University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XV.

Monday, 21. At sunrise we proceeded along the northern
side of the river for a short distance, when finding the ravines
too steep, we crossed to the south; but after continuing
for three miles, returned to the north and took our
course through the plains, at some distance from the river.
After making fifteen miles, we came to the forks of the river,
the largest branch of which bears south 75° west to the
mountains, while the course of the other is north 40° west.
We halted for dinner, and believing, on examination, that
the northern branch came from the mountains, and would
probably lead us to the most northern extent of Maria's river,

we proceeded along, though at a distance over the
plains, till we struck it eight miles from the junction. The
river is about thirty yards wide, the water clear, but shallow,
rapid, and unfit for navigation. It is closely confined
between cliffs of freestone, and the adjacent country broken
and poor. We crossed to the south side, and proceeded for
five miles, till we encamped under a cliff, where not seeing
any timber, we made a fire of buffaloe dung, and passed the
night. The next day,

Tuesday, 22, we went on; but as the ground was now
steep and unequal, and the horses' feet very sore, we were
obliged to proceed slowly. The river is still confined by
freestone cliffs, till at the distance of seven miles the country
opens, is less covered with gravel, and has some bottoms,
though destitute of timber or underbrush. The river here
makes a considerable bend to the northwest, so that we
crossed the plains for eleven miles when we again crossed
the river. Here we halted for dinner, and having no wood,
made a fire of the dung of buffaloe, with which we cooked
the last of our meat, except a piece of spoiled buffaloe. Our
course then lay across a level beautiful plain, with wide bottoms
near the bank of the river. The banks are about three
or four feet high, but are not overflowed. After crossing
for ten miles a bend of the river towards the south, we saw,
for the first time during the day, a clump of cottonwood
trees in an extensive bottom, and halted there for the night.
This place is about ten miles below the foot of the Rocky
mountains; and being now able to trace distinctly that the
point at which the river issued from those mountains, was
to the south of west, we concluded that we had reached its
most northern point, and as we have ceased to hope that
any branches of Maria's river extend as far north as the fiftieth
degree of latitude, we deem it useless to proceed further,
and rely chiefly on Milk and Whiteearth rivers for
the desired boundary. We therefore determined to remain
here two days, for the purpose of making the necessary observations,
and resting our horses. The next morning,

Wednesday, 23, Drewyer was sent to examine the bearings
of the river, till its entrance into the mountains, which
he found to be at the distance of ten miles, and in a direction
south 50° west; he had seen also the remains of a camp
of eleven leathern lodges, recently abandoned, which induced
us to suppose that the Minnetarees of Fort de Prairie
are somewhere in this neighbourhood; a suspicion which
was confirmed by the return of the hunters, who had seen
no game of any kind. As these Indians have probably followed
the buffaloe towards the main branch of Maria's river,
we shall not strike it above the north branch. The
course of the mountains still continues from southeast to
northwest; in which last direction from us, the front range
appears to terminate abruptly at the distance of thirty-five
miles. Those which are to the southwest, and more distinctly
in view, are of an irregular form, composed chiefly
of clay, with a very small mixture of rock, without timber,
and although low are yet partially covered with snow to
their bases. The river itself has nearly double the volume
of water which it possessed when we first saw it below, a
circumstance to be ascribed, no doubt, to the great evaporation
and absorption of the water in its passage through
these open plains. The rock in this neighbourhood is of a
white colour, and a fine grit, and lies in horizontal strata
in the bluffs of the river. We attempted to take some fish,
but could procure only a single trout. We had, therefore,
nothing to eat, except the grease which we pressed from our
tainted meat, and formed a mush of cows, reserving one
meal more of the same kind for to-morrow. We have seen
near this place a number of the whistling squirrel, common
in the country watered by the Columbia, but which we observed
here for the first time in the plains of the Missouri.
The cottonwood too, of this place, is similar to that of the
Columbia. Our observations this evening were prevented
by clouds. The weather was clear for a short time in the
morning,

Thursday, 24, but the sky soon clouded over, and it rained
during the rest of the day. We were therefore obliged to
remain one day longer for the purpose of completing our observations.
Our situation now became unpleasant from the
rain, the coldness of the air, and the total absence of all
game; for the hunters could find nothing of a large kind, and
we were obliged to subsist on a few pigeons and a kettle of
mush made of the remainder of our bread of cows. This
supplied us with one more meal in the morning,

