CHAPTER XIV. 
SQJARE Burrres CREEK AND ITS ENviRONS—SomME 
Account OF THE GAME THERE IN LEWIS AND 
Ciark’s Tim—E—THE BEAVER CoLony 
AND ‘THEIR PROTECTORS. 
OR many years following the advance of the North- 
ern Pacific Railroad to the west bank of the Mis- 
souri River,—Square Buttes Creek—the first tributary 
north of the west bank at this crossing was almost 
entirely denuded of its wild game that once abounded 
there in numerous flocks and herds. 
Even in Lewis and Clark’s day this stream, called by 
them Hunting Creek was noted for the great numbers 
of wild game animals that abounded there. In their 
journal the following entry was made while in winter 
quatters at Fort Mandan, which was situated at the 
extreme lower end of what is now known as Elm Point 
McLean County. We quote from their daily journal 
as follows: 
‘*¢ February 13. The morning was cloudy; the ther- 
mometor at 2° below zero; the wind from the southeast. 
Captain Clarke returned last evening with all his hunt- 
ing party. During their excursion they had killed forty 
deer, three buffaloes and sixieen elk; but most of the 
game was too lean for use, and the wolves, which re- 
gard whatever lies out at night as their own, had appro- 
priateda large part of it. When he left the fort on the 
4th instant, he descended on the ice twenty-two miles to 
New Mandan Island, near some of their old villages, 
