So they proceeded. But deserted lay the meadow-land. However, at the juncture of those forks was found a note, stuck in a cleft pole planted on the bank. Captain Clark said that the southwest fork was the better.
Captain Lewis ordered camp made a short distance up this fork, until Captain Clark should return. Right glad were all, including Peter, to rest awhile; eat, sleep, mend the tow-ropes and repair moccasins, and kill meat.
The Bird-woman was especially delighted.
“She say here on dis spot is where de Snake camp was surprise’ by de Minnetaree, five year ago, an’ chase’ into de timber. De Minnetaree keel four warrior, an’ capture four boys an’ all de women,” explained Drouillard. “Sa-ca-ja-we-a was capture’, too.”
That noon Captain Clark returned, with Chaboneau, Joe Fields, John Potts and York. They had not seen a single Indian; but they had had a hard tramp. Chaboneau’s feet had given out several times, and the captain was sick. He thought that he had drunk too much cold water while he was hot.
The first fork was named Gallatin’s River, in honor of the secretary of the treasury of the United States. The middle fork was named Madison River, in honor of James Madison, the secretary of state, at Washington. But the southwest fork was named the Jefferson, in honor of the President himself.
The two captains agreed that the Jefferson River was the main fork of the Missouri; and up the Jefferson they all went.
“Arrah!” groaned Pat. “An’ how d’ye like it, Peter? Bad cess to that Bird-woman. Didn’t she say we’d meet her people, an’ where be they?”
“Those Snakes are a wandering tribe, Pat,” answered Sergeant Pryor. “And Sa-ca-ja-we-a hasn’t been here since she was a girl, five years ago, remember.”
But Sa-ca-ja-we-a was remembering. This was her home country. She pointed out a high shoulder of rock not far from the river, to the west, and exclaimed.