanket, all but his feet, disappeared 
 from view. 
 
 *' It's 'bout time to snooze, I think," remarked the 
 trapper, in a lower tone, turning toward me. 
 
 " I think so, but I suppose there need be no appre- 
 hension of molestation from Injins, need there?" 
 
 Biddon looked at me a moment ; then one side of 
 his mouth expanded into a broad grin, and he 
 quietly remarked: 
 
 " Times are different from what they used to 
 
 war." 
 
 " Biddon," said I, after a moment's silence, " be- 
 fore we saw you we camp'^d upon one side of a 
 stream while you were upon the other. Now, I do 
 not suppose you would willfully harm a stranger; 
 but since I have met you, I have a great deaire to 
 know why you fired that shot at Nat. You sup- 
 posed we were Indians, I presume ? " 
 
BILL BID DON, TRAPPER. 
 
 59 
 
 A quiet smile illumined the trapper's swarthy 
 visage ; and, after waiting a moment, he answered : 
 
 ** The way on it war this : I seed you and Nat 
 camping there, and I s'pected you war gwine to 
 tramp these parts. I watched you awhile, and was 
 gwine to sing out for you to come over. Then said 
 I, ' Biddon, you dog, ain't there a chance to give 
 them a powerful scare.' First I drawed bead on 
 you, but when that Nat jumped up, I let fly at him, 
 and he kerflummuxed splendid. Howsumever, it's 
 time to snooze, and I'm in for it." 
 
 With this, we wrapped our blankets around us, 
 and in a few moments were asleep. 
 
 On a clear summer morning, w^e sallied out upon 
 the broad, open prairie again. The trapper now 
 struck a direction nearly due northwest toward the 
 Black Hills, and we proceeded with greater speed 
 than before. The face of the country began to 
 change materially. Vast groves of timber met the 
 eye, and the soil became rich and productive. At 
 noon we encountered the most immense drove of 
 buffaloes that I ever witnessed. They were to the 
 west of us, and proceeding in a southern direction, 
 cropping the grass clean as they went. Far away, 
 as far as the vision could reach, nothing but a sea 
 of black moving bodies could be distinguished. I 
 aiounted a small knoll to ascertain the size of the 
 
6o BI^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 drove; but only gained a clearer idea of their 
 enormous number. The whole western horizon, 
 from the extreme northwest to the southwest, was 
 occupied solely by them, and nothing else met the 
 eye. They were not under way, and yet the whole 
 mass was moving slowly onward. The head buf- 
 faloes would seize a mouthful of grass, and then 
 move on a few feet and grasp another. Those 
 behind did the same, and the whole number were 
 proceeding in this manner. This constant change 
 of their position gave an appearance to them, as 
 viewed from my standing-point, similar to the long 
 heaving of the sea after a violent storm. It was 
 truly a magnificent spectacle. 
 
 We approached within a short distance. They 
 were more scattered upon the outside, and with a 
 little trouble the trapper managed to insinuate him- 
 self among them. His object was to drive off a cow 
 which had a couple of half-grown calves by her 
 side, but they took the alarm too soon, and rushed 
 off into the drove. We then prepared to bring 
 down one apiece. I selected an enormous bull, and 
 sighted for his head. I approached nigh enough 
 to make my aim sure, and fired. The animal raised 
 his head, his mouth full of grass, and glaring at me 
 a moment, gave a snort of alarm and plunged head-- 
 long away into the droves. At the same instant I 
 
" Gave a snort of alarm and plunged headlong away into 
 the droves." 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 5^ 
 
 heard Nat's rifle beside me, and a moment after 
 that of the trapper. This gave the alarm to the 
 herd. Those near us uttered a series of snorts, and 
 dropping their bushy heads, bowled off at a terrific 
 rate. The motion was rapidly communicated to the 
 others, and in a few seconds the whole eastern side 
 was rolling simultaneously onward, like the violent 
 countercurrent of the sea. The air was filled with 
 such a vast cloud of dust that the sun's light was 
 darkened, and for a time it seemed we should suffo- 
 cate. We remained in our places for over an hour, 
 when the last of these prairie monsters thundered 
 by. A strong w^ind carried the dust off to the west, 
 and we were at last in clear air again. Yet our ap- 
 pearance was materially changed, for a thin veil of 
 yellow dust had settled over and completely en- 
 veloped us, and we were like walking figures of 
 clay. 
 
 I looked away in the direction of the herd, ex- 
 pecting to see my buffalo's lifeless form, but was 
 considerably chagrined at my disappointment, as 
 was also Nat at his. The trapper's was a dozen 
 yards from where it had been struck. 
 
 " 'Pears to me," said he with a sly smile, " I 
 heer'n your dogs bark, but I don't see nothin* of no 
 buffaloes, ogh ! " 
 
54 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 " I his mine," I answered quickly ; " I am sure of 
 it." 
 
 "Whereabouts?" 
 
 " In the head, plump and square." 
 
 " Whar'd you sight yourn, Greeny ? " 
 
 " Just back the horns, and I hit him too. If he 
 hasn't dropped before this, I'll bet he'll have the 
 headache for a week." 
 
 " B'ars and beavers, you ! Them bufflers didn't 
 mind your shots more nor a couple of hailstones. 
 Do you see whar I picked mine ? " asked the trap- 
 per, pulling the buffalo's fore-leg forward, and dis- 
 closing the track of the bullet behind it. 
 
 " Isn't a shot in the head fatal ? " I asked in as- 
 tonishment. 
 
 " You might hit 'em thar with a cannon-ball, and 
 they*d git up and run agin, and ef yoii'd pepper 'em 
 all day whar you did yourn, you'd pick the bullets 
 out thar ha'r and they wouldn't mind it." 
 
 This I afterward found to be true. No shot, 
 however well aimed, can reach the seat of life in 
 the buffalo through the head, unless it enter the eye, 
 fair front.* 
 
 The trapper's bufiFalo was thrown forward upon 
 
 * I may further remark, that the buffalo slain by us when lost 
 upon the prairie, was shot in the side as he wheeled to run from 
 ui, \vithout our suspecting it was the only place in which we coul^ 
 have given him a mortal wound. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 65 
 
 his face, his legs bent beneath him, and dressed 
 after the usual fashion. He was in good condition, 
 and we had a rich feast upon his carcass. The trap- 
 per selected a few choice portions from the inside, 
 relished only by himself, and cutting several huge 
 pieces for future use, the rest was left for the 
 beasts of prey. 
 
 We proceeded but a few miles further, and en- 
 camped upon the banks of the Dry Fork. This is a 
 small stream, a few miles south of the Black Hills. 
 There was but a foot or two of sluggish water, and 
 in the hot season it was often perfectly dry. Here 
 for the first time I was made aware of the change- 
 able character of the climate in this latitude. The 
 weather, thus far, had been remarkably clear and 
 fine, and at noon we found the weather sometimes 
 oppressively warm. Toward night the wind veered 
 around to the northwest, and grew colder. At 
 nightfall, when we kindled our fire, the air was so 
 chilly and cutting that Nat and I were in a shiver. 
 Had it not been for our blankets we should have 
 suffered considerably, though Biddon did not call 
 his into requisition. There were a number of Cot- 
 tonwood trees near at hand, which served partly to 
 screen us from the blast. 
 
 After our evening meal had been cooked, Biddon 
 remarked : 
 
g5 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 " The fire must go out, boys." 
 
 " Why ? Do you apprehend danger ? " I asked. 
 
 "Don't know as I do; I hain't seed signs, but 
 we're gittin' into parts whar we've got to be summat 
 skeerish." 
 
 " I suppose it's about time for the Indians to 
 come ? " remarked Nat interrogatively, with a look 
 of fear toward the trapper. 
 
 " They're 'bout these parts. Me'n Jack Javin 
 once got into a scrimmage yer with 'em, when we 
 didn't 'spect it, and jist 'cause we let our fire burn 
 while we snoozed. I'd seen sign though then, and 
 wanted to put it out, but he wan't afeared." 
 
 " Let's have ours out then," exclaimed Nat ex- 
 citedly, springing up and scattering the brands 
 around. 
 
 " Needn't mind 'bout that ; it'll go out soon 
 enough." 
 
 As Nat reseated himself, Biddon continued : 
 
 "You see, Jarsey, them reds kin smell a white 
 man's fire a good way off, and on sich a night as 
 this, ef they're 'bout they'll be bound to give him a 
 call. You needn't be afeared, howsumever, to 
 snooze, 'cause they won't be 'bout." 
 
 It was too cold to enjoy our pipes, and we all 
 bundled up for the night's rest. In a few moments 
 I heard the trapper's deep breathing, and shortly 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 67 
 
 after Nat joined him in sleep. But I found it im- 
 possible to get to sleep myself. The ground was 
 so cold that my blanket could not protect me, and 
 the cutting wind was terrible. I used every means 
 that I could devise, but it was of no use, and I 
 feared I should be compelled to either build the fire 
 again, or to continue walking all night to prevent 
 freezing to death, 
 
 I chose the latter expedient. It was quite dark, 
 yet I had noticed our situation well enough, I 
 judged, not to lose it. So grasping my blanket in 
 my hand, I started on a rapid run directly over the 
 prairie. I continued a long distance, until pretty 
 well exhausted. I turned to retrace my steps. My 
 blood was warming with the exercise, and I hurried 
 forward, counting upon sound sleep for the remain- 
 der of the night. 
 
 I continued my run for a full half hour, and then 
 stopped in amazement, as I saw no signs of my com- 
 panions. Thinking I must have passed the spot 
 where they were lying, I carefully walked back 
 again, but still without discovering the men. I had 
 lost them in the darkness, and it was useless to hunt 
 them at night So I concluded to wait till morning, 
 feeling sure that they could be at no great distance. 
 
58 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 I now commenced searching for a suitable place for 
 myself, and at last hit upon a small depression in the 
 prairie. There was a large stone imbedded in the 
 earth on one side, which served to protect me from 
 the chilling wind. As I nestled down, beside this, 
 such a feeling of warmth and comfort came over me 
 that I congratulated myself upon what at first 
 seemed a misfortune. 
 
 Lying thus, just on the verge of sleep, my nerves 
 painfully alive to the slightest sound, I suddenly 
 /elt a trembling of the ground. At first it seemed a 
 dream ; but, as I became fully awake, I started in 
 terror and listened. I raised my head, but heard no 
 sound, and still in the most perplexing wonder sank 
 down again, hoping it would shortly cease. But 
 there was a steady, regular increase, and presently I 
 distinguished millions of faint tremblings, like the 
 distant mutterings of thunder. Gradually these 
 grew plainer and more distinct, and finally I could 
 distinguish sounds like the tread of innumerable 
 feet upon the prairie. Still at a loss to account for 
 this strange occurrence, I listened, every nerve m 
 my body strung to its highest tension. Still louder 
 and louder grew the approaching thunder, and 
 every second the jar of the earth became more per 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 6g 
 
 ceptible. Suddenly the truth flashed upon mt—a 
 herd of buffaloes were approaching. 
 
 Terror for an instant held me dumb when I 
 realized this awful danger. My f rst resolve was to 
 rush forth and warn Nat and B. don; but I re- 
 flected that they must have been awakened, ere this, 
 and that I could do nothing to ward off the peril 
 which threatened all alike. Springing to my feet, 
 I paused a second to collect my tumultuous 
 thoughts. Could I reach the timber, I could ascend 
 a tree and be beyond danger ; but I knew not what 
 direction to take, and there was no time to spare. 
 To remain still was to be trampled to death; to 
 rush away could save me but a few moments longer. 
 God of heaven ! what a death ! 
 
 Louder and louder grew the thundering tread of 
 the animals, and I stood like a madman, the cold 
 sweat pouring off me, tormented by a thousand 
 agonizing thoughts, and expecting death each mo- 
 ment! Nearer and nearer came the rattle of the 
 clamping hoofs, and I stood rooted to the spot! 
 
 Sinking on my knees, I implored mercy of the 
 One who could give it in this moment of dire neces- 
 sity ; and while on my knees the means of preserva- 
 tion presented itself. 
 
70 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 " Strange ! " I exclaimed, breathing deeply, " that 
 I did not think of it before." 
 
 I have said that I was in a sort of depression or 
 hollow in the ea^-'^h, and that a large stone was im- 
 bedded on on*" .de. Now a safer and more secure 
 shelter couk' lot have been found in this emergency. 
 I wrapped my blanket around me, and crept as far 
 beneath it as I could, and I was saved 1 
 
 A few minutes later, and a dark body plunged 
 headlong over me with the rapidity of lightning, 
 followed instantly by another and another, and I 
 knew the herd were thundering past. For a long 
 time I lay there, beneath these thousands of feet, 
 one of which would have been sufficient to kill me. 
 The incessant crackling of their hoofs, and rattling 
 of their horns, sounded like the discharge of 
 musketry. Once a ponderous body tumbled over 
 the rock which sheltered me, and I caught sight of 
 a dark, writhing, bellowing mass, and the next in- 
 stant it regained its feet and disappeared. 
 
 It must have been an hour that I lay here, ere the 
 last animal leaped over me. Then I looked up and 
 saw the stars shining overhead. My joy at the sight 
 of those glittering orbs cannot be expressed. I 
 arose to my feet, and looked about me. It was 
 too dark to discern objects, yet I could hear the 
 rapidly retreating footfalls of the herd in the dis- 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 71 
 
 tance, and I knew I had been saved from a frightful 
 death. Sinking to the earth I offered a sincere 
 prayer of gratitude to the Almighty for his miracu- 
 lous preservation of my Hfel 
 
72 SILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE TRAPPING GROUNDS. 
 
 I WAS agreeably surprised upon waking to see 
 Nat standing within a few feet, holding two horses 
 by the bridle. 
 
 " Which one will you choose ? " he asked with a 
 broad smile. 
 
 " How did you come by them ? " asked I. 
 
 " I s*pose it must have been about the time you 
 left us last night, that Biddon woke me up, and told 
 me to follow him, as there was a powerful chance 
 to get a couple of bosses for you and me. I asked 
 him where you could be, and he said he s'posed 
 you'd gone further up-stream to sleep by yourself, 
 though he hadn't seen you go. Howsumever, we 
 wasn't worried, as we thought you were old enough 
 to take care of yourself, so we started down the bed 
 of the stream. We went about half a mile, when 
 Biddon showed me a small camp-fire, burned down 
 to a few coals and ashes ; but there was enough light 
 to show us two bosses picketed a few yards away, 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 73 
 
 and we seen the feet of a couple of redskins turned 
 toward the fire. Biddon said as how they was a 
 couple of hunters, sound asleep, and we might bor- 
 row their horses, if I didn't make too much noise. 
 He told me to stand still, and keep my gun pointed 
 at them, and the minute one stirred to shoot him, 
 and then rush in, and dispatch the other. I prom- 
 ised to do so, and he stole around to the hosses on 
 his hands and knees. He had cut both the lariats 
 and was leading them away, when one of the Indi- 
 ans raised his head and looked around, and as soon 
 as he seen the hosses moving off, give a grunt and 
 jumped up and ran toward them. I remembered it 
 was my duty to shoot, and as the Indian was run- 
 ning purty fast, I aimed about ten feet ahead of him, 
 supposing, of course, the villain would git there as 
 soon as the bullet did; but, I'll be hanged if he 
 wasn't mean enough to stop, and let the bullet be 
 wasted. My gun kicked like blazes, and the Ingins 
 I s'pose thought a whole tribe was upon them ; for 
 setting up a great howl, they skooted off in the 
 darkness, leaving us alone with the animals. Run- 
 ning back, I overtook Biddon, who was riding along 
 as though nothing had happened. He asked me to 
 ride and of course I jumped on, and here I am. 
 But which boss do you want ? " 
 " I do not see as there is much room for choice," 
 
74 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 I replied; ''both are splendid animals, and a most 
 opportune blessing." 
 
 " If it's all the same to you, this gentleman is 
 mine ; " and handing the bridle to me, he vaulted 
 upon the other. The latter was a magnificent Indian 
 pony, of a deep bay color, probably captured when 
 very young, and high spirited and fiery. Botli miani- 
 fested considerable uneasiness, knowing they were 
 in the hands of strangers, and Nat's made one or 
 two efforts to dislodge him; but he was a good 
 horseman, and maintained his place with apparent 
 ease despite the struggles, which were frantic and 
 desperate at first. Mine was somewhat larger, of a 
 coal-black color, and with as much spirit and fire as 
 ^he other, but in a few moments we had them both 
 t:nder perfect control. 
 
 Besides these two animals, we gained two fine 
 Indian saddles, and were now as well mounted as 
 we could wish. Nat remarked, that when the 
 buffaloes thundered by he felt some apprehension 
 for me, but the trapper expressed none, saying that 
 I would be found all right in the morning. As soon 
 as there was light, Nat commenced searching the 
 bed of the stream for me, and failing in this, he 
 climbed a tree and took a survey of the prairie on 
 both sides. From his elevation he discovered what 
 he believed to be my dead body ; and, accompanied 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. yr 
 
 by Bidden and the horses, hastened toward me. 
 Upon reaching me, they understood instantly the 
 whole matter, and it was their loud laughter that 
 had aroused me. 
 
 We were now pretty far to the northwest of 
 Nebraska Territory. The face of the country was 
 materially different, and I began to notice a change 
 of temperature. The summer had just closed, and 
 the early autumn was like the approach of winter. 
 The nights were cool and chilling, and the days 
 generally mild at noon, but often keen and exhil- 
 arating. The prairie was mostly of the rolling kind, 
 but the belts of timber were more common, and the 
 vegetation richer and more exuberant. It was 
 plain, too, that we were journeying into a section 
 where the foot of civilization had not been. The 
 vast, undulating swell of the prairie, the mighty 
 fields of verdure, and the broad rivers and streams, 
 bore only the marks of the red man and wild beast. 
 
 Toward noon, Nat descried a solitary antelope 
 far ahead. It was near a grove of timber, from 
 which it had just wandered, and stood gazing won- 
 deringly at our approach. We rode on in silence 
 for some time, when Biddon raised his hand for us 
 to halt. 
 
 " What do you intend doing ? " I asked. 
 
76 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 "Jes' hold on and see," he replied, as he dis- 
 mounted. 
 
 He made a circuit, skirting the prairie, so as to 
 reach the grove mentioned upon the opposite side 
 from the antelope. I still was at a loss to understand 
 his intention, as the animal was too distant from the 
 timber to be brought down with a rifle-shot from 
 that point. 
 
 "What under the sun does he intend doing?" I 
 asked, turning to Nat. 
 
 " Guess he's getting off there to shoot us." 
 
 On the outer edge of the grove, next to the ante- 
 lope, I saw him emerge, holding a stick over his 
 head, to which was affixed a handkerchief or rag. 
 He walked a short distance, and then lay down flat 
 upon the prairie, perfectly concealed in the grass. 
 The rag was visible, fluttering above him. I now 
 watched the motions of the antelope. He stood 
 gazing at us, until the trapper came into view, 
 when, with a startled glance at him, he wheeled and 
 ran. In a moment, however, he paused and turned 
 quickly around. His looks were now fixed upon 
 the fluttering signal. He stood motionless a mo- 
 ment, and then cautiously lifting his foot, made a 
 step toward it. Thus he continued to approach, 
 step by step, with apparent fear, and yet evidently 
 impelled by an ungovernable curiosity, until he was 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 77 
 
 scarce a hundred yards distant from the prostrate 
 form of the trapper. Still he was rrkoving stealthily 
 onward, when suddenly a red tongue of fire spouted 
 from the grass, and, as the sharp crack of Biddon*s 
 rifle reached us, we saw the antelope give a wild 
 leap into the air, and, bounding a short distance, 
 fall to the ground. The trapper immediately sprang 
 to his feet and hastened to the fallen animal. 
 
 " Let us ride to him," said I, walking my horse 
 onward. 
 
 We had ridden a short distance when Nat halted 
 and asked : 
 
 "What's got into Biddon? Just look at him!" 
 
 I did look up, and for a moment believed the man 
 had turned crazy. He had seen us approaching, 
 and was now making furious gesticulations toward 
 us. I watched him a moment, and then remarked : 
 
 ** He is either signaling for us to come on or to 
 stop." 
 
 " He means us to wait, I guess, and we had better 
 pause until he returns." 
 
 We reined in our horses and watched him. He 
 was apparently satisfied with our stopping, and 
 stooped and commenced working at the animal. In 
 a few momente he arose, and slinging a huge piece 
 on his shoulder, made his way into the grove. 
 From this he emerged in due time, and made his 
 
^8 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 way toward us, motioning, meanwhile, for us to 
 remain in our places. 
 
 " Why didn't you wish us to approach ? " I asked, 
 as soon as he came within speaking distance. 
 
 He made no answer, but throwing his meat upon 
 the ground, hastily mounted his horse. Then he 
 spoke in a deep whisper: 
 
 " Boys, did you 'spose there's over twenty red- 
 skins among them trees ? " 
 
 " Heavens ! it isn't possible ? " I exclaimed, catch- 
 ing my breath. 
 
 " It's so ; I seed 'em, and thar eyes are on us this 
 minute. They're waitin' for us to go on, an' they'll 
 give us thunder and lightnin'." 
 
 " What's to be done ? " queried Nat. 
 
 "Jes* keep still, an' don't kick up, or they'll see 
 it. We've got to make a run for it. Keep close to 
 me, and when I start, let your horses went." 
 
 " But the meat ? " I hurriedly asked. 
 
 " Can't take it. We have a long run, an' our 
 our horses won't want to carry no extra load. I 
 didn't see thar animals, but I guess they ain't 
 mounted. Ready ! " 
 
 With this, Biddon wheeled his horse quickly 
 around, and vanished from his place with the speed 
 of lightning, while ours almost smultaneously shot 
 ahead like an arrow. An instant after, I heard the 
 
" Looking back saw a host of savage forms/' 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. gj 
 
 faint discharge of guns, and, looking back, saw a 
 host of savage forms pouring hastily from the 
 timber. 
 
 " No need of hurrying. They are not mounted," 
 I called out to Nat, who has hurrying his horse to 
 the utmost. 
 
 " I don't believe it," he exclaimed, still speeding 
 furiously onward. 
 
 " Go it, Todd ! you'll fetch up at Fort Laramie," 
 yelled Biddon. 
 
 The latter drew his horse into a steady canter, 
 and indulged in several loud laughs at the flying 
 fugitive. Nat continued his mad career until he 
 had gone a good distance, when, seeing how far 
 behind he had left us, he reined up and awaited 
 our approach. 
 
 The savages, in the meantime, were hurrying on 
 in pursuit. I know not what led them to expect 
 any success in this chase, for, as remarked, not one 
 was mounted. They may have had little faith in 
 the speed or bottom of our horses, and trusted they 
 would be able to run us down. Biddon half turned 
 in his seat, and, looking back a moment, asked: 
 
 " Do you see that red, diggin' like all mad off on 
 one side? The one as is tryin' to surround us? " 
 
 I glanced back and answered in the affirmative. 
 
 " Do you want to see a red drop in purty style ? " 
 
g2 BILL B1DD02J, TRAPPER, 
 
 I answered again in the affirmative. 
 
 " Wal, jis keep yer peeper on him." 
 
 So saying, he raised his rifle, without checking 
 the speed of his horse, took a quick aim along its 
 long barrel and fired. To my astonishment, the 
 Indian mentioned uttered a wild shriek, and spring- 
 ing high in the air, fell to the earth. 
 
 " He's done for," remarked the trapper, quietly. 
 " While I fodder my iron, 'sposen you try your 
 hand." 
 
 I raised mine to my shoulder, and pointing it 
 toward a conspicuous savage, pulled the trigger. 
 As might be expected, I came about as near to him 
 as I did to Nat, in front. 
 
 " It will take a long time for me to accomplish 
 that feat," said I. 
 
 " Wal, yer goes agin." 
 
 And again was the fatal rifle discharged, and 
 again did a savage bite the dust. 
 
 Still the pursuers maintained their ground, seem- 
 indv determined to overtake us at all hazards. 
 They were separating and scattering over the 
 prairie, with the evident intention of hemming us 
 in. At this moment we came up to Nat. 
 
 " Why don't you run ? " he asked, impatiently. 
 " They'll shoot us all afore we know it." 
 
 He had scarcely finished his words, when the 
 
BILL BIDDOX, TRAPPER. g^ 
 
 pursuers did fire, and with an uncomfortable effect, 
 too. The bullets were plainly heard whistling 
 through the air beside us, and one actually cut its 
 way through the upper part of Nat's hat, some eight 
 or ten inches from the crown of his head. He 
 dodged nervously, and jerking the hat off his head, 
 held it up to view. 
 
 " Just look there ! " he exclaimed, indignantly, 
 putting his finger through the orifice. 
 
 "What of it?" gruffly asked Biddon. 
 
 " That's a pretty question to ask, I should think ! 
 I swow I won't stand any such work as this.'* 
 
 And giving his horse the rein, he shot rapidly 
 ahead. 
 
 *' I guess we mought as well," remarked Biddon, 
 letting his horse have free rein. 
 
 The race was now decided. At such speed as we 
 went, of course the pursuers were soon left behind, 
 and in an hour not one was visible, all of them being 
 either distanced or having voluntarily withdrawn. 
 
 Our course was southwest; so that we had lost 
 considerable ground, and were obliged to make a 
 long detour to regain the trail. We camped at night 
 about as far south as the previous camp, but farther 
 west. In the morning we struck due north, and 
 continued in this direction for several days. 
 
 It is not necessary to give the particulars of our 
 
§4 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 journey to the northwest. We continued traveling 
 onward for three days, when we reached the region 
 where it was intended we should remain until 
 spring. This was much further northward than I 
 suspected; in fact, it was but a few miles distant 
 from the Hudson Bay Territory, and upon one of 
 the remote tributaries of the Missouri. We had 
 entered a climate that even now, was like the winter 
 of the one we had left. We had entered a mighty 
 wilderness, where, ere we left it, we were doomed 
 to pass through some strange experiences, and of 
 which I now shall speak. 
 
