Chapter 11

11.

Rival trapping parties Manoeuvring A desperate game Vanderburgh

and the Blackfeet Deserted camp fire A dark defile An Indian

ambush A fierce melee Fatal consequences Fitzpatrick and

Bridger Trappers precautions Meeting with the Blackfeet More

fighting Anecdote of a young Mexican and an Indian girl.

WHILE Captain Bonneville and his men are sojourning among the Nez

Perces, on Salmon River, we will inquire after the fortunes of

those doughty rivals of the Rocky Mountains and American Fur

Companies, who started off for the trapping grounds to the

north-northwest.

Fitzpatrick and Bridger, of the former company, as we have

already shown, having received their supplies, had taken the

lead, and hoped to have the first sweep of the hunting grounds.

Vanderburgh and Dripps, however, the two resident partners of the

opposite company, by extraordinary exertions were enabled soon to

put themselves upon their traces, and pressed forward with such

speed as to overtake them just as they had reached the heart of

the beaver country. In fact, being ignorant of the best trapping

grounds, it was their object to follow on, and profit by the

superior knowledge of the other party.

Nothing could equal the chagrin of Fitzpatrick and Bridger at

being dogged by their inexperienced rivals, especially after

their offer to divide the country with them. They tried in every

way to blind and baffle them; to steal a march upon them, or lead

them on a wrong scent; but all in vain. Vanderburgh made up by

activity and intelligence for his ignorance of the country; was

always wary, always on the alert; discovered every movement of

his rivals, however secret and was not to be eluded or misled.

Fitzpatrick and his colleague now lost all patience; since the

others persisted in following them, they determined to give them

an unprofitable chase, and to sacrifice the hunting season rather

than share the products with their rivals. They accordingly took

up their line of march down the course of the Missouri, keeping

the main Blackfoot trail, and tramping doggedly forward, without

stopping to set a single trap. The others beat the hoof after

them for some time, but by degrees began to perceive that they

were on a wild-goose chase, and getting into a country perfectly

barren to the trapper. They now came to a halt, and be-thought

themselves how to make up for lost time, and improve the

remainder of the season. It was thought best to divide their

forces and try different trapping grounds. While Dripps went in

one direction, Vanderburgh,