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ests； Captain Lewis made his dispositions for the night； with orders for the sentry on duty to rouse all hands if the Indians should attempt to steal anything in the night。 Next morning trouble began。 Says the journal：
〃At sunrise； the Indians got up and crowded around the fire near which J。 Fields； who was then on watch； had carelessly left his rifle； near the head of his brother； who was still asleep。 One of the Indians slipped behind him； and； unperceived； took his brother's and his own rifle； while at the same time two others seized those of Drewyer and Captain Lewis。 As soon as Fields turned； he saw the Indian running off with the rifles； instantly calling his brother； they pursued him for fifty or sixty yards； just as they overtook him； in the scuffle for the rifles R。 Fields stabbed him through the heart with his knife。 The Indian ran about fifteen steps and fell dead。 They now ran back with their rifles to the camp。 The moment the fellow touched his gun； Drewyer； who was awake； jumped up and wrested it from him。 The noise awoke Captain Lewis； who instantly started from the ground and reached for his gun； but finding it gone； drew a pistol from his belt； and turning saw the Indian running off with it。 He followed him and ordered him to lay it down； which he did just as the two Fields came up； and were taking aim to shoot him； when Captain Lewis ordered them not to fire； as the Indian did not appear to intend any mischief。 He dropped the gun and was going slowly off when Drewyer came out and asked permission to kill him； but this Captain Lewis forbade； as he had not yet attempted to shoot us。 But finding that the Indians were now endeavoring to drive off all the horses； he ordered all three of us to follow the main party； who were chasing the horses up the river； and fire instantly upon the thieves； while he； without taking time to run for his shot…pouch； pursued the fellow who had stolen his gun and another Indian； who were driving away the horses on the left of the camp。 He pressed them so closely that they left twelve of their horses； but continued to drive off one of our own。
〃At the distance of three hundred paces they entered a steep niche in the river…bluffs； when Captain Lewis； being too much out of breath to pursue them any further； called out； as he had done several times before； that unless they gave up the horse he would shoot them。 As he raised his gun one of the Indians jumped behind a rock and spoke to the other； who stopped at the distance of thirty paces。 Captain Lewis shot him in the belly。 He fell on his knees and right elbow； but； raising himself a little； fired； and then crawled behind a rock。 The shot had nearly proved fatal； for Captain Lewis； who was bareheaded； felt the wind of the ball very distinctly。 Not having his shot…pouch； be could not reload his rifle； and； having only a single charge also for his pistol； he thought it most prudent not to attack them farther； and retired slowly to the camp。 He was met by Drewyer； who； hearing the report of the guns； had come to his assistance； leaving the Fields to follow the other Indians。 Captain Lewis ordered him to call out to them to desist from the pursuit； as we could take the horses of the Indians in place of our own； but they were at too great a distance to hear him。 He therefore returned to the camp； and while he was saddling the horses the Fields returned with four of our own； having followed the Indians until two of them swam the river and two others ascended the hills； so that the horses became dispersed。〃
The white men were gainers by this sad affair； for they had now in their possession four of the Indians' horses； and had lost one of their own。 Besides these； they found in the camp of the Indians four shields； two bows and their quivers； and one of their two guns。 The captain took some buffalo meat which be found in the camp； and then the rest of their baggage was burned on the spot。 The flag given to one of the so…called chiefs was retaken； but the medal given to the dead man was left around his neck。 The consequences of this unfortunate quarrel were far…reaching。 The tribe whose member was killed by the white men never forgave the injury； and for years after there was no safety for white men in their vicinity except when the wayfarers were in great numbers or strongly guarded。
A forced march was now necessary for the explorers； and they set out as speedily as possible； well knowing that the Indians would be on their trail。 By three o'clock in the afternoon of that day they had reached Tansy River； now known as the Teton； having travelled sixty…three miles。 They rested for an hour and a half to refresh their horses； and then pushed on for seventeen miles further before camping again。 Having killed a buffalo； they had supper and stopped two hours。 Then； travelling through vast herds of buffalo until two o'clock in the morning； they halted again； almost dead with fatigue； they rested until daylight。 On awaking； they found themselves so stiff and sore with much riding that they could scarcely stand。 But the lives of their 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 s