366 The Winning of the West 



any one else, and evidently taking much pride in his 

 exploits; though in his journal he modestly dis- 

 claimed any pretensions to special skill. Unlike the 

 later explorers, but like Lewis and Clark, Pike could 

 not avail himself of the services of hunters having 

 knowledge of the country. He and his regulars 

 were forced to be their own pioneers and to do their 

 own hunting, until by dint of hard knocks and hard 

 work they grew experts, both as riflemen and as 

 woodsmen. 



The expedition occasionally encountered parties 

 of Indians. The savages were nominally at peace 

 with the whites, and although even at this time they 

 occasionally murdered some solitary trapper or 

 trader, they did not dare meddle with Pike's well 

 armed and well prepared soldiers, confining them- 

 selves to provocation that just fell short of causing 

 conflict. Pike handled them well, and speedily 

 brought those with whom he came into contact to 

 a proper frame of mind, showing good temper and 

 at the same time prompt vigor in putting down any 

 attempt at bullying. On the journey up-stream only 

 one misadventure befell the party. A couple of the 

 men got lost while hunting and did not find the boat 

 for six days, by which time they were nearly starved, 

 having used up all their ammunition, so that they 

 could not shoot game. 



The winter was spent in what is now Minnesota. 

 Pike made a permanent camp where he kept most 

 of his men, while he himself traveled hither and 

 thither, using dog sleds after the snow fell. They 



