Opening the West With Lewis and Clark / By Boat, Horse and Foot Up the Great River Missouri, Across the Stony Mountains and on to the Pacific, When in the Years 1804, 1805, 1806, Young Captain Lewis, the Long Knife, and His Friend Captain Clark, the Red Head Chief, Aided by Sacajawea, the Birdwoman, Conducted Their Little Band of Men Tried and True Through the Unknown New United States

by Edwin L. Sabin

And through a little open space here came Cruzatte! He was striding along, with stained hands, his rifle on his shoulder, making for the boats and plainly much satisfied with himself.

“Hist!” said Pat. “Cruzatte! ’Asy now.”

Cruzatte started, and crouched.

“Have ye seen Injuns?”

“Non,” answered Cruzatte. “I shoot one elk, follow ’nodder.”

“Come back to the boats with us, an’ step lively,” ordered Pat. “There be Injuns ’round. They shot the cap’n in the leg.”

“My gracious!” stammered Cruzatte. “But I see no sign.”

“Nayther do we. Sure, it’s powerful suspicious,” muttered Pat.

They found the captain all prepared to defend himself in the pirogue. He had laid out his rifle, pistol and pike, and was propped behind the air-gun that could shoot forty times.