“Do not tell Sha-ha-ka,” ordered Captain Lewis, to Jessaume. “He would wish to turn back.”
This same day the Arikara villages were reached. Some Cheyennes were here, too. Captain Clark held a council with both tribes. They all were very friendly. Big White addressed them, and they listened. They were willing to be at peace with the Mandans and Minnetarees. The Arikaras said that they had refused to join the Sioux, on the war-path. They wished to send more chiefs to the great white father at Washington, but were waiting until Brave Raven, who had gone down on the barge last year, came back with the white father’s words. The Cheyennes said that they were afraid of the white people’s medicine, but they hoped that the new father would send traders and trappers into their country, to show them how to live and how to catch the beaver.
On the last day of the council, or July 22, Captain Lewis was able to walk about a little, for the first time since he had taken to the boat.
Rapidly traveled the boats. Wild turkeys were seen; ripe wild plums were found; the grasses were high and luxurious.
“We gettin’ down into lower country,” chattered Drouillard, happily.
There were signs of many buffalo. On July 29, 20,000 in one herd darkened the plain. The day following, halt was made in a wild plum orchard. Everybody ate. But this was Sioux country, and below the wild plum orchard sudden exclamations arose from the boats.
“De Sioux!”
“Look at the bloody rascals!”
“Tetons, aren’t they?”
“Mebbe Yankton. They act like they want to talk.”