 We had detected signs of beavers at several 
 streams which we crossed during the last day or 
 two of our journey, but Biddon paid no attention 
 to them until about the middle of the afternoon, 
 when we reached a small river, flowing nearly due 
 south, and passing through the Hudson Bay Terri- 
 tory in its course. This stream we forded, and, as 
 we reached the opposite side, he remarked : 
 ** Yer' the spot whar we're goin' to squat." 
 It is perhaps worth remarking that the section 
 was a wooded country. We had passed over no 
 clear prairie during the day, and were in the midst 
 of a deep wood. The trees were of nearly every 
 conceivable kind — the cottonwood predominating. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. %$ 
 
 with oak, elm, ash, walnut, and such as are common 
 in our own forests. 
 
 After crossing, the trapper headed directly up- 
 stream for a short distance, when he turned to the 
 left and descended into a valley. Here he dis- 
 mounted. 
 
 " Take yer fixins'/' said he, " and turn the hosses 
 loose." 
 
 " Won't they wander away ? " I asked. 
 
 " Yourn may, but mine won't; you've got to take 
 your chances, though. ' Tain't likely they'll be 
 'sturbed, 'cept by grizzlys and reds." 
 
 The spot selected was a broad bottom of rich 
 grass, inclosed by thick walls of undergrowth upon 
 every side. Here we left our horses, and, taking 
 our saddles and trappings, moved away. 
 
 " Have you ever been here before ? " I asked of 
 the trapper. 
 
 " I stayed yer last season, but didn't 'spect to come 
 back. Howsumever, I changed my mind, and yer 
 we is. Move keerful and don't make a big trail." 
 
 We followed nearly a quarter of a mile directly 
 up-stream, when he halted, and looked carefully 
 about him. 
 
 " I don't s'pose thar's reds 'bout, but thar's no 
 tellin* whar they is. I didn't see none last year. 
 
§6 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 but they mought be 'bout now. Jes' hold on a 
 minute." 
 
 The banks of the stream were fringed by a deep 
 Mnder-growth upon both sides. Stepping forward 
 to the water's edge, the trapper parted the branches, 
 and glancing a moment within, motioned for us to 
 approach. 
 
 " It's all right," said he, " there hain't been no 
 reds poki' 'bout yer while I's gone." 
 
 With this he stooped and pushed a small canoe 
 into the water and slipped within it. 
 
 We joined him, although our com-bined weight 
 brought the frail vessel down to its very gunwales. 
 It was ma'de of bark after the Indian fashion, very 
 light, but strong. Bidden dipped a long Indian 
 paddle in the water and we moved slowly up-stream. 
 After going a short distance, he again touched the 
 bank, and from beneath another lot of shrubbery 
 drew forth a number of beaver traps. These were 
 similar to the common trap used in all parts of the 
 world, and set much after the same fashion, but with 
 a very different bait. At every point where signs 
 of the animals were visible, he dug down the bank, 
 so as to make a certain spot perpendicular. Just 
 beneath the surface of the water he then placed the 
 trap. The next and last proceeding was to smear 
 ^Jie banks around with a very odoriferous oil, ob- 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 87 
 
 tained from the beaver itself. This smell attracts 
 the beavers in the vicinity, who immediately swim 
 to the shore to learn more of it. The trap is so 
 arranged that one is sure to place his foot directly 
 upon it for support in ascending the bank, and the 
 natural consequence follows. He is caught and falls 
 into his mortal enemy's hands. 
 
 " Ef one don't have a dinner on beaver tails to- 
 morrow, then I'm a beaver," remarked Bidden, after 
 he had set all his traps, and headed his canoe down 
 stream. 
 
 " A dinner on beaver tails ! " exclaimed Nat, in 
 astonishment. ** That must be a fine dinner, I 
 swow." 
 
 " If you had read much of these animals, you 
 would know that the part mentioned by Biddon, is 
 the most delicious and nourishing portion," said I. 
 
 " And when you gits a bite of it, you'll find it so, 
 I reckons ! " 
 
 " Perhaps so," replied Nat, doubtingly ; " but 
 whar ar' you going to take us ? " 
 
 " You'll find out when we get thar." 
 
 The trapper rowed the canoe quite a distance 
 down stream, when he sheered it into shore close to 
 where a huge chestnut, larger than any I had ever 
 before witnessed, overhung the water. Its base was 
 enveloped by a mass of undergrowth, denser than 
 
88 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 common, and we were obliged to stoop to the edge 
 of the boat before we could make our way beneath 
 it. As we sprang up the bank, it pulled up behind 
 us, and I then noticed that the chestnut was hollow, 
 and had a deep orifice at its base. 
 
 " Poller," commanded Biddon, stooping and 
 crawling beneath it. 
 
 We did so, although there was some hesitation 
 upon my part, and my astonishment was unbounded 
 at what I witnessed when within. At first there 
 was nothing visible but the intense darkness, and 
 I stood, fearful of advancing or retreating. 
 
 " Where are you, Biddon ? " asked Nat, in a 
 slightly wavering tone. The next instant the trap- 
 per struck a light ; and as its rays filled the chamber, 
 I repeat, my astonishment was unbounded. We 
 were standing in an open space, at least eight feet 
 in diameter. The chestnut was but a mere shell, 
 with its trunk but a few inches in thickness at the 
 most. The interior of this was fitted up like a 
 house. The rotten chunks upon the sides had been 
 torn down and formed a pleasant, velvety carpet 
 beneath the feet. All around the walls were hung 
 numerous furs, and a pile at one side afforded a bed 
 such as we had not enjoyed for weeks. Added to 
 all this, there was an arrangement so as to make it 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 89 
 
 perfectly easy and convenient to kindle a fire. Nat 
 was the first to express his unbounded astonishment. 
 
 " This beats all I never seen anything like it. 
 But don't the Injins know anything of it?" 
 
 " No, sir; and I cac'late as how they won't 
 neyther, ef you don't tell 'em." 
 
 " Oh ! I won't tell them. I swow this is queer," 
 and he looked slowly about and above him. 
 " What's that hole for ? " he asked, pointing to a 
 small orifice just visible far above us. 
 
 " That's fur the smoke to go out." 
 
 " But it must be likely to attract attention," I re- 
 marked. 
 
 " I never start a fire 'cept at night." 
 
 " I see — wonderful ! " and I, too, gazed ad- 
 miringly about me. The light made the whole in- 
 terior visible. The dark, snuff-colored fragments 
 of decayed wood hung in ponderous masses above 
 us, and the immense diameter gradually tapered as 
 it ascended, until only the small opening, far above, 
 was seen, resembling a faint star. The thickness of 
 the wood, together with the great number of furs, 
 protected us so well from the cold, that there could 
 be little need of fire in the coldest weather, except 
 for cooking purposes. 
 
 " This is rather odd, I allow, to you, Jarsey ; but 
 ef you had been with me down on the Yallerstone, 
 
QO BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 you'd seen suthin' as would 've made you look, you 
 would. You may shoot me, ef you wouldn't." 
 
 " I suppose I should, but not more than this has." 
 
 " Mebbe not, but don't stand gapin' there all day. 
 It's gittin' dark, and we'll have our fodder." 
 
 The fire was now started, and the smoke ascended 
 finely, escaping at the outlet. A good slice of meat 
 was cooked, and we made a hearty supper upon it. 
 After this the fire was allowed to slumber, but the 
 light remained burning until a late hour. We lit 
 our pipes, and chatted dreamily for a long time in 
 our new home. The trapper, feeling in the mood, 
 related many reminiscences of his life, including 
 adventures both tragical and comical, and Nat gave 
 a few of his own experiences. At a late hour we 
 ceased, and fell into a peaceful, dreamless slumber. 
 
 When I awoke the trapper had disappeared. Nat 
 was stretched beside me still asleep. In a short 
 time the former entered as noiselessly as he had 
 departed. 
 
 "What fortune?" I asked. 
 
 " Good ; had two fat fellers. W^ake up, and we'll 
 have a meal as is a meal." 
 
 Nat soon made a movement, and, after several 
 yawns, became fully awake. The trapper kindled a 
 small fire, and cooked his beaver tails. The two 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. gi 
 
 made as choice and delicious a meal as I had ever 
 eaten. Nat was convinced by one taste. 
 
 The day was clear and pleasant, and Bidden ex- 
 pressed his determination of going up the stream in 
 order to see the signs of game. I accompanied him, 
 but Nat chose to remain at home and sleep a few 
 hours longer. 
 
 We sauntered carelessly forth up the stream 
 through the tangled underwood. It was a clear day 
 in autumn ; the air was keen and bracing, and the 
 woods gloriously fine. Some of the leaves were 
 just beginning to fall, and they made a dappled and 
 fiery carpet for our feet, rustling with a soft, pleas- 
 ant sound at every step. Now and then we could 
 hear the shrill notes of some songster of the forest, 
 and once or twice the faint bay of some distant 
 animal. 
 
 We had wandered some distance, when Biddon 
 proposed turning back, as he had just discovered 
 he had forgotten his pipe. I was too well pleased, 
 however, with the prospect to retrace my footsteps. 
 Accordingly, we parted company for a time, he 
 remarking that probably he would return when he 
 had regained his indispensable article. 
 
 Left alone, I now wandered dreamily onward, in 
 a pleasant reverie, hardly conscious of what I was 
 doing, until I was recalled to my senses by the 
 
02 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPBB. 
 
 grandeur of a new scene that suddenly burst upon 
 my view. I had ascended a small rise on the bank 
 of the stream, from which I had an extended view 
 of the river. I stood for a moment wrapt in the 
 glories of the scene. Far behind could be discerned 
 the broad bosom of the river, stretching away like 
 a vast body of molten silver, bordered on either 
 side by the mighty forest, until it disappeared in a 
 sweeping curve, within the interminable wilderness. 
 Above me for several miles the same winding 
 course could be seen, brightly glistening for miles. 
 Not a ripple disturbed the surface, save when a 
 bird skimmed over it, just tipping its wings, 
 and making a flashing circle or two. The blue sky 
 above, unflecked by a single cloud, harmonized so 
 well with the magnificent view, that I stood a long 
 time, drinking in the splendor of the scene. 
 
 My eye was still resting upon the glistening bend 
 of the river above, when the quietness of the scene 
 was interrupted by a dark speck which suddenly 
 came in view, around a curve about si mile above. 
 At first I supposed it to be some animal or log 
 floating upon the surface; but as I looked at it, I 
 saw to my astonishment that it was a canoe coming 
 down-stream. Several forms were visible, yet their 
 number, at that distance, was uncertain. The bright 
 flash of their paddles was visible in the morning 
 
" In the stem, with a guiding oar, sat a young female." 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. gc 
 
 sunshine, and they maintained their place near the 
 center of the stream. 
 
 I scrutinized them, vainly to make out their num- 
 ber, until it occurred to me that it would be best 
 to make myself invisible. The approaching canoe 
 might contain nothing but Indians, and it was not 
 desirable that our presence in this section should be 
 known to any but ourselves. I slipped behind the 
 trunk of a tree, nearer the water, yet still upon the 
 elevated knoll, which entirely concealed my body 
 from sight. 
 
 From this point I watched the approach of the 
 canoe with interest. Soon it came nigh enough to 
 enable me to distinguish the forms within it. There 
 were two Indian warriors seated each with a paddle 
 in his hand, but not using them, except to keep 
 the canoe in the channel, and in the stern, with a 
 guiding oar, sat a young female. I supposed her 
 a squaw, belonging to the same tribe with her com- 
 panions, and scrutinized her as closely as my posi- 
 tion would permit. She wore a beautiful head- 
 dress, gayly ornamented with stained porcupine 
 quills and beads, and a brilliant crimson shawl en- 
 veloped her slight form. The savages maintained 
 their places as motionless as statues, their gaze 
 apparently resting upon the stream behind them ; 
 while that of the female was fixed upon the stream 
 
q5 bill biddon, trapper. 
 
 in front, and her whole attention absorbed in direct- 
 mg her canoe. 
 
 I know not whether the inmates discovered me 
 before I concealed myself, but I fancied I detected 
 a glance of the Indians at my hiding-place, as they 
 floated slowly by, and some cause led the female, 
 when directly opposite, and but a few hundred feet 
 distant, to turn her face toward me. Judge of my 
 astonishment, at perceiving that she was not an 
 Indian — but a white woman! Her appearance, as 
 she turned her gaze directly upon the spot where 
 I was standing, I can never forget. She was so 
 close at hand, and my view so perfect in the clear 
 sunlight, that I saw every feature. The pale white 
 face, surrounded by dark, luxuriant hair falling 
 upon the shoulders, the dark eyes shaded by long 
 inky lashes, and the mute, untranslatable look, 
 haunted me for many a night after. She merely 
 glanced toward me, and slowly floated past. 
 
 Dropping upon my hands and knees, I crept 
 hastily from the knoll into the undergrowth below, 
 and made my way hurriedly but noiselessly to the 
 stream. I could not have been over a minute in 
 so doing, but when I reached the water, and peered 
 through the bushes, not a trace of the canoe was 
 visible. I looked closely into each shore, up and 
 down the stream, everywhere that I could look, 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, gy 
 
 but could not detect the slightest ripple or move- 
 ment to account for this mysterious disappearance. 
 For over an hour I waited in the hope that the 
 canoe would reappear, but I saw nothing more of it 
 
og MILL BJDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 CONVERSATIONS AND PLANS. 
 
 The disappearance of the canoe, although singular 
 in itself, had nothing supernatural about it. The 
 shrubbery, which overhung the water on either 
 shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding- 
 place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the 
 paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath 
 their shadows. That this had been done, was plainly 
 evident. Yet why had it been done? What motive 
 was there for concealment ? And why, if apprehen- 
 sive of danger, had the Indians waited till they 
 were in its vicinity? 
 
 These and numerous questions, I asked myself, 
 as I carefully retraced my steps down-stream again. 
 The whole proceeding was mysterious to me. I 
 had, doubtless, exposed myself while watching the 
 canoe and its occupants, and thus betrayed to an 
 enemy our presence in their country. What would 
 result from this, I could not conjecture, and deter- 
 mined to make everything known to the trapper. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 99 
 
 But then I felt somewhat fearful of this. He 
 would, doubtless, be incensed at my imprudent 
 thoughtlessness, which might compel him to leave 
 a country offering such inducements to the trapper 
 and fur-trade ; and I argued it was not certain that 
 I had really been seen by the Indians in question. 
 If they meditated hostility, Biddon would be warned 
 soon enough for all purposes — and so I decided to 
 keep my own secret for the present. 
 
 But the question which occupied my thoughts, 
 almost to the exclusion of everything else, was the 
 identity of the female in the canoe. What could 
 bring a white maiden to these wild regions of the 
 northwest? What meant her appearance in the 
 canoe with two savage Indian warriors? What if 
 she was the child which Biddon had referred to, as 
 being captured upon the night of the massacre? 
 This thought intensified the interest I already felt 
 in her, I believed she had seen me ; and her silent 
 look toward the shore had something more than 
 curiosity in it. I imagined there was a mute, 
 eloquent appeal in those dark eyes. 
 
 Still ruminating upon this all-absorbing theme, I 
 reached the tree, and, stooping upon my hands and 
 knees, crawled within it. The movement had well- 
 nigh cost me my life. As my head entered, I 
 encountered the alarmed visages of Nat and Biddon 
 
lOo BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 — the latter with his knife drawn, and just prepar- 
 ing to spring upon me. 
 
 " You liked to got rubbed out that time ! " he 
 exclaimed, replacing his weapon. " What made you 
 forgit the sign ? " 
 
 " It must have been because it did not occur to 
 me," I laughed ; " I have had no occasion to use it 
 before, and forgot it altogether ; but I will remem- 
 ber it, you may be assured, in future.'* 
 
 " You'd better, for I was just going to shoot, too," 
 added Nat, rising to his feet, and then seating him- 
 self again. 
 
 " You shoot ! " repeated Biddon, contemptuously, 
 " You're shooter ain't loaded ! " 
 
 " I forgot that. I wonder if I couldn't load it, 
 say?" he indignantly demanded. 
 
 " Yes, in course, if the reds waited fur yer." 
 
 Nat made no reply to this, except that of instantly 
 proceeding to load his piece. As it was near noon, 
 the meal was prepared — this time from the beaver's 
 body. The hair was singed off from a piece, which 
 was then cooked in the usual manner. This, al- 
 though very palatable, was not equal to the tail of 
 the animal, the meat being more tough and oily. 
 
 Shortly after, the trapper departed for the purpose 
 of visiting his traps, and setting new ones. When 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. loi 
 
 alone with Nat, I determined to impart to him my 
 morning's experience. 
 
 "Nat, I have seen Indians," I remarked, in a 
 
 quiet tone. 
 
 " You hain't ! " he exclaimed, starting up from his 
 bed of skins with such suddenness as to break the 
 remains of his pipe. 
 
 "I have; and, what is considerably more, they 
 
 have seen me." 
 
 " I should think it was considerably more, umph ! 
 What did you do to them? I didn't hear you shoot. 
 Why didn't you tell me before? Why didn't you— 
 why, it seems to me you're very cool about it." 
 
 " There is no occasion for excitement at all. Just 
 remain quiet, and I will tell you how it all happened." 
 
 And thereupon I related the particulars of the 
 incident already known to the reader. Nat's 
 wonder, excitement, and apprehension were roused 
 to the highest pitch at the narration. Springing to 
 his feet, he pulled his flattened hat violently over 
 his forehead, and striding about a moment, de- 
 manded : 
 
 '' Why didn't you tell Bill? Like as not he'll be 
 shot and scalped before he gets back." 
 
 " I did not think it best," I returned. " Biddon 
 is not the man to walk into danger with his eyes 
 
I02 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 shut, and if there is any cause for fear, he will 
 discover it soon enough." 
 
 " Suppose he will ; but ain't it terrible ? " 
 
 "Isn't what terrible?" 
 
 " Why, that we're surrounded by In j ins, thirsting 
 for our blood ! " 
 
 " We are not surrounded by Indians, Nat," I 
 returned, reprovingly. 
 
 " I know ; but then they are all around us. It 
 won't do to stick our heads out, except at night, and 
 then, like as not, we'll be shot for our trouble." 
 
 " You are not afraid, I hope." 
 
 " Oh, no ! not a bit; but then you know it's rather 
 unpleasant to feel that those infarnal Blackfeet 
 (because this is the country of the Blackfeet In j ins) 
 are all about you, and waiting for a chance to shoot 
 vou from behind everv bush." 
 
 " Nat," I commenced, earnestly, " you say you are 
 not afraid of Indians, and yet you show it in every 
 word, look, and action. There is no excuse for this. 
 I saw only two savages, and a girl, evidently a 
 captive; no words or actions were exchanged be- 
 tween us. They disappeared very suddenly and 
 were, more probably, frightened at my presence. I 
 see nothing in this to excuse the excitement and 
 terror you have exhibited." 
 
 " I wonder what that girl is ? " 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. jq-, 
 
 " I am afraid you will have to wonder a long 
 time, as I can see no occasion for satisfying your 
 curiosity." 
 
 "Is she good looking?" asked my companion, 
 seriously. 
 
 " Very ! What makes you ask that question ? " 
 " I declare, if I don't marry her, just to spite 
 Alminy, and make Bill Hawkins mad," he ex- 
 claimed, joyously. 
 
 At this point I could restrain my mirth no longer; 
 but, as I indulged it, I was considerably surprised to 
 feel a slight twinge of jealousy at his words. This 
 discovery was painful. 
 
 '' I am afraid you will meet with several formi- 
 dable obstacles, before you can accomplish that ; the 
 most difficult of which will be to obtain an audience 
 with the fair one herself." 
 
 " Don't suppose she'd be very anxious to see me ; 
 and I wouldn't care if I only had my pipe and jack- 
 knife to pass away time with." 
 
 " I think it would be as well not to mention this 
 affair to Biddon." 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " It can do no good, and he would be displeased 
 at the thoughtlessness I have evidenced. I do not 
 think there are savages enough in the vicinity to 
 render us fearful of our safety. The canoe, I am 
 
104 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 disposed to believe, belongs to some tribe quite dis- 
 tant from here." 
 
 " But what are they here for ? " 
 
 " I can only conjecture. Biddon has never seen 
 savages in this particular section, and these may be 
 returning from some journey to their tribe." 
 
 " Perhaps so, and may be not. These plagued 
 In j ins sometimes live in one place and sometimes in 
 another, you know, and it may be that a notion has 
 just entered their heads to come and live in these 
 parts." 
 
 " There is reason in what you say, but, as I stated, 
 if danger threatens, Biddon will undoubtedly detect 
 its signs himself in time." 
 
 "I think he will, though I shall feel a little 
 flustered every time he goes out. You remember 
 when he was after the antelope, he walked right 
 am.ong the In j ins, without knowing it till it was too 
 late to stop." 
 
 " He did, it is true, but how nicely he walked out 
 again. I tell you, Nat, that fellow has nerve equal 
 to any emergency. What man, when conscious of 
 an overwhelming foe being concealed within a few 
 feet of him, could have repressed every sign of 
 trepidation or fear, as he did, and bring the antelope 
 through the same fearful ordeal, with the same 
 coolness and deliberation ? " 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 105 
 
 " That was a clever thing, I allow." 
 
 ** Bidden told me he felt a little nervous when 
 he saw us start to come up to him, for, if we had 
 reached him, it would have been all up with us. 
 He called out to us, though we did not hear him, 
 that there were more animals in the grove, and 
 our approach would frighten them. The impatient 
 Indians were thus held at bay, in the hope of being 
 oitered a better opportunity to accomplish our ruin, 
 until it was too late to accomplish anything save 
 the loss of two or three of their number. Such a 
 man, I repeat, will scent danger soon enough with- 
 out the help of others." 
 
 " He will, and I hope he'll find out who that 
 white girl is." 
 
 " Nat, do you remember the account Biddon 
 gave some time ago of a horrible massacre, upon 
 the sandy island near where we encamped one 
 night?" 
 
 " I don't think there is much likelihood of my 
 ever forgetting it." 
 
 " You will also recall his account of the capture 
 of a small child by the savages? Now, it has oc- 
 curred to me that this is that child grown to woman- 
 hood." 
 
 " I know it is ! " exclaimed Nat, joyously. 
 
 ** It is true there is much against it. It was a 
 
jo6 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 great distance from here, but as these savages 
 wander hundreds of miles at times, it is not im- 
 probable, upon that ground. Instances are only 
 too common of persons spending their lives in 
 captivity among these Indian tribes. She is a cap- 
 tive, beyond a doubt, and must long for restoration 
 to her home and friends. If possible, I am bound 
 to know more of her." 
 
 " So am I ! " exclaimed my excitable com- 
 panion. 
 
 " As I said, we will say nothing of this to Biddon, 
 until he discovers signs of Indians himself. To- 
 morrow, we will go forth together, and spend the 
 day in endeavoring to gain traces of the canoe and 
 its inmates; and if anything is discovered which is 
 alarming, we will impart it to him." 
 
 This Nat agreed to, and shortly after we heard 
 three raps upon the outside of the tree — the trap- 
 per's signal of his presence. A moment after, he 
 made his appearance. He was considerably elated 
 at his prospect for a goodly quantity of furs; 
 had set a number of traps; was sure of half a 
 dozen next day; had seen no signs of Indians, 
 and was convinced there were none in the vicinity. 
 None of us passed out again that day, but remained 
 indulging in our pipes and conversation as usual, 
 until a late hour. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. lo^ 
 
 The next morning the trapper proposed that I 
 should accompany him upon his daily round. I 
 complied, while Nat remained behind. 
 
 The day was as warm and pleasant as the pre- 
 ceding one, and the forest and stream as delightful. 
 Biddon paddled slowly up the unrippled surface, 
 and in a short time reached the first trap; it had 
 not been disturbed. Still hopeful, he passed on 
 to the second and third and all the others. But 
 there were no signs of beaver in any. 
 
 " Shoot me, that's quar' ! " he exclaimed, thought- 
 fully, as he saw the last one. '' I don't understand 
 it ; I must git out and take a look round." 
 
 He sprang ashore, and minutely examined the 
 ground around. A few seconds sufficed. He 
 looked up with a gleam of deep meaning, and s^id: 
 
 '' Here's the track of a thunderin' moccasin. The 
 reds have found us out." 
 
 He stepped into the canoe, and taking the pad- 
 dle moved it carefully back again. He touched at 
 each trap on the way. The footprints of a stranger 
 were visible at each. 
 
 " Thar's been a beaver taken out of that one ! " 
 he remarked, as the last one was reached. " It's 
 lucky for the sneakin' coward that I didn't see him. 
 He wouldn't 'sturbed any more gentlemen's traps." 
 
I08 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 " Are you sure it is an Indian who has been 
 annoying you ? " 
 
 " Wogh ! Don't you s'pose I could tell a red's 
 track from a grizzly's ? " 
 
 " But it might have been a white man — some 
 hunter or trapper ? " I suggested. 
 
 " A white man wouldn't be mean 'nough to do 
 sich a thing, 'less it war some of those Hudson Bay 
 fellers. They try them tricks sometimes, but they 
 git come up to. I catched a feller once from Fort 
 Hall at mine, and the way I walked into him war 
 a caution; but this ar' an Injin's track, sure." 
 
 " Do you suspect there could be a number in the 
 vicinity? " 
 
 " Ef there war, I'd Ve heard of 'em afore. This 
 is some varmint, sneakin' round yer, and he's got to 
 be rubbed out afore he makes more trouble." 
 
 " I fear that will be a difficult and dangerous job." 
 
 " Let me be for that." 
 
 Shortly after we reached our home, and running 
 the canoe beneath the bushes, entered it. We 
 were somewhat surprised to find Nat absent. He 
 returned, however, in a short time, and I saw at 
 once by his nervous, flustered manner that some- 
 thing unusual had occurred. Biddon questioned 
 him rather closely, as he suspected something, but 
 Nat evaded his inquiries, and would not admit that 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 109 
 
 he had seen anything to excite alarm or appre- 
 hension. 
 
