He Was At The Same Time Consoled By Remembering That His
Hopes Of Assistance Rested On Better Foundations Than Their Generosity -
Their Avarice And Their Curiosity.
He had promised liberal exchanges
for their horses; but what was still more seductive, he had told them
that
One of their countrywomen, who had been taken with the Minnetarees,
accompanied the party below; and one of the men had spread the report of our
having with us a man [York] perfectly black, whose hair was short and curled.
This last account had excited a great degree of curiosity, and they seemed
more desirous of seeing this monster than of obtaining the most favorable
barter for their horses."
On the following day, August 17, the two parties of explorers finally met.
Under that date the journal has this interesting entry: -
"Captain Lewis rose very early and despatched Drewyer
and the Indian down the river in quest of the boats.
Shields was sent out at the same time to hunt, while M'Neal
prepared a breakfast out of the remainder of the meat.
Drewyer had been gone about two hours, and the Indians
were all anxiously waiting for some news, when an Indian,
who had straggled a short distance down the river,
returned with a report that he had seen the white men,
who were only a short distance below, and were coming on.
The Indians were transported with joy, and the chief, in the warmth
of his satisfaction, renewed his embrace to Captain Lewis,
who was quite as much delighted as the Indians themselves.
The report proved most agreeably true.
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