And on this identical day, June 13, 1832, William Sublette and Nathaniel J. Wyeth were fording the North fork at the point just above its junction with the "Laramie."

It would be utterly impossible to improve upon the language of Washington Irving in describing this trip. And I would not vary from it in the least, except that I want to identify spots of interest by modern landmarks, and include events connected with Bonneville's experiences, which I have obtained from other sources than Irving's narrative.

Irving and Bonneville were less familiar with the North Platte valley than are many of our readers, or the trappers who for twenty years had used the natural highway. Irving says "Of the other [meaning the North River] branch he knew nothing. Its sources might lie among inaccessible cliffs, and tumble and foam down rugged defiles and over craggy precipices. But its direction was the true course, and up this stream he determined to prosecute his route."

The crossing of the South fork was effected

near the | siti of Sutherland, and "a

march of nine miles took them over the high rolling prairie to tin- North fork."

"Skirting the North fork for a day or two, I) annoyed by the misquitos, and buffalo gnats, they reached, on the evening of June 17th, a -mall but beautiful grove, from

which issued the confused notes of singing birds, the first they had heard since crossing the boundary of Missouri." This is the ravine that became historical as Ash Hollow.