It is probable that they fell into the hands of hostile Indians, who killed them and took possession of all their effects.

This was another of those innumerable tragedies, ever occurring in this wicked world, which are only recorded in God's book of remembrance.
The trappers, after waiting for their companions for some time, were compelled to enter upon their spring hunt without them.

They continued for some time setting their traps on the Yellowstone river, and then struck over to what is called the Twenty five yard river.

After spending a few weeks there, they pushed on to the upper waters of the Missouri, where those waters flow through the most rugged ravines of the Rocky mountains.
Here again they were in the vicinity of their Blackfeet foes.

And they learned, through some wanderer in the wilderness, that the main village of that tribe was at the distance of but a few miles from them.
In the previous collisions between the Blackfeet and the trappers, the Indians had gained decidedly the advantage.