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ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN BONNEVILLE.
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and achievements. Each now tried to out-boast and out-talk the other; a quarrel ensued, as a matter of course, and a general fight, according to frontier usage. The two factions drew out their forces for a pitched battle. They fell to work and belabored each other with might and main; kicks and cuffs and dry blows were as well bestowed as they were well merited, until, having fought to their hearts' content, and been drubbed into a familiar acquaintance with each other's prowess and good qualities, they ended the fight by becoming firmer friends than they could have been rendered by a year's peaceable companionship.

While Captain Bonneville amused himself by observing the habits and characteristics of this singular class of men, and indulged them, for the time, in all their vagaries, he profited by the opportunity to collect from them information concerning the different parts of the country about which they had been accustomed to range; the characters of the tribes, and, in short, everything important to his enterprise. He also succeeded in securing the services of several to guide and aid him in his peregrinations among the mountains, and to trap for him during the ensuing season. Having strengthened his party with such valuable recruits, he felt in some measure consoled for the loss of the Delaware Indians, decoyed from him by Mr. Fontenelle.

CHAPTER VIII.

Plans for the winter—Salmon River—abundance of salmon west of the mountains—new arrangements—caches—Cerré's detachment—movement in Fontenelle's camp—departure of the Blackfeet—their fortunes—Wind Mountain streams—Buckeye, the Delaware hunter, and the grizzly bear—bones of murdered travellers—visit to Pierre's Hole—traces of the battle—Nez Percés Indians—arrival at Salmon River.

The information derived from the free trappers determined Captain Bonneville as to his further movements. He learned that in the Green River valley the winters were severe, the snow frequently falling to the depth of several feet; and that there was no good wintering ground in the neighborhood.

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