76 BEAVERS—THEIR WAYS. 
and encamped forty-four miles from the fort, on a sand- 
point near the mouth of a creek on the southwest side, 
which they called Hunting Creek, and during this and 
the following day hunted through all the adjoining plains 
with much success, having killed a number of deer and 
elk. On the 8th, the best of the meat was sent with the 
horses to the fort; and such parts of the remainder as 
were fit for use were brought to a point of the river three 
miles below, and, after the bones were taken out, secur- 
ed in pens built of logs, so as to keep off the wolves, 
ravens, and magpies, which are very numerous, and 
constantly disappoint the hunter of his prey. They then 
went to the low grounds near the Chisshetaw River* where 
they encamped, but saw nothing except some wolves on 
the hills, and a number of buffalo too poor to be worth 
hunting. The next morning, the 9th, as there was no 
game, and it would have been inconvenient to send it 
back sixty miles to the fort, they returned. up the river, 
and for three days hunted along the banks and plains, 
and reached the fort inthe evening of the 12th, much 
fatigued, having walked thirty miles that day on the ice 
and through the snow, in many places knee deep, their 
moccasins, too, being nearly worn out. The only game 
which they saw, besides what is mentioned, were some 
grouse on the sand-bars in the river.” 
The Indians have many stories and legends about the 
game of Square Buttes Creek and its principal tributary 
the White Buffalo Butte Creek. The latter was named 
from the killing of a white buffalo by Mandan hunters 
on the highest butte in that immediate section. This 
event took place many long years ago and the success- 
*Heart River. “ya te 