 " I'm goin' out, and when I come back I'll tell 
 you what's the matter with them traps/' said 
 Biddon, seizing his rifle and departing. 
 
 I waited until he was beyond hearing, and then 
 turning to my companion, asked, 
 
 " What is the matter with you, Nat ? " 
 
 " Why ? " he asked, in turn, with a start. 
 
 " Because you show plainly that something has 
 occurred to alarm you." 
 
 He remained silent a moment, and then seizing 
 his hat, jerked it off his head, and threw it spite- 
 fully down, where he gazed at it a second, and 
 exclaimed, 
 
 " I'm sick of this." 
 
 "Sick of what?" 
 
 " Why, of being in this fix." 
 
 " I don't understand you. Please explain what 
 you mean." 
 
 " I should think you ought to know." 
 
 " But I do not." 
 
 " Why, this wood is full of In j ins ; they're behind 
 every tree and stump, and in every bush, and you 
 can hardly step without pitching over some painted 
 heathen." 
 
 " I am afraid you are exaggerating," I answered, 
 
no BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 suppressing a smile which was struggling at the 
 corners of my mouth. 
 
 " No, I ain't. I swow there are ten thousand 
 Injins just waiting outside to pounce upon us." 
 
 " You are talking nonsense, and you know it." 
 
 "Well, there's one Injin, for I seen him. Come 
 now," he affirmed, as if the matter was now settled 
 beyond a question. 
 
 " Ah ! that alters the case considerably. I 
 shouldn't wonder at all if there is one or a half- 
 dozen savages in the forest." 
 
 " If you see one savage haven't you a right to 
 suppose there's a hundred more about, I should 
 like to know ? " 
 
 " Not always, Nat ; I have seen three myself, yet 
 I do not believe there is another one in the neigh- 
 borhood. But I have not heard the particulars 
 of this affair of which you have been speaking. 
 Please let me hear them." 
 
 " There isn't much to tell, but there is enough 
 to make you do a heap of thinking. You see, after 
 you had left, I took a notion that I must have a 
 morning ramble; and I thought, too, there might 
 be such a thing as you two running into danger and 
 needing my help (T should like to know what you 
 are laughing at). So, on the whole, there was no 
 hesitation upon my part. Taking my rifle out, I 
 
BILL BIDDOX, TRAPPER. m 
 
 was soon making my way as noiselessly as possible, 
 in a direction from the river. 
 
 " I hadn't gone more than a dozen yards before 
 I commenced thinking about Injins, and came nigh 
 going back again. I wasn't afraid at all, you know, 
 but then it appeared to me I might bring you and 
 Biddon into trouble. However, I kept on. I had 
 gone some distance further, when all of a sudden I 
 heard a terrible whirr and rattle, and jumped clean 
 off my feet. But it was only a big owl which I had 
 stirred up. I was so provoked at the start he gave 
 me, that I should have wrung his neck had I got 
 my hands upon him. But I went on. Pretty soon 
 I reached a little stream of water, and as I jumped 
 across, what do you suppose I saw in the sand ? " 
 
 '' I am sure I cannot tell." 
 
 " Nothing less than a big moccasin track. 
 And what was more, it hadn't been made there a 
 week before! I stood and looked at it a good 
 while, cogitating some wonderful things. At last I 
 stooped and went to measuring it. I was just going 
 to rise, when I heard a grunt right by me. I 
 jumped up so quick — to be ready, you know — that 
 I floundered backward into the water. And I mav 
 be shot if there wasn't a big painted Injin standing 
 not ten feet off. He didn't say a word, but just 
 stood and looked at me with them awful eyes of his. 
 
112 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 As soon as I could think, I raised my gun, took a 
 quick aim, and pulled the trigger ; but the infernal 
 gun snapped. I pulled it again, but it wouldn't go, 
 and I just happened to think the thing wasn't 
 loaded. All this time the painted imp stood grin- 
 ning at me, without saying a word, except to kinder 
 grunt. He had a big shining gun in one hand, and 
 I was dreadful afraid he would shoot it. I told 
 him not to stir, but to stand still till I got mine 
 loaded, and he waited. But somehow or other, I 
 s'pose I was in such a hurry that things wouldn't 
 go right. Instead of putting the powder in the 
 gun-barrel, I crammed it in my pocket, and jammed 
 the ramrod into my shoe. I told the Injin to have 
 patience and I'd get it loaded in a minute. I got 
 it fixed somehow at last and hauled it up to 
 my shoulder, when, no Injin was there! I looked 
 behind, all about me, and up into the trees but 
 he'd been spirited away somewhere. However, I 
 made up my mind to shoot at the spot where he 
 had stood, and I up and blazed away. That is, I 
 blazed away without the gun going off. I believe 
 he spirited that too." 
 
 " Let me examine it. Perhaps you made some 
 blunder." 
 
 " No, Fm sure I didn^" 
 
 I took the rifle, with a smile of certainty that 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 113 
 
 I should find something the matter with it. Sure 
 enough the muzzle was crammed with paper, and 
 upon removing it, a pipestem, broken in pieces, 
 rolled out, while there was not a grain of powder in 
 the barrel. 
 
 '* I declare, I forgot about the powder ! " ex- 
 claimed Nat, opening his eyes in wonder. 
 
 " But not about the bullet," I laughed, pointing 
 to the fragments of his pipe. 
 
 " How'd that get there ? " he angrily asked. 
 
 "That's the question." 
 
 " I didn't put it there." 
 
 "Who did, then?" 
 
 " I don't know, I declare." 
 
 Nat picked up the fragments and examined them 
 carefully. 
 
 " That's my pipe sure ; and I had it in my 
 mouth, I remember when I started out, and missed 
 it coming back. I didn't put it in the gun 
 though." 
 
 " Let it pass then. Did you see no more of your 
 Indian friend ? " 
 
 " No ; he knew enough to keep out of my way. 
 I waited a long time for him, and at last started 
 home again. I kept an eye on every suspicious 
 object, but as I just said, seen nothing." 
 
 At this point I gave free vent to my pent-up 
 
II . BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 mirth. Nat, much astonished, looked wonderingly 
 at me, seemingly at a loss to understand the cause. 
 
 " I do not see what there is to laugh at," he re- 
 marked, reprovingly. " If it's a laughing matter 
 to know that there are In j ins all about you, why 
 you must laugh." 
 
 *' Your adventure with the Indian, Nat, and the 
 singular load in your rifle appears to me to be a 
 funny matter, and I trust you will pardon mtt 
 if " 
 
 ** Didn't I tell you I didn't put it in there? It 
 was the Injin's work." 
 
 And to this day Nat cannot be made to believe 
 that he was instrumenal in introducing the pipe 
 into his gun. 
 
 After a few more unimportant remarks, the con- 
 versation ceased. Nat's adventure began to appear 
 to me in a different light from that in which I had 
 viewed it at first. I doubted not but that he 
 was perfectly honest and truthful in what he said. 
 But why, when exposed to the will of the savage, 
 did he escape unscathed? Why did the latter 
 stand fearless and harmless before him? And what 
 meant these strange signs, these " footprints," 
 which were becoming visible around us? Matters 
 were assuming a puzzling form. We were being 
 environed by Indians without any evidence of 
 
BILL BIDDOX, TRAPPER. n- 
 
 hostility upon their part. What meant it? Surely 
 there was a meaning too deep and hidden for 
 us to divine as yet. 
 
 Suddenly Nat spoke. 
 
 " Don't you remember the canoe ? We were 
 going to hunt for that to-day ! " 
 
 ''Ah! how did I forget that? But had we not 
 better wait till Biddon returns?" 
 
 '* No; let us go at once. Hark! what's that?" 
 
 I held my breath, as the distant report of a 
 rifle reached our ears. The next instant came a 
 sound, faint and far away yet clear and distinct — 
 a horrid, unearthly sound, as the cry of a being in 
 mortal agony ! 
 
U6 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 STILL IN THE DARK — THE CANOE AGAIN. 
 
 For a moment we stood breathless, paralyzed 
 and speechless. Then our eyes sought each other 
 with a look of fearful inquiry. 
 
 "Was that Biddon's voice?" I asked, in a faint 
 whisper. 
 
 " I don't know. There it is again! " 
 
 And again came that wild, howling shriek of 
 such agony as made our blood curdle within us. 
 
 "// is his voice! Let us hasten to his aid," I 
 exclaimed, catching my rifle, and springing out. 
 Nat followed closely, his gun having been re- 
 loaded. The cry came from up the river and toward 
 it we dashed, scrambling and tearing through the 
 brush and undergrowth, like two maddened animals, 
 heedless of what the consequence might be. 
 Several times we halted and listened, but heard 
 nothing save our own panting breasts and leap- 
 ing hearts. On again we dashed, looking hurriedly 
 about us, until I knew we had ascended as high as 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 117 
 
 could be the author of that startling cry. Here 
 we paused and listened. No one was to be 
 seen. I turned toward Nat, standing; behind me, 
 and directly behind him I saw Biddon slowly 
 approaching. 
 
 "What are you doin' here?" he asked, as he 
 came up. 
 
 *' Was not that your voice which I just 
 heard?" 
 
 " I rather reckon it wan't. When you hear Bill 
 Biddon bawl out in that way, jist let me know, 
 will yer?" 
 
 " What under the sun was it ? " I asked then^ 
 greatly relieved. 
 
 " That's more nor me can tell ; but shoot and 
 skin me, if I can't tell you one thing ; " he ap- 
 proached closely and whispered, " there's sunk- 
 thin" else nor reds about yer." 
 
 " WTiat do you mean ? " I asked, although I un- 
 derstood well enough what he meant. 
 
 " I's here once afore, as I told yer, and I never 
 heerd sich goin's on then. I've seed the tracks 
 of moccasins all about the traps, but can't draw 
 bead on the shadder of a redskin." 
 
 " You heard that horrid howl, didn't you ? " 
 
 " Heerd it ! I should think I did." 
 
 "Was it you who shot?" 
 
Jig BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 "Yes; the way on it was this: I got on a purty 
 plain trail and follered it up hereabouts, when I 
 cotched the glimpse of a Blackfoot's feather goin' 
 down through the bushes there, and blazed away 
 at him. I never missed a red in my life, and I 
 didn't miss him. Howsumever, he didn't mind it, 
 but kept on and got away, and jist as he went out 
 of sight that orful yell come. It didn't seem that 
 he made it, but sounded like as though 'twas all 
 about me, above and under the ground, and around 
 and behind me." , 
 
 " Anywhere near us ? " asked Nat. 
 
 " It sounded jist under your feet about." 
 
 "Jerusha!" exclaimed the affrighted Nat, as 
 he sprang nervously toward me. 
 
 "It must have been the Indian, surely, who 
 made that yell," said I. 
 
 "In course; though things are beginnin' to look 
 qua'rish to me." 
 
 The same look of uneasiness again passed over 
 the trapper's face; and I saw that although he 
 strove to hide it, he was by no means at rest. 
 Matters were beginning to put on an unusual 
 aspect, and that was the reason. Give the trapper 
 of the northwest flesh and blood to contend against, 
 let him know that nothing supernatural is arrayed 
 against him, and he is the last man in the world 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. u^ 
 
 to yield an inch. But the moment he sees some- 
 thing unexplainable to his simple mind, (and the 
 trapper is a credulous being), his courage deserts 
 him. He believes that other spirits than those of 
 men visit this earth, and they are his greatest horror. 
 
 " Les' go home; there's Injins all around us,'* 
 pleaded Nat. 
 
 '' How'd you know ? " 
 
 " Because I seen one myself." 
 
 Biddon looked inquiringly at me, and, deeming 
 it best, I related the incident given in the preced- 
 ing chapter. I saw at once his uneasiness was 
 increased. 
 
 " Why didn't you shoot the redskin ? " he angrily 
 asked of Nat. 
 
 " Why didn't you shoot the redskin ? " queried 
 Nat, in turn. 
 
 *' I did — hit him fair and square as I ever hit 
 anything." 
 
 " But didn't do any more good than I did." 
 
 " I made the infarnal imp howl." 
 
 " And I made mine grunt/' added Nat, trium- 
 phantly. 
 
 ** There is no need of words," I interposed. 
 " Each of you did your best, Nat included. You, 
 Bill, I believe, hit your man and mortally wounded 
 hint. That yell was of agony, though I can't con- 
 
I20 BII^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 ceive how we came to mistake it for yours. The 
 dead or dying body of that Indian, I believe, is near 
 at hand. See ! what does that mean ? " I asked, as I 
 detected some red fluid dripping from the Hmb of a 
 bush to the earth. The trapper stepped forward 
 and looked at it. 
 
 "That's the blood of a Blackfoot, or I'm a 
 skinned beaver ! " he remarked, with a glow of re- 
 lief at having those strange apprehensions of his 
 removed. 
 
 '*Yes, Fm. convinced that's Injin blood," added 
 Nat, rubbing it between the tip of his finger and 
 thumb. *' The blood of a Blackfoot Injin, too — a 
 man's about thirty-two years old. Probably a 
 brother to the one I frightened." 
 
 " What do you know about that ? " I asked. 
 
 ** Oh ! it's only a supposition of mine." 
 
 ** Biddon, I believe, as I just said, that we will 
 find the body of that savage near at hand. Let us 
 follow it." 
 
 " Jes' what I's agoin' to do," he replied, starting 
 off at once upon the trail. 
 
 It was easy to follow, as every step was marked 
 by blood, which, in many places, was dripping 
 from the bushes to the ground. It was followed 
 but a short distance, however, as it led in a direct 
 line to the river. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 121 
 
 " It's as I s'pected," said Bidden, turning round 
 in disgust. 
 
 " He must have drowned then.'* 
 
 " Dunno 'bout that. He's taken to the water to 
 hide his trail, an' jes' as Hke as not some of the 
 other painted heathen have helped him off." 
 
 " No doubt about that. I've been thinking that 
 some of them helped off that fellow when I was 
 loading my gun." 
 
 " We mought as well go back agin," said Biddon. 
 " I'm tired of huntin' spirits, and I dunno but what 
 we'd better move traps and leave this plagued place 
 to 'em." 
 
 '' That's what I am in favor of — " 
 
 Nat suddenly paused, for Biddon, with a slight 
 "sh" motioned us down. We both sank quickly 
 and silently to the earth, while he, in a crouching 
 position, gazed stealthily up-stream. 
 
 " What is it. Bill ? " whispered Nat. 
 
 " There's a canoe coniin' down stream!" 
 
 We said nothing; and Nat looking meaningly in 
 the water. 
 
 " Skin me, if there ain't two reds and a squaw 
 in it," added Biddon, without changing his position, 
 or removing his gaze. 
 
 I could not restrain the singular agitation that 
 
122 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 came over me at this announcement. Fearing- to 
 betray myself, I cautiously arose beside Biddon. 
 
 " Let me take a look," I whispered. 
 
 '' Be keerful you ain't seen," he whispered, in 
 turn, as he stepped back. 
 
 As I looked, I saw, not more than two hun- 
 dred yards distant the canoe approaching, head- 
 ing directly towards us. For this reason, I could 
 only see the foremost Indian, though I was positive 
 another, together with the white captive, were in 
 it. I gazed but a moment and then looked inquir- 
 ingly at the trapper. He made no reply, but again 
 peered forth. 
 
 " That ain't a squaw ; it's a white gal," said he, 
 looking round upon us with an astounded look. 
 
 *' Shall we rescue her? I asked. 
 
 " Ef she wants us to, in course." 
 
 " You going to shoot them ? " asked Nat, anx- 
 iously. 
 
 " Can't tell yit. Jest see that yer irons is ready, 
 and we'll wait till they get out yer. Don't make no 
 noise till I give the motion." 
 
 The trapper stole a yard or two in front of 
 us, where he sank softly down upon his face until 
 only his head was visible. Nat fingered his gun 
 nervously beside me, while I, not a whit less agi- 
 
BILL BIVDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 123 
 
 tated, waited for the canoe to appear through the 
 interstices of the bushes in front. 
 
 In a moment, I heard the faint ripple of an 
 oar, and saw the trapper slowly raising his head 
 and bringing his rifle in front of him. He raised 
 his hand warningly for us to remain quiet un''l the 
 moment should arrive. I heard the click of my 
 companion's gun, as he raised the han-'mer, and 
 admonished him to be careful. 
 
 Suddenly, I saw the red head-dress of one of the 
 savages glittering through the bushes, and, before I 
 could speak, came an explosion beside me like the 
 crash of a thunderbolt. Almost simultaneously, the 
 herculean frame of the trapper bounded over me, 
 and he exclaimed : 
 
 "Who fired that? I'm shot." 
 
 Nat and I sprang to our feet and dashed after 
 him ; but as I turned, though bewildered with excite- 
 ment, I looked at the spot where the canoe was seen. 
 It was gone ! 
 
 We dashed up the bank, and in a moment reached 
 Biddon. The excitement had completely gone, and 
 he stood coolly feeling his ear. 
 
 " Was that your gun, Jarsey ? '' he asked. 
 
 " No, sir; mine is still loaded." 
 
 " How is yours, Greeny? " 
 
 Nat lifted his, examined the lock and looked 
 
124 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 into the barrel. He had indeed discharged it, 
 grazing the trapper's head so closely as to wound 
 his ear. 
 
 " Wonder if that was my gun ? Sure, I believe 
 it was/' he remarked, still looking into the barrel. 
 
 ""Vis it your gun?" repeated the trapper, his 
 brow larkening like a thunder-cloud, and laying his 
 hand up'^n his knife-handle, as he approached. 
 Nat looked up and started as he saw his visage 
 fairly gleaming with passion. 
 
 "I didn't shoot it. Bill, by thunder!" he ex- 
 postulated. 
 
 The face of the trapper changed. It grew paler, 
 and the dark cloud fled from it. He replaced his 
 drawn knife. He believed the words of Nat. 
 
 Matters were approaching a crisis. The recent 
 startling events had their effect upon us all. The 
 trapper avowed he could not stand " sich goin's on," 
 and should leave for some other quarters. Little 
 sleep came to Nat at night. His adventure with 
 the ravage, and the more recent occurrence alarmed 
 him. He had discovered that there were conse- 
 quences to be feared from both sides. 
 
 I was still unwilling to believe that there was 
 anything in the events given which would not soon 
 be explained. It was evident our foes were around, 
 and from some inexplicable cause, had pursued an 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 125 
 
 unusual course toward us. We had all been 
 exposed to their power, and had yet escaped harm- 
 less. What was the meaning of this? And, above 
 all, what was the object of the appearance and 
 disappearance of the canoe at the different times 
 mentioned ? Who could be that fair being of whose 
 existence I only was as yet aware? 
 
 These questions, prompted only my anxious curi- 
 osity and desire to learn more of that mysterious 
 being whom I had now twice seen. I ridiculed the 
 ideas of Biddon, and Nat strove hard to convince 
 him that he was not afraid. Biddon, consented to 
 remain until more was learned, intimating at the 
 same time, that it must be very soon. He visited 
 the horses each day, and found them undisturbed. 
 This, however, only added to his anxiety. Had they 
 been gone he would have taken it as convincing 
 evidence that bona Me Indians were in the neigh- 
 borhood. 
 
 The next day, after the closing scene of the last 
 chapter, Nat agreed to accompany me for the last 
 time to the spot where we had seen the canoe. The 
 trapper could not be prevailed upon to go, affirming 
 that he should probably have his hands full at home. 
 It required my utmost skill to succeed with Nat, as 
 the horror had plainly settled upon him. 
 
 " It's awful ! " said he, as we started, '*' this 
 
126 ^l^L, BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 walking right into danger, but I want to see that 
 canoe agin, but especially that gal, and so Fll go." 
 
 ''And, I trust, behave yourself. You well know, 
 Nat, you fired that shot which came so near ending 
 Biddon's life." 
 
 " Wonder if I did pull the trigger ! " he ex- 
 claimed, suddenly stopping and looking round at 
 me. 
 
 " You know you did, and had he known it, 
 too, it would have been a sorry piece of business 
 for you. That temper of his is terrible, when it is 
 once excited." 
 
 " I remember cocking my gun, and kind of 
 pulling the trigger, but I didn't mean to pull hard 
 enough to make it go off." 
 
 " I suppose not. I cannot conceive how Biddon 
 persuaded himself to believe that you did not dis- 
 charge it when the case was self-evident. But he 
 is willing to believe almost anything since he has 
 started." 
 
 " He shouldn't have gotten before my gun, for 
 he knows my hand sometimes trembles." 
 
 " I trust you will be able to control it this time." 
 
 " No doubt of that ; but, then, I'd advise you, as a 
 friend, not to get before me, especially if you sec 
 the canoe coming." 
 
 I assured him that I should not, and we kept 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 127 
 
 Upon our way. Upon each of the occasions before, 
 as near as I could judge, it was about noon that 
 the canoe made its appearance; and, as it was that 
 time now, we hurried forward, lest the opportunity 
 should pass. The opportunity, I say — for, although 
 it had appeared but twice as yet, I somehow or 
 other was well satisfied we should see it again. 
 
 " What are you going to do ? " asked Nat. 
 
 " It will depend upon what we see. If simply 
 those two savages with the captive, as we judge her 
 to be, are in the canoe, and no demonstration is 
 made, I think it best not to attempt a rescue. It is 
 only a supposition of ours that she is a captive, and 
 we know not that she would thank us for inter- 
 fering in her case." 
 
 In a short time we reached the elevation al- 
 ready mentioned. Here we seated ourselves so as 
 to remain concealed from any stragglers in the 
 vicinity, while we ourselves with a little care could 
 detect the slightest object passing. As I stooped, 
 my hand came in contact with something cold, and 
 upon looking at it, I saw it covered with dark clotted 
 blood. I started, and wiped it on the grass, but it 
 sent a shudder through me to reflect that it had once 
 been the life-fluid of a human being. 
 
 " Ugh ! " exclaimed Nat ; " ain't that awful ? " 
 
 " It is disagreeable, to say the least." 
 
128 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 "Just look at the blood on the grass, too, and 
 all around. I believe Bill must have hit a half- 
 dozen In j ins sure, the v^^ay things appear here." 
 
 " He must have wounded one terribly to make 
 him bleed like this." 
 
 " And if he had been a flesh and blood Injin he 
 would have never tramped in that manner. I tell 
 you, William Relmond, there is something more 
 more than human about us. I can feel it in my 
 bones, and I'm of Biddon's opinion that the sooner 
 v/e get away from here the better." 
 
 '* Fudge ! I see you are beginning to get 
 alarmed." 
 
 " Oh no ; you are mistaken. I am not frightened 
 at all. For Biddon's sake, but more especially for 
 yours, I am anxious. If you are desirous of remain- 
 ing hereabouts, and will take all the consequences, 
 I will make no objections." 
 
 " Of course, if I run into danger of my own 
 accord, I expect that I alone will suffer the 
 penalty." 
 
 " Then we needn't say anything more about it ; 
 you know we pledged ourselves to remain true to 
 each other, and I won't desert you." 
 
 " That's well spoken, Nat. The minute I am 
 satisfied that our lives are imperiled, I shall not 
 be the means of prolonging that peril a moment. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 120 
 
 It is only this great desire to solve and under- 
 stand the singular occurrences that are transpiring 
 around us, that leads me to still remain. I have 
 determined that to-day we shall all be satisfied." 
 
 " My curiosity is extraordinarily high ; but I guess 
 that gal has as much to do with it as anything 
 else. I'm determined to get a glimpse of her face, 
 and, if possible, whisper in her ear that Nat Todd, 
 from Maine, is about. I flatter myself that the 
 minute she knows that, she will jump overboard 
 and make for shore without saying a word to the 
 chaps with her." 
 
 " The greatest difficulty, I fear, will be to con- 
 vey your words to the captive, without conveying it 
 also to her captors." 
 
 " I swow, it would be harder than I thought at 
 first." 
 
 During this conversation, which was carried 
 on in a half-whisper, Nat was constantly parting 
 the bushes and peering through them, while now 
 and then I glanced expectantly up the stream; 
 but nothing as yet had rewarded our watchfulness. 
 Suddenly I reflected that as I had been twice 
 defeated in observing the disappearance of the 
 canoe, from the exact spot upon which we were 
 now seated, that we might make a better arrange- 
 
130 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 ment of ourselves, so as to insure this coveted 
 knowledge to one of us at least. 
 
 I mentioned this to Nat. 
 
 " If one of us was on t'other side, the thing 
 would be certain, but that can't be done very con- 
 veniently, and we shall have to try something else.'* 
 
 " Suppose you go down stream about a hundred 
 yards near the bend yonder," I proposed to Nat. 
 
 " Guess I will ! " he exclaimed, as he rose to go. 
 
 *' Wait a moment," said I, detaining him. *' Let 
 me admonish you to exercise no ordinary caution, 
 Nat, for you have seen enough to convince you 
 that your own safety depends upon it. Remember 
 that a word or false movement, however slight, 
 may defeat our plans. Look out for danger to 
 yourself, and not let your curiosity be the means 
 of your destruction. Be very careful." 
 
 I know not what led me to thus warn him ; but at 
 the moment he arose to go, an unaccountable sense 
 of impending danger came over me. It was not so 
 much for me as for him I spoke thus. He promised 
 to heed my words and departed. 
 
 As soon as he had disappeared, I cast another 
 look up stream, but still there were no signs of the 
 expected canoe, and a sudden apprehension that I 
 should not see it again came over me. There 
 was, in fact; as much reason not to expect it as to 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 131 
 
 anticipate its coming, and as I looked up at the 
 sun and saw that it was already beyond the hour, 
 I was half-tempted to turn back. While I was 
 debating, I naturally looked up the river, and there, 
 just rounding the bend where the canoe had first 
 come into view before, — and there it was coming! 
 Quivering with agitation, I sank upon the ground, 
 and gave a low whistle as a signal to Nat. He 
 returned it, as an evidence of his watchfulness. 
 
