After going seven miles to the lower
point of an island on the north side, about one mile in length.
He found the banks on the north side high, with coal occasionally,
and the country fine on all sides; but the want of wood,
and the scarcity of game up the river, induced us to decide
on fixing ourselves lower down during the winter.
In the evening our men danced among themselves, to the great
amusement of the Indians."
It may be said here that the incident of a life saved from
fire by a raw-hide, originally related by Lewis and Clark,
is the foundation of a great many similar stories of adventures
among the Indians. Usually, however, it is a wise and well-seasoned
white trapper who saves his life by this device.
Having found a good site for their winter camp, the explorers now
built a number of huts, which they called Fort Mandan. The place
was on the north bank of the Missouri River, in what is now
McLean County, North Dakota, about sixteen hundred miles up
the river from St. Louis, and seven or eight miles below
the mouth of Big Knife River.