Friday, 25, when finding that the cold and rainy weather
would still detain us here, two of the men were despatched
to hunt. They returned in the evening with a fine buck, on
which we fared sumptuously. In their excursion they had
gone as far as the main branch of Maria's river, at the distance
of ten miles, through an open extensive valley, in
which were scattered a great number of lodges lately evacuated.
The next morning,

Saturday, 26, the weather was still cloudy, so that no observation
could be made, and what added to our disappointment,
captain Lewis's chronometer stopped yesterday from
some unknown cause, though when set in motion again it
went as usual. We now despaired of taking the longitude
of this place; and as our staying any longer might endanger
our return to the United States during the present season,
we, therefore, waited till nine o'clock, in hopes of a change
of weather; but seeing no prospect of that kind, we mounted
our horses, and leaving with reluctance our position,
which we now named Camp Disappointment, directed our
course across the open plains, in a direction nearly southeast.
At twelve miles distance we reached a branch of Maria's
river, about sixty-five yards wide, which we crossed,
and continued along its southern side for two miles, where
it is joined by another branch, nearly equal in size from the
southwest, and far more clear than the north branch, which
is turbid, though the beds of both are composed of pebbles.
We now decided on pursuing this river to its junction with

the fork of Maria's river, which we had ascended, and then
cross the country obliquely to Tansy river, and descend that
stream to its confluence with Maria's river. We, therefore,
crossed and descended the river, and at one mile below the
junction, halted to let the horses graze in a fertile bottom,
in which were some Indian lodges, that appear to have been
inhabited during the last winter. We here discern more
timber than the country in general possesses; for besides an
undergrowth of rose, honeysuckle, and redberry bushes, and
a small quantity of willow timber, the three species of cottonwood,
the narrow leafed, the broad-leafed, and the species
known to the Columbia, though here seen for the first
time on the Missouri, are all united at this place. Game
too, appears in greater abundance. We saw a few antelopes
and wolves, and killed a buck, besides which we saw
also two of the small burrowing foxes of the plains, about
the size of the common domestic cat, and of a reddish brown
colour, except the tail, which is black.

At the distance of three miles, we ascended the hills
close to the river side, while Drewyer pursued the valley of
the river on the opposite side. But scarcely had captain
Lewis reached the high plain, when he saw about a mile on
his left, a collection of about thirty horses. He immediately
halted, and by the aid of his spy-glass discovered that one
half of the horses were saddled, and that on the eminence
above the horses, several Indians were looking down towards
the river, probably at Drewyer. This was a most unwelcome
sight. Their probable numbers rendered any contest
with them of doubtful issue; to attempt to escape would only
invite pursuit, and our horses were so bad that we must certainly
be overtaken; besides which, Drewyer could not yet
be aware that the Indians were near, and if we ran he would
most probably be sacrificed. We therefore determined to
make the best of our situation, and advance towards them in
a friendly manner. The flag which we had brought in case
of any such accident was therefore displayed, and we continued