 I saw from that point where I was seated, the 
 view would be most obstructed when the canoe 
 was nearest. Accordingly, I crept cautiously and 
 quickly nearer the water's edge. This time, how- 
 ever, I slightly varied my course, and concealed 
 myself behind the trunk of a fallen tree. This was 
 within a yard of the water, and afforded complete 
 concealment. I noticed the log was rotten and 
 apparently hollow. 
 
 Here I lay, and intently listened and watched. 
 A few moments and an almost inaudible ripple was 
 heard, and the canoe was opposite. I exercised 
 the most extreme caution, and was fortunate 
 enough to obtain a perfect view of each of the 
 occupants. They were the same — the dark, malig- 
 nant faces of the savages, and the fair features of 
 the captive. She sat in the stern, her hand resting 
 gently upon a guiding oar, and her gaze fixed upon 
 
IJ2 B^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 the stream In front. The canoe floated with the 
 current, and not a paddle was stirred, nor the least 
 motion made by the beings before me. The head- 
 dress of the captive was, as mentioned before, eagle 
 feathers and porcupine quills, while the dark, wav- 
 ing masses of hair hung low upon the shoulders, 
 contrasting with the whiteness of the face. A 
 heavy crimson shawl enveloped the form, as when 
 first seen. The features were regular, and, perhaps, 
 in my state of feeling, their beauty was consider- 
 ably enhanced; but the thought came upon me that 
 if there were anything supernatural in my experi- 
 ence, it was in seeing such wonderful beauty as 
 was now before me. 
 
 Unconsciously I forgot myself as the canoe was 
 gliding past, and before I was aware, it was hid 
 from view by intervening obstacles. I withdrew 
 hastily, intending to hurry farther down, where 
 the view would be more complete. I had taken but 
 a step or two when Nat's rifle was discharged, and 
 I heard distinctly a muffled sound of his voice. 
 Wild with agitation, I dashed to the spot where I 
 supposed him to be. The view of the river at this 
 point was clear, and I turned to look at the canoe. 
 It had vanished ! 
 
 I looked around for Nat, but he too, was gone. 
 I called him, and once thought I heard a faint 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 133 
 
 answer. But it was not repeated, and I could not 
 tell its direction. I reached the ground, and beheld 
 the tracks of others beside his own. I awaited 
 until near night, but Nathan Todd was never to 
 return. 
 
134 
 
 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 ** Where's your friend ? " 
 
 There was apprehension in the question of the 
 trapper, or he would not have called Nat, as he had 
 never called him before. The question was asked, 
 too, the instant I appeared. 
 
 *' I cannot tell," I answered, seating myself 
 gloomily. 
 
 " Whar'd you leave him ? " 
 
 " I cannot answer that either. He went with me 
 to watch the river, as you remember. Espying 
 that canoe which you saw yesterday, he concealed 
 himself a few yards distant, in order to obtain a 
 better view of it. Since then I have seen nothing 
 of him." 
 
 "Was it he who shot?" 
 
 " It sounded like his gun, although I am not posi- 
 tive that it really was." 
 
 " I heerd it, an' took it for him ; and, shoot me, if 
 I didn't know he'd get into some scrape." 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 135 
 
 ** I fear he has, and the last one, too." 
 
 " My thoughts 'zactly. Luckily you did not, 
 too." 
 
 " I came nearer than I wish to again, Biddon. I 
 can tell you, that I am willing to leave this place as 
 soon as you wish; I've seen enough to satisfy 
 me. 
 
 " Shouldn't wonder ; I did long ago." 
 
 *' Let us leave to-morrow. Are you willing?" 
 
 " ril go to-night if you want to." 
 
 " No ; there is no need of that. It will be best to 
 wait until daylight." 
 
 " I don't know ; that's the only time we've been 
 interfered with." 
 
 " Besides," I added. " I have faint hopes that 
 Nat may return." 
 
 " Waugh ! you'll never see him again, and ef 
 we're 'bout yer another day, we'll never see each 
 other again. No use lookin' fur him, shoot me ef 
 thar is." 
 
 '' I do not think he has been slain, only captured 
 by some lurking enemy, from whom he may 
 escape." 
 
 *' No, sir; I tell you he's gone, and I reckon as 
 how we'd better be gone too." 
 
 *' Perhaps you are right, Biddon, although I shall 
 
136 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 be loth to leave the vicinity when I am not satisfied 
 of his fate." 
 
 " I'm satisfied, an* you oughter be. Leastways, 
 I'm go'm' to-morrow, an' you kin stay and play with 
 these Blackfeet as long as you like. I've been up to 
 see the horses, and fixed things so as to start as 
 soon as daylight. Any 'jections?" 
 
 " None at all." 
 
 *' Then 'tis settled, and let's snooze." 
 
 But it was by no means settled. As I lay that 
 night ruminating upon the strange scenes through 
 which I had so recently passed, the pledge that I 
 had made with Nat came back to me. I had 
 promised to remain by him as long as there was 
 hope ; and to desert him now, would be a violation 
 of that vow, and a base and unworthy act upon 
 my part. For us both to leave him would probably 
 seal his fate, if alive. It was by no means cer- 
 tain that if lost, he was irrecoverably gone, and I re- 
 solved that if the trapper should depart on the 
 morrow I would remain. 
 
 In making this resolution, perhaps it was not the 
 desire alone to benefit my companion that prompted 
 it, although I aver that that alone would have been 
 sufficient. Unconsciously, almost, I found nw 
 thoughts wandering from Nat to the fair being 
 who had been the cause of all this trouble. At 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 137 
 
 most, I could only speculate and conjecture with 
 regard to her, and the same speculations and con- 
 jectures I had made before. Undoubtedly she was 
 a captive among a tribe of Indians, over whorri she 
 wielded a great influence; and that she was the 
 same maid referred to by Biddon, seemed certain to 
 me. I had mentioned this thought to him, in the 
 hope of persuading him to remain. He started 
 somewhat at the unsuspected suggestion, and, after 
 a few moments' thought, admitted the probability 
 of such being the case. To my surprise I found I 
 had completely defeated my own plans. 
 
 " I kinder thought then, that little thing war 
 suthin' more nor human, an' ef it's her, you see, 
 I'm purty sure now. No use talkin', I shan't stay 
 here longer than time 'nough to start. It might be 
 that gal, and then agin it moughn't. Shoot me ef 
 it moughn't." 
 
 I said no more, for I saw it would be useless. 
 When he had once determined upon a matter there 
 was no changing him. He was satisfied that 
 " spirits invisible " had encompassed him, and there 
 was but one way of escapng them. 
 
 He was now reposing quietly beside me, utterly 
 oblivious to external things; and as the night was 
 far advanced, I sank upon my knees, and besought 
 the great Disposer of events to guide me aright 
 
138 •B/LI' BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 in the undertaking which I was about to commence, 
 and to watch over my unfortunate companion, now 
 doubtless in captivity; to protect the kind-hearted 
 trapper, and to soon clear away the mystery which 
 had enveloped us like a cloud. Then I lay down 
 and slept. 
 
 I awoke, hearing a slight rustling noise beside 
 me, and, upon looking around, caught a glimpse 
 of Biddon as he departed. It was very early, and he 
 doubtless was after the horses, in order to leave at 
 once the place which had such terrors for him. In 
 the course of a half hour he returned. 
 
 " The horses are waitinV' said he. 
 
 I arose and passed out. The three animals stood 
 outside, a short distance away, each saddled and 
 prepared for travel. 
 
 " Come, work lively, and fetch them skins 
 out," said Biddon, commencing himself. I made 
 no reply, but assisted him until everything was 
 in readiness, for starting. 
 
 " Jump on, and shoot me ef we won't soon be 
 clar of this outlandish place." 
 
 " Biddon, I am not going with you" I said, 
 mildly. 
 
 " What? " he asked, looking wonderingly at one, 
 as if doubting my senses. 
 
 " I intend to remain here." 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 139 
 
 *Ogh! jump on, an' shut up yer meat-trap; it's 
 tittle we started." 
 
 " I said I was going to remain here." 
 
 " Do you mean it, Jarsey ? " he queried, bending 
 such a fierce look upon me. 
 
 " Most certainly I do." 
 
 " Then, all Bill Biddon's got to say is, you're 
 a fool." 
 
 I colored slightly at this, but made no reply. 
 
 " What yer going to stay fur ? Get shot and 
 lose yer ha'r, I s'pose, jist to please the reds." 
 
 " I am sorry, friend Biddon, that you feel thus. 
 When Nathan Todd and I left the States for this 
 country, we pledged eternal friendship to each 
 other, and I am sure I should never feel at ease 
 if I should leave him in this dire extremity. I am 
 by no means satisfied that I can afford him no 
 assistance, although he is a captive. He has no 
 claims upon you, and I should not expect you to 
 remain, but, as I said, I am determined not to leave 
 this place until I have obtained satisfactory in- 
 telligence of him." 
 
 The trapper remained silent a few moments after 
 this. He then spoke : 
 
 " I s'pose you mean right, Jarsey, but you're 
 awful simple. Yer's as what hopes you'll find the 
 other chap right side up and squar with his ha'r on. 
 
I^o BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 but I don't 'spect your ha'r '11 bf yer's to-night. 
 Howsumever you're bound to stay, I see, so yer's 
 good luck. I'd like to stay with you, but I ain't 
 backward to own Bill Biddon knocks under this 
 time." 
 
 He reached his hard, horny hand, and I took it. 
 
 " Good-by, Bill, I hope we shall meet again. We 
 have not been long acquainted, but I trust long 
 enough to be friends." 
 
 " And you'll remember as how ole Bill Biddon 
 didn't mean what he said just now." 
 
 " Certainly, certainly, I know you did not." 
 
 "Wal, good-by it is, then." 
 
 A half-hour after and I was alone in the great 
 wilderness of the Northwest. 
 
 After parting with Biddon, I remained stationary 
 a long time, meditating upon the strange resolve 
 that I had acted upon. If looked at with the com- 
 mon-sense view that the honest trapper gave it, I 
 was sensible it was nothing less than a piece of 
 recklessness upon my part, which only could be 
 excused by the motives that actuated me. I felt 
 some regret certainly at parting with Biddon, for 
 that honest, manly heart which throbbed within 
 his massive breast had drawn me toward him, and 
 I knew he had come to regard me in a far different 
 light than he did at first. However, I was hopeful, 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 141 
 
 and could not persuade myself that I was never to 
 see him again. 
 
 Toward night the sky gave evidence of an ap- 
 proaching storm. A strong wind arose, and a 
 melancholy, desolate moaning, like the precursor 
 of winter, could be heard at intervals in the forest. 
 Darkness came on earlier than usual, and, as I 
 passed into the trapper's home, the storm burst 
 upon me. No one who has not witnessed a storm 
 in the wilderness, can appreciate its awful gran- 
 deur. As I cowered within the heart of the old 
 forest king, its power was subdued to my ears; 
 but enough reached them to give me an idea of 
 the terrific spectacle without. The huge sides of 
 the tree surrounding me rumbled and groaned as 
 though it were yielding to the hurricane ; the wind 
 blew with such fury that at times it sounded as 
 though wailing screams were rending the air above 
 me ; and the sharp splintering of the trees riven by 
 the lightning, rivaled the crash of the thunderbolt 
 
 itself. 
 
 As the morning approached, the storm gradu- 
 ally died away, and as I stepped forth the sun was 
 shining in unclouded splendor. 
 
 Slinging my rifle over my shoulder, I wandered 
 aimlessly forward, following the course of the 
 stream for several hours. Finally, becoming con- 
 
1^2 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 siderably wearied, I seated myself upon a fallen 
 tree, to gain a little rest; but my mind was in such 
 a state of excitement that the desire to press for- 
 ward was irresistible, and I arose again. 
 
 As I stood upon the spot, I happened to look 
 across the stream upon the prairie. The river at 
 this point was flowing east and west, so that I 
 looked to the southward ; and as I did so I saw 
 Biddon in the distance,, riding leisurely away. He 
 was miles distant, so that I could not hope to make 
 my voice reach him ; and as the prairie in many 
 parts was submerged, it was out of the question to 
 pursue with the hope of overtaking him. So I 
 contented myself with watching him until he dis- 
 appeared. He appeared precisely the same as 
 when Nat and I first caught sight of him; and it 
 struck me as a rather curious coincidence that my 
 first and last glimpse of him were similar. Shortly 
 after, he was a mere quivering speck on the hori- 
 zon, and soon disappeared altogether. 
 
 The storm which had just ended was the usher 
 of the cold season. A strong wind had arisen, 
 and was blowing coldly through the forest. The 
 changes in these regions are remarkably sudden; 
 and by the middle of the afternoon, needles of ice 
 put out along the shores of the stream. I suffered 
 much from this sudden and severe cold; and to 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 143 
 
 make it worse, everything upon which I could lay 
 hands was so water-soaked as to make it impossible 
 to kindle a fire. 
 
 I continued wandering aimlessly onward, until 
 I descended a large valley, filled with trees of enor- 
 mous growth. As I entered, I heard a crackling 
 in the bushes above me. I looked carefully about, 
 but could detect nothing, although the crackling 
 was still heard. Creeping cautiously and stealthily 
 up the bank, I cam;e upon the cause of this 
 apprehension. There was a species of fruit, called 
 the " buffalo berry," quite numerous here, and in 
 among them, seated on his haunches, and con- 
 tentedly devouring, was a grizzly bear. I started as 
 I took in his colossal form, and turned to make a 
 hasty retreat; but curiosity held me to the spot. 
 He was a huge, unwieldy body; his massive form 
 being enveloped in a coat of long, black, glossy hair, 
 and his eyes small and glittering. His long nails 
 rattled among the leaves, as he pulled the bushes 
 toward him, and plucked the delicate fruit. 
 
 All at once a mad desire to take this formidable 
 creature's life came upon me. I knew it was only 
 the most skillful hunter who could prevail against 
 him, and yet I determined to take the risk. As he 
 sat, his side was turned toward me, and I made a 
 low whistle to attract his attention. He stopped 
 
144 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 chewing instantly, and turned his head toward me 
 as if listening. I could see his two coal-black 
 eyes glistening plainly. I was lying upon my face, 
 with my rifle resting upon a stone in front. Rais- 
 ing the hammer of my rifle, I took a long, a delib- 
 erate, a sure aim at one of his eyes, and before he 
 changed his head, pulled the trigger. , 
 
 '' How does that suit ? " I asked exultingly, ex- 
 pecting to see him give up the ghost immediately. 
 To my surprise and terror, I saw him sitting un- 
 moved and apparently unhurt, but looking about 
 him, as if to ascertain from what direction the shot 
 had come. The next instant he caught sight of the 
 bluish wreath from my rifle, and with a low growl 
 of rage plunged directly toward me. 
 
 That cumbrous body could roll over th« ground 
 much faster than I suspected, and I found that, 
 when alarmed, I could also travel rapidly. But in 
 the tangled undergrowth I was no match for 
 him, as he crashed through it without the least 
 inconvenience, and gained rapidly. I saw he would 
 assuredly overtake me before I could go a hundred 
 yards further; so throwing my rifle to the ground, 
 I drew my knife, and waited his attack. As he 
 came rolling forward, the blood from his wound 
 trickled down, and daubed his mouth ; while his red 
 tongue lolled out, his mouth was wide open, and 
 
** I could see his two coal-black eyes glittering plainly." 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. j^j 
 
 his long and white teeth shone with terrible feroc- 
 ity. He was, indeed, a terrific animal, and I drew 
 a deep breath as I felt that a struggle for life or 
 death was at hand. 
 
 Suddenly, when a hundred feet distant, there 
 came the report of another riUe, and the brute 
 halted, and gazed about him. I also cast a won- 
 dering look around to see who my new friend was. 
 No one was in sight, yet I saw a faint curl of 
 smoke rising from the bushes above me. The 
 bear also discovered it, and with another growl 
 made toward it. He had evidently been struck, 
 and his rage was turned in another direction. 
 Hastily loading my rifle, I ran up the hill, intending 
 to follow and assist my unknown friend, but both 
 he and the brute had disappeared. I stood anx- 
 iously listening for some guiding sound, and soon 
 heard the report of a gun in the distance, followed 
 by a faint shout. 
 
 Tearing through the undergrowth, I dashed 
 hastily forward, calling out in loud tones, so that 
 my friend might guide me to him. There was no 
 response homeward. I feared that he had suffered 
 the fate which had well-nigh been mine. The 
 trail of the bear was now very plain to be seen by 
 the broken twigs, the rising branches, and the blood 
 marks upon the ground. Soon I reached the spot 
 
148 ^I^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 where the last struggle had evidently taken place. 
 The ground was torn up and cast about, and the 
 blood was spattered for many feet around. Fol- 
 lowing further, I came upon the dead body of the 
 brute. There was another bullet mark in the 
 head, and a ghastly wound in the throat from 
 which an enormous quantity of blood had poured. 
 
 But where was the author of this deed? Why 
 had he fled ? Who was he ? I looked about expect- 
 ing to see him near at hand, but I was disappointed. 
 On the ground were the marks of a moccasin, and 
 it was evident my preserver was an Indian. This 
 fact suggested other questions. Had he been fol- 
 lowing me? Else how came he to be present just 
 at the instant needed? And what was his object? 
 It could not be that my life was sought, for, if 
 such were the case, it had been really spared, as I 
 had been continually exposed through the day ; and 
 in the occurrence just narrated, he had preserved 
 my life at the imminent risk of his own. 
 
 At any rate, the affair was singular and unac- 
 countable. The Indian was probably gazing upon 
 me this moment, and I looked furtively about, 
 half-expecting to see his glowing eye-balls in the 
 thick shrubbery around. 
 
 It was now growing late, and I cast about for 
 some place in which to spend the night. The wind 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. j^g 
 
 ctill blew, and a fire was indispensable. I gathered 
 several armfuls of twigs and branches, and pitched 
 my camp upon the banks of a small rippling 
 stream, a tributary of the river referred to. Here, 
 after the expense of an almost incredible amount 
 of patience, I succeeded in starting a fire, and with 
 the feeling of a conqueror inhaled its glowing, 
 cheerful warmth. The pangs of hunger now began 
 to make themselves felt, as I had tasted no food 
 the entire day. The grizzly bear lay but a short 
 distance away, and, after a few minutes' debate, I 
 concluded that he should answer the demands of 
 nature. 
 
 As I drew my knife, and started toward him, 
 a shadow glided from before me, and I saw a 
 human form stealthily make off. I stopped sud- 
 denly and hesitated, but finally went on, cut a piece 
 from the animal, and returned. Just before I 
 reached the crackling fire, I again saw a shadow 
 flit before me and disappear. It was too distinct 
 and plain to be a freak of imagination, and it was 
 evident that something or somebody was following 
 or watching. Whoever he might be, I determined 
 that, upon the first opportunity, he should have 
 the contents of my gun for his temerity. 
 
 The consciousness that some one was near at 
 hand, watching, perhaps, every motion, lessened my 
 
I^O ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 appetite somewhat. However, after skewering a 
 good-sized piece and roasting it, I made a hearty 
 supper; and, as I produced my inseparable pipe, I 
 think, had it not been for the instinctive presence 
 of that invisible form, my enjoyment would have 
 been complete. 
 
 The pleasant warmth of the fire, the soothing 
 eflfect of the pipe, gradually threw a dreamy, half- 
 unconsciousness over me, into which I sunk with 
 willing delight. As my listless eyes rested upon 
 the glowng embers, there came a strain of wonder- 
 ful music, like the faint tones of some distant wind- 
 harp. I stirred not, but listened, fearing to move 
 lest the spell should be broken. Again came the 
 wave of heavenly harmony, swelling to the most 
 inspiring grandeur, and then dying away into faint, 
 fluctuating tremors, fainter and fainter, till the 
 strained ear could just feel their waves. It sounded 
 in the air above me, and at that moment I knew 
 that there was nothing real in my experience, and I 
 listened breathlessly for it again. 
 
 The music continued, I think, over an hour, and 
 to this day it seems I can hear it still. Such music 
 I have never heard before or since. As I sat alone 
 that dark, stormy night, in the wilderness of the 
 northwest, hundreds of miles from civilization, it 
 seemed there was a chord within me that responded 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. jci 
 
 to the air tones above. It appeared sometimes to 
 sink until it had enveloped me in its wild thrilling 
 power, and then it suddenly swept upward, until I 
 was pained with intense listening. At last, it died 
 away, and with a long sigh of relief I awoke to full 
 consciousness. 
 
 I have heard others narrate experience similar 
 to mine and I leave the explanation to the curious 
 and investigating, convinced that I can offer none 
 that will be satisfactory, 
 
 I replenished the fire, folded my blanket around 
 me, and lay down to sleep. The night wind was 
 howling dismally through the forest, and the dis- 
 tant rush of the river made melancholy music. In 
 a short time I fell into a deep, and profound sleep, 
 
 I was aroused from this by feeling something 
 working at my blanket. I lay motionless a moment 
 to ascertain the character of the threatened danger. 
 The next instant something struck me like the paw 
 of an animal ; and, thinking a wolf had attacked 
 me, I sprang to my feet with a shout, threw off 
 my blanket, and drew my knife. Instead of con- 
 fronting wolves, I met the gaze of a half-dozen 
 savages ! For a moment I was completely bewil- 
 dered. 
 
 " You go 'long with us," said one, laying his 
 hand upon my arm. 
 
1^2 BILL BIDDON. TRAPPER. 
 
 I saw that resistance would be useless. There 
 were half a dozen fully armed, and my rifle was 
 in their hands. 
 
 " I am in your power," said I ; "do what you 
 please with me." 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 153 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 TRAPPING AMOXG THE INDIANS. 
 
 One of the savages cast some wood upon the fire, 
 and as it blazed up, I saw that five of them stood 
 around me. Resistance would be useless, as my 
 rifle, knife, and revolver were in their hands. 
 Their faces were devoid of paint, and they were 
 probably a party of hunters who had fallen upon my 
 trail. I remembered my spectral visitant a few 
 hours before, and doubted not that he was the means 
 of the tedious captivity which had now only com- 
 menced. 
 
 After I had arisen to my feet, the captors contin- 
 ued conversing in an unknown tongue. It per- 
 plexed me to understand how one of them was 
 able to address me in tolerably good English; but 
 I supposed he must have had intercourse with the 
 fur traders and hunters and the forts and stations 
 of the northwest. 
 
 The debate of the Indians I judged to be a 
 decision upon the course they were to follow. 
 
je^ BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 Singularly enough, I had hardly any fears at all 
 in regard to my life, feeling pretty well convinced 
 that they intended an endless captivity for me. I 
 doubted not I should be adopted into their tribe, 
 and doomed to the office of the meanest slave. 
 This was not a very encouraging prospect it is 
 true, but it was infinitely superior to that of death. 
 
 After a few minutes' conversation, the Indians 
 apparently came to a satisfactory conclusion; for 
 they seated themselves around the fire, ordering 
 me to do the same, and here they sat as grim and 
 silent as statues, not a muscle moving, excepting 
 an occasional wink of the eyes at long intervals. I 
 watched them, it seemed for an hour, shivering 
 with cold all the time, although my captors had not 
 deprived me of my blanket. 
 
 At last, as I looked up, I saw that day was 
 breaking. There was a faint light in the east, 
 heralding the approach of the sun. Shortly after, 
 it burst above the forest line, lighting up the inter- 
 minable prairie and wilderness with its golden glory. 
 The savages sprang to their feet, seized their 
 weapons and started away. 
 
 " Keep close, and don't run ! " said the savage 
 who had addressed me at first. 
 
 " No danger of my attempting it," I answered, 
 ^flowing almost cheerfully behind them. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 ^55 
 
 And in truth it would have been the height of 
 folly to make an attempt to escape. Each of the 
 savages was a fleet runner, each possessed a loaded 
 rifle (and one of them had another, together with 
 my revolver, which, by the way, was a source of 
 great wonderment and perplexity to him), and the 
 utmiost limit that I possibly could have gained, as 
 will be evident to the reader, was perhaps ten feet. 
 So I meditated no attempt, but followed close in the 
 footsteps of my captors. 
 
 No halt v;as made for breakfast, and during 
 the whole forenoon we tramped through the wilder- 
 ness in a northerly direction. As I knew I was in 
 the extreme upper part of the great Nebraska 
 Territory when taken captive, I felt pretty certain 
 that I was now in the Hudson Bay Territory, 
 within the British line. But here my companions 
 made a turn to the eastward, and then, strangely 
 enough, proceeded south again, so that I was uncer 
 tain whether I was now in the United States or not. 
 The reason of this detour on the part of the savages 
 I never knew and could only conjecture. I after- 
 ward imagined it was for the purpose of misleading 
 and bewildering me in case I should ever attempt 
 to leave them. 
 
 When the sun was overhead, the Indians halted 
 upon the bank of a small flashing stream, and 
 
ice BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 prepared their meal. A half-hour before halting, 
 one of the Indians had dodged off into the forest. 
 Some time after I heard the report of a rifle, 
 and in a few minutes he returned with a large 
 ptarmigan in his hand. The feathers were plucked 
 from this, and the body dressed much after the 
 fashion of civilized communities. It was then 
 partially cooked over the blaze, and despite the 
 change of circumstances, I made as good and 
 substantial a meal upon it as did any of my com- 
 panions. 
 
 The meal finished, the savages squatted before 
 the fire, drew forth their pipes and commenced 
 silently smoking, their eyes glittering though the 
 vapor with suppressed fierceness, as ever and anon 
 a sidelong glance was bestowed upon me. One of 
 the Indians — he who spoke English — was ex- 
 amining my revolver. He closed one eye and 
 peered wonderingly into the six little barrels; 
 then he fingered about the hammer, took off the 
 cap, tasted it, and replaced it. (It may be re- 
 marked here that at the time of my experience, 
 percussion caps were almost unknown in this 
 region. As they were of comparatively recent 
 invention, few of the trappers consented to use 
 them until a long time after.) I was expecting 
 each moment to see the weapon discharge itself, 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 157 
 
 as it was fully charged, and was handled awk- 
 wardly. The Indian looked at it in every direction, 
 at last gave it up. He took a smell of it, and 
 snuffing the gunpowder, handed it to me. 
 
