Having Reached The Open Country He Went For Twelve
Miles In A Course A Little To The W. Of S.
W.; when, the sun becoming
warm by nine o'clock, he returned to the river in quest of water,
and to
Kill something for breakfast; there being no water in the plain,
and the buffalo, discovering them before they came within gunshot,
took to flight. They reached the banks in a handsome open low ground
with cottonwood, after three miles' walk. Here they saw two large
brown bears, and killed them both at the first fire - a circumstance
which has never before occurred since we have seen that animal.
Having made a meal of a part, and hung the remainder on a tree,
with a note for Captain Clark, they again ascended the bluffs into
the open plains. Here they saw great numbers of the burrowing-squirrel,
also some wolves, antelopes, mule-deer, and vast herds of buffalo.
They soon crossed a ridge considerably higher than the surrounding plains,
and from its top had a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains, which are
now completely covered with snow. Their general course is from S.E. to
N. of N.W., and they seem to consist of several ranges which successively
rise above each other, till the most distant mingles with the clouds.
After travelling twelve miles they again met the river, where there
was a handsome plain of cottonwood."
Again leaving the river, Captain Lewis bore off more to the north,
the stream here bearing considerably to the south, with difficult
bluffs along its course.
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