按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e continued on the west side of Clark's River； till at the distance of thirteen miles； during which we passed three more deep； large creeks； we reached its western branch； where we camped； and having sent out two hunters； despatched some men to examine the best ford across the west fork of the river。 The game to…day consisted of four deer； though we also saw a herd of ibex； or bighorn。〃
Two days later they were high up among the mountains； although the ascent was not very steep。 At that height they found the weather very cool； so much so that on the morning of the sixth of July； after a cold night； they had a heavy white frost on the ground。 Setting out on that day； Captain Clark crossed a ridge which proved to be the dividing line between the Pacific and the Atlantic watershed。 At the same time he passed from what is now Missoula County； Montana； into the present county of Beaver Head； in that State。 〃Beaver Head；〃 the reader will recollect； comes from a natural elevation in that region resembling the head of a beaver。 These points will serve to fix in one's mind the route of the first exploring party that ever ventured into those wilds； descending the ridge on its eastern slope； the explorers struck Glade Creek； one of the sources of the stream then named Wisdom River； a branch of the Jefferson； and the Jefferson is one of the tributaries of the mighty Missouri。 Next day the journal has this entry：
〃In the morning our horses were so much scattered that； although we sent out hunters in every direction to range the country for six or eight miles； nine of them could not be recovered。 They were the most valuable of all our horses； and so much attached to some of their companions that it was difficult to separate them in the daytime。 We therefore presumed that they must have been stolen by some roving Indians； and accordingly left a party of five men to continue the pursuit； while the rest went on to the spot where the canoes had been deposited。 We set out at ten o'clock and pursued a course S。 56'0 E。 across the valley； which we found to be watered by four large creeks； with extensive low and miry bottoms； and then reached ＇and crossed＇ Wisdom River； along the northeast side of which we continued； till at the distance of sixteen miles we came to its three branches。 Near that place we stopped for dinner at a hot spring situated in the open plain。 The bed of the spring is about fifteen yards in circumference； and composed of loose； hard； gritty stones； through which the water boils in great quantities。 It is slightly impregnated with sulphur； and so hot that a piece of meat about the size of three fingers was completely done in twenty…five minutes。〃
Next day； July 8； the party reached the forks of the Jefferson River； where they had cached their goods in August； 1805； they had now travelled one hundred and sixty…four miles from Traveller's…rest Creek to that point。 The men were out of tobacco； and as there was some among the goods deposited in the cache they made haste to open the cache。 They found everything safe； although some of the articles were damp； and a hole had been made in the bottom of one of the canoes。 Here they were overtaken by Sergeant Ordway and his party with the nine horses that had escaped during the night of the seventh。
That night the weather was so cold that water froze in a basin to a thickness of three…quarters of an inch； and the grass around the camp was stiff with frost； although the month of July was nearly a week old。 The boats taken from the cache were now loaded； and the explorers were divided into two bands； one to descend the river by boat and the other to take the same general route on horseback； the objective point being the Yellowstone。 The story is taken tip here by the journal in these lines：
〃After breakfast ＇July 10＇ the two parties set out； those on shore skirting the eastern side of Jefferson River； through Service ＇…berry＇ Valley and over Rattlesnake Mountain； into a beautiful and extensive country； known among the Indians by the name of Hahnahappapchah； or Beaverhead Valley； from the number of those animals to be found in it； and also from the point of land resembling the head of a beaver。 It ＇the valley＇ extends from Rattlesnake Mountain as low as Frazier's Creek； and is about fifty miles in length in direct line； while its width varies from ten to fifteen miles； being watered in its whole course by Jefferson River and six different creeks。 The valley is open and fertile； besides the innumerable quantities of beaver and otter with which its creeks are supplied； the bushes of the low grounds are a favorite resort for deer； while on the higher parts of the valley are seen scattered groups of antelopes； and still further； on the steep sides of the mountains； are observed many bighorns； which take refuge there from the wolves and bears。 At the distance of fifteen miles the two parties stopped to dine； when Captain Clark； finding that the river became wider and deeper； and that the canoes could advance more rapidly than the horses； determined to go himself by water； leaving Sergeant Pryor with six men to bring on the horses。 In this way they resumed their journey after dinner； and camped on the eastern side of the river； opposite the head of Three…thousand…mile Island。 The beaver were basking in great numbers along the shore； there were also some young wild geese and ducks。 The mosquitoes were very troublesome during the day； but after sunset the weather became cool and they disappeared。〃
Three…thousand…mile Island was so named by the explorers； when they ascended these streams； because it was at a point exactly three thousand miles from the mouth of the Missouri。 But no such island exists now； it has probably been worn away by the swift…rushing current of the river。 The route of Captain Clark and his party； up to this time had been a few miles west of Bannock City； Montana。 As the captain was now to proceed by land to the Yellowstone； again leaving the canoe party； it is well to recall the fact that his route from the Three Forks of the Missouri to the Yellowstone follows pretty nearly the present line of the railroad from Gallatin City to Livingston； by the way of Bozeman Pass。 Of this route the journal says：
〃Throughout the whole； game was very abundant。 They procured deer in the low grounds； beaver and otter were seen in Gallatin River； and elk； wolves； eagles； hawks； crows； and geese at different parts of the route。 The plain was intersected by several great roads leading to a gap in the mountains； about twenty miles distant； in a direction E。N。E。； but the Indian woman； who was acquainted with the country； recommended a gap more to the southward。 This course Captain Clark determined to pursue。〃
Let us pause here to pay a little tribute to the memory of 〃the Indian woman；〃 Sacajawea。 She showed that she was very observant； had a good memory； and was plucky and determined when in trouble。 She was the guide of the exploring party when she was in a region of country； as here； with which she was familiar。 She remembered localities which she had not seen since her childhood。 When their pirogue was upset by the carelessness of her husband； it was she who saved the goods and helped to right the boat。 And； with her helpless infant clinging to her； she rode with the men； guiding them with unerring skill through the mountain fastnesses and lonely passes which the white men saw for the first time when their salient features were pointed out to them by the intelligent and faithful Sacajawea。 The Indian woman has long since departed to the Happy Hunting…Grounds of her fathers； only her name and story remain to us who follow the footsteps of the brave pioneers of the western continent。 But posterity should not forget the services which were rendered to the white race by Sacajawea。
On the fifteenth of July the party arrived at the ridge that divides the Missouri and the Yellowstone； nine miles from which they reached the river itself； about a mile and a half from the point where it issues from the Rocky Mountains。 Their journey down the valley of the Yellowstone was devoid of special interest； but was accompanied with some hardships。 For example； the feet of the ho