slowly our march towards them. Their whole attention
was so engaged by Drewyer, that they did not immediately
discover us. As soon as they did see us, they appeared
to be much alarmed and ran about in confusion, and some of
them came down the hill and drove their horses within gunshot
of the eminence, to which they then returned, as if to
wait our arrival. When we came within a quarter of a mile,
one of the Indians mounted and rode at full speed to receive
us; but when within a hundred paces of us, he halted, and
captain Lewis who had alighted to receive him, held out his
hand, and beckoned to him to approach, he only looked at
us for some time, and then, without saying a word, returned
to his companions with as much haste as he had advanced.
The whole party now descended the hill and rode towards
us. As yet we saw only eight, but presumed that there
must be more behind us, as there were several horses saddled.
We however advanced, and captain Lewis now told his
two men that he believed these were the Minnetarees of
Fort de Prairie, who, from their infamous character, would
in all probability attempt to rob them; but being determined
to die, rather than lose his papers and instruments, he
intended to resist to the last extremity, and advised them
to do the same, and to be on the alert should there be any
disposition to attack us. When the two parties came within
a hundred yards of each other, all the Indians, except one,
halted; captain Lewis therefore ordered his two men to halt
while he advanced, and after shaking hands with the Indian,
went on and did the same with the others in the rear, while
the Indian himself shook hands with the two men. They all
now came up, and after alighting, the Indians asked to smoke
with us. Captain Lewis, who was very anxious for Drewyer's
safety, told them that the man who had gone down the
river had the pipe, and requested that as they had seen him,
one of them would accompany R. Fields to bring him back.
To this they assented, and Fields went with a young man in
search of Drewyer. Captain Lewis now asked them by signs
if they were the Minnetarees of the north, and was sorry to
learn by their answer that his suspicion was too true. He
then inquired if there was any chief among them. They pointed
out three; but though he did not believe them, yet it was
thought best to please them, and he therefore gave to one a
flag, to another a medal, and to a third a handkerchief.
They appeared to be well satisfied with these presents, and
now recovered from the agitation into which our first interview
had thrown them, for they were really more alarmed
than ourselves at the meeting. In our turn, however, we became
equally satisfied on finding that they were not joined
by any more of their companions, for we consider ourselves
quite a match for eight Indians, particularly as these have but
two guns, the rest being armed with only eye-dogs and bows
and arrows. As it was growing late captain Lewis proposed
that they should encamp together near the river; for he was
glad to see them and had a great deal to say to them. They
assented; and being soon joined by Drewyer, we proceeded
towards the river, and after descending a very steep bluff,
two hundred and fifty feet high, encamped in a small bottom.
Here the Indians formed a large semicircular tent of
dressed buffaloe skins, in which the two parties assembled,
and by the means of Drewyer, the evening was spent in conversation
with the Indians. They informed us that they
were a part of a large band which at present lay encamped
on the main branch of Maria's river, near the foot of the
Rocky mountains, and at the distance of a day and a half's
journey from this place. Another large band were hunting
buffaloe near the Broken mountains, from which they would
proceed in a few days to the north of Maria's river. With
the first of these there was a white man. They added, that
from this place to the establishment on the Saskashawan,
at which they trade, is only six days' easy march; that is,
such a day's journey as can be made with their women and
children, so that we computed the distance at one hundred and
fifty miles. There they carry the skins of wolves and some
beavers, and exchange them for guns, ammunition, blankets,
spirituous liquors, and the other articles of Indian traffic.
Captain Lewis in turn informed them that he had come
from a great distance up the large river which runs towards
the rising sun; that he had been as far as the great lake
where the sun sets; that he had seen many nations, the greater
part of whom were at war with each other, but by his
mediation were restored to peace; and all had been invited to
come and trade with him west of the mountains: he was
now on his way home, but had left his companions at the
falls, and come in search of the Minnetarees, in hopes of induring
them to live at peace with their neighbours, and to
visit the trading houses which would be formed at the entrance
of Maria's river. They said that they were anxious
of being at peace with the Tushepaws, but those people had
lately killed a number of their relations, as they proved by
showing several of the party who had their hair cut as a
sign of mourning. They were equally willing, they added,
to come down and trade with us. Captain Lewis therefore
proposed that they should send some of their young men
to invite all their band to meet us at the mouth of Maria's
river, and the rest of the party to go with us to that place,
where he hoped to find his men, offering them ten horses
and some tobacco in case they would accompany us. To this
they made no reply. Finding them very fond of the pipe,
captain Lewis, who was desirous of keeping a constant watch
during the night, smoked with them until a late hour, and
as soon as they were all asleep, he woke R. Fields, and ordering
him to rouse us all in case any Indian left the camp,
as they would probably attempt to steal our horses, he lay
down by the side of Drewyer in the tent with all the Indians,
while the Fields were stretched near the fire at the mouth
of it. At sunrise,

