The Two Parties, Thus United,
Were To Go Down To The Entrance Of Maria's River Into The Missouri,
And Captain
Lewis expected to join them there by the fifth of August;
if he failed to meet them by that time,
They were to go on down the river
and meet Captain Clark at the mouth of the Yellowstone. This explanation
is needed to the proper understanding of the narrative that follows;
for we now have to keep track of three parties of the explorers.
Captain Lewis and his men, having travelled northwest about twenty
miles from the great falls of the Missouri, struck the trail of a
wounded buffalo. They were dismayed by the sight, for that assured
them that there were Indians in the vicinity; and the most natural
thing to expect was that these were Blackfeet, or Minnetarees;
both of these tribes are vicious and rascally people, and they would
not hesitate to attack a small party and rob them of their guns,
if they thought themselves able to get away with them.
They were now in the midst of vast herds of buffalo, so numerous that the
whole number seemed one immense herd. Hanging on the flanks were many wolves;
hares and antelope were also abundant. On the fourth day out, Captain Lewis
struck the north fork of Maria's River, now known as Cut-bank River,
in the northwest corner of Montana. He was desirous of following up
the stream, to ascertain, if possible, whether its fountain-head was below,
or above, the boundary between the United States and the British possessions.
Bad weather and an accident to his chronometer prevented his accomplishing
his purpose, and, on the twenty-sixth of July, he turned reluctantly back,
giving the name of Cape Disappointment to his last camping-place.
Later in that day, as they were travelling down the main stream
(Maria's River), they encountered the Indians whom they had hoped to avoid.
Let us read the story as it is told in the journal of the party: -
"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 toward 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 be would most probably be sacrificed.
We therefore determined to make the most of our situation,
and advance toward them in a friendly manner.
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