We Determined,
Therefore, To Examine Well Before We Decided On Our Future Course.
For This Purpose We Despatched Two Canoes
With three men up each of
the streams, with orders to ascertain the width, depth, and rapidity
of the current,
So as to judge of their comparative bodies of water.
At the same time parties were sent out by land to penetrate the country,
and discover from the rising grounds, if possible, the distant bearings
of the two rivers; and all were directed to return toward evening.
. . . . . . . . .
Both parties returned without bringing any information that would settle
the point. Which was the true Missouri still remained uncertain.
Under these circumstances, it became necessary that there
should be a more thorough exploration, and the next morning
Captains Lewis and Clark set out at the head of two separate parties,
the former to examine the north, and the latter the south fork.
In his progress Captain Lewis and his party were frequently
obliged to quit the course of the river and cross the plains
and hills, but he did not lose sight of its general direction,
and carefully took the bearings of the distant mountains.
On the morning of the third day he became convinced that this river
pursued a course too far north for his contemplated route to the Pacific,
and he accordingly determined to return, but judged it advisable
to wait till noon, that he might obtain a meridian altitude.
In this, however, he was disappointed, owing to the state of the weather.
Much rain had fallen, and their return was somewhat difficult,
and not unattended with danger, as the following incident,
which occurred on June 7th, will show:
"In passing along the side of a bluff at a narrow pass thirty
yards in length, Captain Lewis slipped, and, but for a fortunate
recovery by means of his spontoon, would have been precipitated
into the river over a precipice of about ninety feet.
He had just reached a spot where, by the assistance of his spontoon,
he could stand with tolerable safety, when he heard a voice
behind him cry out, `Good God, captain, what shall I do?'
He turned instantly, and found it was Windsor, who had
lost his foothold about the middle of the narrow pass,
and had slipped down to the very verge of the precipice,
where he lay on his belly, with his right arm and leg over it,
while with the other leg and arm he was with difficulty
holding on, to keep himself from being dashed to pieces below.
His dreadful situation was instantly perceived by Captain Lewis,
who, stifling his alarm, calmly told him that he was in no danger;
that he should take his knife out of his belt with his right hand,
and dig a hole in the side of the bluff to receive his right foot.
With great presence of mind he did this, and then raised
himself on his knees. Captain Lewis then told him to take
off his moccasins and come forward on his hands and knees,
holding the knife in one hand and his rifle in the other.
He immediately crawled in this way till he came to a secure spot.
The men who had not attempted this passage were ordered
to return and wade the river at the foot of the bluff,
where they found the water breast-high.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 51 of 201
Words from 27449 to 28012
of 110166
