“We drew a bead on the fellow, but he dropped the cap’n’s gun, and the cap’n wouldn’t let us shoot. ‘Look out for those other rascals!’ he ordered. ‘They’re trying to drive off the hosses!’ So Reub and Drouillard and I ran after six who were roundin’ up the most of the hosses; and the cap’n set out after his Injun and another who were drivin’ away a bunch. He made ’em leave twelve, but they kept on, with his hoss, and that he was bound to get. He didn’t have his bullet pouch or his hat; and when they were just ’bout to disappear in a little gully he told ’em to surrender the hoss or he’d fire. With that they turned on him, and fire he did, downin’ one of ’em slick as a whistle, but the fellow had life enough to fire back an’ sent a ball through the cap’n’s ha’r.
“The cap’n had only his pistol, now, so he quit, and the other Injun made off with the hoss. Drouillard had turned back to help the cap’n, but Reub and I follered our Injuns till we got four of our own critters, and then we let the rest go. Didn’t matter, ’cause there were the twelve left by the Injuns, so we’d come out ahead in the little game. Besides, we had the lodge, four shields, two bows and quivers, and a gun. Likewise the flag we’d given, and the medal—but we left the medal on the neck of the Injun Reub had killed, so as to show what kind of people we were.
“Well, we didn’t hang ’round there long, you bet. The Injuns had said the main band was only a day and a half away, and when the cap’n had invited ’em to bring their chiefs to council he of course told ’em where our camp was—at the mouth of the Maria’s. Now we were desperate afraid the Injuns’d out-foot us and attack you-all at the river. We took four best horses, and only what meat we could carry, rode a hundred miles, with an hour and a half of rest, camped at two in the mornin’, then rode another twenty miles and struck Ordway comin’ down with the canoes. We got aboard and here we are—and the cap’n is in a powerful hurry to join Cap’n Clark below.”
That was true; for, as said Drouillard: “Dose Blackfeet now will hold all white men as enemies.”
This cache had caved in, and much of the supplies had spoiled. The red pirogue also was found to be worthless, except for its spikes. Captain Lewis hustled the work of loading, the rest of the horses were turned loose, and down the river again voyaged all. Sergeant Ordway was in charge of the five canoes, Sergeant Pat and squad had charge of the white pirogue, which was the flagship.
A sharp lookout was kept for the Big Bellies on the banks. However, nothing happened. The mouth of the Yellowstone was several days ahead; and when it was reached, no Captain Clark or others of that party appeared in sight. When halt was made, to look for sign, traces of the captain’s camp were found, and in the sand Lepage discovered the scrawl:
W. C. a few miles further down on right hand side.
“When was that written, Lepage, do you think?” queried Captain Lewis.
“Mebbe two, mebbe t’ree day ago,” said Baptiste. “De rain haf washed it.”
“At any rate, he’s safe,” uttered the captain, with much satisfaction. “I expect the mosquitoes drove him out of here. Whew!” For the mosquitoes were worse than ever. “We’ll overtake him to-morrow.”