 "What is he?" 
 
 " A young gun," I answered with a smile. 
 
 As I took the weapon I looked about me. There 
 were five unsuspicious savages, and there were 
 six messengers of death at my command. For an 
 instant a wild resolve thrilled me ; but it was for an 
 instant only. My soul revolted at the wholesale 
 slaughter I should be compelled to inflict, and I 
 looked at my interlocutor with a pleasant smile. 
 
 "Does he shoot?" he queried, his dark eyes 
 lighting up with curiosity. 
 
 " Of course. Would you like to see me fire it? " 
 
 "Yaw! shoot at him," he answered, pointing at 
 the trunk of a large tree. 
 
 "What part of it?" 
 
 " Hit him where you mind to." 
 
 "Oh, let's have a mark," I laughed, stepping 
 forward and tearing off a small piece of the bark, 
 so as to offer a red spot several inches in diameter. 
 The other savages were now surveying my motions 
 with interest, and with some degree of suspicion the 
 
1^8 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 formidable looking little weapon in my hand. I 
 saw thert was an opportunity for making a good 
 impression and I resolved to do it. I stepped 
 back a few paces, took a careful, though appar- 
 ently a careless aim, and fired the six barrels in 
 succession with tolerable good effect. 
 
 " Just look at the mark," I remarked, rather 
 stiffly. 
 
 The Indian stepped forward and examined the 
 holes, all within an inch or two of the center. Then 
 with his knife he pried out each bullet, and showed 
 them to his companions. They grunted their sat- 
 isfaction, or rather wonder, and turned the dimin- 
 utive six-shooter over and over in their hands, 
 totally unable to comprehend how such a number 
 of fatal shots could come almost simultaneously from 
 it. I loaded and fired it a number of times, and 
 my friend — he who spoke English — asked me to 
 make him a present of it. I assented with the 
 greatest pleasure, as I had no power to refuse, and 
 volunteered to instruct him in its use, and all things 
 considered we were getting on quite intimate terms. 
 
 This proceeding of mine was a stroke of policy, 
 to which I believe I owe my life. My apparent 
 cheerfulness, my readiness to acquiesce in all their 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. jcq 
 
 wishes, convinced them that I cherished no sullen 
 vindictiveness toward them, and I am well satisfied 
 that had I asked my captors at this time to allow 
 me to proceed unmolested upon my way, they would 
 have done so. Yet I was perfectly willing to tarry 
 with them a while, for reasons which, I trust, are 
 obvious to the reader, and I made no request of 
 them. 
 
 We remained in this spot for over an hour 
 practicing with the revolver. At the end of that 
 time its new owner had made such progress as to 
 be able to strike a good-sized tree a yard distant, 
 at nearly every shot. 
 
 " Him nice thing ! " he remarked, shoving it care- 
 fully down in his belt. 
 
 " Very good in a close hug with a bear or foe,'' 
 I replied. 
 
 " He is, by dam," he added, pulling it forth and 
 again examining each part. 
 
 There was but one drawback to the savage's 
 prospect of pleasure. I had but a small quantity 
 of caps, and of course there was no means of obtain- 
 ing any am.ong his own kindred. He however 
 satisfied himself with the thought that he could 
 obtain more at some of the trading posts in that 
 section. 
 
l60 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 The line of march was again taken up, and con- 
 tinued until nightfall. They traveled in Indian file, 
 my dusky friend bringing up the rear, and myself 
 directly in front of him. This plan was adopted, 
 not through any fear of pursuit, as they were in 
 their own country, but because caution and watch- 
 fulness are habitual to the North American Indian. 
 Every now and then the click of the revolver was 
 audible behind, but I felt no apprehension as I 
 knew the savage was only examining it for his 
 own pleasure. 
 
 Just before dusk we reached a large and rapidly 
 flowing stream. Here the rifles were slung about 
 their persons, and we grasped hands and plunged 
 unhesitatingly in. Had not this expedient been 
 adopted, I should never have reached the opposite 
 side. We sank to our shoulders several times, and 
 the boisterous current lifted me clean from the 
 bottom, but the strong arms of my captors were all- 
 efficient, and held me firmly in my place until the 
 opposite shore was reached, with no greater mis- 
 fortune than the uncomfortableness of our soaked 
 and clinging garments. 
 
 The sun had sunk behind the western mountains, 
 and the deep gloom of night was settling over the 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. i6i 
 
 wilderness, when as we reached the top of a swell, 
 I saw for the first time the Indian village. It lay 
 in a sort of valley, and numbered sixty or seventy 
 lodges. As seen in the dim twilight these looked 
 singularly picturesque and fanciful. I could see 
 dark forms flitting like shadows about the lodges, 
 and the low hum of their conversation was audible. 
 We were descried, as our forms stood out in relief 
 against the sky, but no signals were given by either 
 party. 
 
 As we descended into the valley my heart began 
 to fail me, at what I feared my reception would be. 
 Stories of the tortures undergone by captives came 
 over me, and I ventured my fears to my friend. 
 
 " What your name ? " he asked, halting and turn- 
 ing toward me. 
 
 " Will," I replied. 
 
 " Will stay here, and me come and fix things. 
 My name Jim," said he, taking the name probably 
 given him by the w^hites with wdiom he was 
 acquainted. 
 
 The other savages seeing us halting stopped also, 
 and looked suspiciously. Jim (as I shall here- 
 after name him) said something in an unintelligible 
 tongue and they passed on. 
 
l62 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 " Stay here, Will, and me fix things." 
 
 With this he disappeared, and I seated myself 
 upon the ground to await his return. It struck me 
 as rather curious for him to give a captive such a 
 good opportunity to escape, but it pleased me withal, 
 and it need not be told I made no attempt to make 
 off. 
 
 In a few moments he returned, bearing in his 
 arms several Indian garments. 
 
 " Will put him on, and me fix things," said he, 
 throwing them down beside me. I hastily donned 
 them, understanding fully their use and intentions. 
 
 " Keep close, and don't say nothing to nobody," 
 he added, as they enveloped my person. 
 
 He now turned his face towards the village, and 
 we were soon wending our v.-ay through it. We 
 passed several savages who spoke to me, Jim how- 
 ever taking the responsibility of replying. At last 
 we reached his lodge without my identity being dis- 
 covered. This was at the extreme eastern end of 
 the village, and as we entered I saw it was devoid 
 of any persons except ourselves. 
 
 '* You sleep there. Will," said he, pointing to one 
 corner, where a buffalo robe was visible by the dim 
 light of a few smoldering embers. I repaired to 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 15^ 
 
 the spot, thanking- him for his kindly offer, and lay 
 down, while he replenished the fire, seating himself 
 by it, and commenced the never-ceasing- pleasure of 
 examining his revolver. 
 
 Lying half asleep on the buffalo robe, listlessly 
 gazing at the savage, his features all at once struck 
 me. I had seen them before, but where I could not 
 recollect. Let me see — ah ! it was plain now. He 
 was one of the occupants of the mysterious canoe ! 
 
 It soon became known throughout the Indian 
 village that a white man was a captive among them, 
 and the next morning the entrance to Jim's lodge 
 v/as thronged with hundreds anxious to get a peep 
 at me. Knowing that this curiosity must be grati- 
 fied sooner or later, I stepped boldly forth, and 
 mingled among them, in order to have the matter 
 finished at once. No violence was offered me, al- 
 though several pinched my arms rather severely, 
 seemingly determined to be satisfied upon all my 
 points. 
 
 My Indian friend Jim was married, and, in the 
 course of the day, his squaw made her appearance. 
 She was a middle-aged woman, and tolerably good- 
 looking for a savage. Jim informed her that I was 
 
164 ^IJ^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 to be her slave, and thus it may be said I was 
 estabHshed in winter-quarters. 
 
 The heavy storm referred to in the previous 
 chapter, was the close of the warm season, and 
 the fierce northern winter commenced setting in. 
 Winter in the northwest is far different from that 
 season in the Middle States. It is full six months 
 in continuance, and such is the intense coldness for 
 the greater part of the season, that the thermometer 
 sinks to thirty and often forty degrees below zero. 
 Two weeks after my capture, it seemed impossible 
 to prevent freezing to death in the lodge with a 
 roaring fire a few feet off. Yet the savages minded 
 it hardly at all. A few extra garments were added 
 to their costume, and they flitted as incessantly 
 through the village as ever. 
 
 In the tribe it was acknowledged that I was the 
 property of Jim, and thus my lot was much more 
 endurable than otherwise. He was really a good- 
 hearted Indian, I believe ; and the course that I ever 
 maintained toward him won some of his regard. 
 However, he was a lazy dog, like all of his male 
 kindred, and, although I had an exalted opinion of 
 him, it was impossible to discover in him any of those 
 poetical attributes which are so generally coneedetl 
 
BILL BIDDOX, TRAPPER, 165 
 
 to the North American Indian. In conversation 
 with me, he discarded entirely those extravagant, 
 highly-wrought figures of speech common to his 
 kindred, and added in their place an awkward oath 
 or two, and a phrase learned from the Hudson-Bay 
 traders. The greater part of the day he sat before 
 his fire, smoking and gazing moodily into it, while 
 his better-half busied herself about the apartment 
 as willingly and contentedly as though she never 
 dreamed of a different lot. Of course, I assisted 
 her as much as lay within my power, and came at 
 last to do all of the out-door work. 
 
 I have always regarded my capture by this tribe 
 of Indians as a fortunate circumstance. I cannot 
 imas-ine how else I could have maintained life 
 through the unusually severe winter which followed. 
 No mortal hand could have saved me from perishing 
 from cold, while it would have been utterly im- 
 possible to have procured food, when the snow lay 
 six feet upon the ground, and the rivers were sealed 
 by great depths of ice. Although frequent occa- 
 sions presented themselves, I determined to make 
 no effort to leave my captors until the spring had 
 arrived. 
 
 As mentioned, I had pretty well-defined suspi- 
 cions that Jim was one of the savages who occupied 
 the mysterious canoe, referred to in the preceding 
 
l66 BIJ^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 chapters. I was not positive of this, although, when 
 I stood by his side and viewed his profile, the resem- 
 blance seemed perfect. 
 
 One great disappointment had already come. I 
 was sure that I should learn something either of 
 Nat, or of the fair, mysterious captive. When I 
 questioned Jim, he answered with such apparent 
 sincerity and truth, that I was pretty well convinced 
 he knew nothing of either. In regard to the latter 
 he laughed ; the former he merely shook his head ; 
 he knew nothing of either. Sometimes when I fell 
 into a deep reverie, and suddenly awoke, I could 
 see Jim lift his eyes quickly from me, as though he 
 had been endeavoring to satisfy himself of my 
 identity. He questioned me artfully, and I told him 
 all. At last, I resolved to put the question direct. 
 
 " Jim, didn't you and another warrior, some weeks 
 ago, pass down the river, some distance south, with 
 a white woman ? " 
 
 There was a perceptible start at this question, 
 but he answered promptly: 
 
 " Don't know nothing 'bout 'em." 
 
 " Why, I was pretty sure that I saw you." 
 
 He shook his head. 
 
 There was nothing to be gained by further ques- 
 tioning, and I gave it up. But I was satisfied he 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 167 
 
 knew more of Nat and the sweet captive than he 
 was willing to *tell — and I was not mistaken. 
 
 Shortly after this conversation, Jim told me that 
 he and several of his tribe were in the employ of the 
 Hudson Bay Fur Company, and traded numerous 
 furs with them every spring-. I asked him whether 
 he was not in the territory of the Northwest Fur 
 Company. He replied that that made no difference ; 
 each trespassed upon the other's grounds, and he 
 had been engaged for both.* 
 
 A few weeks subsequent to this, there came a 
 storm which laid the snow six feet deep, and Jim 
 informed m^ that, in company with several others, 
 he should proceed to set his traps for the winter's 
 work, and he willingly consented that I should 
 accompany him. Preparations were accordingly 
 made. Extra garments were donned, a couple of 
 traps taken by each, and, placing our snow-shoes 
 upon our feet, we sallied forth. This was the first 
 time I ever attempted to travel with snow-shoes, 
 
 * The Hudson Bay Company, established two hundred years 
 ago, by Prince Rupert, divided its territory into four compart- 
 ments — the Northern, including all the country of the Far North ; 
 the Southern, extending south to Lake Superior; the Montreal, 
 including the country along the northern shore of the Gulf of 
 St. Lawrence ; and the Columbia Department, comprehending 
 all the country west of the Rocky Mountains, including Oregon, 
 in which, I believe, they still trade. 
 
1 68 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 and, as may be supposed, I made awkward work 
 of it. These were fully six feet in length, resem- 
 bling a canoe somewhat in shape, and of extreme 
 lightness. The interior is filled with a gauzy net- 
 work, which allows the light, sand-like snow to fall 
 through without impeding one's progress. They 
 are fastened loosely but securely to the feet, and 
 when the snow is not dampened by thaws, twenty 
 miles can be easily made in a day. Without these 
 convenient things, it would be next to impossible 
 to travel during six months of the year in the fur- 
 bearing regions. 
 
 We proceeded westward some eight or ten 
 miles before all of the traps were set, when, turn- 
 ing, we retraced our steps, intending to visit them 
 the following night. The trap used by the Indians 
 of this section is much the same as the com- 
 mon steel-trap of the States, being, however, much 
 larger, and without the saw-like teeth of the lat- 
 ter. A long chain, with a heavy stone attached, is 
 fastened to the trap, and concealed beneath the 
 snow, to prevent the animal making off with 
 the whole concern. The trap is placed just beneath 
 the surface of the snow, and bits of frozen fish 
 are scattered around, which attract the half-starved 
 foxes, lynx, beavers, and wolves in the region. 
 Having completed all arrangements, we retraced 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 1 69 
 
 our Steps, and reached the village just as night was 
 setting in. 
 
 Nothing of note took place the next day, and, as 
 the night came on, Jim informed me that they were 
 going to visit their traps to ascertain what luck 
 they had. As he made no objection, I again donned 
 my snow-shoes and joined them. There was but 
 one savage beside himself. The snow was crisp 
 and fine, and the traveling comparatively easy. 
 Jim dragged a small sled behind him for the pur- 
 pose of bringing back anything found in the 
 traps. 
 
 It was a bright moonlight night, and as we 
 journeyed through the forest, there were patches 
 of snow almost as light as day. We shunned the 
 trees, as the snow-crust was brittle around them, 
 and once or twice crossed broad belts of snow, 
 devoid of timber, which Jim informed me were 
 the beds of rivers. As we traveled on, nothing 
 broke the silence, except the muffled sliding of our 
 shoes over the icy crust, or a single word from one 
 of the savages; and it occurred to me that if my 
 friends at home could have seen me at this partic- 
 ular moment, they would have imagined I was 
 searching for gold in a strange country. 
 
 The first trap we reached had the fore-leg of a 
 
I^O BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 fox in it only. I looked at Jim inquiringly, unable 
 to understand what it meant. 
 
 "He gnawed him off, and run away; look out 
 next time." 
 
 The fox had been caught by his fore-leg, and, 
 finding himself unable to get loose, had eaten off 
 the imprisoned limb and escaped on the others. In 
 a month's time he would probably suffer no incon- 
 venience from it. In the next trap was found a 
 red fox, whose fur bears but a trifling value. He 
 was killed, placed upon the sled, the trap reset, 
 and we proceeded to the rest. None of them had 
 been visited, except the last. In this was im- 
 prisoned a beautiful black fox, the capture of 
 which nearly set the two savages into ecstasies. 
 The fur, of this animal is more valuable than that 
 of any other caught by the trappers, one alone 
 sometimes bringing as high as two hundred dollars. 
 It is so rarely captured, and such a prize, when 
 taken, that a hunter would be satisfied with one 
 single animal during the whole season. 
 
 Our two animals being secured upon our sled. 
 and the traps carefully reset, we commenced our 
 return journey. The night was far advanced when 
 we reached the Indian village. As we entered our 
 lodge, Jim's squaw arose noiselessly and replen- 
 ished the fire. While removing my snow-shoes, I 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 171 
 
 remarked to Jim that my feet had felt for the last 
 hour or two as though they were asleep. 
 
 "Let me see him," he asked quickly, jerking off 
 the thick moccasins which I had donned a few weeks 
 back. He looked at my feet a moment, and then 
 exclaimed, " By dam, him froze up ! '* 
 
 I was considerably startled at this, and anxiously 
 asked him if they were badly frozen. 
 
 "' Yaw, but rne fix 'em," he answered, and com- 
 menced immediately rubbing until I begged him to 
 desist. He paid no heed to my entreaties, but 
 continued this treatment until he had restored com- 
 pletely the congealed circulation, and saved the 
 useful members. 
 
 The savages had but poor fortune in trapping 
 this winter, and there was considerable suffering. 
 The Indians of the northwest rely solely upon what 
 they are able thus to take, for their food during the 
 cold season; and, as there is generally plenty of 
 game, they fare well. But now and then some un- 
 accountable cause drives all the animals away, and 
 cases of actual starvation have occurred. Jim told 
 me that three winters before a case of cannibalism 
 had occurred in their tribe, and years before that, 
 w^hen a mere child, there came an appalling time. 
 Half the families were obliged to devour some 
 of their members to support life until sprmg, and, 
 
J 72 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 for over a week, an old, miserable bison sup- 
 ported the whole tribe. Jim said he had more than 
 once cooked his moccasins and eaten them. 
 
 The tribe was driven to no such extremity as 
 this while I was with them, and I saw no want 
 myself. Jim was one of their best hunters and he 
 supplied his own lodge before that of others. Yet, 
 there were others who were not so fortunate, and 
 who were often compelled to endure the pangs of 
 hunger for days at a time. When food was 
 secured, they gorged themselves nearly to bursting, 
 and were the happiest of mortals, until the wants 
 of nature again made themselves felt. 
 
 I could write far more of my experience with 
 this tribe of Indians; but I feel it would be hardly 
 in place here, as there are other characters in this 
 narrative who must claim notice. My aim has been 
 only to dwell long enough upon particulars, for 
 an understanding of the events that follow. Dur- 
 ing my captivity, several things occurred to make 
 me suspect that the mysterious captive referred to 
 was in this village the whole time, and I was satis- 
 fied that the Indian Jim knew more of Nat than he 
 would impart to me. These imaginings filled me 
 with moody misgivings, and I made a resolve that 
 as soon as spring came I would make my escape; 
 and if I could learn nothing of the two beings 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 173 
 
 whose fate was unknown to me, depart for the 
 States. The life I was leading was a wearisome, 
 monotonous one, and in time would become un- 
 bearable. Spring was but a month or two distant, 
 and in its approach I placed my fondest hopes ; 
 but it was doomicd to open an experience in my life 
 of which I little dreamed. 
 
ly^ BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE BUFFALO HUNT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. 
 
 During my captivity among the Indians, as 
 stated in the last chapter, there was considerable 
 suffering on account of the scarcity of food. The 
 country to the north of Nebraska is the paradise of 
 all species of game in the summer months, but 
 during the winter the large animals proceed to the 
 southward, and the deep snows prevent the capture 
 of the smaller ones, except by means of traps. 
 Spring, therefore, was looked forward to with 
 eager expectation, as the harbinger of enjoyment 
 and the season of the chase. 
 
 And it came at last. First, the sun grew hotter 
 and blazed more fiercely ; the snow became damp 
 and cloggy, and the dripping of water could be heard 
 through the day and night. Snow-shoe traveling 
 was now nearly impossible, as long as the thaw 
 continued. Huge streams of melted snow poured 
 into the rivers all along the banks, and the ice 
 became weaker and weaker each moment, till, at 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. jyc, 
 
 last, with a terrific crashing and thundering, the 
 whole mass started, and, a week after, the clear, 
 blue running water only was seen. The thaw con- 
 tinued, until at last all the snow had disappeared, 
 and with feelings of indescribable joy, we once more 
 saw the face of the earth. Vegetation now com- 
 menced with surprising growth, and, in an almost 
 incredible short space of time, bright, radiant, glo- 
 rious spring held indisputed reign. Indians were 
 departing and arriving every day with loads of fish, 
 wild fowl, and game, and the village was a scene 
 of unbridled feasting for many a day. 
 
 One forenoon, a savage, who had been absent a 
 day or two, announced that a herd of buffaloes 
 were quietly browsing a few miles to the south- 
 ward. This produced violent commotion through- 
 out the village, and preparations were at once made 
 for the grand hunt. Some twenty or thirty splen- 
 did Indian ponies were mounted by as many war- 
 riors, and, to my inexpressible delight, Jim in- 
 formed me that I should accompany them. A 
 small, high-spirited animal was given me as my 
 charger. He was of a dark color, and his dappled 
 haunches glistened in the sun like polished ebony. 
 
 About noon we sallied forth from the village, and 
 struck a southward direction, restraining our ani- 
 mals to a walk, in order to preserve their wind for 
 
176 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 the severe test at hand. While riding along by the 
 side of Jim, the thought of escape — which had not 
 been absent from me for the last six months — came 
 with double force, I was now mounted upon a 
 fleet, long-winded animal, who could hold his own 
 with any horse bestrode by the Indians, and what 
 was to prevent my escape? In the bewilderment 
 and excitement of the chase, I might wander miles 
 away, and be gone many hours, without exciting 
 suspicion. My captors, I suppose, had no thoughts 
 of my attempting a flight, as I had permitted so 
 many opportunities to pass, and I felt there would 
 be no suspicious eyes watching my motions. The 
 prairie stretched hundreds of miles to the south- 
 ward, and it seemed my animal longed to bound 
 away upon it. At any rate, I felt the time had come, 
 and resolved that I should never return to the 
 Indian village a captive. 
 
 An hour or so after, we came in sight of the 
 drove, cropping the new grass of the prairie. So 
 numerous were they, that, as we looked over them, 
 it was impossible to see their extent. Far away, 
 until they touched the horizon, the ocean of dark, 
 swarming bodies could be seen. 
 
 Our animals now partook of the excitement of 
 their masters. Arching their necks, they scented 
 the prey afar, and it was nearly impossible to 
 
** Setting up a wild yell, the Indians scattered and plunged after 
 
 them." 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. lyg 
 
 restrain their impatience. They snorted, and 
 plunged, champed their bits, and shook their heads, 
 and seemed determined to rush forward despite all 
 restraint. 
 
 We continued stealthily approaching in a body, 
 preserving strict silence, in order not to alarm the 
 game. In this way, we came within a hundred 
 yards, when a bull raised his alarmed gaze at us, 
 and, giving a loud snort, heaved his huge body 
 round, and plunged madly into the herd. All 
 took the alarm, and went thundering away, making 
 the earth tremble with their multitudinous tread. 
 
 It was now wholly useless to undertake to check 
 our animals longer, and, setting up a wild yell, 
 the Indians scattered and plunged after them. The 
 buffalo is not a runner, and, owing to the shortness 
 of his fore-legs, appears to roll in his gait. The 
 Indians' horses soon bring their riders alongside 
 the bisons, and as soon as the shot is given, they 
 shy off to avoid the infuriated animal's horns. Be- 
 fore I was prepared for it, my animal was abreast 
 of a buffalo, and waiting for my shot. Here I com- 
 mitted a blunder common to all beginners of the 
 hunt. I fired while holding the reins in my hands. 
 The consequence "was, my bullet struck the animal 
 somewhere about the head, got entangled in his 
 mane, where it would drop out in a day or two. 
 
igQ BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 My horse immediately veered to one side, and 
 allowed the buffalo to run until I could reload. 
 I now saw my beast knew more of the chase than 
 I did, and dropping the rein upon his neck, allowed 
 him full freedom. 
 
 Cautiously, but rapidly, he came alongside the 
 plunging buffalo, and taking more care, I sent a 
 bullet through the fore part of his body. It was his 
 death-wound ; and, seemingly conscious of his fate, 
 and determined on revenge, he wheeled instantly 
 round, drove his fore-feet into the ground, and 
 dropped his head to rip up my charger. This 
 movement was so sudden, and we were so close upon 
 him, that my horse could neither check his speed 
 nor turn to one side. But he avoided him for all 
 that. Dropping upon his haunches with a snot-t, he 
 made a terrific bound upward and went clean 
 over the buffalo. The maddened animal expected 
 this, and plunged his horns upward at him, ex- 
 pecting to still kill him. The instinct of the horse 
 was too much, however ; he, too, feared such a fate, 
 and leaped high enough to avoid him. As he came 
 to the earth again, he plunged swiftly away, the 
 enraged buffalo in full pursuit; but he easily kept 
 clear from him, wheeling and dodging, and still 
 remaining nigh enough for me to give my shot. 
 My gun was unloaded, and before I could charge 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. jgi 
 
 It, the buffalo had fallen to the earth and was fast 
 dying. 
 
 I now looked about me. Buffaloes were flying 
 in every direction, and the forms of the savages 
 could be seen darting to and fro among them, deal- 
 ing death and destruction at every turn. The main 
 herd was pouring simultaneously southward, while 
 the scores which had been cut off, were endeavor- 
 ing to rejoin them, carrying us along with them. In 
 different parts of the prairie could be seen the dark, 
 motionless forms of the slain buffaloes, showing 
 how successful the chase had been thus far. 
 
 The sky, which in the mornng was fair and 
 clear, w^as now becoming overcast with heavy 
 clouds, and two or three warning rumbles of thun- 
 der were heard in the distance. Still, the savages 
 were too excited to notice the interruption, as long 
 as a single buffalo remained. I saw Jim plunge his 
 horse unhesitatingly into a crowd of a dozen or so, 
 when, as he commenced dealing destruction, his 
 horse became entangled, and he was compelled to 
 make a flying leap over the backs of the animals 
 around him. This he accomplished successfully, 
 leaping from one back to the other, until he was 
 clear of them all. 
 
