fortunate that such
precautions were taken, for the winter proved one of the severest known
for many years. With their abundance of fuel, they kept enormous fires
going and passed the days and nights in comparative comfort.

But it was far different with their stock. During the severe weather,
the only food that could be obtained was the bark of the cottonwood.
The inner lining of this is quite palatable to animals and in cases of
extremity it affords temporary sustenance to men. With its help actual
starvation was kept away, though it came very close.

Unusual weather always brings unusual experience, and the intense cold
developed an annoyance to the trappers upon which they had not counted.
The difficulty of finding food was felt by the wild animals as well
as domestic, and the bisons became desperate. When they saw the horses
eating their fodder, they rushed forward and with lowered heads drove
them away. If a horse or mule refused, he was likely to be gored to
death.

The beasts finally became so numerous and fierce they would have killed
all the stock of our friends if they had not kindled large fires and
mounted constant guard. When the weather moderated those annoyances
ended.

Had any explorer of the west found his way to the secluded valley
where the trappers were in winter quarters, he would have looked upon
a striking scene. The Crow Indians and white men engaged in numerous
athletic sports in friendly rivalry. They maintained the best of terms,
and when the bisons departed, the strange community enjoyed themselves
far better than would be supposed. In truth where they were favored with
such rugged health and where they had plenty of food and comfortable
quarters, it would have been remarkable had they not been comparatively
happy. They were not disturbed by political discussions or diversity of
views on any public questions and were satisfied that the glorious Union
was safe without any worriment on their part.

When spring came, two of their party were sent to Fort Laramie to
procure needed supplies. They went off well mounted and armed and
were never heard of again. Somewhere in the recesses of the forest or
mountain, the Blackfeet had probably killed them as they had done with
many a brave man before, and as they have done with multitudes since.

When it became certain the messengers had been slain, the company
began the spring hunt without them. After trapping a brief while on the
Yellowstone, th