Transcriber's note: Spelling and punctuation are sometimes erratic. A few obvious misprints have been corrected, but in general the original spelling and typesetting conventions have been retained. Accents are inconsistent, and have not been standardised. Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals. BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. NO. CCCXCIV. AUGUST, 1848. VOL. LXIV. CONTENTS. LIFE IN THE "FAR WEST." PART III. 129 ART--ITS PROSPECTS. CLEGHORN'S ANCIENT AND MODERN ART 145 KAFFIRLAND. 158 THE CAXTONS. PART V. 171 MODERN TOURISM. 185 EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND TWELVE. 190 THE BLUE DRAGOON. 207 LAURELS AND LAUREATES. 220 THE HORSE-DEALER. 232 SKETCHES IN PARIS. 248 EDINBURGH: WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, 45, GEORGE STREET; AND 37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON. _To whom all Communications (post paid) must be addressed._ SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH. LIFE IN THE "FAR WEST." PART III. La Bonté and his companions proceeded up the river, the Black Hills on their left hand, from which several small creeks or feeders swell the waters of the North Fork. Along these they hunted unsuccessfully for beaver "sign," and it was evident that the spring hunt had almost entirely exterminated the animal from this vicinity. Following Deer Creek to the ridge of the Black Hills, they crossed the mountain on to the waters of the Medicine Bow, and here they discovered a few lodges, and La Bonté set his first trap. He and old Luke finding "cuttings" near the camp, followed the "sign" along the bank until the practised eye of the latter discovered a "slide," where the beaver had ascended the bank to chop the trunk of a cotton wood, and convey the bark to its lodge. Taking a trap from "sack," the old hunter after "setting" the "trigger," placed it carefully under the water, where the "slide" entered the stream, securing the chain to the stem of a sappling on the bank; while a stick, also attached to the trap by a thong, floated down the stream, to mark the position of the trap, should the animal carry it away. A little farther on, and near another "run," three traps were set; and over these Luke placed a little stick, which he first dipped into a mysterious-looking phial which contained his "medicine."[1] [1] A substance obtained from a gland in the scrotum of the beaver, and used to attract that animal to the trap.