156 , AUDUBON 



In the afternoon we started again, and went below the 

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

 etc. Coming back to the boat Sprague 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, 23d. Provost skinned the Bear. No Prairie- 

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

 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 Passenger Pigeons. Camped in 

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



Thursday, 2Ji.th. A bad night of wind, very cloudy; 

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

 " 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 I 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, 25th. Fair, but foggy, 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 Peregrine Falcons. Shot 

 another bull. Passed 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. 