Sunday 27, the Indians got up and crowded round the fire
near which J. Fields, who was then on watch, had carelessly
left his rifle, near the head of his brother, who was still

asleep. One of the Indians slipped behind him, and unperceived,
took his brother's and his own rifle, while at the
same time, two others seized those of Drewyer and captain
Lewis. As soon as Fields turned round, he saw the Indian
running off with the rifles, and instantly calling his brother,
they pursued him for fifty or sixty yards, and just as they
overtook him, in the scuffle for the rifles, R. Fields stabbed
him through the heart with his knife; the Indian ran about
fifteen steps and fell dead. They now ran back with their
rifles to the camp. The moment the fellow touched his gun,
Drewyer, who was awake, jumped up and wrested her from
him. The noise awoke captain Lewis, who instantly started
from the ground and reached to seize his gun, but finding
her gone, drew a pistol from his belt and turning about saw
the Indian running off with her. He followed him and ordered
him to lay her down, which he was doing just as the
Fields came up, and were taking aim to shoot him, when
captain Lewis ordered them not to fire, as the Indian did
not appear to intend any mischief. He dropped the gun and
was going slowly off as Drewyer came out and asked permission
to kill him, but this captain Lewis forbid as he had
not yet attempted to shoot us. But finding that the Indians
were now endeavouring to drive off all the horses, he ordered
three of them to follow the main party who were chasing
the horses up the river, and fire instantly upon the thieves;
while he, without taking time to run for his shot-pouch, pursued
the fellow who had stolen his gun and another Indian,
who were driving away the horses on the left of the camp.
He pressed them so closely that they left twelve of their horses,
but continued to drive off one of our own. At the distance
of three hundred paces they entered a steep niche in
the river bluffs, when captain Lewis, being too much out
of breath to pursue them any further, called out, as he did
several times before, that unless they gave up the horse he
would shoot them. As he raised his gun one of the Indians
jumped behind a rock and spoke to the other, who stopped
at the distance of thirty paces, as captain Lewis shot him in
the belly. He fell on his knees and right elbow, but raising
himself a little, fired, and then crawled behind a rock. The
shot had nearly been fatal, for captain Lewis, who was bareheaded,
felt the wind of the ball very distinctly. Not having
his shot-pouch, he could not reload his rifle, and having only
a single load also for his pistol, he thought it most prudent
not to attack the Indians, and therefore retired slowly to the
camp. He was met by Drewyer, who hearing the report of
the guns, had come to his assistance, leaving the Fields to
pursue the Indians. Captain Lewis ordered him to call out
to them to desist from the pursuit, as we could take the horses
of the Indians in place of our own, but they were at too
great a distance to hear him. He therefore returned to the
camp, and whilst he was saddling the horses, the Fields
returned with four of our own, having followed the Indians
until two of them swam the river, two others ascended the
hills, so that the horses became dispersed. We, however,
were rather gainers by this contest, for we took four of the
Indian horses, and lost only one of our own. Besides which,
we found in the camp four shields, two bows with quivers,
and one of the guns which we took with us, and also the
flag which we had presented to them, but left the medal
round the neck of the dead man, in order that they might
be informed who we were. The rest of their baggage, except
some buffaloe meat, we left; and as there was no time
to be lost, we mounted our horses, and after ascending the
river hills, took our course through the beautiful level
plains, in a direction a little to the south of east. We had
no doubt but that we should be immediately pursued by a
much larger party, and that as soon as intelligence was given
to the band near the Broken mountains, they would hasten
to the mouth of Maria's river to intercept us. We hope,
however, to be there before them, so as to form a junction
with our friends. We therefore pushed our horses as fast
as we possibly could; and fortunately for us, the Indian
horses were very good, the plains perfectly level, and without
many stones or prickly pears, and in fine order for
travelling after the late rains. At eight miles from our
camp we passed a stream forty yards wide, to which, from
the occurrence of the morning, we gave the name of Battle
river. At three o'clock we reached Rose river, five miles
above where we had formerly passed it, and having now
came by estimate sixty-three miles, halted for an hour and
a half to refresh our horses; then pursued our journey seventeen
miles further, when, as the night came on, we killed a
buffaloe, and again stopped for two hours. The sky was now
overclouded, but as the moon gave light enough to show us
the route, we continued along through immense herds of
buffaloe for twenty miles, and then almost exhausted with
fatigue, halted at two in the morning,

