OLD MISSOURI DAYS 175 



der of the gaunt white wolf appeared. At a certain sand- 

 bar Audubon counted ten wolves feeding on the same 

 carcass. 



They came to Fort Clarke in mid-June, and saw the 

 American flag floating in the air. It was a trading-post, 

 and near by were seventy leather tents of the Crow Indians. 

 On the opposite side of the river was Fort Mandan, built 

 by Lewis and Clarke in 1804. 



These banks of the Missouri are dotted with thrifty 

 villages now. Would the reader like to have a picture of 

 the place as it then appeared? — 



" We saw more Indians than at any previous time since 

 leaving St. Louis; and it is possible that there are a hun- 

 dred 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 interference 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 appear- 

 ance 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 partially and most curi- 