 Suddenly, it occurred to me, while holding my 
 fiery horse, that if I meditated escape it was high 
 
1 82 ^11^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 time to be about it. Turning to the southward, 1 
 could just descry the drove thundering awav. a 
 vast cloud of dust circling above them. The /c-r« 
 was dropped upon the neck of my horse, and, 
 stretching out his head, he bounded away like the 
 wind. He was a noble animal, and was now in his 
 element. He enjoyed the chase as much as any of 
 the savages ; and, as mile after mile of prairie flew 
 beneath his feet, he was only warming into the ex- 
 citement. As I looked back, I could just discern 
 the Indians, like specks in the distance, still at their 
 bloody work. 
 
 We were now at no great distance from the herd, 
 and my horse catching sight of an old worried bull, 
 somewhat in the rear, instantly made toward him. 
 He was too jaded to hasten his pace, and I could 
 see his fury was roused. I prepared to shoot him, 
 as it would go to show my pursuers, if I should 
 have any, that the excitement of the chase had 
 alone carried me away. While yet some distance, 
 he shied to one side, and turned his head warn- 
 ingly toward us, but without halting. The horse, 
 however, finding that I still restrained my shot, 
 continued to bring m^e closer. At last, the bison 
 struck into a swifter run, and made desperate 
 efforts to rejoin his companions. In an instant I 
 was beside him, and holding my gun to my shoul- 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 183 
 
 der, was just on the point of firing, when he sud- 
 denly stood at bay, in precisely the same manner 
 as the other. My horse, instead of making a 
 running leap this time, stopped instantaneously, 
 planting his feet firmly in the ground. I was not 
 prepared for this, and shot a dozen feet over his 
 head, falling upon my face within a foot of the buf- 
 falo. The shock was terrible, and I was severely 
 injured. I endeavored to rise, fearing that I should 
 be gored and trampled to death, but was unable, 
 and heard the bufifalo scampering away. I placed 
 my hand to my face, and found it covered with 
 blood, and a strange bewilderment was coming over 
 me. I arose to my knees, and gazed about me. 
 The buffalo was plunging in the rear of his drove, 
 while my horse was galloping wildly around me, his 
 mane and bridle flying in the wind. I heard the 
 bursting of thunder overhead, and everything was 
 growing dark and confused. I tried again to rise, 
 but failed. There was a thick darkness about me, 
 a heavy hand pressing me to the earth, and all 
 become chaotic. 
 
 When consciousness returned, all was blank 
 darkness. The rain was pouring down in torrents, 
 and, stunned and bleeding, I lay on the soaked. 
 
184 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 cold, spongy earth. Gradually, the remembrance 
 of my misfortune came over me. I must have 
 been lying several hours upon the prairie, exposed 
 to the cold, dismal storm. My clothes were satu- 
 rated with the chilling rain, and my face and hands 
 bedabbled with mud and dirt. 
 
 I struggled desperately to my feet, and endeav- 
 ored to pierce the Stygian gloom around ; but it " 
 was useless; not the smallest point of the faintest 
 light could be seen in any direction. Up, down, 
 on every hand, the same solid walls of darkness 
 enveloped me. I was many miles from the Indian 
 village, and had lost its direction. At that moment, 
 I would have given worlds to have been within 
 Jim's lodge. Flight, in my present condition, was 
 not to be thought of, and I must soon receive succor 
 or I should perish. 
 
 I listened. In the dismal sweep of the rain 
 something like a footstep was heard. I called out, 
 but there was no reply. Again the splash of a foot 
 was heard, now from a different point. Soon I dis- 
 covered some animal was walking around me in a 
 circle. Feeling round in the spongy prairie, I 
 found my rifle, but it was useless as a means of 
 defense, as the charge was thoroughly wetted. I 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. jge 
 
 clubbed it, and waited for the attack. Still around 
 and around the same step went. At first I fondly 
 hoped it might be Jim, or one of his companions, but 
 its footfall showed it to be a quadruped, and its 
 approach was too cautious. Suddenly it halted and 
 walked directly toward me. I drew my rifle back, 
 ready to brain it the minute it was within my reach. 
 A faint neigh was heard — joy inexpressible! it was 
 my faithful horse. As I called to him, he ap- 
 proached, and lowered his head for me to take his 
 bridle. With a feeling of deep thankfulness and 
 hope, I clambered into the saddle, and he bounded 
 away, his unerring instinct leading him straight 
 toward home: 
 
 The rain continued to beat, cold and dismal, and 
 I felt already burning within me a hot, fiery fever, 
 from the terrible suffering I had undergone. I 
 should soon be prostrated, and without some kindly 
 hand to nurse me, would inevitably perish. But 
 the horse was certain ; and, after an hour or two, 
 my heart leaped, as we entered the silent Indian 
 village. But one light was burning, and that was in 
 the lodge of Jim, showing that he expected my 
 return. I rode instantly up to the entrance and 
 dismounted, while my noble horse made off to look 
 
l86 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 out for himself. Jim arose as he heard my 
 approach, and, Hfting his torch, advanced to meet 
 me. 
 
 " You had long hunt—" 
 
 He started back in horror at my appearance. 
 Then, holding his light over his head, and peering 
 at me, he asked : 
 
 "What de matter? Been in fight?" 
 
 " No ; I v/as thrown from my horse, and lay 
 senseless upon the prairie until a short time ago. 
 I feel bad, Jim, and fear I am severely injured," 
 said I, starting to seat myself. 
 
 *' Wait minute ; am hurt ; let me fix 'em." 
 
 He clapped his hands, and instantly the bundle of 
 blankets at the side of the lodge arose to an upright 
 position, and his squaw walked forth. My wounds 
 were now dressed, my garments changed for dry 
 ones, and with a hot cup of drink, I was swathed in 
 blankets, and placed by the fire. Jim said it was 
 not far from morning, and if at that time I was 
 worse, he would call in the Medicine Man. 
 
 All night the fever burned and raged, and when 
 morning came I was partially delirious. Jim ex- 
 amined my pulse, shook his head doubtingly, and 
 departed from the lodge. In a short time he re- 
 turned, and with him came the Medicine Man, an 
 Indian considerably advanced in years, and much 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 187 
 
 loved and honored by his tribe. He, too, looked 
 grave, and neld a consultation in an undertone with 
 Jim. From these signs, I knew I was dangerously, 
 probably fatally injured. 
 
 And now came days of those strange, indescrib- 
 able visions that come over one in high fever. I 
 was in all imaginable places, and saw wonderful 
 persons and scenes. Now and then, there were mo- 
 ments w^hen reason flitted to its throne. At sucli 
 times I saw the Medicine Man or Jim near me ; and 
 once, as I wonderingly opened my eyes, I saw the 
 mysterious captive bending over me. I looked 
 straight into her dark, liquid eyes, and reached forth 
 and touched her garment, to satisfy myself that it 
 was no freak of mind. My fixed stare alarmed her, 
 and she looked inquiringly at the ^^ledicine Man. 
 He mumbled something, and she departed. 
 
 About a week after my accident, as I subsequently 
 learned, I awoke with my full reason. As I looked 
 wonderingly about me, the first object that encoun- 
 tered my eyes was the captive to whom I have 
 alluded. ^ly fixed stare at her seemed to alarm 
 her, and she arose to pass out. 
 
 " Wait," said I ; " pray do not leave me." 
 
 " But you should not talk," she replied, much 
 agitated ; " the Medicine Man would not allov.^ it ; 
 you will surely injure yourself." 
 
l88 ^1^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 "You and the Medicine Man are both mistaken, 
 if he thinks thus. I know I have been sick and 
 delirious, but my mind was never clearer than it is 
 this instant, and I know a few moments' conversation 
 cannot injure me. Let me beg you not to refuse 
 me this, as I cannot tell whether the opportunity will 
 ever again be offered." 
 
 The being before me was much embarrassed, and 
 for a moment hesitated, seemingly in doubt between 
 duty and inclination. Seizing the opportunity, I 
 urged my wish with greater fervor than ever. 
 Finally she glanced furtively around, as though she 
 expected to meet the twinkling orbs of the Medicine 
 Man, and then answered: 
 
 " I cannot refuse your request, and yet it seems 
 wrong that I should thus disobey the injunctions 
 that were given for your good. What is it that 
 you wish to ask me? " 
 
 " Am I out of danger ? " 
 
 " Not yet. You have been crazy for a long time, 
 and more than once the Medicine Man has shaken 
 his head in doubt when he looked upon you." 
 
 " Have you not watched by me nearly all the time 
 I have been thus '^ " I gazed full in her face as I 
 uttered this question, and she dropped her eyes in 
 confusion, as she replied : 
 
 " I have assisted the Medicine Man several times 
 
BILL BIDDOX, TRAPPER. 189 
 
 as he wished me to, an<^ I have done no more to you 
 than I would to any one in similar circumstances," 
 
 " No, sweet being, I know you haven't," I ex- 
 claimed, in admiration ; " your heart is open to any 
 one. Who you are I know not, but I can see your 
 race is similar to my own, and judge you to be a 
 willing prisoner among these Indians. Your image 
 has long been before me, and I can never forget 
 your fair, angelic face. What first was merely 
 interest upon my part, has grown into a stronger 
 passion for you, though I fear — " 
 
 I paused as she suddenly arose to her feet, and 
 raised her hand in a warning manner. Before 1 
 could ask the meaning of this, a shuffling step was 
 heard, and the next minute the -Medicine ^lan 
 made his appearance. He gesticulated angrily to- 
 ward her, and she passed quietly out of the lodge. I 
 followed her with my eyes, and as she reached the 
 passage way, she turned toward me with a look that 
 told more than words. 
 
 The Medicine Man evidently suspected what I had 
 been doing; for I could see he was excited, and 
 mumbled continually to himself. He forced a bitter, 
 scalding drink into my mouth, which was soothing 
 in its efifects, and in a short time I slept. 
 
 Now comes a long blank in my memory. After 
 this incident, black night shut around my mind. 
 
I^ BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 There is a faint recollection of again seeing Jim and 
 the Medicine Man bending over me, and the sweet 
 pale face of the fair captive, and then again eame 
 utter oblivion. 
 
SILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, jgf 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 AN AWFUL AWAKENING. 
 
 I HAVE now reached a point in my life over which 
 I would fain pass in silence. It is an experience 
 so strange, so like some horrid vision of sleep, so 
 different from what usually falls to the lot of 
 man, that, at this remote day, I cannot look upon it 
 without a recoiling shudder of horror. I have 
 sometimes persuaded myself that it was unreal ; 
 but no, it is true, and time can never clothe the 
 memory of it in a different dress than that of un- 
 earthly terror. Bleak and bare it stands alone, in 
 my checkered lot, and the silver that now glistens 
 prematurely in my hair, came upon that night. 
 
 I remember falling into a deep sleep, in which 
 the last form that passed before my eyes was that of 
 the dark Medicine Man ; there was a confused mur- 
 mur of voices, and then all became blank and dark. 
 Gradually the darkness was swept by the glittering 
 folds of a dream — a dream which had little form 
 ©r theme, but the minutest particulars of which 
 
IQ2 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 I remember to this day. There were airy, waving 
 figures gliding silently about me without voice, 
 but with every variety of motion. They passed and 
 repassed before my face, frequently pausing and 
 extending their arms over my body, and sometimes 
 standing and intently scanning my countenance. 
 This continued a long time, not a word spoken either 
 by myself or the forms, when suddenly the whole 
 changed. The waving figures darted with the 
 rapidity of lightning among each other, and the 
 quiet radiance became instantly as black as night. 
 In this, I could distinguish the rushing forms grow- 
 ing fainter and fainter, until, at last, all was black- 
 ness again. 
 
 Then came a feeling as though the thick dark- 
 ness in one volume were gradually crushing me 
 beneath it, and then a strange feeling of being 
 cramped and held forcibly still. Then came a long, 
 deep, indrawn breath, and I awoke. 
 
 All was confused and inexplicable. Open my 
 eyes as wide as I might, I could not pierce the 
 Stygian gloom. I tried to move, but could not — 
 could not stir a limb, and only the fingers of my 
 hand. The air was steamy and hot, and I was 
 surrounded by something which chained every part. 
 I strove to collect my thoughts. I remembered the 
 consultation in the hut, the coming unconsciousness, 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. jg^ 
 
 and — my present awakening. My first impression, 
 after this, was that the house had fallen over me. 
 I clenched my hands — they closed upon earth! I 
 reached forward and licked the darkness. / tasted 
 earth! — and then came the sudden, overwhelming 
 knowledge — 
 
 I WAS BURIED ALIVE ! ! 
 
 No pen can draw the faintest picture, no soul 
 conceive the unutterable horror, unless that soul 
 has gone through the same awful experience that 
 filled my soul at that discovery. Such a whirlwind 
 of fire as seethed through my bursting brain, such 
 a perfect blaze of all the passions that can rack 
 the human mind, I cannot portray with this feeble 
 pen. For a moment I was frantic, and then sud- 
 denly a dreadful and frightful calmness soothed 
 my frame. 
 
 Ay, I was buried alive! The savages had mis- 
 taken my trance-like stupor for death itself, and I 
 had been hurried prematurely into the grave. 
 
 Oh, the appalling discovery ! To die while in the 
 grave! The thought was too horrible! I was not 
 yet ready to give way to utter despair. I durst not 
 pause a second for thought, for I knew it would 
 surely come. I twisted and struggled with the 
 strength of fury. I could turn my body around, 
 and use my arms. There was an open space before 
 
194 
 
 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 my face, as I had been buried in the sitting position. 
 Had I lain back I could not have survived five 
 minutes; as it was, my limbs were immovably 
 secured, and it zvas absolutely impossible for me to 
 free myself. 
 
 It was a long time, for such an experience, before 
 I admitted this, but I was compelled to at last. 
 Death by suffocation was rapidly approaching, and 
 all that was left for me was to prepare for it. The 
 small breath of air around me had already been 
 breathed over and over again, and was become 
 hot, steamy, and sickening. I was gasping and 
 panting, but strove to collect my thoughts and keep 
 them from wandering. I commenced praying. 
 
 Suddenly a muffled sound reached my ear, as 
 though something had fallen to the earth above. 
 I listened — it was repeated directly over me, now 
 rapidly and regularly. What could it mean? Was 
 it the sign of dissolution, or was it real ? I listened, 
 and heard it plainer and plainer above the mild 
 throbs of my heart. It was real! Something or 
 somebody was digging at the grave above! 
 
 Could I now hold out till I was reached? The 
 air had already become thick and palpable, and 
 strange fires were flitting before my eyes. I held 
 my breath till the distended blood-vessels seemed 
 bursting, and then as I respired, the earth turned 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 195 
 
 to soft mud around me; and then the long-labored 
 inspiration was like drawing in some loathsome 
 reptile. 
 
 But what was abovj? It could not be a person, 
 as I had been buried by them. It must be some 
 famished animal hastening to devour me. Yet this 
 would be a relief, to gain one more draught of the 
 sweet, cool air of heaven before death. 
 
 Now I heard the murmur of voices! I shouted 
 - — there was a pause and stillness ; then the efforts 
 were renewed with greater vigor. I shouted again. 
 I could feel the jarring tremble of the loose earth 
 above. Some one was endeavoring to rescue me 
 from my awful fate, thank God! 
 
 A moment after, and the cool air brushed my 
 face; a strong hand seized my arm, and — Oh, joy 
 inexpressible! I was on the earth again. 
 
 For a moment I was bewildered and dizzy, and 
 my pulse fluttered wildly, for I had been very, very 
 nigh death. I was recalled to full consciousness 
 by the familiar voice of Jim. 
 
 " Got in a tight fix. Bill. Ole Jim jus' in time.'* 
 
 I took the savage's hand without a word, and, 
 sinking upon my knees, sent up a deep, heartfelt 
 prayer to the Merciful Being who had thus snatched 
 me from the most appalling death. There was a 
 
196 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 bright moon shining, and, as I turned, I saw the 
 dark Indian's eyes fixed wonderingly upon me. 
 
 *' Jim," said I, solemnly, " may the God who has 
 put it into your heart, reward you for this act. I 
 never, never can.'* 
 
 " Jim didn't do it," he quickly interrupted. " She 
 did ! " and, disengaging his grasp, he darted out of 
 sight I turned and looked behind me. There, 
 -standing motionless as a statue, her slight form 
 wrapped in a thick mantle, her sweet, white face 
 appearing like a spirit's, stood the fair, mysterious 
 captive.* 
 
 For a moment, I was disposed to believe it was 
 a spirit before me, so still and motionless she re- 
 mained. Suddenly she turned to depart. 
 
 " Hold ! " exclaimed I, springing forward and 
 seizing her arm ; " hold one moment, till I thank 
 thee." 
 
 " Thank the Great One above," she replied, in a 
 low, sweet voice. " He it is who has preserved 
 your life." 
 
 As she uttered these words, she turned her dark 
 
 * In the northwestern part of Oregon is a tribe of Indians 
 called Chenooks, who bury their sick, as soon as the Medicine 
 Man pronounces them beyond recovery. This horrid practice 
 is not confined to them alone, for other tribes in the northwest 
 have been known to inflict it upon their captives. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 197 
 
 eyes upward, and the moonlight streaming down 
 upon her face, threw a vail like the halo of glory 
 around it. Then looking me calmly in the face, she 
 added : 
 
 " You have escaped an awful death, it is true ; 
 aid you are not the only one who has thus risen 
 from the grave. When delirious, you spoke of 
 home and of friends there, and I know your presence 
 is prayed for. The chance of reaching them is now 
 placed within your reach. A horse is saddled and 
 bridled, and awaiting you, but a short distance 
 away. Jim will furnish you with a rifle. You 
 know the direction to take, and let me urge you 
 to flee." 
 
 Again she turned to go, but I restrained her. 
 
 " You are a white person, and do you wish to live 
 and die with these savages ? " 
 
 The tears glistened on her face as she replied, 
 " I have not a friend in the civilized world. My 
 parents were murdered by the Indians, and my- 
 self and sister carried away in captivity. We were 
 separated ; I was taken eastward, and she westward 
 beyond the Rocky Mountains. She cannot be liv- 
 ing, for she was a delicate child, younger than me, 
 and incapable of bearing one-half the suffering 
 that must have been imposed upon her. Should 
 I ever see the land I left when a child, I should 
 
IQg BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 be a stranger among strangers. There are those 
 here who love me, and I will remain behind and 
 die among them." 
 
 " Flee with me," I impetuously urged. " You 
 will not be a stranger. Hundreds will love you, 
 and you can die with your own kindred. Jim, who 
 is faithful to you, will furnish us both with a fleet 
 horse, and we can elude all pursuit. I — " 
 
 I paused, for her agitation had become painful. 
 She was sinking to the earth, when I caught her, 
 and, leading her a short distance, seated myself 
 beside her upon a fallen tree. Then I gently 
 pulled her head over on my bosom, and looked 
 down mpon her features. Her gaudy head-dress 
 was removed, and her white face lay among the 
 mass of jetty hair like a jewel set in darkness. The 
 dark, sweeping lashes, the faint roseate glow of 
 each cheek, the delicate nose and lips, as the moon- 
 light rested on them, were indescribably beautiful. 
 There was, too, an utter abandonment about her, — 
 a tumultuous throbbing, that showed what a power- 
 ful emotion was agitating her. 
 
 What was that emotion? Was it a response to 
 my own great passion? What else could it be? 
 Encouraged by the certainty that the latter was 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. jog 
 
 the case, I urged my suit with redoubled ardor. 
 I pictured the happiness that would be hers in a 
 civilized country, and the utter misery that must 
 follow her life among the savages. She informed 
 me that she was a captive, not of the tribe near at 
 hand, but of one further north, which had held her 
 ever since the massacre of her parents ; and that she 
 had been told, in case she attempted to leave them, 
 instant death would be the result. I saw she wished 
 — she longed to flee, and the objections she offered 
 were only suggested by her fears. 
 
 " Hist ! " she whispered, " there is some one." 
 
 I turned on the defensive. In an instant Jim 
 stood beside me. 
 
 " How soon goin' ? " he asked, anxiously, turning 
 toward me. 
 
 " Shortly ; why do you ask ? " 
 
 " Day clus comin', and if you cotched, no use ! ' ' 
 he replied, meaningly. 
 
 " I was not aware, Jim, that I had enemies among 
 you." 
 
 "You hain't; but—" 
 
 The rest of the sentence was gesticulated, first 
 pointing to me and the fair one beside me. 
 
 " Do you not understand ? " asked the latter. 
 
200 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 *' There are several in the tribe who look upon me 
 with envious eyes, and were they conscious that you 
 knew of my existence, you would not be spared a 
 moment. This is what Jim means, and his words 
 must be heeded." 
 
 " Must I travel afoot and alone ? " I asked of 
 the Indian. 
 
 " There^s the boss what tossed you over the 
 buffler there," he answered, pointing to a clump of 
 trees, " and I've brought you them other things," 
 he added, handing me my knife, powder-horn, and 
 rifle, " and I'll show you through the woods to the 
 peararie." 
 
 " Thank you ; but I shall not need you, as I know 
 the way well enough." 
 
 " How soon you goin' to start?" he asked, turn- 
 ing to depart. 
 
 " In less than an hour I shall bid you farewell." 
 
 "Jim," interposed the fair captive, "bring my 
 horse to the same spot. I think I shall also leave 
 for home to-night. If inquiry is made, you can 
 tell them this, and add that I shall probably be with 
 them in a few days again. As I know the wilder- 
 ness well, I will guide our friend here through it." 
 
 The savage looked cautiously at us both. If he 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 20 1 
 
 was shrewd enough to suspect the truth, he was 
 polite enough not to show it. He replied that her 
 wish should be gratified, and he disappeared as 
 noiselessly as he came. It was now getting far 
 in the night. The moon rode high in the heavens, 
 and shed a full, perfect light down upon us. 
 
 " So you are going," said I, looking at her. 
 
 " I am going to attempt it," she answered, firmly. 
 
 "And through no action of mine shall you ever 
 regret this step," I added, warmly. 
 
 " Oh ! I hope he will soon return, for I icish 
 to go," she said, as with a shiver of apprehension 
 she looked hurriedly about in the dark shadows 
 of the forest. 
 
 " x\s yet, we know not each other's names," said 
 I, pleasantly. 
 
 "True," she answered, with a faint smile. 
 " inline is Imogene Merment." 
 
 " And mine is William Relmond ; but where can 
 Jim be?" 
 
 " Ah ! there he is now," she answered, with a 
 deep flush; and the next minute the savage stood 
 beside us. 
 
 " The animals are there ; and I'm thinking youM 
 better be off. Soon as you git away, I'll cover up 
 
202 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 the hole, so thee won't think him has crawled out; 
 but Fm much af eared there am some peeking about 
 here." 
 
 " We will go at once," said Imogene, gathering 
 up her dress. 
 
 I turned to give a last word to Jim, but he had . 
 vanished. 
 
 " Let us hurry," said she, " for I have a dread 
 that we are watched, and will not get away after 
 all. I pray God that nothing may prevent us, now 
 that we are started." 
 
 She almost ran, and in a minute we reached the 
 grove referred to. Here we found two horses 
 saddled and bridled, and ready for a journey. 
 Without losing a moment, we mounted and struck 
 to the northward. 
 
 " Why this direction, Imogene ? " I asked. 
 
 " To avoid pursuit," she answered. " At day- 
 light we will change it, and proceed to the south- 
 east." 
 
 The open prairie was some miles distant, and 
 as long as we were in the deep shadows of the 
 wood, the greatest danger was to be apprehended. 
 It was more than probable that the extended ab- 
 sence of Jim. and Imogene, at the same time, had 
 
" Without losing a moment, we mounted and struck to the 
 northward." 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 205 
 
 aroused the suspicions of more than one savage. As 
 an must have known that I was buried while still 
 living, and that she had battled their determination 
 as long as there was hope, when the morning came 
 and showed her abrupt departure, they could not 
 help suspecting the true cause. 
 
 The air was cool and exhilarating, and, as my 
 fiery animal pranced beside that of Imogene, I 
 could not restrain the wild, ardent hopes that 
 thrilled my being. I was homeward bound with the 
 fairest prize of the universe to me. What else could 
 be needed ? Ah ! there was the fate of Nat, my com- 
 panion, still shrouded in obscurity. I determined 
 to question her at once in regard to him. 
 
 " Imogene, although this is hardly the proper 
 moment, I cannot help questioning you about the 
 fate of a friend of mine." 
 
 " I know to whom you refer," she answered, 
 quickly. " I have heard him speak of you, but 
 he does not know of your existence. He is a cap- 
 tive like yourself, save that he seems perfectly con- 
 tented with his fate." 
 
 " Thank heaven ! it seems indeed that a wonder- 
 ful Providence is watching over all of us." 
 
 " I believe he can effect his escape, but it must 
 be through your instrumentality, for I will not dare 
 to show myself under the circumstances." 
 
2o6 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 " Good, clever Nat, I will do anything for him," 
 I exclaimed, warmly. " He is a whole-souled 
 fellow, for all he is so odd. Only to think, he has 
 been so nigh me all this time! Of course, it is 
 my place to assist him, as far as lies in my power." 
 
 " I have had several conversations with him, in 
 all of which he spoke of you. He appeared to love 
 you, and regretted greatly that you were so reck- 
 less. He said he had long striven to teach you how 
 to hunt with caution, but never succeeded. He 
 also referred to a trapper named Bill Biddon, the 
 one who did his best to save our family when they 
 fell victims to the savages, and who I v/ould give 
 all the world to see. He said he succeeded, after 
 several years, in making quite a hunter of him." 
 
 "Oh! the rascal," I laughed, "just like him." 
 
