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like those of the Missouri； are extremely fine。 Like the dry rivers we passed before； this seemed to have discharged its waters recently； but the watermark indicated that its greatest depth had not been more than two feet。 This stream； if it deserve the name； we called Bigdry ＇Big Dry＇ River。〃
And Big Dry it remains on the maps unto this day。 In this region the party recorded this observation：
〃The game is now in great quantities； particularly the elk and buffalo； which last is so gentle that the men are obliged to drive them out of the way with sticks and stones。 The ravages of the beaver are very apparent； in one place the timber was entirely prostrated for a space of three acres in front on the river and one in depth； and great part of it removed； though the trees were in large quantities； and some of them as thick as the body of a man。
Yet so great have been the ravages of man among these gentle creatures； that elk are now very rarely found in the region； and the buffalo have almost utterly disappeared from the face of the earth。 Just after the opening of the Northern Pacific Railway； in 1883； a band of sixty buffaloes were heard of； far to the southward of Bismarck； and a party was organized to hunt them。 The BOLD hunters afterwards boasted that they killed every one of this little band of survivors of their race。
The men were now （in the middle of May） greatly troubled with boils； abscesses； and inflamed eyes； caused by the poison of the alkali that covered much of the ground and corrupted the water。 Here is an entry in the journal of May 11：
〃About five in the afternoon one of our men ＇Bratton＇； who had been afflicted with boils and suffered to walk on shore； came running to the boats with loud cries； and every symptom of terror and distress。 For some time after we had taken him on board he was so much out of breath as to be unable to describe the cause of his anxiety； but he at length told us that about a mile and a half below he had shot a brown bear； which immediately turned and was in close pursuit of him； but the bear being badly wounded could not overtake him。 Captain Lewis； with seven men； immediately went in search of him； having found his track they followed him by the blood for a mile； found him concealed in some thick brushwood； and shot him with two balls through the skull。 Though somewhat smaller than that killed a few days ago； he was a monstrous animal； and a most terrible enemy。 Our man had shot him through the centre of the lungs； yet he had pursued him furiously for half a mile； then returned more than twice that distance； and with his talons prepared himself a bed in the earth two feet deep and five feet long； he was perfectly alive when they found him； which was at least two hours after he had received the wound。 The wonderful power of life which these animals possess renders them dreadful； their very track in the mud or sand； which we have sometimes found eleven inches long and seven and one…fourth wide； exclusive of the talons； is alarming； and we had rather encounter two Indians than meet a single brown bear。 There is no chance of killing them by a single shot unless the ball goes through the brain； and this is very difficult on account of two large muscles which cover the side of the forehead and the sharp projection of the centre of the frontal bone； which is also thick。
〃Our camp was on the south； at the distance of sixteen miles from that of last night。 The fleece and skin of the bear were a heavy burden for two men； and the oil amounted to eight gallons。〃
The name of the badly…scared Bratton was bestowed upon a creek which discharges into the Missouri near the scene of this encounter。 Game continued to be very abundant。 On the fourteenth； according to the journal； the hunters were hunted； to their great discomfiture。 The account says：
〃Toward evening the men in the hindmost canoes discovered a large brown ＇grizzly＇ bear lying in the open grounds； about three hundred paces from the river。 Six of them； all good hunters； immediately went to attack him； and concealing themselves by a small eminence came unperceived within forty paces of him。 Four of the hunters now fired； and each lodged a ball in his body； two of them directly through the lungs。 The furious animal sprang up and ran open…mouthed upon them。
〃As he came near； the two hunters who had reserved their fire gave him two wounds； one of which； breaking his shoulder； retarded his motion for a moment； but before they could reload he was so near that they were obliged to run to the river； and before they had reached it he had almost overtaken them。 Two jumped into the canoe； the other four separated； and； concealing themselves in the willows； fired as fast as they could reload。 They struck him several times； but； instead of weakening the monster； each shot seemed only to direct him towards the hunters； till at last he pursued two of them so closely that they threw aside their guns and pouches； and jumped down a perpendicular bank of twenty feet into the river： the bear sprang after them； and was within a few feet of the hindmost； when one of the hunters on shore shot him in the head； and finally killed him。 They dragged him to the shore； and found that eight balls had passed through him in different directions。 The bear was old； and the meat tough； so that they took the skin only； and rejoined us at camp； where we had been as much terrified by an accident of a different kind。
〃This was the narrow escape of one of our canoes； containing all our papers； instruments； medicine； and almost every article indispensable for the success of our enterprise。 The canoe being under sail； a sudden squall of wind struck her obliquely and turned her considerably。 The man at the helm； who was unluckily the worst steersman of the party； became alarmed； and； instead of putting her before the wind； luffed her up into it。 The wind was so high that it forced the brace of the square…sail out of the hand of the man who was attending it； and instantly upset the canoe； which would have been turned bottom upward but for the resistance made by the awning。 Such was the confusion on board； and the waves ran so high； that it was half a minute before she righted； and then nearly full of water； but by bailing her out she was kept from sinking until they rowed ashore。 Besides the loss of the lives of three men； who； not being able to swim； would probably have perished； we should have been deprived of nearly everything necessary for our purposes； at a distance of between two and three thousand miles from any place where we could supply the deficiency。〃
Fortunately； there was no great loss from this accident； which was caused by the clumsiness and timidity of the steersman； Chaboneau。 Captain Lewis's account of the incident records that the conduct of Chaboneau's wife； Sacajawea； was better than that of her cowardly husband。 He says：
〃The Indian woman； to whom I ascribe equal fortitude and resolution with any person on board at the time of the accident； caught and preserved most of the light articles which were washed overboard。〃
Chapter IX
In the Solitudes of the Upper Missouri
Under date of May 17； the journal of the party has the following interesting entries：
〃We set out early and proceeded on very well； the banks being firm and the shore bold； we were enabled to use the towline； which； whenever the banks will permit it； is the safest and most expeditious mode of ascending the river； except under sail with a steady breeze。 At the distance of ten and one…half miles we came to the mouth of a small creek on the south； below which the hills approach the river； and continue near it during the day。 Three miles further is a large creek on the north； and again； six and three…quarters miles beyond this； is another large creek； to the south； both containing a small quantity of running water； of a brackish taste。 The last we called Rattlesnake Creek； from our seeing that animal near it。 Although no timber can be observed on it from the Missouri； it throws out large quantities of driftwood； among which were some pieces of coal brought down by the stream。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
The game is in great quantities； but the buffalo are