first across the continent-第22章

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her　party　found　fresh　tracks　of　Indians；　and　they　were　greatly　discouraged　thereat。　The　journal　speaks　of　a　beautiful　valley；　from　six　to　eight　miles　wide；　where　they　saw　ancient　traces　of　buffalo　occupation；　but　no　buffalo。　These　animals　had　now　completely　disappeared；　they　were　seldom　seen　in　those　mountains。　　The　journal　says　of　Lewis：

〃He　saw　an　abundance　of　deer　and　antelope；　and　many　tracks　of　elk　and　bear。　Having　killed　two　deer；　they　feasted　sumptuously；　with　a　dessert　of　currants　of　different　colorstwo　species　red；　others　yellow；　deep　purple；　and　black；　to　these　were　added　black　gooseberries　and　deep　purple　service…berries；　somewhat　larger　than　ours；　from　which　they　differ　also　in　color；　size；　and　the　superior　excellence　of　their　flavor。　　In　the　low　grounds　of　the　river　were　many　beaver…dams　formed　of　willow…brush；　mud；　and　gravel；　so　closely　interwoven　that　they　resist　the　water　perfectly；　some　of　them　were　five　feet　high；　and　caused　the　river　to　overflow　several　acres　of　land。〃

Meanwhile；　the　party　with　the　canoes　were　having　a　fatiguing　time　as　they　toiled　up　the　river。　　On　the　fourth　of　August；　after　they　had　made　only　fifteen　miles；　the　journal　has　this　entry：

〃The　river　is　still　rapid；　and　the　water；　though　clear；　is　very　much　obstructed　by　shoals　or　ripples　at　every　two　hundred　or　three　hundred　yards。　At　all　these　places　we　are　obliged　to　drag　the　canoes　over　the　stones；　as　there　is　not　a　sufficient　depth　of　water　to　float　them；　and　in　the　other　parts　the　current　obliges　us　to　have　recourse　to　the　cord。　But　as　the　brushwood　on　the　banks　will　not　permit　us　to　walk　on　shore；　we　are　under　the　necessity　of　wading　through　the　river　as　we　drag　the　boats。　This　soon　makes　our　feet　tender；　and　sometimes　occasions　severe　falls　over　the　slippery　stones；　and　the　men；　by　being　constantly　wet；　are　becoming　more　feeble。　　In　the　course　of　the　day　the　hunters　killed　two　deer；　some　geese　and　ducks；　and　the　party　saw　some　antelopes；　cranes；　beaver；　and　otter。〃

Captain　Lewis　had　left　a　note　for　Captain　Clark　at　the　forks　of　the　Jefferson　and　Wisdom　rivers。　　Clark's　journal　says：

〃We　arrived　at　the　forks　about　four　o'clock；　but；　unluckily；　Captain　Lewis's　note　had　been　attached　to　a　green　pole；　which　the　beaver　had　cut　down；　and　carried　off　with　the　note　on　it：　　an　accident　which　deprived　us　of　all　information　as　to　the　character　of　the　two　branches　of　the　river。　Observing；　therefore；　that　the　northwest　fork　was　most　in　our　direction；　we　ascended　it。　　We　found　it　extremely　rapid；　and　its　waters　were　scattered　in　such　a　manner　that　for　a　quarter　of　a　mile　we　were　forced　to　cut　a　passage　through　the　willow…brush　that　leaned　over　the　little　channels　and　united　at　the　top。　　After　going　up　it　for　a　mile；　we　encamped　on　an　island　which　had　been　overflowed；　and　was　still　so　wet　that　we　were　compelled　to　make　beds　of　brush　to　keep　ourselves　out　of　the　mud。　Our　provision　consisted　of　two　deer　which　had　been　killed　in　the　morning。〃

It　should　be　borne　in　mind　that　this　river；　up　which　the　party　were　making　their　way；　was　the　Wisdom　（now　Big　Hole）；　and　was　the　northwest　fork　of　the　Jefferson；　flowing　from　southeast　to　northwest；　and　near　the　point　where　it　enters　the　Jefferson；　it　has　a　loop　toward　the　northeast；　that　is　to　say；　it　comes　from　the　southwest　to　a　person　looking　up　its　mouth。


After　going　up　the　Wisdom　River；　Clark's　party　were　overtaken　by　Drewyer；　Lewis's　hunter；　who　had　been　sent　across　between　the　forks　to　notify　Clark　that　Lewis　regarded　the　other　fork　the　main　Jeffersonas　the　right　course　to　take。　　The　party；　accordingly；　turned　about　and　began　to　descend　the　stream；　in　order　to　ascend　the　Jefferson。　　The　journal　says：