 When day dawned we continued our journey for 
 several hours. I learned in the course of our con- 
 versation that Imogene Merment wandered con- 
 tinually among the tribes for many miles around, 
 and, as I learned in after years, her existence was 
 known to points as far opposite as Fort Churchill 
 and Fort Hall.* 
 
 * The Crow Indians are a numerous tribe, subdivided into the 
 Blackfeet-Sioux, Dacotah, Ouk -pa-pas, Two Kettle, and Minnie, 
 besides several others. Each has its separate village and chief, 
 but all are on friendly relations with each other. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 207 
 
 At noon I shot a ptarmigan, which was cooked 
 and upon which we made a hearty dinner. Imo- 
 gene ascended a small eminence to ascertain 
 whether any signs of pursuit were visible. None 
 were discovered, but we hurried forward until 
 nightfall, when we drew up for the night. We 
 started a fire, and at my urgent request, Imogene 
 lay down beside it, while I kept watch. Our horses 
 were picketed at scarcely a rod distant, and yet in 
 the night they became so terrified at the approach 
 of some animal, that they broke loose and fled, 
 and we never saw them again. 
 
 This was a great loss to us, but in the morning 
 we continued our journey on foot, and at noon 
 ascended a high mountain, which was a spur of 
 the Black Hills, lying between the Yellowstone 
 and Missouri. The day was a clear, beautiful one, 
 and the fairest peaks of the mountains, looming 
 up against the blue, far-off horizon, formed a fine 
 background to the glorious landscape spread out 
 before us. Never shall I forget the magnificent 
 scene which was opened to our vision. To the 
 north, the mighty wilderness stretched in one un- 
 broken tract as far as the eye could reach, while 
 to the southward the glistening waters of the vast 
 rivers could be seen, winding and losing their 
 tortuous channels in the forest again. Numerous 
 
2o8 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 patches of prairie were visible to the west, and 
 small, dark specks moving over their face, showed 
 us that animal life was not wanting in this favored 
 country. South of us, nestling in a deep valley, 
 could be seen the tiny beehive-like lodges of the 
 tribe we had left, seemingly covering scarcely a 
 square rod of ground. 
 
 ** Yonder," said Imogene, pointing to the north- 
 ward, ** is the tribe which holds your friend. The 
 village is two days* journey, but the course is direct, 
 and you cannot fail to find it. If you wish to search 
 for him, I will remain here until you return. I 
 should wish to approach no nearer, as it would in- 
 crease the danger to both of us. Your friend has 
 hunted with the tribe in this mountain, and should 
 you be at a loss to find me again, ask him to guide 
 you to the ' Death Rock,' and you will reach me 
 by the most direct course." 
 
 I hesitated long before leaving Imogene, but my 
 duty to Nat, and the hopeful view she took of it, 
 finally decided me. She was confident I should 
 find him and be back in a few days, and urged me 
 to delay no longer. We repaired to the " Death 
 Rock," where we separated. Imogene was famil- 
 iar with its peculiarities, and assured me that in its 
 recesses she could find security from any animal 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 209 
 
 foe.* Before leaving her, I saw that she was pro- 
 vided with food sufficient to last a week at least, 
 and as she was furnished with a rifle and ammuni- 
 tion, her situation was certainly as good as my own. 
 
 * Death Rock is composed principally of a vast cave, in which 
 It is said a whole tribe of Indians once perished ; choosing death 
 by starvation rather than to fall into the hands of their enemies. 
 
210 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE BRIGADE AND AN OLD FRIEND. 
 
 After bidding- Imogene good-by, I started on a 
 rapid pace to the northward. At night I kindled 
 a fire by which I slept in safety, and at an early 
 hour resumed my journey. The character of the 
 country continued much the same — broad belts of 
 prairie relieved by groves of trees and streams of 
 considerable magnitude. Birds of all kinds whirred 
 through the air and sang within the wood, and the 
 dark forms of wild animals w^ere more than once 
 seen gamboling in the distance. 
 
 At noon I reached the banks of a river, so large 
 that I was pretty certain it was the Yellowstone, 
 and hence was able to judge pretty correctly of 
 my locality. The river was very broad, and it was 
 quite a serious undertaking to cross it ; but, never- 
 theless, it had to be done, and I commenced mak- 
 ing my preparations. 
 
 As I was stepping in, a sound of voices struck 
 me, I paused and listened, and soon could hear 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 2II 
 
 the loud, regular swelling song gradually approach- 
 ing nearer and nearer, and at stated intervals the 
 powerful chorus. There was something in the sound 
 of this song, at such a time, that was indescribably 
 stirring and inspiriting; and, as it came nigher 
 and nigher, and grew louder, its power increased. 
 Hardly satisfied of the nature of the approaching 
 body, I withdrew a short distance, and waited its 
 appearance. Soon a large canoe, nearly full of 
 men, came to view around a bend some hundred 
 yards distant, and it was instantly followed by 
 another and another, all keeping time to the words 
 of the song : 
 
 We are going with the tide, 
 
 Yoho ! yoho ! 
 Free as the mountain-winds we glide, 
 
 Yoho ! yoho ! 
 Oh ! ours is a merry life, 
 
 Yoho ! yoho ! 
 And full of danger, toil, and strife, 
 Yoho ! yoho ! 
 Then join your voices 
 In the glad refrain, 
 And let the mountains 
 Echo back the strain. 
 
 As over a score of majestic voices joined in the 
 deep swelling chorus, the echoes were awakened 
 for miles around. I watched them in wonder and 
 admiration. Soon, to my surprise, they made to- 
 
212 ^J^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 ward the shore where I stood. As it was noon, 
 they were probably putting in for their dinner. In 
 a moment the boats were hauled up on the bank, 
 and as rough and hardy a set of fellows as ever 
 met, sprang upon the shore. A half dozen scattered 
 along the bank, and in a moment returned bearing 
 armfuls of sticks and fuel. A huge fire was soon 
 blazing and roaring, an enormous quantity of meat 
 steaming and spitting, and the men, excepting the 
 cook, were lolling about on the grass, each one 
 smoking and chatting, and making a scene of pleas- 
 ant confusion and enjoyment. 
 
 I now stepped forth from my concealment. 
 Several turned their faces toward me as I passed 
 them, but no unusual amount of astonishment was 
 manifested. I made my way to a group of three, 
 and seated myself beside them. 
 
 " Whar'd you come from?" asked a short, gruff - 
 looking man. 
 
 " No place in particular, at present," I replied, 
 pleasantly. 
 
 " One of them NorVest chaps, I s'pose ? " 
 
 " No, sir ; I am no trapper at all, but a mere 
 adventurer in these parts." 
 
 " Pooty story to tell them as will believe it," he 
 retorted, angrily. 
 
 '* I am sure it is immaterial with me whether you 
 
" A fight ! a fight ! make a ring for them.' 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 215 
 
 believe it or not. If I were a member of the 
 Northwest Fur Company, I should not be ashamed 
 or afraid to own it, as I believe that is as respectable 
 and honorable as the one in whose service you are," 
 
 " Boys ! do you hear that ? " called out a fellow 
 beside me. ** Yer's one of them sneaking chaps — 
 a NorVv^ester, and he's insulted us — " 
 
 " Beg your pardon, sir," I interrupted ; " I did no 
 such thing." 
 
 " Do you hear that, I say ? " he called out, with- 
 out regarding my words. " Here's a sneaking Nor'- 
 wester cracking up his party afore us." 
 
 I was so provoked that I made no reply or noticed 
 him. His words attracted their attention, and, anx- 
 ious to see the trouble, they gathered round. 
 
 " What's up ? " demanded a stumpy fellow, push- 
 ing his head in between the others. 
 
 "A fight! a fight!" 
 
 " Make a ring for 'em." 
 
 " Blow me, if he don't look like one o' them 
 Nor'westers as sent Governor Semple out the 
 world.* Go in, Tom ! " 
 
 * In an affray between two parties, belonging respectively to 
 the Hudson Bay and Northwest Fur Companies, the leader of 
 the former, Mr. Semple, was shot by a member of the latter. 
 This happened some years before the date of our story, but for 
 a long time there was ill-feeling and frequent encounters between 
 the members of the companies. 
 
2i6 ^^^I^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 ** I'll maul him as soon as I get in fightin' order/* 
 said Tom — he of my first acquaintance. 
 
 Matters were now getting serious. A collision 
 between the redoubtable Tom and myself seemed 
 unavoidable. His impudent bravado and insults had 
 roused me somewhat, and I made up my mind that 
 I should withdraw nothing I had uttered, and bear 
 none of his insolence. 
 
 " What's the row ? " demanded another ; " I don't 
 understand it." 
 
 ** Why, here's a sneakin' Nor'wester," answered 
 Tom, ** blowin' 'bout things, and I've made up my 
 mind I won't stand it ; " and he continued his war- 
 like preparations. 
 
 " That's right, Tom, go in and win," added 
 several voices. 
 
 *' Gentlemen," said I, " all I ask is that you shall 
 understand this matter and show fair play — " 
 
 " We'll do that, you ! " interrupted several, 
 
 " In the first place," I continued, " I have said 
 nothing against the company in whose service you 
 are. This man, whom you call Tom, accused me of 
 being a member of a rival company ; I replied I 
 was not, although I should not be ashamed if such 
 were the case, as I considered the latter as respect- 
 able as yours. He avers, however, I have insulted 
 you, and seems determined to avenge it, and I am 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 217 
 
 perfectly willing to gratify him. As I told him, I 
 am not in the service of any companv, but am a mere 
 adventurer in these parts. With this explanation I 
 am now ready for any proceeding he may wish." 
 
 " Smash me to nuthin', ram me down and shoot 
 me, if thar ain't Jarsey, or I'm a sinner ! " exclaimed 
 a familiar voice, and the same instant Bill Biddon 
 stepped into the ring before me. " Give us your 
 paw, Jarsey." 
 
 He grasped my hand and gave a vigorous gripe, 
 while his scarred countenance was dissolved in one 
 great broad smile. It is needless to say I was de- 
 lighted beyond measure at this unexpected meet- 
 ing. 
 
 "Why, Bill, I little thought to meet you here." 
 
 "And yer's as what thinks Bill didn't think so 
 himself." 
 
 During this passage of words between us, the 
 others stood wondering and perplexed. The honest 
 old trapper turned, and seeing Tom standing with 
 his fists still clinched, shouted: 
 
 " Ef you say another word to that gentleman 
 thar, as is worth forty like you, there'll be only a 
 grease-spot left of you. Do you hear, eh ? " and he 
 shook his ponderous fist beneath his nose. 
 
 The fellow did hear, and with a muttering, " It's 
 
2i8 -B^-^^ BIDDON. TRAPPER. 
 
 cu'rous, I allow," donned his coat with the most 
 perfect meekness: 
 
 " Now," said Biddon facing the rest, " if thar are 
 any 'bout yer as wants to take up this fout, why jist 
 step forward and get lammed." 
 
 " Is he a Nor'wester ? " asked one, breaking the 
 perfect silence. 
 
 " What you want to know fur ? " 
 
 " 'Cause if he is, he can't pass this crowd without 
 swallerin' them words." 
 
 " What words ? " demanded Biddon, fiercely. 
 
 " What Tom said he said." 
 
 " Have I not explained — " I commenced. 
 
 " Now jist hold on, Jarsey," interrupted the 
 trapper, turning toward me with a backward wave 
 of his hand. " Now, hold on, you, fur ef you take 
 back anything you've said, shoot me, ef / don't lick 
 you. Ogh ! " Then turning to the others he con- 
 tinued, " He ain't goin' to take back nothin' he's 
 said yerabouts; and ef Tom Wilson thar don't 
 swaller what he said, yer's as will make him do it." 
 
 " I mought've be mistaken," said the now 
 thoroughly-frightened Tom. 
 
 " That won't do." 
 
 " Wal, he didn't say so," he jerked out. 
 
 "That'll answer. S'posen I say he is a Nor*- 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 219 
 
 wester, how 'bout that ? " demanded Biddon, glaring 
 about on the rest. 
 
 There was no response. All was still as death, 
 
 " Wal, boys," added Bill, returning to his good 
 nature, " he aint a trapper ; never took a skin in his 
 born days ; is a parfect gentleman, and I'll make 
 you 'quainted with Bill Relmond, from the States, 
 or, as I call him, jarsey, as fine a chap as ever 
 tramped these parts," 
 
 The scene that followed was singular and amus- 
 ing All crowded around me, smiling and talking 
 and shaking hands; and the first hand I grasped 
 was Tom Wilson's. 
 
 " Hope you won't mind what I said ; " he spoke 
 in a lower tone, " I orter been lammed for it, sure." 
 
 " Don't refer to it," I laughed ; " I suppose you 
 were only anxious for a little arrtusement to pass 
 away time," 
 
 " That's it 'zactly, Jarsey, you're a trump." 
 
 " It's my private opine," called out Biddon, ** that 
 this coon is goin' inter these eatables, and ef you 
 wants a bite, Jarsey, you'd better jine." 
 
 All now crowded around the meal-pot, and com- 
 menced devouring its contents with the avidity of 
 wild animals. It consisted mainly of pemmican 
 (dried buffalo flesh), a food much in vogue in the 
 northwest, with several biscuits and some scalding 
 
220 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 tea. The meal finished, the men instantly produced 
 their pipes, which they indulged in for ten or fifteen 
 minutes. The boats were then shoved into the 
 water, the cooking-utensils placed on board, and 
 preparations made for starting. 
 
 '' Whar you bound to?" asked Biddon, just as 
 they were ready. 
 
 '' The Blackfeet-Sioux," I answered, unable to 
 repress a smile. 
 
 " The Blackf eet-Sioux ? " he repeated. 
 
 " Yes ; do you know their grounds ? " 
 
 " I's 'bout twenty miles down-stream — that is the 
 village. We cac'late to camp thereabouts to-night. 
 What, in the name of beavers, do you want with 
 them?" 
 
 ** ril explain matters when we have a better 
 opportunity," I answered. 
 
 " Jump in with me then, an' Til git Tom Wilson 
 to rest a while, and we'll talk over matters and 
 things." 
 
 I sprang into the boat, and the brigade was soon 
 under way. The Yellowstone, being broad and deep 
 and the current quite powerful, the work was com- 
 paratively light The song was again taken up by 
 the voyageurs, all joining in the chorus and keeping 
 time with the measured dip of their paddles. I 
 seated myself in the stern, beside the steersman, 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 221 
 
 who I found to be a clerk in the Hudson Bay Com- 
 pany, and a gentleman. 
 
 " How long will you remain with us, Mr. Rel- 
 mond ? " he asked. 
 
 " Only until night." 
 
 " I was in hopes you would accompany us to the 
 settlement." 
 
 " I should be glad to do so, but circumstances 
 forbid." 
 
 *' It was quite fortunate," he smiled, '' that you 
 and Biddon were acquainted. He is a noble fel- 
 low." 
 
 " Most assuredly he is. I accompanied him, as a 
 seeker of adventures, last summer from Indepen- 
 dence, and we separated in the autumn, while in the 
 wilderness. I was considerably surprised to find 
 him in your service." 
 
 " He had a misunderstanding with his employers, 
 I believe. He had a dispute with one of their 
 agents, and gave him a severe pounding. He was 
 reproved rather sharply for this and left the company 
 in disgust. This was during the winter. Shortly 
 after he visited Red River settlement, and volun- 
 teered his services, and they were gladly accepted, 
 as his skill was known to many." 
 
 " He has been then but a short time with you." 
 
 " Only a few weeks — ^but long enough to let us 
 
222 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 know the value of his services. This brigade is all 
 owing to him." 
 
 "How so?" 
 
 " You are aware we are now in the United States 
 territory. It is not often that we extend our work 
 into it, except in Oregon, which has lately fallen into 
 the hands of the Americans. Biddon had engaged 
 a large quantity of furs of the Indians in the neigh- 
 borhood, intending them for one of their fur com- 
 panies, but after his dispute he offered them to us, 
 and this brigade was dispatched for the purpose 
 of collecting them. He will find there is quite a 
 pile of money due him at York fort when he arrives 
 there." 
 
 Further time was spent in conversation with the 
 clerks when I noticed a person had taken Biddon's 
 place at the oars. The trapper motioned me beside 
 him, and seating ourselves in the opposite end of 
 the boat he said : 
 
 " Now we'll have a talk, Jarsey, ogh ! " 
 
 " The first thing to be knowed," said Biddon, *' is 
 how in the name of human natur you come in these 
 parts. How war it, Jarsey ? " 
 
 " You must remember, Biddon, IVe been a pris- 
 oner for the last six months." 
 
 "Did you ever hear nothin' of Greeny?" 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 223 
 
 " Yes ; a rumor reached me that he was living 
 with a tribe of Indians to the east of us." 
 
 " Altogether onpossible," answered the trapper, 
 with a shake of his head. 
 
 "Why is it impossible?" 
 
 " He's had his ha'r raised sure, and never seed 
 the next day arter we seed the last on him." 
 
 " I am more hopeful than you are. Recollect / 
 have been a captive and am now here without bodily 
 harm." 
 
 " It's qua'r, I allow, how you come out, as you did. 
 The reds down in them parts are ramparageous, and 
 if it hadn't been for that Jim, you spoke about, and 
 that gal, you'd a gone under sure. I's tuck once 
 by them same chaps one time. Me an' Snapper 
 Jack was sat on one dark night in an awful snow- 
 storm by a hundred on 'em. They blazed right into 
 us, and Jack rolled over with a pound of lead in him 
 and never said a word. I's purty well riddled in 
 my lower story, but I tuk through and got off with 
 my ha'r, while Jack never knowed who tuk his. 
 They cac'lated on toastin' you up brown, and would 
 ef it want fur that gal, as I's sayin' while he's had it 
 all." 
 
 " I cannot yet see, Biddon, why there is not a 
 probability of Nat's being alive. The Indians in 
 these parts are on friendly intercourse with the 
 
224 BILL BIDDONy TRAPPER. 
 
 traders, and it is in this region, if anywhere, that he 
 will be found." 
 
 " I don't b'lieve he's about. They got him down 
 thar, and he got it down thar, sure." 
 
 These words of the trapper dampened my expecta- 
 tions greatly. Much of the joy of my hope was that 
 I expected to again grasp the hand of my old friend, 
 and the thought that he had long been dead made 
 me sad and gloomy. However, I was not ready to 
 give up all hope, and determined that I should be 
 satisfied of his fate before I returned to the States. 
 
 The brigade proceeded regularly and rapidly down 
 the Yellowstone, until the sun sinking in the west, 
 warned them that night was at hand. The steersman 
 informed me they should not be able to reach the 
 Indian village that night, but would early the next 
 day. Just as the shadows were blending with the 
 darkness on the river banks, the brigade ran into 
 shore for the night's encampment. There was a 
 dense forest on either side of us, which rendered our 
 situation dark and gloomy; but this was soon dis- 
 pelled by the jolly z'oyageitrs. Fuel was collected, 
 and a great roaring fire crackled and blazed cheerily 
 around us ; and the men passing to and fro, chatting 
 and joking, the confusion of preparations for sup- 
 per, made a scene well calculated to dispel all gloomy 
 reveries. The three boats were hauled tip on the 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 225 
 
 banks, turned over, and their contents scattered 
 among the owners, and all gathered around the 
 hearty evening meal. These hardy fellows after 
 the laborious day's work, their appetites sharpened, 
 and healthy truly, 
 
 " Ate like horses, when you hear them eat." 
 
 The meal finished, the indispensable pipes were 
 in requisition. Three or four huge fires were 
 kindled, around which the men lazily stretched 
 themselves, to while away the hour that must elapse 
 ere they " turned in " for the night. The brigade 
 included men in it, who had trapped and hunted the 
 shores of the Frozen Sea to the plains of the Kansas, 
 and from Labrador to the mouth of the Columbia, 
 beyond the Rocky Mountains. They had encoun- 
 tered every imaginable foe : the intense cold and the 
 polar bear of the far North, and the innumerable 
 hordes of savages of the more temperate regions; 
 and now they recounted their thrilling reminiscences 
 to each other, and speculated upon the fate still in 
 store for them. The hour passed rapidly, and ere 
 I was aware, the voyageiirs were gathering their 
 blankets around them for the night's rest. 
 
 " Come, bundle up, Jarsey," said Biddon, " for 
 thar'Il be no time to snooze in the daylight." 
 
 The men were stretched at every point around 
 
226 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 the fire, their feet being toward it, their heads 
 radiating outward, so that the three groups resem- 
 bled the same number of immense wheels. As most 
 of the places were occupied, I lay a little beyond 
 the circle, within a foot or two of Biddon. The 
 fires now smoldered, and the heavy darkness again 
 settled over wood and river. Nothing disturbed 
 the deep silence save the faint flow of the 
 Yellowstone, or the dull noise of an ember as it 
 broke apart, and now and then the distant wail of 
 some wild animal. But a short time elapsed ere 
 I joined the rest in the land of dreams. 
 
 The night passed away without any event worthy 
 of note ; and the first apprisal I had of the approach 
 of day, was by hearing loud cries of " Leve ! leve ! 
 leve ! " * uttered by numerous voices. 
 
 Starting up, I saw the voyageurs were all astir, 
 and making ready to embark. The boats were 
 launched, and being too early for breakfast, the men 
 sprang in and seized the oars. 
 
 " When we halt for breakfast," said the steersman, 
 " it will be at the Indian village, which I understand 
 is your destination." 
 
 With the same inspiring song of yesterday, the 
 men bent to their oars, and the boats shot rapidly 
 through the foaming water. In the course of an 
 
 * Arouse, or get up. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 227 
 
 hour or more, the brigade put in for breakfast, and 
 the same bustling scene that had taken place the 
 night before was re-enacted. 
 
 The place chosen was a broad, open plot of grass, 
 reaching down to the water's edge, and extending 
 some hundred feet back, when the edge of the 
 forest was reached. No signs of Indians were seen, 
 and I was somewhat puzzled to know how it was 
 known they were in the vicinity. The clerk men- 
 tioned before, explained to me that Biddon had 
 described the halting spot, and the distance so 
 accurately, that there could be no mistake, and the 
 savages would soon make their appearance. 
 
 We had scarcely spoken, when a movement was 
 heard in the forest, and several Indians made their 
 appearance. They seemed to understand the mean- 
 ing of the brigade ; for, directly behind them came 
 numbers of others bearing loads of peltries — the furs 
 of beavers, foxes, badgers, lynxes, martens, otters, 
 and wolverines. A barter at once commenced, and 
 in less than half an hour the whole array was 
 deposited in the boats, and the Indians were proudly 
 parading in the gaudy trinkets and dresses which 
 had just fallen to their lot. 
 
 ** Where is their village ? " I asked of Biddon. 
 
 " A mile or so back in the woods ; you can't miss 
 it." 
 
228 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 " I can remain here without danger, can I not ? ' 
 
 " Yas, I guess so — hold on, I'll fix it for you." 
 
 With this he strode rapidly toward a man who 
 appeared to be the chief, and commenced a con- 
 versation. He understood the Sioux tongue well 
 enough to hold quite an intelligible conversation. 
 The talk lasted but a moment, when he returned. 
 
 " You needn't be skeerish," said he ; " I've made 
 it all right. I told that old chap you wanted to take 
 a look at the country hereabouts, to skeer up some 
 furs fur us agin. He was a little s'pishus at fust, 
 shoot me ef he warn't! and he axed ef you wanted 
 to run off with that gal o' theirs, 'cause ef you war, 
 you'd better leave yer ha'r behind you. There's 
 been two or three round these parts after her, and he 
 won't stand it no longer. You've got to be mighty 
 shy, Jarsey, I kin tell yer ; but I hope you'll git her 
 fur all that, ogh ! " 
 
 " I am grateful to you for this kindness, Bid- 
 don " 
 
 " Never mind 'bout that ; come to the pint ef 
 you've got anything to say." 
 
 " I had nothing except to express my thanks, 
 which you seem averse to receiving." 
 
 " It does go again my stummick, I allow, Jarsey ; 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 229 
 
 when you come the squaw over me, I can't stand it. 
 Yer's as likes to talk fair and squar, and leave the 
 rest. Shoot me ef I doesn't ! Wal I does, ogh ! " 
 
 " I suppose the time has come for us to separate, 
 then, Biddon ? " 
 
 "Leastways it's close at hand. Think you'd 
 better go up to Selkirk settlement with us; don't 
 s'pose you will; think you're a fool, shoot me ef I 
 don't, ogh ! " 
 
 " It seems our separation is to be something like 
 it was before," I laughed. " I believe you had a 
 small opinion of my abilities at that time." 
 
 " Wal, yer's as hopes you'll come out right side 
 up this time. In course I'll have a glim.pse of that 
 ugly face of your'n agin. In course." 
 
 "I don't know about that. As you have gone 
 into the service of the Hudson Bay Company, your 
 sphere of action will be far removed from mine, and 
 it will be an occurrence which I cannot imagine at 
 this time that will bring us together." 
 
 " That ain't so sartin," said the trapper, in a low, 
 confidential tone. " I rather opine I'll be down in 
 Westport or Independence this fall, and ef these 
 fellows cac'lates on keepin' me around, they've got 
 
230 J5/LL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 to step round 'emselves. Shoot me if they hain% 
 ogh ! " 
 
 " I hope you will not spend your life in the dreary 
 region north of this, for it will indeed be a dreary, 
 lonely life for you." 
 
 " Wal, you see, Jarsey," he continued, with a 
 shade of feeling, " it don't make much difference 
 whar I traps. Yer's as s'pects to go under some- 
 whar in the mountains, and leave my topknot fur 
 the buzzards and reds, and it mought as well be 
 in one part as t'other of this country." 
 
 " Fudge, Biddon, don't talk that way. Why^ I 
 am sure I shall see you settled down in the States 
 with a wife and a dozen children — " 
 
 I paused as I noticed the trapper's face. Some 
 strange emotion was gaining the mastery over him; 
 but he conquered in a minute. 
 
