w 



T, 1 '■ ■" 



156 



AUDUBON 



In t'^.c afternoon we started again, and went below the 

 Little Missouri, returned to the bull and took his horns, 

 etc. Coming back to the boat Spraguc saw a Bear; we 

 went towards the spot; the fellow had turned under the 

 high bank and was killed in a few seconds. Mr. Culbertson 

 shot it first through the neck, Bell and I in the body. 



Wednesday, 2Sd. Brovost skinned the Bear. No Brairie- 

 Dogs caught. The wind high and cold. Later two Brairie- 

 Dogs were shot ; their notes resemble precisely those of the 

 Arkansas Flycatcher. Left this afternoon and travelled 

 about ten miles. Saw another Bear and closely observed 

 its movements. We saw several drowned Buffaloes, and 

 were passed by Wolves and Bassenger Bigeons. Camped in 

 a bad place under a sky with every appearance of rain. 



Thursday, 24th. A bad night of wind, very cloudy; 

 left early, as the wind lulled and it became calm. Basscd 

 "L'Ours qui danse," travelled about twenty miles, when 

 we were again stopped by the wind. Hunted, but found 

 nothing. The fat of our Bear gave us seven bottles of oil. 

 We heard what some thought to be guns, but ' believed it 

 to be the falling of the banks. Then the Wolves howled 

 so curiously that it was supposed they were Indian dogs. 

 We went to bed all prepared for action in case of an 

 attack ; pistols, knives, etc., but I slept very well, though 

 rather cold. 



Friday, 2r)th. Fair, but ^o^'gy, so we did not start early. 

 I found some curious stones with impressions of shells. 

 It was quite calm, and we passed the two Riccaree winter 

 villages. Many Eagles and Beregrine Falcons. Shot 

 another bull. Bassed the Gros Ventre village at noon ; no 

 game about the place. " La Main Gauche," an Assini- 

 boin chief of great renown, left seventy warriors killed and 

 thirty wounded on the prairie opposite, the year following 

 the small-pox. The Gros Ventres are a courageous tribe. 

 Reached the Mandan village ; hundreds of Indians swam to 

 us with handkerchiefs tied on their heads like turbans. 



Our c 



gave \ 



went d 



o'clocl^ 



Gros \ 



returnc 



curious 



Saliii 



Started 



with tw( 



the wine 



the Riitt 



the cane 



want to 



tiiem, bii 



n'glit, an 



which we 



of Buffalo 



Ifill a cov 



soon and 



We heard 



canoe me: 



Sunday, 



canoe. S, 



sorrow in 



attack. 



rank, but 



but we lau 



we saw a g, 



thoilfrli \^,(, 



a mile, but 

 •■'vcr we ni 

 "^-ftcr land 

 'f'-s. Cuibf 

 ^aglc feath 

 by the wine 



