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eir friends now at or near the mouth of Maria's River were at stake； as well as their own。 Indeed； it was not certain but that the Indians had； by hard riding and a circuitous route； already attacked the river party left at the falls。 So Captain Lewis told his men that they must go on； and； if attacked； they must tie their horses together by the head and stand together； selling their lives as dearly as possible； or routing their enemies。 The journal now says：
〃To this they all assented； and we therefore continued our route to the eastward； till at the distance of twelve miles we came near the Missouri； when we heard a noise which seemed like the report of a gun。 We therefore quickened our pace for eight miles farther； and； being about five miles from Grog Spring； now heard distinctly the noise of several rifles from the river。 We hurried to the bank； and saw with exquisite satisfaction our friends descending the river。 They landed to greet us； and after turning our horses loose； we embarked with our baggage； and went down to the spot where we had made a deposite。 This； after reconnoitring the adjacent country； we opened； but； unfortunately； the cache had caved in； and most of the articles were injured。 We took whatever was still worth preserving； and immediately proceeded to the point； where we found our deposits in good order。 By a singular good fortune； we were here joined by Sergeant Gass and Willard from the Falls； who had been ordered to come with the horses here to assist in procuring meat for the voyage； as it had been calculated that the canoes would reach this place much sooner than Captain Lewis's party。 After a very heavy shower of rain and hail； attended with violent thunder and lightning； we started from the point； and giving a final discharge to our horses； went over to the island where we had left our red pirogue； which； however； we found much decayed； and we had no means of repairing her。 We therefore took all the iron work out of her； and； proceeding down the river fifteen miles； encamped near some cottonwood trees； one of which was of the narrow…leafed species； and the first of that kind we had remarked in ascending the river。
〃Sergeant Ordway's party； which had left the mouth of Madison River on the thirteenth； had descended in safety to White Bear Island； where he arrived on the nineteenth； and； after collecting the baggage； had left the falls on the twenty…seventh in the white pirogue and five canoes； while Sergeant Gass and Willard set out at the same time by land with the horses； and thus fortunately met together。〃
Sergeant Ordway's party； it will be recollected； had left Captain Clark at the three forks of the Missouri； to which they had come down the Jefferson； and thence had passed down the Missouri to White Bear Islands； and； making the portage； had joined the rest of the party just in time to reinforce them。 Game was now abundant the buffalo being in enormous herds； and the bighorn were also numerous； the flesh of these animals was in fine condition； resembling the best of mutton in flavor。 The reunited party now descended the river； the intention being to reach the mouth of the Yellowstone as soon as possible； and there wait for Captain Clark； who； it will be recalled； was to explore that stream and meet them at the point of its junction with the Missouri。 The voyage of Captain Lewis and his men was without startling incident； except that Cruzatte accidentally shot the captain； one day； while they were out hunting。 The wound was through the fleshy part of the left thigh； and for a time was very painful。 As Cruzatte was not in sight when the captain was hit； the latter naturally thought he had been shot by Indians hiding in the thicket。 He reached camp as best he could； and； telling his men to arm themselves； he explained that he had been shot by Indians。 But when Cruzatte came into camp； mutual explanations satisfied all hands that a misunderstanding had arisen and that Cruzatte's unlucky shot was accidental。 As an example of the experience of the party about this time； while they were on their way down the Missouri； we take this extract from their journal：
〃We again saw great numbers of buffalo； elk； antelope； deer； and wolves； also eagles and other birds； among which were geese and a solitary pelican； neither of which can fly at present； as they are now shedding the feathers of their wings。 We also saw several bears； one of them the largest； except one； we had ever seen； for he measured nine feet from the nose to the extremity of the tail。 During the night a violent storm came on from the northeast with such torrents of rain that we had scarcely time to unload the canoes before they filled with water。 Having no shelter we ourselves were completely wet to the skin； and the wind and cold air made our situation very unpleasant。〃
On the twelfth of August； the Lewis party met with two traders from Illinois。 These men were camped on the northeast side of the river； they had left Illinois the previous summer； and had been coming up the Missouri hunting and trapping。 Captain Lewis learned from them that Captain Clark was below； and later in that day the entire expedition was again united； Captain Clark's party being found at a point near where Little Knife Creek enters the Missouri River。 We must now take up the narrative of Captain Clark and his adventures on the Yellowstone。
Chapter XXV
Adventures on the Yellowstone
The route of Captain Clark from the point where he and Captain Lewis divided their party； was rather more difficult than that pursued by the Lewis detachment。 But the Clark party was larger； being composed of twenty men and Sacajawea and her baby。 They were to travel up the main fork of Clark's River （sometimes called the Bitter Root）； to Ross's Hole； and then strike over the great continental divide at that point by way of the pass which he discovered and which was named for him； thence he was to strike the headwaters of Wisdom River； a stream which this generation of men knows by the vulgar name of Big Hole River； from this point he was to go by the way of Willard's Creek to Shoshonee Cove and the Two Forks of the Jefferson； and thence down that stream to the Three Forks of the Missouri； up the Gallatin； and over the divide to the Yellowstone and down that river to its junction with the Missouri； where he was to join the party of Captain Lewis。 This is the itinerary that was exactly carried out。 The very first incident set forth in the journal is a celebration of Independence Day； as follows：
〃Friday； July 4。 Early in the morning three hunters were sent out。 The rest of the party having collected the horses and breakfasted； we proceeded at seven o'clock up the valley； which is now contracted to the width of from eight to ten miles； with a good proportion of pitch…pine； though its low lands； as well as the bottoms of the creeks； are strewn with large stones。 We crossed five creeks of different sizes； but of great depth； and so rapid that in passing the last several of the horses were driven down the stream； and some of our baggage was wet。 Near this river we saw the tracks of two Indians； whom we supposed to be Shoshonees。 Having made sixteen miles； we halted at an hour for the purpose of doing honor to the birthday of our early country's independence。 The festival was not very splendid； for it consisted of a mush made of cows and a saddle of venison； nor had we anything to tempt us to prolong it。 We therefore went on till at the distance of a mile we came to a very large creek； which； like all those in the valley； had an immense rapidity of descent； we therefore proceeded up for some distance； in order to select the most convenient spot for fording。 Even there； however； such was the violence of the current that； though the water was not higher than the bellies of the horses； the resistance made in passing caused the stream to rise over their backs and loads。 After passing the creek we inclined to the left； and soon after struck the road which we had descended last year； near the spot where we dined on the 7th of September ＇1805＇。 Along this road we continued on the west side of Clark's River； till at the distance of thirteen miles； during which