[Clark:]
Saturday June 21st. 1806
We collected our horses early and Set out on our return to
the flatts. we all felt some mortification in being thus compelled
to retrace our Steps through this tedious and difficuelt
part of our rout, obstructed with brush and innumerable logs
and fallen timber which renders the traveling distressing and
even dangerous to our horses. one of Thompsons horses is
either choked this morning or has the distemper badly. I fear
he is to be of no further survice to us. an excellent horse of
Cruzatt's snagged himself so badly in the groin in jumping
over a parcel of fallen timber that he will eventually be of no
further survice to us. at the pass of Collin's Creek we met
two indians who were on their way over the mountains, they
had brought with themm the three horses and the Mule which
had left us and returned to the quawmash ground. those
indians returned with us about 1/2 a mile down the Creek
where we halted to dine and graze our horses. as well as we
could understand the Indians they informed us they had Seen
Geo. Drewyer & Shannon, and that they would not return untill
the expiration of two days. the cause why Drewyer &
Shannon did not return with these men we are at a loss to
account for. we pressed those indians to remain with us, and
conduct us over the Mountains on the return of Drewyer &
Shannon. they consented to remain two nights for us and
accordingly deposited their Stores of roots & Bread in the
bushes at no great distance and after Dinner returned with us
as far as the little prarie about 2 Miles distance from the
Creek, here they halted with their horses and informed us
they would remain untill we overtook them or at least 2
nights. they had four Supernoumery horses with them. We
Sent on four hunters ahead to the quawmash flatts to make
an evening hunt; they so far suckceeded as to kill one deer.
We left R. and Jo. Fields at the Creek where we dined, and
Serg
t. Gass in order to hunt about that place untill our return.
at 7 in the evening we found ourselves once more at our old
encampment where we Shall anxiously await the return of
Drewyer & Shannon.
