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find his master。 They had been obliged to escape so rapidly that Captain Clark lost his compass ＇that is； circumferentor＇ and umbrella； Chaboneau left his gun； with Captain Lewis' wiping…rod； shot…pouch； and tomahawk； and the Indian woman had just time to grasp her child； before the net in which it lay at her feet was carried down the current。〃
Such a storm is known in the West as a cloud…burst。 Overland emigrants in the early rush to California often suffered loss from these sudden deluges。 A party of men； with wagons and animals； have been known to be swept away and lost in a flood bursting in a narrow canyon in the mountains。
〃Captain Clark now relinquished his intention of going up the river； and returned to the camp at Willow Run。 Here he found that the party sent this morning for the baggage had all returned to camp in great confusion； leaving their loads in the plain。 On account of the heat； they generally go nearly naked； and with no covering on their heads。 The hail was so large； and driven so furiously against them by the high wind； that it knocked several of them down： one of them； particularly； was thrown on the ground three times； and most of them were bleeding freely； and complained of being much bruised。 Willow Run had risen six feet since the rain； and； as the plains were so wet that they could not proceed； they passed the night at their camp。
〃At the White Bear camp； also；〃 （says Lewis）； 〃we had not been insensible to the hailstorm； though less exposed。 In the morning there had been a heavy shower of rain； after which it became fair。 After assigning to the men their respective employments； Captain Lewis took one of them； and went to see the large fountain near the falls。 。 。 。 It is； perhaps； the largest in America； and is situated in a pleasant level plain； about twenty…five yards from the river； into which it falls over some steep； irregular rocks； with a sudden ascent of about six feet in one part of its course。 The water boils up from among the rocks； and with such force near the centre that the surface seems higher there than the earth on the sides of the fountain； which is a handsome turf of fine green grass。 The water is extremely pure； cold； and pleasant to the taste； not being impregnated with lime or any foreign substance。 It is perfectly transparent； and continues its bluish cast for half a mile down the Missouri； notwithstanding the rapidity of the river。 After examining it for some time； Captain Lewis returned to the camp。
。 。 。 〃Two men were sent ＇June 30＇ to the falls to look for the articles lost yesterday； but they found nothing but the compass； covered with mud and sand； at the mouth of the ravine。 The place at which Captain Clark had been caught by the storm was filled with large rocks。 The men complain much of the bruises received yesterday from the hail。 A more than usual number of buffalo appeared about the camp to…day； and furnished plenty of meat。 Captain Clark thought that at one view he must have seen at least ten thousand。〃
Of the party at the upper camp； opposite White Bear Islands； the journal makes this observation：
〃The party continues to be occupied with the boat； the cross…bars for which are now finished； and there remain only the strips to complete the woodwork。 The skins necessary to cover it have already been prepared； they amount to twenty…eight elk…skins and four buffalo…skins。 Among our game were two beaver； which we have had occasion to observe are found wherever there is timber。 We also killed a large bull…bat or goatsucker； of which there are many in this neighborhood； resembling in every respect those of the same species in the United States。 We have not seen the leather…winged bat for some time； nor are there any of the small goatsucker in this part of the Missouri。 We have not seen that species of goatsucker called the whippoorwill； which is commonly confounded in the United States with the large goatsucker which we observe here。 This last prepares no nest； but lays its eggs on the open plains； they generally begin to sit on two eggs； and we believe raise only one brood in a season； at the present moment they are just hatching their young。〃
Dr。 Coues says that we should bear in mind that this was written 〃when bats were birds and whales were fishes for most persons。〃 The journal confounds bats； which are winged mammals； with goatsuckers； or whippoorwills； which are birds。
The second of July was an interesting date for the explorers。 On that day we find the following entry in their journal：
〃A shower of rain fell very early this morning。 We then despatched some men for the baggage left behind yesterday； and the rest were engaged in putting the boat together。 This was accomplished in about three hours； and then we began to sew on the leather over the crossbars of iron on the inner side of the boat which form the ends of the sections。 By two o'clock the last of the baggage arrived； to the great delight of the party； who were anxious to proceed。 The mosquitoes we find very troublesome。
〃Having completed our celestial observations； we went over to the large island to make an attack upon its inhabitants； the bears； which have annoyed us very much of late； and were prowling about our camp all last night。 We found that the part of the island frequented by the bears forms an almost impenetrable thicket of the broad…leaved willow。 Into this we forced our way in parties of three； but could see only one bear； which instantly attacked Drewyer。 Fortunately； as he was rushing on； the hunter shot him through the heart within twenty paces and he fell； which enabled Drewyer to get out of his way。 We then followed him one hundred yards； and found that the wound had been mortal。
〃Not being able to discover any more of these animals； we returned to camp。 Here； in turning over some of the baggage； we caught a rat somewhat larger than the common European rat； and of a lighter color； the body and outer parts of the legs and head of a light lead color； the inner side of the legs； as well as the belly； feet； and ears； white； the ears are not covered with hair； and are much larger than those of the common rat； the toes also are longer； the eyes are black and prominent； the whiskers very long and full； the tail is rather longer than the body； and covered with fine fur and hair of the same size with that on the back； which is very close； short； and silky in its texture。 This was the first we had met； although its nests are very frequent in the cliffs of rocks and hollow trees； where we also found large quantities of the shells and seed of the prickly…pear。〃
The queer rat discovered by Lewis and Clark was then unknown to science。 It is now known in the Far West as the pack…rat。 It lives in holes and crevices of the rocks； and it subsists on the shells and seeds of the prickly pear； which is usually abundant in the hunting grounds of the little animal。 The explorers were now constantly in full view of the Rocky Mountain； on which； however； their present title had not then been conferred。 Under date of July 2； the journal says：
〃The mosquitoes are uncommonly troublesome。 The wind was again high from the southwest。 These winds are in fact always the coldest and most violent which we experience； and the hypothesis which we have formed on that subject is； that the air； coming in contact with the Snowy Mountains； immediately becomes chilled and condensed； and being thus rendered heavier than the air below； it descends into the rarefied air below； or into the vacuum formed by the constant action of the sun on the open unsheltered plains。 The clouds rise suddenly near these mountains； and distribute their contents partially over the neighboring plains。 The same cloud will discharge hail alone in one part； hail and rain in another； and rain only in a third； all within the space of a few miles； while at the same time there is snow falling on the mountains to the southeast of us。 There is at present no snow on those mountains； that which covered them on our arrival； as well as that which has since fallen； having disappeared。 The mountains to the north and northwest of us are still entirely covered with snow； indeed； there has been no perceptible diminution of