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and I could not possibly reload it in time to fire There were some trees at a short distance from me I ran to them the bears after me as I got to one of them I had to drop my gun and make all haste to ascend it. I got up some ten or fifteen feet and had to remain in this uncomfortable position till the bears found it convenient to leave. One remained but a short while. The other staid for some time and nearly uprooted the small Aspen trees that were/grew? around the tree which I had ascended. It made several attempts at the tree in which I was perched but as he could do no damage finally concluded to leave. I was heartily pleased at this never having been so scared in all my life before. I remained in the tree for some time longer and when I considered the bears far enough off I descended and made for my camp in as great haste as possible. It was dark when I arrived and so I could not send for the elk which I had killed but was obliged to go to sleep without any thing to eat during the night we trapped some Beaver so we had something for Breakfast. We had remained in this place some ten or fifteen days when Bridger appeared on his way to the Summer Rendevous we found him and went to the Green river the place of rendevous. When two camps had been established I think there was two hundred trappers there then till our supplies arrived from St Louis. We had to dispose of our Beaver to procure the necessities of life - coffee and sugar were two dollars a pint, powder the same, lead one dollar a bar and common blankets from fifteen to twenty five dollars a piece. We remained in the rendevous during August. In September camp was broken up and we divided into parties of convenient size and started