BEN, THE TRAPPER;
OR,
THE MOUNTAIN DEMON.
A TALE OF THE BLACK HILLS.
BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON.
NEW YORK:
BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
98 WILLIAM STREET.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by
BEADLE AND ADAMS,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||
| I. | THE TRAPPER’S CAMP. | 9 |
| II. | THE GRIZZLY BEAR. | 17 |
| III. | THE MOUNTAIN DEVIL. | 24 |
| IV. | THE TRAPPING-GROUND. | 30 |
| V. | TREED BY A BUFFALO. | 40 |
| VI. | THE MESSAGE. | 48 |
| VII. | INDIANS! | 57 |
| VIII. | SHOWING HIS COLORS. | 67 |
| IX. | MIFFIN’S LEAP. | 73 |
| X. | THE SUCK. | 80 |
| XI. | THE QUICKSAND. | 87 |
| XII. | THROUGH THE SNARE. | 94 |
[Pg 9]
BEN, THE TRAPPER.
CHAPTER I.
THE TRAPPER’S CAMP.
In a deep defile among the Black Hills, far out on thewestern plains, three men had made a camp. They were ofthat wonderful race who have done more to develop the resourcesof the western world than any other, the trappers ofthe North-west. Their great aid in this cause has never beenallowed by us as a people. We hear of great discoveries ofgold, or of a new pass through the mountains, and in the discoverylose sight of the agent, who, in nine cases out of ten,is one of the class of whom this book is written. Their wandering,perilous life is full of hardships, of which we have noco