CHAPTER XIII.
On the Yellowstone--Repeated Disappointments--Carson Enters the Employ of a Hudson Bay Trader--Poor Success--A Trying Journey--Arrival at Fort Hall--The American Buffalo or Bison.
With the approach of cool weather, preparations were made for the fall hunt.

When all was ready, the trappers headed for the Yellowstone, which was reached without mishap, and they immediately set their traps.

The country as a rule, was a good one for those valuable animals, but the visitors were disappointed to learn they were unusually scarce.
When it became evident that it was useless to work on the Yellowstone, they gathered up their traps and made their way to the Big Horn, but, failing again, tried their fortunes on other rivers in that vicinity with no better results.
It was while engaged in this discouraging work that they met a trader belonging to the Hudson Bay Company.

He had been pushing operations in every direction, but the stories he told were of the same general tenor as those of the larger party.

He had been as unsuccessful in the way of trade as they had been in catching the fur bearing animals.
The Hudson Bay trader, however, was confident he could succeed where they had failed, and he made such liberal offers to Carson that he and several of his companions accepted them on the spot.
The first point which they visited was the Humboldt River, from which had come reports of the abundance of beavers.