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THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 



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on a prairie about one hundred yards below the Charbon- 

 ncau. It was, near sunset; Provost eommenced fishing; 

 we joined him, and in half an hour we eaught sixteen cat- 

 fish, quite large ones. During the day Provost started to 

 the Mauvaises Terres to hunt Bighorns, but returned un- 

 successful. He baited his traps for the last time. Dur- 

 ing his absence thunder clouds were observed rising all 

 around us; we stretched our tent, removed everything in- 

 side it, ate our supper of meat and coffee, and then went 

 to bed. It rained some part of the night, but not enough 

 to wet through the tent. The next morning (Tuesday) at 

 daylight, Provost started to examine his traps, while we 

 at the camp put everything in the boat, and sat down to 

 await his return, when we proceeded on our voyage down 

 the Yellowstone to Fort Mortimer, and from thence by 

 land to Fort Union. Nothing of any interest occurred 

 except that we saw two does, one young and one buck of 

 the Bighorns; I fired at the buck which was on a high 

 cliff about a hundred and fifty yards from us; I fired 

 above it to allow for the falling of the ball, but the gun 

 shot so well as to carry where I aimed. The animal was 

 a very large buck ; Provost says one of the largest he had 

 seen. As soon as I fired he started and ran along the 

 side of the hill which looked almost perpendicular, and I 

 was much astonished, not only at the feat, but at the sur- 

 prising quickness with which he moved along, with no 

 apparent foothold. We reached Fort Mortimer about 

 seven o'clock; I left Basil and Provost with the skiff, and 

 I started for Fort Union on foot to send a cart for them. 

 On my way I met Mr. Audubon about to pay a visit to 

 Fort Mortimer; I found all well, despatched the cart, 

 changed my clothes, and feel none the worse for vc\\; five 

 days' camping, and quite ready for a dance I hear we are 

 to have to-night." 



This morning as I walked to Fort Mortimer, meeting 

 Squires as he has said, well and happy as a Lark, I was 



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