Monday, 28, to rest ourselves and the horses. At daylight
we awoke sore and scarcely able to stand; but as our
own lives as well as those of our companions depended on our
pressing forward, we mounted our horses and set out. The
men were desirous of crossing the Missouri, at the Grog
spring, where Rose river approaches so near the river, and
passing down the southwest side of it, and thus avoid the
country at the junction of the two rivers, through which the
enemy would most probably pursue us. But as this circuitous
route would consume the whole day, and the Indians
might in the meantime attack the canoes at the point, captain
Lewis told his party it was now their duty to risk their
lives for their friends and companions; that he would proceed
immediately to the point, to give the alarm to the canoes,
and if they had not yet arrived, he would raft the Missouri,
and after hiding the baggage, ascend the river on foot
through the woods till he met them. He told them also
that it was his determination, in case they were attacked in
crossing the plains, to tie the bridles of the horses and stand
together till they had either routed their enemies, or sold
their lives as dearly as possible. To this they all assented,

and we therefore continued our route to the eastward, till
at the distance of twelve miles we came near the Missouri,
when we heard a noise which seemed like the report of a
gun. We therefore quickened our pace for eight miles further,
and about five miles from the Grog spring, now heard
distinctly the noise of several rifles, from the river. We
hurried to the bank, and saw with exquisite satisfaction our
friends coming down the river. They landed to greet us,
and after turning our horses loose, we embarked with
our baggage, and went down to the spot where we had
made a deposit. This, after reconnoitering the adjacent
country, we opened; but unfortunately the cache had caved
in, and most of the articles were injured. We took whatever
was still worth preserving, and immediately proceeded
to the point, where we found our deposits in good order. By
a singular good fortune we were here joined by serjeant Gass
and Willard from the falls, who had been ordered to bring the
horses here to assist in collecting meat for the voyage, as it
had been calculated that the canoes would reach this place
much sooner than captain Lewis's party. After a very heavy
shower of rain and hail, attended with violent thunder
and lightning, we left the point, and giving a final discharge
to our horses, went over to the island where we had left our
red periogue, which however we found so much decayed that
we had no means of repairing her: we, therefore, took all
the iron work out of her, and proceeded down the river fifteen
miles, and encamped near some cottonwood trees, one
of which was of the narrow-leafed species, and the first of
that species we had remarked as we ascended the river.

Serjeant Ordway's party, which had left the mouth of
Madison river on the 13th, had descended in safety to
the Whitebear islands, where he arrived on the 19th, and
after collecting the baggage, left the falls on the 27th in the
white periogue, and five canoes, while serjeant Gass and
Willard set out at the same time by land with the horses,
and thus fortunately met together.

Tuesday, 29. A violent storm of rain and hail came on
last night, and as we had no means of making a shelter, we
lay in the rain, and during the whole day continued so exposed.
The two small canoes were sent ahead in order to
hunt elk and buffaloe, which are in immense quantities, so as
to provide shelter as well as food for the party. We then
proceeded very rapidly with the aid of a strong current, and
after passing at one o'clock the Natural walls, encamped
late in the evening at our former encampment of the 29th of
May, 1805. The river is now as high as it has been during the
present season, and every little rivulet discharges torrents
of water, which bring down such quantities of mud and
sand, that we can scarcely drink the water of the Missouri.
The buffaloe continue to be very numerous, but the elk are
few. The bighorns, however, are in great numbers along
the steep cliffs of the river, and being now in fine order,
their flesh is extremely tender, delicate, and well flavoured,
and resembles in colour and flavour our mutton, though it is
not so strong. The brown curlew has disappeared, and has
probably gone to some other climate after rearing its young
in these plains.

Wednesday, 30. The rain still prevented us from stopping
to dry our baggage, and we therefore proceeded with
a strong current, which joined to our oars, enabled us to advance
at the rate of seven miles an hour. We went on shore
several times for the purpose of hunting, and procured several
bighorns, two buffaloe, a beaver, an elk, and a female brown
bear, whose talons were six and a quarter inches in length.
In the evening we encamped on an island two miles above
Goodrich's island, and early in the morning,

Thursday, 31, continued our route in the rain, passing,
during the greater part of the day, through high pine hills,
succeeded by low grounds abounding in timber and game.
The buffaloe are scarce; but we procured fifteen elk, fourteen
deer, two bighorns, and a beaver. The elk are in fine
order, particularly the males, who now herd together in

small parties. Their horns have reached their full growth,
but ill retain the velvet or skin which covers them. Through
the bottoms are scattered a number of lodges, some of which
seem to have been built last winter, and were probably occupied
by the Minnetarees of Fort de Prairie. The river
is still rising, and more muddy than we have ever seen it.
Late last night we took shelter from the rain in some old
Indian lodges, about eight miles below the entrance of North-mountain
creek, and then set out,

