THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 



II 



previous time since leaving St. Louis; and it is possible 

 that there are a hundred huts, made of mud, all looking 

 like so many potato winter-houses in the Eastern States. 

 As soon as we were near the shore, every article that could 

 conveniently be carried off was placed under lock and key, 

 and our division door was made fast, as well as those of our 

 own rooms. Even the axes and poles were put by. Our 

 captain told us that last year they stole his cap and his 

 shot-pouch and horn, and that it was through the inter- 

 ference of the first chief that he recovered his cap and 

 horn ; but that a squaw had his leather belt, and would 

 not give it up. The appearance of these poor, miserable 

 devils, as we approached the shore, was wretched enough. 

 There they stood in the pelting rain and keen wind, covered 

 with Buffalo robes, red blankets, and the like, some par- 

 tially and most curiously besmeared with mud ; and as 

 they came on board, and we shook hands with each of 

 them, I felt a clamminess that rendered the ceremony most 

 repulsive. Their legs and naked feet were covered with 

 mud. They looked at me with apparent curiosity, perhaps 

 on account of my beard, which produced the same effect 

 at Fort Pierre. They all looked very poor ; and our cap- 

 tain says they are the ne plus ultra of thieves. It is said 

 there are nearly three thousand men, women, and children 

 that, during winter, cram themselves into these miser- 

 able hovels. Harris and I walked to the fort about nine 

 o'clock. The walking was rascally, passing through mud 

 and water the whole way. The yard of the fort itself was 

 as bad. We entered Mr. Chardon's own room, crawled up 

 a crazy ladder, and in a low garret I had the great pleasure 

 of seeing alive the Swift or Kit Fox which he has given to 

 me. It ran swiftly from one corner to another, and, when 

 approached, growled somewhat in the manner of a common 

 Fox. Mr. Chardon told me that good care would be taken 

 of it until our return, that it would be chained to render it 

 more gentle, and that I would find it an easy matter to take 



