The Captain,
In Return, Told Them That His Party Had Come From The Great Lake
Where The Sun Sets, And
That he was in hopes that he could induce
the Minnetarees to live in peace with their neighbors and come
And trade
at the posts that would be established in their country by and by.
He offered them ten horses and some tobacco if they would accompany his
party down the river below the great falls. To this they made no reply.
Being still suspicious of these sullen guests, Captain Lewis made his
dispositions for the night, with orders for the sentry on duty to rouse
all hands if the Indians should attempt to steal anything in the night.
Next morning trouble began. Says the journal: -
"At sunrise, the Indians got up and crowded around 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,
he saw the Indian running off with the rifles; instantly calling
his brother, they pursued him for fifty or sixty yards;
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 it from him.
The noise awoke Captain Lewis, who instantly started from the ground
and reached for his gun; but finding it gone, drew a pistol
from his belt, and turning saw the Indian running off with it.
He followed him and ordered him to lay it down, which he did
just as the two 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 when Drewyer came out and asked permission to kill him;
but this Captain Lewis forbade, as he had not yet attempted to shoot us.
But finding that the Indians were now endeavoring to drive off all
the horses, he ordered all three of us 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 had done 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.
Captain Lewis shot him in the belly.
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