everything of value, as they were on the line of clashes between the northern and southern tribes.

In the early summer of 1832, a general

i rendezvous of all the fur companies and trappers had been arranged for at Pierre's Hole, some six hundred miles to the northwest.

Fitzpatrick and Bridger were to be there with supplies which William Sublette was to bring from St. Louis. To hurry him along Fitzpatrick took two of their fleetest horses and went to meet him.

This was Sublette's third wagon caravan and as usual he had the wagons loaded with about a ton each and five mules to the wagon, besides a number of mounts.

On the seventh of June, Fitzpatrick crossed the Laramie river and started for Scotts Bluff mountains. When opposite, and a little above

Signal Buttes, he espied the caravan on the north side of the river, near the present site of Morrill.

On the tenth of June, he crossed the river, by swimming his horses, as the water was high. The meeting of these two hardened hunters -- one from the mountains and the other fresh from the white man's world, was an event that called for liberal libations, and much genialty.

Being admonished of the urgent need of haste, Sublette left his famous old cow and she was never seen again. Spurred onward, he made the six hundred miles to Pierre's Hole in thirty-two days.

The party picked up the remnant of Gant & Blackwell's trappers at the Laramie, fording the Platte at that point.