〃On　going　down；　one　of　the　canoes　upset　and　two　others　filled　with　water；　by　which　all　the　baggage　was　wet　and　several　articles　were　irrecoverably　lost。　　As　one　of　them　swung　round　in　a　rapid　current；　Whitehouse　was　thrown　out　of　her；　while　down；　the　canoe　passed　over　him；　and　had　the　water　been　two　inches　shallower　would　have　crushed　him　to　pieces；　but　he　escaped　with　a　severe　bruise　of　his　leg。　In　order　to　repair　these　misfortunes　we　hastened　＇down＇　to　the　forks；　where　we　were　joined　by　Captain　Lewis。　　We　then　passed　over　to　the　left　＇east＇　side；　opposite　the　entrance　of　the　rapid　fork；　and　camped　on　a　large　gravelly　bar；　near　which　there　was　plenty　of　wood。　Here　we　opened；　and　exposed　to　dry；　all　the　articles　which　had　suffered　from　the　water；　none　of　them　were　completely　spoiled　except　a　small　keg　of　powder；　the　rest　of　the　powder；　which　was　distributed　in　the　different　canoes；　was　quite　safe；　although　it　had　been　under　the　water　for　upward　of　an　hour。　　The　air　is　indeed　so　pure　and　dry　that　any　wood…work　immediately　shrinks；　unless　it　is　kept　filled　with　water；　but　we　had　placed　our　powder　in　small　canisters　of　lead；　each　containing　powder　enough　for　the　canister　when　melted　into　bullets；　and　secured　with　cork　and　wax；　which　answered　our　purpose　perfectly。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。

In　the　evening　we　killed　three　deer　and　four　elk；　which　furnished　us　once　more　with　a　plentiful　supply　of　meat。　　Shannon；　the　same　man　who　had　been　lost　for　fifteen　days　＇August　28　to　Sept。　11；　1804＇；　was　sent　out　this　morning　to　hunt；　up　the　northwest　fork。　When　we　decided　on　returning；　Drewyer　was　directed　to　go　in　quest　of　him；　but　be　returned　with　information　that　he　had　gone　several　miles　up　the　＇Wisdom＇　river　without　being　able　to　find　Shannon。　　We　now　had　the　trumpet　sounded；　and　fired　several　guns；　but　he　did　not　return；　and　we　fear　he　is　again　lost。〃

This　man；　although　an　expert　hunter；　had　an　unlucky　habit　of　losing　himself　in　the　wilderness；　as　many　another　good　man　has　lost　himself　among　the　mountains　or　the　great　plains。　This　time；　however；　he　came　into　camp　again；　after　being　lost　three　days。

On　the　eighth　of　August　the　party　reached　a　point　now　known　by　its　famous　landmark；　Beaver　Head；　a　remarkable　rocky　formation　which　gives　its　name　to　Beaverhead　County；　Montana。　　The　Indian　woman；　Sacajawea；　recognized　the　so…called　beaver…head；　which；　she　said；　was　not　far　from　the　summer　retreat　of　her　countrymen；　living　on　the　other　side　of　the　mountains。　　The　whole　party　were　now　together　again；　the　men　with　the　canoes　having　come　up；　and　the　journal　says：

〃Persuaded　of　the　absolute　necessity　of　procuring　horses　to　cross　the　mountains；　it　was　determined　that　one　of　us　should　proceed　in　the　morning　to　the　head　of　the　river；　and　penetrate　the　mountains　till　he　found　the　Shoshonees　or　some　other　nation　who　can　assist　us　in　transporting　our　baggage；　the　greater　part　of　which　we　shall　be　compelled　to　leave　without　the　aid　of　horses。〃。　。　。

Early　the　next　day　Captain　Lewis　took　Drewyer；　Shields；　and　M'Neal；　and；　slinging　their　knapsacks；　they　set　out　with　a　resolution　to　meet　some　nation　of　Indians　before　they　returned；　however　long　they　might　be　separated　from　the　party。

The　party　in　the　canoes　continued　to　ascend　the　river；　which　was　so　crooked　that　they　advanced　but　four　miles　in　a　direct　line　from　their　starting…place　in　a　distance　of　eleven　miles。　In　this　manner；　the　party　on　foot　leading　those　with　the　canoes；　they　repeatedly　explored　the　various　forks　of　the　streams；　which　baffled　them　by　their　turnings　and　windings。　　Lewis　was　in　the　advance；　and　Clark　brought　up　the　rear　with　the　main　body。　It　was　found　necessary　for　the　leading　party　to　wade　the　streams；　and　occasionally　they　were　compelled　by　the　roughness　of　the　way　to　leave　the　water…course　and　take　to　the　hills；　where　great　vigilance　was　required　to　keep　them　in　sight　of　the　general　direction　in　which　they　must　travel。　On　the　11th　of　August；　1805；　Captain　Lewis　came　in　sight　of　the　first　Indian　encountered　since　leaving　the　country　of　the　Minnetarees；　far　back　on　the　Missouri。　　The　journal　of　that　date　says：

