Stuart told him that if In- heard another word of it. the man who made the suggestion would be the one to die. The Canadian subsided, and fortunately they soon thereafter killed a run-down buffalo bull.

With lives sustained, the party was enabled to continue proceed as tin- discoverers of 1 Iverland Trail, which from the east as far west as western Wyoming, has been used with only slight variation-, by ( Iregon emigrants, California gold seekers, ami Mormons.

This adventurous party went into winter quarters early in November, 1812, on the north bank of the river, which they afterwards identified as the Platte, at the point where Poison Spider creek comes out of the north. Game was abundant, and while four of the party worked at making a suitable winter habitation, the other three were out in the adjoining mountains shooting buffalo, deer, bighorns, and other big game with which the country abounded.

Here they reveled and feasted after their days of famine and meat boiled, broiled and roasted made the variety of the daily fare. But they were not destined to remain undisturbed in their comfortable quarters. Early in December they \vere visited by a score or more of hungry Indians, professing friendship after the manner of the early redmen when destitute and hungry. They were fed from the abundant stores of the Stuart party and sent upon their way with several days rations.

This visit, the travelers knew, would be only a beginning, so they reluctantly broke camp on the 13th of December and proceeded down the river.