The Padres Padilla and Le Cruz were killed, probably near Columbus, and the river of castles is quite likelv the North Platte river, and the time about 1540-1550.

THE FLAG OF FRANCE IN THE WILDERNESS

'flic nexl old trail, the mxt white man's foot dial made iis mark upon the soil of Nebraska, was in 1739, when Mallei brothers made their journey into the wilderness, and research of historians regarding this enterprise is of a very meagre and indefinite order.

The Spaniard had taken Mexico, and established himself as Ear north as Santa Fe and England was having its historic struggle Hi' colonizing the Atlantic coast, and the ith splendid enterprise, were reaching far into the interior of the western world,

and, amalgamating with the native tribes, were

laying firm foundations for grasping an empire.

From Montreal and Canadian possessions the call of the wild had attracted French adventurers into the mighty forests west of the great lakes, and now, in 1739. from New Orleans, then a frontier city, Mallet brothers began a noteworthy journey into the new and wild country. They were to ascend the Mississippi river to the mouth of the Missouri, then to follow that stream for a distance, then strike west into the unknown land, descend upon Santa Fe from the north, and to lav claim to

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

everything north of the Spanish city in the name of France.

Some history makers say that they ascended the Missouri river to the Arikarie villages, then turned south and crossed the Platte and Arkansas rivers. Watkins says their journey is somewhat shadowy, and Chittendon tells us that they left the Missouri river at or near the present site of Sioux City, on May 29th, and reached the Platte July 2d (a physical impossibility in those days of slow travel, and that they ascended the Platte to the forks, and the south fork to the mountains, arriving at Santa Fe, July 22d.