 " Never talk that way agin, Jarsey ; I can't stand 
 it." 
 
 " Pardon me ; you will soon be under way," I 
 spoke, wishing to pass from the allusion which had 
 been so painful to him. He turned, and looking 
 at the brigade, which was making preparations to 
 start, answered: 
 
 " Yas ; the boys are near ready, and they won't 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 23 1 
 
 wait. What yer goin' to do, Jarsey, when we leave 
 you 'mong the reds ? " 
 
 '* I have told you, Biddon, that my sole purpose is 
 to seek out Nat Todd. I have given you an account 
 of my meeting and partial flight with Imogene, the 
 captive, who has told me of his whereabouts. She 
 is now waiting at Death Rock for me, and is as 
 confident as I am that I shall bring Nat with me. 
 These Indians, believing Imogene to be with the 
 other tribe, will not suspect her flight unless a run- 
 ner arrives here and acquaints them with it ; but I 
 have little fear of that, as I have no expectation of 
 remaining any length of time." 
 
 ** Wal, as that little gal has seed Nat, of course 
 he's kickin'. Bless her soul ! I'd like to see her 
 sweet face, but I s'pose the brigade can't spare me 
 just now. Jarsey, I've my s'picions that that other 
 sperit is somewhere out toward Oregon, 'mong a 
 tribe of redskins. I've had my s'picions I say, but 
 I'll say nothin' more now 'cept to kind of hint I may 
 take a tramp out in them parts some day to see ef 
 thar be signs of her." 
 
 " I sincerely hope that such may be the case, al- 
 though I cannot be as sanguine as you are. Should 
 you rescue her, the debt of gratitude — " 
 
 "There! that'll do, ogh ! " interrupted Biddon, 
 imperatively. " Such things go agin my stummick. 
 
232 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 and I don't want to hear 'em. As you're on the 
 track of Nat, go, fur he may be somewhar yit, in 
 spite of the fears I have that he isn't, arter all." 
 
 " Rest assured I shall leave no stone unturned. I 
 shall seek him at once." 
 
 " And when you finds him, jest tell him old Bill 
 Biddon is about, and ready to hunt savages with him 
 any time, ef he don't git behind me when shootin' 
 time comes. Ogh! ogh ! " and the trapper enjoyed 
 his joke merrily. He stopped suddenly and looked 
 at the brigade. A few moments more and they 
 would be under way. 
 
 " Wal, Jarsey, talkin' time's gittin' mighty short. 
 I'd like to talk longer, but can't do it this time. 
 Hope we'll have a time down in the States 'fore 
 long." 
 
 " I sincerely trust we shall," I answered, unwill- 
 ing to turn away from the hopeful picture which 
 he was drawing for himself. 
 
 " And we'll have Nat 'long with us," he added. 
 
 " Of course, for I am sure he would not willingly 
 miss an opportunity of seeing his old friend again. 
 Of course, Biddon, we shall meet, if not in this 
 world, I hope in the next." 
 
 " P'r'aps so, though I can't tell till we gits there. 
 Don't know much 'bout them matters, ogh ! " 
 
 At this moment the voice of the steersman was 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 233 
 
 heard, ordering the men to their places. Bidden 
 turned, took a step, then halted and faced me. 
 
 " Good-by, Jarsey." 
 
 He extended his hand, but ere I could take it 
 it was hastily withdrawn. He mumbled something, 
 dashed his hand across his face, and strode rapidly 
 toward the boat. 
 
 *' Good-by, Biddon. God bless you ! " I called 
 after him. 
 
 The voyageurs seized their oars, and in a few 
 moments they were in the stream, their same cheery 
 song echoing as loudly and as joyously as before. 
 I stood upon the bank, watching them as the current 
 bore them' onward. In a few moments they reached 
 a bend in the river — Biddon made a signal to me, 
 and the next minute they had all vanished. 
 
 As the brigade vanished down the river, and the 
 song of the voyageurs grew fainter and fainter, 
 until it died away in the distant windings of the 
 Yellowstone, I awoke from the mournful reverie 
 into which I had fallen, and turned to the work be- 
 fore me. There was a dozen Indians around, all busy 
 with their new possessions. Some were parading 
 pompously in their new blankets, some examining 
 their glittemg knives, and others wrenching oflE 
 great mouthfuls from huge twists of tobacco, and 
 all evidently in the highest spirits. The chief had 
 
234 J^I^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 been presented with a fine, polished rifle, and he 
 was standing apart, trying its lock, and " drawing 
 bead " on different objects in the distance. 
 
 I waited till he appeared satisfied, and then ap- 
 proached and made a complimentary remark ; I saw 
 at once it was not comprehended, and there was not 
 probably a savage who could speak a word of 
 English in the tribe. However, as they spoke the 
 same tongue as the tribe in which I spent my 
 captivity, my situation in this respect was not as 
 bad as it might have been. 
 
 In the course of half an hour, the chief started 
 toward his village, the others sauntering along be- 
 hind him, and mvself at his side. His rifle was 
 now thrown over his shoulder, and he seemed to 
 have lost all interest in it as he walked thoughtfully 
 forward, his dark eyes bent upon the ground. A 
 few minutes' walk through the forest brought us to 
 the Indian village. It was so similar to the one 
 before described, that it needs no mention here. 
 
 The Blackfeet-Sioux are one of the many divi- 
 sions of the Dacotah or Sioux tribe, whose hunting- 
 grounds include the greater part of the vast terri- 
 tory of Nebraska. These subdivisions of this numer- 
 ous people are tribes within themselves. Although 
 speaking the same tongue, they are separate anci 
 literally independent of each other. Each has its 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 235 
 
 village and chief, whose authority is absolute. Like 
 all North American Indians, their life is a migratory 
 one ; and the traveler who to-day finds them located 
 on the Yellowstone or Little Missouri, may, a year 
 after, find them as far westward as the Great Falls 
 of the Missouri. 
 
 My advent among these savages excited no un- 
 usual attention, as they are often visited by traders 
 and hunters. The chief took me to his own lodge, 
 where all the attention I could wish was given. 
 I was gladly surprised to find upon the next day, 
 that there was a half-breed among them who could 
 speak the English tongue. His acquaintance I 
 soon made. He was a middle-aged man, who had 
 spent most of his life in trapping, sometimes as far 
 northward as the Saskatchewan, and v/ho often 
 acted as interpreter for his tribe. He possessed 
 the daring hardihood of the French trapper, and 
 the low, ferocious cunning of the savage. He had 
 ever considered this tribe as his people, having a 
 squaw and several children. 
 
 From this half-breed I learned that the flight o:' 
 Imogene was not yet discovered, and that the tribe 
 which held Nat was about a dozen miles to the east- 
 ward I informed the chief, through the inter- 
 preter, that I should make several days' ramble 
 through the woods, in order to get a better idea of 
 
236 BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 the face of the country and of its resources. He 
 seemed to believe I really was an agent of one of 
 the fur companies, and offered me an escort. I 
 declined, however, and the next morning started on 
 foot in the direction of the tribe alluded to. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 237 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 FOUND AT LAST. 
 
 I TOOK a direction nearly due east toward the 
 Black Hills. Near the middle of the day I reached 
 the shore of a lake. It was a small, beautiful sheet 
 of water, its glistening surface unruffled by a 
 single ripple, and I stood a long time gazing upon 
 its placid bosom. The blue outline of the opposite 
 shore was faintly visible in the distance, and here 
 and there the green face of a tiny island protruded 
 from its surface adding greatly to the picturesque- 
 ness of the scene. 
 
 As I stood looking dreamily out upon this lake, 
 my eyes rested upon a small speck, just discernible 
 far toward the other side. It was too small and 
 dark to be an island, and, furthermore, I fancied it 
 was moving. A moment more satisfied me that it 
 was a canoe crossing the lake nearly to the point 
 upon which I was standing. So small and black 
 was it, that for a long time I was tempted to believe 
 it was nothing but a bird floating upon the sur- 
 face; but the flashing of the oars in the sunshine 
 
238 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 showed its true nature, and I waited anxiously its 
 approach. 
 
 On it came, slowly and steadily, its form gradu-. 
 ally increasing as it approached, until I could 
 discover the .outlines of a single man propelling 
 it over the water. A sudden hope that it might be 
 Nat himself came over me, but as it came nigher, 
 the dazzling plumes of a savage convinced me of 
 my mistake. It struck me as a little singular that 
 the Indian, solitary and alone, should approach so 
 unhesitatingly a stranger, and I was upon the point 
 of concealing myself; but, knowing that I must 
 have been seen, and that such a proceeding would 
 only awaken suspicion upon his part, I remained 
 boldly in view. 
 
 A few minutes later and the canoe grated upon 
 the sand a few yards from me; and, daubed in 
 all the glittering paraphernalia of savage war-paint 
 and plumes, no less a personage than Nat stepped 
 ashore and approached me! 
 
 I was upon the point of calling out to him, when 
 I saw he did not recognize me. Since we had last 
 been together my beard had grown considerably, 
 and my dress was also changed to that of a semi- 
 barbarous one. I drew my hat down to my eyes, 
 and spoke in a changed voice. 
 
 " A pleasant day this, my friend." 
 
" No less personage than Nat stepped ashore." 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 24I 
 
 " Yes, it is," replied the same natural, cracked 
 voice. 
 
 " A fine country this, too," 
 
 " Yes, that's so ; didn't expect to see you." 
 
 "And why not, my friend?" 
 
 " 'Cause 'tain't often you see a white man in these 
 parts ; you're the first one I've seen." 
 
 " And how is it you are here yourself ? " 
 
 " Wal, stranger, there's a long story fastened 
 to that question — a longer one than I care about 
 spinning at present." 
 
 " You are not a prisoner, I hope." 
 
 " It was some time last fall I got tuk, and I've 
 been with them, of course, ever since." 
 
 " And why have you remained with them so 
 long? It strikes me that if I had the fine oppor- 
 tunity you have, I should not be long waiting to bid 
 them farewell." 
 
 " You see, when I landed down here, it was 
 winter, and if you're any hunter, as I calculate 
 you are, from your dress, you must know that a 
 fellow from the States would make poor work 
 tramping a thousand miles at such a time. So I 
 concluded to wait till spring, and have been think- 
 ing about going for the last month or two, but, 
 somehow or other I haven't got started; I suppose 
 'cause I haven't had a good start." 
 
242 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 " What were you doing on the lake ? ** 
 
 " I came down this morning to fish, and seeing 
 you on t'other side, took you to be an Injin fishin' 
 and so I paddled across." 
 
 " You are allowed considerable liberty, it seems, 
 after all." 
 
 " Well, I have considerable, though it hain't 
 done me much good so fur." 
 
 " You wish to return to the States, I presume." 
 
 " I guess I do ; I am about as homesick a dog 
 as you ever laid eyes on, and there's a gal home that 
 I want to see amazingly." 
 
 At this remark I was compelled to cough several 
 times, to prevent bursting into a loud, boisterous 
 laugh. I felt like dropping upon the grass and 
 rolling over and over, and yelling like an Indian. 
 But I restrained myself, and determined to carry 
 the deception further. 
 
 " She most likely has given you up as dead by this 
 time." 
 
 '* I'm a little afraid she has, and that's the reason 
 I want to go down and tell her her mistake. But I 
 don't know as it would be any use, by gracious ! " 
 he added, in a desponding tone. 
 
 " And why not, pray ? " 
 
 " Oh, there's a chap named Bill Hawkins, who 
 thinks he's mighty smart, all the time flourishing 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 243 
 
 round there. I'd just like to lay hands on him 
 once," and Nat clinched his hands and shook his 
 head menacingly. Then resuming his natural man- 
 ner, he added, quickly, and with a sort of despera- 
 tion, '' I don't care though. If Sal wants him, she 
 can have him.'' 
 
 " That's it. Take things philosophically is my 
 motto, when you are compelled to." 
 
 In making this last remark, I unwittingly 
 dropped my voice to its natural key. Nat started 
 and raised those large, blue innocent eyes of his, 
 and stared wonderingly at me. 
 
 " Did my remark surprise you ? " I asked, work- 
 ing harder than I ever did to restrain my gravity. 
 
 " It weren't what you said, but your voice 
 sounded amazingly like a person I used to know, 
 and I thought maybe you might be him." 
 
 "Perhaps I am." 
 
 " No ; you don't look like him. He was about 
 your size, but didn't dress like you, nor didn't 
 have such whiskers." 
 
 " What was his name ? " 
 
 " William Relmond, from New Jersey." 
 
 " William Relmond, from New Jersey," I re- 
 peated, as though trying to recall some half- 
 forpfotten remembrance. 
 
244 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 " He used to be called ' Jarsey ' by Bill Biddon," 
 added Nat, quickly, as if to aid my recollection. 
 
 "And do you know Bill Biddon, a trapper?" I 
 demanded, eagerly. 
 
 " I am of the opinion that I do, being as I have 
 hunted with him a long time." 
 
 " Ah ! indeed. He is an old friend of mine. I 
 saw him some time since, and he was then in the 
 service of the Hudson Bay Company." 
 
 "Didn't he say anything about 'Jarsey?'" 
 ■ " Fve hit it now ! Tliere's where I heard the 
 name. Yes ; he said a great deal about him, and he 
 also mentioned a person called Nathan Todd, I 
 think." 
 
 " I am the man, sir," responded Nat, with con- 
 siderable dignity. 
 
 " You are ! I recall now that he mentioned the 
 fact of your captivity, although he was more in- 
 clined to say you were dead and gone long since." 
 
 " Bill is a pretty 'cute chap, but he's mistaken 
 there." 
 
 " Yes ; he seemed to cherish a warm friendship 
 for you." 
 
 "You see the way of it was this: Me and Bill 
 Relmond started from Independence last summer 
 for California. The company we was with ran 
 away from us, taking my knife and mare wMh them. 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 245 
 
 So we started fur Californy on our own hook. We 
 came across this Bill Biddon and changed our 
 minds, or, rather, Relmond did, and concluded to 
 go on a hunt up in these parts. Well, we did, and 
 this is the end of that hunt. We 'fixed on a place 
 down on the Yellowstone, and would have spent a 
 good time if it hadn't been for that Relmond. He 
 was a good fellow, but betwixt you and me (you 
 needn't say nothing about it, you know), he was 
 rather soft, and I had to keep a clus watch over 
 him to prevent his getting into danger. There used 
 to come some In j ins down the stream in a canoe, 
 and they set his head craz}-. It wasn't the Injins, 
 though, but a white gal they had. She was pretty, 
 I allow, but he ought to have knowed better than 
 to chase her as he did ; he might have knowed what 
 would have com.e of it. We used to go down and 
 watch this canoe. One day I went a little lower 
 down the stream than he did, and hid in some 
 bushes beside the water to take a good look at the 
 gal and the Injins. Pretty soon they came, and 
 as they got along by me, by gracious if they didn't 
 start right into the bushes after me ! I was so fast 
 in the roots and limbs that I hadn't time to git out 
 before they got right on to me. I then up and 
 blazed away to keep them oflF, but I forgot to take 
 afm., and didn't hit them, and the first thing I knowed 
 
246 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 I didn't know anything. One of them smashed his 
 tomahawk square at me, grabbed me by the nee :, 
 whopped me into the canoe, paddled to the other 
 side, and made me walk all the way here. I haven't 
 seen Relmond or Biddon since, and I should like to 
 know what has become of them.*' 
 
 " Biddon is safe, of course ; and Relmond was a 
 captive, I believe, awhile, but he managed to make 
 his escape some time since." 
 
 " How do you know that much, I should like 
 to know ? " 
 
 " Simply for the reason that I am William 
 Relmond." 
 
 Nathan Todd started as if struck by a thunder- 
 bolt. His eyes and mouth opened, his rifle fell un- 
 heeded to his feet, and he stared all agape at me. 
 His face was such an embodiment of wonder, 
 doubt, then certainty and pleasure, that I gave way 
 completely to my feelings, and, seating myself upon 
 the ground rolled over and laughed one of tho3e 
 laughs which rack our whole being, and make us as 
 weak as an infant. When I again resumed my feet, 
 my old friend approached and extended his hand. 
 
 "What you laughing at? I knowed it was you 
 all the time." 
 
 It is hardly worth time to dwell upon the words 
 which passed between Nat and myself after my 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 247 
 
 identity became known to him. Of course he was 
 half frantic with joy in turn, and overwhelmed 
 me with questions and explanations, and in the 
 course of half an hour we both came to a full under- 
 standing. 
 
 I had acquainted Nat with my separation from 
 Imogene, and that she was waiting for me at 
 " Death Rock." He knew the place well and with- 
 out losing time we hastened forward. He had 
 become acquainted with Imogene, and had often 
 conversed with her about her lost sister, and of me, 
 little dreaming that she had ever seen me. 
 
 Nat proved his knowledge of the country, for his 
 course toward the Death Rock was direct, and, ere 
 we had traveled many miles it loomed up to view. 
 It seemed a long while to reach it, but before dark 
 we were both conversing with Imogene. 
 
 The night was spent within the cave, Nat and I 
 conversing around the fire, while Imogene, wrapped 
 in our blankets, slumbered unconsciously beside it. 
 Nat succeeded in catching several fine trout from a 
 small mountain-stream, and when we resumed our 
 journey, I hardly think three more hopeful people 
 could have been found in the universe. 
 
 Our progress was less rapid than usual, as we 
 feared for Imogene, although her life had been such 
 as to make her the very embodiment of health and 
 
248 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 activity. At night we reached a bend of the 
 Yellowstone, and camped upon its banks. A fire 
 was again kindled, and while Nat kept watch, I 
 concluded to take a little rest. He allowed me to 
 sleep heavily until morning, when I was aroused 
 by one of the most terrific, unearthly shrieks that 
 ever greeted mortal ear. 
 
 " God of heaven ! what does that mean ? " I 
 exclaimed, springing to my feet 
 
 " Sounds like the ' vSnorter,' the engine that I 
 heard on the Boston road," answered Nat, rubbing 
 his eyes, and listening. 
 
 " Hush ! " I admonished, as again that hideous 
 scream burst upon us. 
 
 "Wonder if the Pacific Railroad's built yet?" 
 remarked Nat, with the utmost nonchalance; " or, 
 maybe, some of their engines have run away from 
 them.'' 
 
 As I stood wondering and waiting, the gray 
 light of morning commenced appearing through 
 the forest, and shortly the day dawned. A moment 
 after, as I was about to awaken Imogene, the awful 
 scream was repeated, seemingly directly across the 
 river. It was different from a human voice, but 
 sounded like the cry of a wild animal in extremity 
 of the direst agony. 
 
 As if our terror was still too faint, we now heard 
 
BILL BIDDONt TRAPPER. 249 
 
 the loud ring of a bell, apparently from the very 
 forest. 
 
 " What is that ? " asked Imogene, pale with 
 horror. 
 
 " Heaven knows ! '^ I answered. 
 
 " Sounds like the old bell up in Lubec," remarked 
 Nat ; who, singularly enough, was the least agitated. 
 
 " Listen ! " whispered Imogene, raising her hand. 
 
 Now was heard a dead sound like the distant 
 heave of the stormy sea, growing stronger and 
 nearer each second, and at intervals that wild, 
 unearthly shriek reverberated through the forest 
 arches with a horrid power. 
 
 Matters were now assuming such an inexplicable 
 form I began to fear I was losing my senses. I 
 looked around upon the faces of others; but no — 
 it was all a terrible reality. 
 
 " Look ! " spoke Imogene, in a husky whisper, 
 pointing down the river. 
 
 I did look and what was seen? There, just 
 rounding the curve of the Yellowstone below us, 
 burst the broad flaming hull of a steamboat. 
 
 For a moment I could scarce believe my senses. 
 Nat was the first to recover himself. 
 
 " I knowed what it was all the time, by gracious ! 
 Hilloa, you ! " 
 
 The latter exclamation was addressed in vocif- 
 
250 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 erous tones to the steamboat; and, fearing lest he 
 might still escape notice, he sprang into the water 
 and waved his plumes excitedly over his head, 
 yelling at the top of his voice all the time. We had 
 been seen, however, and heeded by those on the 
 boat. A small bell tinkled, and instantly the huge 
 wheel of the steamer reversed, plowing the water 
 into foamy waves, and quickly bringing it to a stand 
 still. The captain then stepped from his wheel- 
 house and hailed us : 
 
 "What's wanted?" 
 
 " Supper and lodging," answered Nat. 
 
 "Who are you?" 
 
 " White men of course." 
 
 " White men ; I see only one, and you're an 
 Injin, sure as I'm Captain Garbold." 
 
 I now stepped forward from the shelter of the 
 forest, to which I had instinctively retreated with 
 the trembling Imogene, upon the appearance of the 
 boat. 
 
 " Ah ! who are those ? " called the captain, 
 instantly. 
 
 " We are whites, as you can readily see, and 
 only ask to be taken to our friends." 
 
 The captain immediately turned and spoke to 
 several beside him. A few minute: afterward a 
 small boat put out from the steamer, and Imogene, 
 
" Hilloa, you ! " 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 253 
 
 followed by myself, stepped into the boat, but Nat 
 lingered. 
 
 "Come, hurry, Nat, don't keep them waiting," 
 said I. 
 
 " Fm going to remain!" he remarked, quietly. 
 
 " What do you mean ? " I asked, in astonish- 
 ment. 
 
 He approached, and whispered in my ear: 
 
 *' I'm going to hunt up Irene Merment!'' 
 
 " Why 
 
 " Don't say anything," he interrupted, with a 
 smile. " I will do it. There is no use of trying to 
 persuade me to go with you. My mind is made up, 
 and has been made up a long time." 
 
 Imogene joined her entreaties with mine, but he 
 could not be made to change his resolution. Not 
 wishing to detain our friends, I extended my hand. 
 
 " If you are determined to remain, I must now 
 bid you good-by, Nat. Your determination is so 
 new to me that I can hardly realize it. It is a 
 hopeless search upon which you are going, I fear. 
 May the One who has so mercifully watched over 
 all of us, still protect you. If you ever see Biddon, 
 don't forget me to him. Good-by." 
 
 " Nor me either," said Imogene, taking his hand. 
 *' I long to see him, to pour out my heart's grati- 
 tude to him. I hope we shall see you again." 
 
254 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER, 
 
 " Oh ! yon will, sure. I shall be down in the 
 States one of these days, and like enough bring a 
 wife with me, and several little Nat Todds, as 
 good-looking as your heirs will be. You mustn't 
 think this is a last farewell, for I know it isn't." 
 
 We exchanged farewells once more, and then 
 were rowed out to the steamboat. As we were 
 received on board, Nat swung his plume over his 
 head, and shouted: 
 
 '' Long life to you ! the fust news you will receive 
 from Nat Todd will be a telegraphic dispatch from 
 the Rocky Mountains, ' that he is making a sen- 
 sation in that neighborhood.' " 
 
 Another and a last farewell, and the eccentric 
 being had vanished in the forest. 
 
 Imogene had no suspicion of the true cause of Nat 
 Todd's erratic course, and I judged it best to let 
 her remain in ignorance until Nat should inform 
 her himself. Whether that tim.e was ever to come 
 or not, no one could tell ; but I had strong hope 
 that it would. 
 
 As may be supposed, our advent created an in- 
 finite amount of questioning and wonderment for 
 our new-found friends. The boat was the steamer 
 " Shooting Star," which had been sent to trace the 
 Yellowstone, as far as it was navigable, by a com- 
 pany in St. Louis. They proposed opening trade 
 
BILL BIDDON, TRAPPER. 255 
 
 in this section, and knowing well the prodigious 
 resources of the country watered by its tributaries, 
 had sent a skillful captain and crew to ascertain 
 its character and availability. This river had, how- 
 ever, been ascended before. 
 
 The "Shooting Star" ascended the Yellowstone 
 several hundred miles further, until brought to a 
 stand still by the rapids in its upper part. Several 
 davs were spent in running up Clark's Fork, the 
 Big Horn, Tongue, Powder, and numerous other 
 streams, many of which, as yet, have received no 
 names though of considerable size. All along the 
 banks of these gathered crowds of wondering 
 Indians, who surveyed us with mingled terror and 
 amazement. On two occasions, when halting to 
 wood, the crew were attacked by them, and one of 
 their number was slain. At other points they mani- 
 fested a friendly disposition and bartered extensively 
 with us. 
 
 Finally the bow of the boat was turned home, 
 and on a glorious morning, in the latter part of 
 June, 1850, we glided into the turbid waters of the 
 f-nad Missouri, and a few days later " Shooting 
 Star" sunk to rest at the wharves in St. Louis. 
 Accompanied by Imogene, I made my way home 
 as rapidly as possible. As may be supposed, my 
 return was a never-to-'be forgotten day to my 
 
256 ^^^^ BIDDON, TRAPPER. 
 
 friends. The caravan which I had joined at Inde- 
 pendence, had been attacked, a few days subsequent 
 to my separation from it, by an overwhelming 
 body of Apache Indians. Rumors reached the 
 States that all had fallen in the massacre, and my 
 reappearance was like the dead returning to life. 
 The reader, I trust, can imagine the few remaining 
 incidents. After inducing Imogene to return to 
 the States, I do not think I should have ever for- 
 given myself had I not offered her all the pro- 
 tection within my power. She was Hke an exotic 
 at first, taken from a distant clime ; but love works 
 wonders. To-day there are few accomplishments 
 of her sex which she does not possess. True there 
 was no great romances or mystery yet to be devel- 
 oped in her history. She had been orphaned when 
 a young child, in the terrible manner described by 
 the trapper at the commencement of this tale. I 
 had gained no princess or wealthy heroine, but 
 simply a wife, in the truest sense of the word. 
 
 The history of Nat Todd's adventures and 
 journey to the Rocky Mountains, together with a 
 further account of Bill Biddon, the Trapper, and of 
 Irene Merment, the lost sister, will be given the 
 reader in another volume. 
 
 THE END. 
 
I\(3 " 
 
 75