one beaver for the last two days； so that we are now reduced to an unusual situation； for we have hitherto always had a great abundance of flesh。〃 Indeed； one reason for this is found in Captain Lewis's remark： 〃When we have plenty of fresh meat； I find it impossible to make the men take any care of it； or use it with the least frugality； though I expect that necessity will shortly teach them this art。〃 We shall see； later on； that the men； who were really as improvident of food as the Indians； had hard lessons from necessity。
Anxious to reach the Indians； who were believed to be somewhere ahead of them； Captain Lewis and three men went on up the Jefferson； Captain Clark and his party following with the canoes and luggage in a more leisurely manner。 The advance party were so fortunate as to overtake a herd of elk； two of which they killed； what they did not eat they left secured for the other party with the canoes。 Clark's men also had good luck in hunting； for they killed five deer and one bighorn。 Neither party found fresh tracks of Indians； and they were greatly discouraged thereat。 The journal speaks of a beautiful valley； from six to eight miles wide； where they saw ancient traces of buffalo occupation； but no buffalo。 These animals had now completely disappeared； they were seldom seen in those mountains。 The journal says of Lewis：
〃He saw an abundance of deer and antelope； and many tracks of elk and bear。 Having killed two deer； they feasted sumptuously； with a dessert of currants of different colorstwo species red； others yellow； deep purple； and black； to these were added black gooseberries and deep purple service…berries； somewhat larger than ours； from which they differ also in color； size； and the superior excellence of their flavor。 In the low grounds of the river were many beaver…dams formed of willow…brush； mud； and gravel； so closely interwoven that they resist the water perfectly； some of them were five feet high； and caused the river to overflow several acres of land。〃
Meanwhile； the party with the canoes were having a fatiguing time as they toiled up the river。 On the fourth of August； after they had made only fifteen miles； the journal has this entry：
〃The river is still rapid； and the water； though clear； is very much obstructed by shoals or ripples at every two hundred or three hundred yards。 At all these places we are obliged to drag the canoes over the stones； as there is not a sufficient depth of water to float them； and in the other parts the current obliges us to have recourse to the cord。 But as the brushwood on the banks will not permit us to walk on shore； we are under the necessity of wading through the river as we drag the boats。 This soon makes our feet tender； and sometimes occasions severe falls over the slippery stones； and the men； by being constantly wet； are becoming more feeble。 In the course of the day the hunters killed two deer； some geese and ducks； and the party saw some antelopes； cranes； beaver； and otter。〃
Captain Lewis had left a note for Captain Clark at the forks of the Jefferson and Wisdom rivers。 Clark's journal says：
〃We arrived at the forks about four o'clock； but； unluckily； Captain Lewis's note had been attached to a green pole； which the beaver had cut down； and carried off with the note on it： an accident which deprived us of all information as to the character of the two branches of the river。 Observing； therefore； that the northwest fork was most in our direction； we ascended it。 We found it extremely rapid； and its waters were scattered in such a manner that for a quarter of a mile we were forced to cut a passage through the willow…brush that leaned over the little channels and united at the top。 After going up it for a mile； we encamped on an island which had been overflowed； and was still so wet that we were compelled to make beds of brush to keep ourselves out of the mud。 Our provision consisted of two deer which had been killed in the morning。〃
It should be borne in mind that this river； up which the party were making their way； was the Wisdom （now Big Hole）； and was the northwest fork of the Jefferson； flowing from southeast to northwest； and near the point where it enters the Jefferson； it has a loop toward the northeast； that is to say； it comes from the southwest to a person looking up its mouth。
After going up the Wisdom River； Clark's party were overtaken by Drewyer； Lewis's hunter； who had been sent across between the forks to notify Clark that Lewis regarded the other fork the main Jeffersonas the right course to take。 The party； accordingly； turned about and began to descend the stream； in order to ascend the Jefferson。 The journal says：
