Fitzpatrick and Bridger, of the former company, as we have already shown, having received their supplies, had taken the lead, and hoped to have the first sweep of the hunting grounds.  Vanderburgh and Dripps, however, the two resident partners of the opposite company, by extraordinary exertions were enabled soon to put themselves upon their traces, and pressed forward with such speed as to overtake them just as they had reached the heart of the beaver country.  In fact, being ignorant of the best trapping grounds, it was their object to follow on, and profit by the superior knowledge of the other party.

Nothing could equal the chagrin of Fitzpatrick and Bridger at being dogged by their inexperienced rivals, especially after their offer to divide the country with them.  They tried in every way to blind and baffle them; to steal a march upon them, or lead them on a wrong scent; but all in vain.  Vanderburgh made up by activity and intelligence for his ignorance of the country; was always wary, always on the alert; discovered every movement of his rivals, however secret and was not to be eluded or misled.

Fitzpatrick and his colleague now lost all patience; since the others persisted in following them, they determined to give them an unprofitable chase, and to sacrifice the hunting season rather than share the products with their rivals.  They accordingly took up their line of march down the course of the Missouri, keeping the main Blackfoot trail, and tramping doggedly forward, without stopping to set a single trap.  The others beat the hoof after them for some time, but by degrees began to perceive that they were on a wild-goose chase, and getting into a country perfectly barren to the trapper.  They now came to a halt, and be-thought themselves how to make up for lost time, and improve the remainder of the season.  It was thought best to divide their forces and try different trapping grounds.  While Dripps went in one direction, Vanderburgh, with about fifty men, proceeded in another.  The latter, in his headlong march had got into the very heart of the Blackfoot country, yet seems to have been unconscious of his danger.  As his scouts were out one day, they came upon the traces of a recent band of savages.  There were the deserted fires still smoking, surrounded by the carcasses of buffaloes just killed.  It was evident a party of Blackfeet had been frightened from their hunting camp, and had retreated, probably to seek reinforcements.  The scouts hastened back to the camp, and told Vanderburgh what they had seen.  He made light of the alarm, and, taking nine men with him, galloped off to reconnoitre for himself.  He found the deserted hunting camp just as they had represented it; there lay the carcasses of buffaloes, partly dismembered; there were the smouldering fires, still sending up their wreaths of smoke; everything bore traces of recent and hasty retreat; and gave reason to believe that the savages were still lurking in