Friday, August 1, at an early hour. We passed the
Muscleshell river at eleven o'clock, and fifteen miles further
landed at some Indian lodges, where we determined to
pass the night, for the rain still continued, and we feared
that the skins of the bighorn would spoil by being constantly
wet. Having made fires, therefore, and exposed them to
dry, we proceeded to hunt. The next day,

Saturday, 2, was fair and warm, and we availed ourselves
of this occasion to dry all our baggage in the sun.
Such is the immediate effect of fair weather, that since last
evening the river has fallen eighteen inches. Two men
were sent forward in a canoe to hunt; and now, having reloaded
our canoes, we resolved to go on as fast as possible,
and accordingly set out,

Sunday, 3, at an early hour, and without stopping as
usual to cook a dinner, encamped in the evening two miles
above our camp of May 12, 1805. We were here joined by
the two hunters, who had killed twenty-nine deer since they
left us. These animals are in great abundance in the river
bottoms, and very gentle. We passed also a great number
of elk, wolves, some bear, beaver, geese, a few ducks, the
party coloured corvus, a calumet eagle, some bald eagles,
and red-headed woodpeckers, but very few buffaloe. By four
o'clock next morning,

Monday, 4, we were again in motion. At eleven we passed
the Bigdry river, which has now a bold, even, but shallow

current, sixty yards in width, and halted for a few minutes
at the mouth of Milk river. This stream is at present
full of water, resembling in colour that of the Missouri, and
as it possesses quite as much water as Maria's river, we
have no doubt that it extends to a considerable distance towards
the north. We here killed a very large rattlesnake.
Soon after we passed several herds of buffaloe and elk, and
encamped at night, two miles below the gulf, on the northeast
side of the river. For the first time this season we
were saluted with the cry of the whippoorwill, or goatsucker
of the Missouri.

Tuesday, 5. We waited until noon in hopes of being overtaken
by two of the men, who had gone ahead in a canoe to
hunt two days ago, but who were at a distance from the river,
as we passed them. As they did not arrive by that
time, we concluded that they had passed us in the night,
and therefore proceeded until late, when we encamped about
ten miles below Littledry river. We again saw great numbers
of buffaloe, elk, deer, antelope, and wolves; also eagles, and
other birds, among which were geese and a solitary pelican,
neither of whom can fly at present, as they are now shedding
the feathers of their wings. We also saw several bear,
one of them the largest, except one, we had ever seen, for
he measured nine feet from the nose to the extremity of the
tail.

During the night a violent storm came on from the northeast
with such torrents of rain that we had scarcely time
to unload the canoes before they filled with water. Having
no shelter, we ourselves were completely wet to the
skin, and the wind and cold air made our situation very unpleasant.
We left it early,

Wednesday, 6; but after we had passed Porcupine river,
were, by the high wind, obliged to lie by until four o'clock,
when the wind abating we continued, and at night encamped
five miles below our camp of the 1st of May, 1805. Here

we were again drenched by the rain, which lasted all the
next morning,

Thursday, 7; but being resolved, if possible, to reach the
Yellowstone, a distance of eighty-three miles, in the course
of the day, we set out early, and being favoured by the rapid
current and good oarsmen, proceeded with great speed.
In passing Martha's river, we observed that its mouth is at
present a quarter of a mile lower than it was last year. Here
we find for the first time the appearance of coal-burnt hills
and pumicestone, which seem always to accompany each
other. At this place also are the first elms and dwarf cedars
in the bluffs of the river. The ash first makes its appearance
in one solitary tree at the Ash rapid, but is seen
occasionally scattered through the low grounds at the Elk
rapid, and thence downwards, though it is generally small.
The whole country on the northeast side, between Martha
and Milk rivers, is a beautiful level plain, with a soil much
more fertile than that higher up the river. The buffaloe,
elk, and other animals still continue numerous; as are also
the bear, who lie in wait at the crossing places, where they
seize elk and the weaker cattle, and then stay by the carcase
in order to keep off the wolves, till the whole is devoured.
At four o'clock we reached the mouth of Yellowstone,
where we found a note from captain Clarke, informing us of
his intention of waiting for us a few miles below. We therefore
left a memorandum for our two huntsmen, whom we
now supposed must be hehind us, and then pursued our course
till night came on, and not being able to overtake captain
Clarke, we encamped. In the morning,

