“Fort Benton, sir,” replied La Barge.
“Tut, tut! I know you could not have done that. Tell me candidly where you left your trip.”
“Fort Benton, sir.”
“We’ll see about it. I don’t believe it, don’t believe it.”
“Sorry you doubt my word, but it is nevertheless true.”
“Where did you leave the Spread Eagle?”
“’Way below Benton; found her cordelling.”
“Well, if you got to Fort Benton you made a good trip; but I don’t believe it.”
As soon as Captain La Barge reached St. Louis he loaded his boat with merchandise for the new posts along the river, intending to go back until he should meet the Shreveport, a much lighter-draft vessel, and transfer the cargo to her for the rest of the trip. The Shreveport left Fort Benton July 6, and met the Emilie at Sioux City. The transfer of cargo and passengers was made, and the Emilie returned to St. Louis. The Shreveport went as high as the mouth of Milk River, the farthest of the new posts except that near Fort Benton. After the Emilie’s return from her second voyage she went to work for the government, carrying stores from St. Louis to Memphis, and remained in this service all winter.
The river portion of the season’s operations of the new firm had been a complete success. Three large cargoes had been sent up the river, two to Fort Benton and one to the lower posts. Of these posts there were four—La Framboise, near old Fort Pierre; another near Fort Berthold; Fort Stuart, near the mouth of Poplar River, and Fort Galpin, near the mouth of Milk River. It remains to notice what was done at Fort Benton and in the projected expedition to the mines.