Harrington was older than I, and had trapped before in the Rockies.

I was sure that with my knowledge of the Plains and his of the ways of the fur-bearing animals, we should form an excellent partnership, as in truth we did.
We bought a yoke of oxen, a wagon-sheet, wagon, traps of all sorts, and strychnine with which to poison wolves.

Also we laid in a supply of grub--no luxuries, but coffee, flour, bacon and everything that we actually needed to sustain life.
We headed west, and about two hundred miles from home we struck Prairie Creek, where we found abundant signs of beaver, mink, otter and other fur-bearing animals.

No Indians had troubled us, and we felt safe in establishing headquarters here and beginning work.

The first task was to build a dugout in a hillside, which we roofed with brush, long grass, and finally dirt, making everything snug and cozy.