We Now Had
The Trumpet Sounded, And Fired Several Guns; But He Did Not Return,
And We Fear He Is Again Lost."
This man, although an expert hunter, had an unlucky habit
of losing himself in the wilderness, as many another good man
has lost himself among the mountains or the great plains.
This time, however, he came into camp again, after being
lost three days.
On the eighth of August the party reached a point now known
by its famous landmark, Beaver Head, a remarkable rocky formation
which gives its name to Beaverhead County, Montana. The Indian
woman, Sacajawea, recognized the so-called beaver-head, which,
she said, was not far from the summer retreat of her countrymen,
living on the other side of the mountains. The whole party
were now together again, the men with the canoes having come up;
and the journal says: -
"Persuaded of the absolute necessity of procuring horses to cross
the mountains, it was determined that one of us should proceed
in the morning to the head of the river, and penetrate the mountains
till he found the Shoshonees or some other nation who can assist
us in transporting our baggage, the greater part of which we shall
be compelled to leave without the aid of horses.". . .
Early the next day Captain Lewis took Drewyer, Shields, and M'Neal, and,
slinging their knapsacks, they set out with a resolution to meet some nation
of Indians before they returned, however long they might be separated
from the party.
The party in the canoes continued to ascend the river,
which was so crooked that they advanced but four miles in a direct
line from their starting-place in a distance of eleven miles.
In this manner, the party on foot leading those with the canoes,
they repeatedly explored the various forks of the streams,
which baffled them by their turnings and windings. Lewis was
in the advance, and Clark brought up the rear with the main body.
It was found necessary for the leading party to wade the streams,
and occasionally they were compelled by the roughness
of the way to leave the water-course and take to the hills,
where great vigilance was required to keep them in sight
of the general direction in which they must travel.
On the 11th of August, 1805, Captain Lewis came in sight of the first
Indian encountered since leaving the country of the Minnetarees,
far back on the Missouri. The journal of that date says:
"On examining him with the glass Captain Lewis saw that he was
of a different nation from any Indians we had hitherto met.
He was armed with a bow and a quiver of arrows, and mounted
on an elegant horse without a saddle; a small string attached
to the under jaw answered as a bridle.
"Convinced that he was a Shoshonee, and knowing how much
our success depended on the friendly offices of that nation,
Captain Lewis was full of anxiety to approach without alarming him,
and endeavor to convince him that he [Lewis] was a white man.
He therefore proceeded toward the Indian at his usual pace.
When they were within a mile of each other the Indian suddenly stopped.
Captain Lewis immediately followed his example, took his
blanket from his knapsack, and, holding it with both hands
at the two corners, threw it above his head, and unfolded it
as he brought it to the ground, as if in the act of spreading it.
This signal, which originates in the practice of spreading
a robe or skin as a seat for guests to whom they wish to show
a distinguished kindness, is the universal sign of friendship among
the Indians on the Missouri and the Rocky Mountains.
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