And, indeed, when all the independent trappers are driven by the appearance of winter into this delightful retreat, and the whole Snake village, two thousand or three thousand strong, impelled by the same necessity, pitch their lodges around the fort and the dances and merrymakings of a long winter are thoroughly commenced, there is no want of customers." With this happy picture of frontier luxury in the trapper period I will close the scene.

Unwittingly, but no less thoroughly, the trappers had accomplished a mission: they had opened the gates of the wilderness.
Two-thirds of these intrepid spirits had left their bones on the field, but theirs had been the privilege of seeing the priscan glory of the wilderness.
Note .-- Near the emigrant crossing of Green River, in Wyoming, early in 1849, a party bound for California discovered an old scow ferry-boat, twelve feet long and about six feet wide, with two oars.

Deciding to complete their journey by water they embarked.

Later they built canoes.
They were: William Lewis Manly (aged 29); M.S.

McMahon; Charles and Joseph Hazelrig; Richard Field; Alfred Watson; and John Rogers.