University of Virginia Library

[Clark:]

July 20th. Satturday 1805

a fine Morning we proceded on thro' a valley leaveing the
river about 6 miles to our left and fell into an Indian roade
which took us to the river above the mo. of a Creek 18 Miles
The Misquetors verry troublesom my man York nearly tired
out, the bottoms of my feet blistered. I observe a Smoke
rise to our right up the Valley of the last Creek about 12 miles
distant, The Cause of this Smoke I can't account for certainly
tho' think it probable that the Indians have heard the Shooting
of the Partey below and Set the Praries or Valey on fire to
allarm their Camps; Supposeing our party to be a war party
comeing against them, I left Signs to Shew the Indians if
they should come on our trail that we were not their enemeys.
Camped on the river, the feet of the men with me So Stuck
with Prickley pear & cut with the Stones that they were
Scerseley able to march at a Slow gate this after noon