ibe followed when crossing the mountains to the plains.

[Illustration: Packer carrying Goods across Portage.]

It now became absolutely necessary to find mountain Indians who would
supply horses and guide the white men across the Divide. In the hope of
finding the Indian trail, Captain Lewis landed with two men and preceded
the boats. He had not gone five miles when to his sheer delight he saw a
Snake Indian on horseback. Ordering his men to keep back, he advanced
within a mile of the horseman and three times spread his blanket on the
ground as a signal of friendship. The horseman sat motionless as bronze.
Captain Lewis went forward, with trinkets held out to tempt a parley, and
was within a few hundred yards when the savage wheeled and dashed off.
Lewis' men had disobeyed orders and frightened the fellow by advancing.
Deeply chagrined, Lewis hoisted an American flag as sign of friendship
and continued his march. Tracks of horses were followed across a bog,
along what was plainly an Indian road, till the sources of the Missouri
became so narrow that one of the men put a foot on each side and thanked
God that he had lived to bestride the Missouri. Stooping, all drank from
the crystal spring whose waters they had traced for three thousand miles
from St. Louis. Following a steep declivity, they were presently
crossing the course of a stream that flowed west and must lead to some
branch of the Columbia.

[Illustration: Spying on an Enemy's Fort.]

Suddenly, on the cliff in front, Captain Lewis discovered two squaws, an
Indian, and some dogs. Unfurling his flag, he advanced. The Indians
paused, then dashed for the woods. Lewis tried to tie some presents
round the dogs' necks as a peace-offering, but the curs made off after
their master. The white men had not proceeded a mile before they came to
three squaws, who never moved but bowed their heads to the ground for the
expected blow that would make them captives. Throwing down weapons,
Lewis pulled up his sleeve to show that he was white. Presents allayed
all fear, and the squaws had led him two miles toward their camp when
sixty warriors came galloping at full speed with arrows levelled. The
squaws rushed forward, vociferating and showing their presents. Three
chiefs at once dismounted, and fell on Captain Lewis with such greasy
embraces of welcome that he was glad to end the ceremony. Pipes were
smoked, presents distributed, and the white men conducted to