CONTENTS.
PREFATORY CHAPTER.
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Astoria — Fort Vancouver — Its isolated Position — Precautions against Indians — The Hudson's Bay Company — Its Policy and Intercourse with the Indians — The Arrival of the "Brigade" — Other Yearly Arrivals — Punishment of Indian Offenders — Indian Strategy — A Hero — The American Fur Companies — Their Dealings with the Indians — Ashley's Expeditions to Green River — Attack on Smith's Party — Wyeth's Expeditions — Fort Hall — Decline of the Fur Trade — Causes of the Indians' Hostility — Dangers attending the Trapper's Life,
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CHAPTER I. Early Life of Meek — He leaves Home — Enlists in a Fur Company — On the March — A Warning Voice — Frontier Sports — Last Vestige of Civil- ization — On the Plains — A first Adventure — A firm Front — A Parley — The Summer Rendezvous — An enchanting Picture — The Free Trap- per's Indian Wife — Wild Carousals — Routine of Camp Life — Smoked Moccasins versus Green Ones — A " Trifling Fellow," - - - 41 CHAPTER II. The Camp in Motion — A Trapping Expedition — Opposition to the Hud- son's Bay Company — Beautiful Scenery — The Lost Leader Found — Rejoicings in Camp — The "Luck" of the Trappers — Conference of Leaders — The "Devil's Own" — Blackfoot Character — Account of the Tribes, ---.-----57 CHAPTER III. How Beaver are Taken — Beaver Dams — Formation of Meadows — Beaver Lodges — " Bachelors " — Trapping in Winter — " Up to Trap " — Black- feet on the Trail — On Guard — The Trapper's Ruse — A disappointed Bear — A Fight with Blackfeet — " Out of Luck — Alone in the Moun- tains — Splendid Views — A Miserable Night — The last Luxury of Life — The Awfulness of Solitude — A Singular Discovery — A Hell on Earth — A Joyful Recognition — Hard Times in Camp — The Negro's Porcupine — Craig's Rabbit — Deep Snows — What the Scout saw — Bighorn River — " Colter's Hell " — An Alarm — Arrival at Wind River — Christmas, - 64 CHAPTER IV. Removal to Powder River — A Trapper's Paradise — The Transformation in the Wilderness — The Encampment by Night — Meek takes to Study —
