'Bill Biddon Trapper or Life in the Northwest' by Edward S. Ellis is a novel. The book
reveals the historical adventures of William Relmond and Nathan Todd. Excerpt: Nathan Todd's
face was full of shrewdness and good humor. He had a large curved nose broad mouth and a
fine blue eye. The chin was retreating but this drawback was modified partly by a long tuft of
yellow hair the only signs of beard upon his face except a shadowy mustache. The hair was
long and sandy and harmonized well with the rest of his countenance. There was ever a
contraction of the eyebrows-a sort of unspoken question-so often seen in persons from down east
which indicated a prying curious disposition. As for myself my name is William Relmond and I
hail from one of the Middle States. Shortly after the announcement of the discovery of gold in
California I was seized with the lunacy that was carrying its thousands to the Pacific coast.
I was well situated in life at home but that was not considered. I must go and fish up a
fabulous fortune also. I had one brother and several sisters but our parents had been dead for
some years and we were residing with an uncle the guardian of each until maturity. A
favorable opportunity offering I had made some preparation for the legal profession but I was
never inclined to Coke and had no intention of pursuing the practice of the law in the
afterlife.