〃On　examining　him　with　the　glass　Captain　Lewis　saw　that　he　was　of　a　different　nation　from　any　Indians　we　had　hitherto　met。　He　was　armed　with　a　bow　and　a　quiver　of　arrows；　and　mounted　on　an　elegant　horse　without　a　saddle；　a　small　string　attached　to　the　under　jaw　answered　as　a　bridle。

〃Convinced　that　he　was　a　Shoshonee；　and　knowing　how　much　our　success　depended　on　the　friendly　offices　of　that　nation；　Captain　Lewis　was　full　of　anxiety　to　approach　without　alarming　him；　and　endeavor　to　convince　him　that　he　＇Lewis＇　was　a　white　man。　He　therefore　proceeded　toward　the　Indian　at　his　usual　pace。　When　they　were　within　a　mile　of　each　other　the　Indian　suddenly　stopped。　Captain　Lewis　immediately　followed　his　example；　took　his　blanket　from　his　knapsack；　and；　holding　it　with　both　hands　at　the　two　corners；　threw　it　above　his　head；　and　unfolded　it　as　he　brought　it　to　the　ground；　as　if　in　the　act　of　spreading　it。　This　signal；　which　originates　in　the　practice　of　spreading　a　robe　or　skin　as　a　seat　for　guests　to　whom　they　wish　to　show　a　distinguished　kindness；　is　the　universal　sign　of　friendship　among　the　Indians　on　the　Missouri　and　the　Rocky　Mountains。　　As　usual；　Captain　Lewis　repeated　this　signal　three　times：　　still　the　Indian　kept　his　position；　and　looked　with　an　air　of　suspicion　on　Drewyer　and　Shields；　who　were　now　advancing　on　each　side。　Captain　Lewis　was　afraid　to　make　any　signal　for　them　to　halt；　lest　he　should　increase　the　distrust　of　the　Indian；　who　began　to　be　uneasy；　and　they　were　too　distant　to　hear　his　voice。　He　therefore　took　from　his　pack　some　beads；　a　looking…glass；　and　a　few　trinkets；　which　he　bad　brought　for　the　purpose；　and；　leaving　his　gun；　advanced　unarmed　towards　the　Indian。　　He　remained　in　the　same　position　till　Captain　Lewis　came　within　two　hundred　yards　of　him；　when　he　turned　his　horse　and　began　to　move　off　slowly。　Captain　Lewis　then　called　out　to　him　in　as　loud　a　voice　as　he　could；　repeating　the　words　tabba　bone；　which　in　the　Shoshonee　language　mean　white　man。　　But；　looking　over　his　shoulder；　the　Indian　kept　his　eyes　on　Drewyer　and　Shields；　who　were　still　advancing；　without　recollecting　the　impropriety　of　doing　so　at　such　a　moment；　till　Captain　Lewis　made　a　signal　to　them　to　halt：　this　Drewyer　obeyed；　but　Shields　did　not　observe　it；　and　still　went　forward。　　Seeing　Drewyer　halt；　the　Indian　turned　his　horse　about　as　if　to　wait　for　Captain　Lewis；　who　now　reached　within　one　hundred　and　fifty　paces；　repeating　the　words　tabba　bone；　and　holding　up　the　trinkets　in　his　hand；　at　the　same　time　stripping　up　the　sleeve　of　his　shirt　to　show　the　color　of　his　skin。　The　Indian　suffered　him　to　advance　within　one　hundred　paces；　then　suddenly　turned　his　horse；　and；　giving　him　the　whip；　leaped　across　the　creek；　and　disappeared　in　an　instant　among　the　willow　bushes：　with　him　vanished　all　the　hopes　which　the　sight　of　him　had　inspired；　of　a　friendly　introduction　to　his　countrymen。〃

Sadly　disappointed　by　the　clumsy　imprudence　of　his　men；　Captain　Lewis　now　endeavored　to　follow　the　track　of　the　retreating　Indian；　hoping　that　this　might　lead　them　to　an　encampment；　or　village；　of　the　Shoshonees。　　He　also　built　a　fire；　the　smoke　of　which　might　attract　the　attention　of　the　Indians。　　At　the　same　time；　be　placed　on　a　pole　near　the　fire　a　small　assortment　of　beads；　trinkets；　awls；　and　paints；　in　order　that　the　Indians；　if　they　returned　that　way；　might　discover　them　and　be　thereby　assured　the　strangers　were　white　men　and　friends。　Next　morning；　while　trying　to　follow　the