THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 479 



tain 1 was glad of it, and so were we all ; for, finding that 

 it would take several hours, we at once ate our breakfast, 

 and made ready to go ashore. I showed my credentials 

 and orders from the Government, Major Mitchell of St. 

 Louis, etc., and I was therefore immediately settled com- 

 fortably. I desired to go to see the commanding officer, 

 and the lieutenant very politely sent us there on horse- 

 back, guided by an old dragoon of considerable respecta- 

 bility. I was mounted on a young white horse, Spanish 

 saddle with holsters, and we proceeded across the prairie 

 towards the Bluffs and the camp. My guide was anx- 

 ious to take a short cut, and took me across several bay- 

 ous, one of which was really up to the saddle; but we 

 crossed that, and coming to another we found it so miry, 

 that his horse wheeled after two or three steps, whilst I 

 was looking at him before starting myself; for you all 

 well know that an old traveller is, and must be, prudent. 

 We now had to retrace our steps till we reached the very 

 tracks that the squad sent after us in the morning had 

 taken, and at last we reached the foot of the Bluffs, when 

 my guide asked me if I "could ride at a gallop," to which 

 not answering him, but starting at once at a round run, 



1 The journals of Captain Joseph A. Sire, from 1841 to 1848, are extant, 

 and at present in the possession of Captain Joseph La Barge, who has 

 permitted them to be examined by Captain Chittenden. The latter informs 

 us of an interesting entry at date of May 10, 1843, regarding the incident 

 of the military inspection of the " Omega" for contraband liquor, of which 

 Audubon speaks. But the inside history of how cleverly Captain Sire out- 

 witted the military does not appear from the following innocent passage : 

 " Mercredi, 10 May. Nous venons tr^s bien jusqu'aux c6tes a Hart, ou, a 

 sept heures, nous sommes sommfe par un officier de dragons de mettre 

 a terre. Je recois une note polie du Capt. Burgwin m'informant que son 

 devoir l'oblige de fajre visiter le bateau. Aussitdt nous nous mettons a 

 l'ouvrage, et pendant ce temps M. Audubon va faire une visite au Capitaine. 

 lis reviennent ensemble deux heures apres. Je force en quelque sorte 

 l'officier a faire une recherche aussi stricte que possible, mais a la condition 

 qu'il en fera de m6me avec les autres traiteurs." The two precious hours 

 of Audubon's visit were utilized by the clever captain in so arranging the 

 cargo that no liquor should be found on board by Captain Burgwin. — E. C. 