Friday, 8, we set out in hopes of overtaking captain
Clarke; but after descending to nearly the entrance of White-earth
river without being able to see him, we were at a loss
what to conjecture. In this situation we landed, and began
to caulk and repair the canoes, as well as prepare some
skins for clothing, for since we left the Rocky mountains we

have had no leisure to make clothes, so that the greater
part of the men are almost naked. In these occupations we
passed this and the following day, without any interruption
except from the musquetoes, which are very troublesome,
and then having completed the repairs of the canoes, we
embarked,

Sunday, 10, at five in the afternoon; but the wind and
rain prevented us going further than near the entrance of
White-earth river. The next day,

Monday 11, being anxious to reach the Burnt hills by
noon, in order to ascertain the latitude, we went forward
with great rapidity; but by the time we reached that place,
it was twenty minutes too late to take the meridian altitude.
Having lost the observation, captain Lewis observed on the
opposite side of the river, a herd of elk on a thick sandbar
of willows, and landed with Cruzatte to hunt them. Each
of them fired and shot an elk. They then reloaded and took
different routes in pursuit of the game, when just as captain
Lewis was taking aim at an elk, a ball struck him in the
left thigh, about an inch below the joint of the hip, and missing
the bone, went through the left thigh and grazed the
right to the depth of the ball. It instantly occurred to him
that Cruzatte must have shot him by mistake for an elk, as
he was dressed in brown leather, and Cruzatte had not a
very good eye-sight. He therefore called out that he was
shot, and looked towards the place from which the ball
came; but seeing nothing, he called on Cruzatte by name
several times, but received no answer. He now thought that
as Cruzatte was out of hearing, and the shot did not seem
to come from more than forty paces distance, it must have
been fired by an Indian; and not knowing how many might
be concealed in the bushes, he made towards the periogue,
calling out to Cruzatte to retreat as there were Indians
in the willows. As soon as he reached the periogue, he ordered
the men to arms, and mentioning that he was wounded,

though he hoped not mortally by the Indians, bade them
follow him to relieve Cruzatte. They instantly followed for
an hundred paces, when his wound became so painful, and
his thigh stiffened in such a manner, that he could go no
further. He therefore ordered the men to proceed, and if
overpowered by numbers, retreat towards the boats, keeping
up a fire; then limping back to the periogue, he prepared
himself with his rifle, a pistol, and the air-gun, to
sell his life dearly in case the men should be overcome.
In this state of anxiety and suspence he remained for about
twenty minutes, when the party returned with Cruzatte,
and reported that no Indians could be seen in the neighbourhood.
Cruzatte was now much alarmed, and declared that
he had shot an elk after captain Lewis left him, but disclaimed
every idea of having intentionally wounded his officer.
There was no doubt but that he was the person who
gave the wound, yet as it seemed to be perfectly accidental,
and Cruzatte had always conducted himself with propriety,
no further notice was taken of it. The wound was now
dressed, and patent lint put into the holes; but though it
bled considerably, yet as the ball had touched neither a bone
nor an artery, we hope that it may not prove fatal. As it
was, however, impossible for him to make the observation
of the latitude of the Burnt hills, which is chiefly desirable,
as being the most northern parts of the Missouri, he declined
remaining till to-morrow, and proceeded on till evening.
Captain Lewis could not now be removed without great pain,
as he had a high fever. He therefore remained on board
during the night, and early the next morning,

Tuesday, 12, proceeded with as much expedition as possible,
and soon afterwards we put ashore to visit a camp,
which we found to be that of Dickson and Hancock, the two
Illinois traders, who told us that they had seen captain
Clarke yesterday. As we stopped with them, we were
overtaken by our two hunters, Colter and Collins, who had

been missing since the third, and whose absence excited
much uneasiness. They informed us, that after following
us the first day, they concluded that we must be behind, and
waited for us during several days, when they were convinced
of their mistake, and had then come on as rapidly as they
could. We made some presents to the two traders, and
then proceeded till at one o'clock we joined our friends and
companions under captain Clarke.