“We achieved one important thing,” laughed the captain. “We named a river for York!”
“Yessuh!” gabbled York. “Yessuh! Dar’s a ribber up yahnduh ’long de Yallerstone named foh me: Yawk’s Dry Ribber.”
Sergeant Pryor, George Shannon, Hugh Hall and Dick Windsor had been detailed to drive the remaining fifty horses overland to the Mandan town; but the first night, Indians had stolen every one of these, also, and the squad were obliged to turn back. On the way, while the sergeant was asleep in camp a wolf had bitten him through the hand, and had tried to seize Dick, but George Shannon had shot just in time. Back again at the Yellowstone they had manufactured two round canoes, like Mandan canoes, from buffalo hides stretched over basketry, with hoops as top and bottom. In these they had finally caught up with Captain Clark.
“You’re in command now, Will,” said Captain Lewis. “I can’t do much—I can’t even write the records. But we’re in the home stretch. Let’s push on as fast as we can.”
The two free-trappers, Hancock and Dickson, came down in their canoe to go with the company as far as the Mandan town.
“Sure, we’ll be there in a jiffy,” proclaimed Sergeant Pat. “’Tis wonderful good fortune we’ve had—clane across to the Paycific an’ nigh home ag’in, an’ only wan man lost an’ nobody bad hurt but the cap’n.”
Now Sa-ca-ja-we-a, the Bird-woman, was much excited; for she was near home, too. The first day eighty-six miles were covered. The next day, in the morning, they arrived once more at the Minnetaree village, and the village of the Mandans opposite.
“Boom!” signaled the blunderbuss. And then again, and again. The Minnetarees, the Ah-na-ha-ways or Wassoons, and the Mandans flocked to the river banks.
“Our white fathers are back!” they cried, one to another.
The Indians seemed delighted. It was a great triumph—it really was like getting home. Sa-ca-ja-we-a hardly could wait for the boats to land. Landing was made among the Ah-na-ha-ways, but headquarters were immediately established among Chief Black Cat’s Mandans. The Bird-woman, carrying little Toussaint, proudly accompanied Chaboneau to the Minnetarees—which was her village—to invite them to council with the white chiefs. Drouillard was sent down to get Jessaume and Big White.