〃On going down； one of the canoes upset and two others filled with water； by which all the baggage was wet and several articles were irrecoverably lost。 As one of them swung round in a rapid current； Whitehouse was thrown out of her； while down； the canoe passed over him； and had the water been two inches shallower would have crushed him to pieces； but he escaped with a severe bruise of his leg。 In order to repair these misfortunes we hastened ＇down＇ to the forks； where we were joined by Captain Lewis。 We then passed over to the left ＇east＇ side； opposite the entrance of the rapid fork； and camped on a large gravelly bar； near which there was plenty of wood。 Here we opened； and exposed to dry； all the articles which had suffered from the water； none of them were completely spoiled except a small keg of powder； the rest of the powder； which was distributed in the different canoes； was quite safe； although it had been under the water for upward of an hour。 The air is indeed so pure and dry that any wood…work immediately shrinks； unless it is kept filled with water； but we had placed our powder in small canisters of lead； each containing powder enough for the canister when melted into bullets； and secured with cork and wax； which answered our purpose perfectly。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
In the evening we killed three deer and four elk； which furnished us once more with a plentiful supply of meat。 Shannon； the same man who had been lost for fifteen days ＇August 28 to Sept。 11； 1804＇； was sent out this morning to hunt； up the northwest fork。 When we decided on returning； Drewyer was directed to go in quest of him； but be returned with information that he had gone several miles up the ＇Wisdom＇ river without being able to find Shannon。 We now had the trumpet sounded； and fired several guns； but he did not return； and we fear he is again lost。〃
This man； although an expert hunter； had an unlucky habit of losing himself in the wilderness； as many another good man has lost himself among the mountains or the great plains。 This time； however； he came into camp again； after being lost three days。
On the eighth of August the party reached a point now known by its famous landmark； Beaver Head； a remarkable rocky formation which gives its name to Beaverhead County； Montana。 The Indian woman； Sacajawea； recognized the so…called beaver…head； which； she said； was not far from the summer retreat of her countrymen； living on the other side of the mountains。 The whole party were now together again； the men with the canoes having come up； and the journal says：
〃Persuaded of the absolute necessity of procuring horses to cross the mountains； it was determined that one of us should proceed in the morning to the head of the river； and penetrate the mountains till he found the Shoshonees or some other nation who can assist us in transporting our baggage； the greater part of which we shall be compelled to leave without the aid of horses。〃。 。 。
Early the next day Captain Lewis took Drewyer； Shields； and M'Neal； and； slinging their knapsacks； they set out with a resolution to meet some nation of Indians before they returned； however long they might be separated from the party。
The party in the canoes continued to ascend the river； which was so crooked that they advanced but four miles in a direct line from their starting…place in a distance of eleven miles。 In this manner； the party on foot leading those with the canoes； they repeatedly explored the various forks of the streams； which baffled them by their turnings and windings。 Lewis was in the advance； and Clark brought up the rear with the main body。 It was found necessary for the leading party to wade the streams； and occasionally they were compelled by the roughness of the way to leave the water…course and take to the hills； where great vigilance was required to keep them in sight of the general direction in which they must travel。 On the 11th of August； 1805； Captain Lewis came in sight of the first Indian encountered since leaving the country of the Minnetarees； far back on the Missouri。 The journal of that date says：
〃On examining him with the glass Captain Lewis saw that he was of a different nation from any Indians we had hitherto met。 He was armed with a bow and a quiver of arrows； and mounted on an elegant horse without a saddle； a small string attached to the under jaw answered as a bridle。
〃Convinced that he was a Shoshonee； and knowing how much our success depended on the friendly offices of that nation； Captain Lewis was full of anxiety to approach without alarming him； and endeavor to convince him that he ＇Lewis＇ was a white man。 He therefore proceeded toward the Indian at his usual pace。 When they were within a mile of each other the Indian suddenly stopped。 Captain Lewis immediately followed his example； took his blanket from his knapsack； and； holding it with both hands at the two corners； threw it above his head； and unfolded it as he brought it to the ground； as if in the act of spreading it。 This signal； which originates in the practice of spreading a robe or skin as a seat for guests to whom they wish to show a distinguished kindness； is the universal sign of friendship among the Indians on the Missouri and the Rocky Mountains。 As usual； Captain Lewis repeated this signal three times： still the Indian kept his position； and looked with an air of suspicion on Drewyer and Shields； who were now advancing on each side。 Captain Lewis was afraid to make any signal for them to halt； lest he should increase the distrust of the Indian； w