that had been killed three days before by one of the
hunters during an excursion, and left for us on the river.

CHAPTER XIV.

Captain Lewis proceeds before the main body in search of the
Shoshonees--his ill success on the first interview--the party with
captain Lewis at length discover the source of the
Missouri--captain Clarke with the main body still employed in
ascending the Missouri or Jefferson river--captain Lewis's second
interview with the Shoshonees attended with success--the
interesting ceremonies of his first introduction to the natives,
detailed at large--their hospitality--their mode of hunting the
antelope--the difficulties encountered by captain Clarke and the
main body in ascending the river--the suspicions entertained of
captain Lewis by the Shoshonees, and his mode of allaying them--the
ravenous appetites of the savages illustrated by a singular
adventure--the Indians still jealous, and the great pains taken by
captain Lewis to preserve their confidence--captain Clarke arrives
with the main body exhausted by the difficulties which they
underwent.

Sunday, August 11. Captain Lewis again proceeded on early, but had the
mortification to find that the track which he followed yesterday soon
disappeared. He determined therefore to go on to the narrow gate or pass
of the river which he had seen from the camp, in hopes of being able to
recover the Indian path. For this purpose he waded across the river,
which was now about twelve yards wide, and barred in several places by
the dams of the beaver, and then went straight forward to the pass,
sending one man along the river to his left, and another on the right,
with orders to search for the road, and if they found it to let him know
by raising a hat on the muzzle of their guns. In this order they went
along for about five miles, when captain Lewis perceived with the
greatest delight a man on horseback at the distance of two miles coming
down the plain towards them. 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; mounted
on an elegant horse without a saddle, and a small string attached to the
under jaw answered as a bridle. Convinced that he was a Shoshonee, and
knowing how much of our success depended on the friendly off