first across the continent-第62部分
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leaving Sergeant Pryor with six men to bring on the horses。 In this way they resumed their journey after dinner； and camped on the eastern side of the river； opposite the head of Three…thousand…mile Island。 The beaver were basking in great numbers along the shore； there were also some young wild geese and ducks。 The mosquitoes were very troublesome during the day； but after sunset the weather became cool and they disappeared。〃
Three…thousand…mile Island was so named by the explorers； when they ascended these streams； because it was at a point exactly three thousand miles from the mouth of the Missouri。 But no such island exists now； it has probably been worn away by the swift…rushing current of the river。 The route of Captain Clark and his party； up to this time had been a few miles west of Bannock City； Montana。 As the captain was now to proceed by land to the Yellowstone； again leaving the canoe party； it is well to recall the fact that his route from the Three Forks of the Missouri to the Yellowstone follows pretty nearly the present line of the railroad from Gallatin City to Livingston； by the way of Bozeman Pass。 Of this route the journal says：
〃Throughout the whole； game was very abundant。 They procured deer in the low grounds； beaver and otter were seen in Gallatin River； and elk； wolves； eagles； hawks； crows； and geese at different parts of the route。 The plain was intersected by several great roads leading to a gap in the mountains； about twenty miles distant； in a direction E。N。E。； but the Indian woman； who was acquainted with the country； recommended a gap more to the southward。 This course Captain Clark determined to pursue。〃
Let us pause here to pay a little tribute to the memory of 〃the Indian woman；〃 Sacajawea。 She showed that she was very observant； had a good memory； and was plucky and determined when in trouble。 She was the guide of the exploring party when she was in a region of country； as here； with which she was familiar。 She remembered localities which she had not seen since her childhood。 When their pirogue was upset by the carelessness of her husband； it was she who saved the goods and helped to right the boat。 And； with her helpless infant clinging to her； she rode with the men； guiding them with unerring skill through the mountain fastnesses and lonely passes which the white men saw for the first time when their salient features were pointed out to them by the intelligent and faithful Sacajawea。 The Indian woman has long since departed to the Happy Hunting…Grounds of her fathers； only her name and story remain to us who follow the footsteps of the brave pioneers of the western continent。 But posterity should not forget the services which were rendered to the white race by Sacajawea。
On the fifteenth of July the party arrived at the ridge that divides the Missouri and the Yellowstone； nine miles from which they reached the river itself； about a mile and a half from the point where it issues from the Rocky Mountains。 Their journey down the valley of the Yellowstone was devoid of special interest； but was accompanied with some hardships。 For example； the feet of the horses had become so sore with long travel over a stony trail that it was necessary to shoe them with raw buffalo hide。 Rain fell frequently and copiously； and often； sheltered at night only by buffalo hides； they rose in the morning drenched to the skin。 The party could not follow the course of the river very closely； but were compelled often to cross hills that came down to the bank； making the trail impassable for horses。 Here is the story of July 18 and 19：
〃Gibson； one of the party； was so badly hurt by falling on a sharp point of wood that he was unable to sit on his horse； and they were obliged to form a sort of litter for him； so that he could lie nearly at full length。 The wound became so painful； however； after proceeding a short distance； that he could not bear the motion； and they left him with two men； while Captain Clark went to search for timber large enough to form canoes。 He succeeded in finding some trees of sufficient size for small canoes； two of which he determined to construct； and by lashing them together hoped to make them answer the purpose of conveying the party down the river； while a few of his men should conduct the horses to the Mandans。 All hands； therefore； were set busily to work； and they were employed in this labor for several days。 In the mean time no less than twenty…four of their horses were missing； and they strongly suspected had been stolen by the Indians； for they were unable to find them； notwithstanding they made the most diligent search。〃
〃July 23。 A piece of a robe and a moccasin；〃 says the journal； 〃were discovered this morning not far from the camp。 The moccasin was worn out in the sole； and yet wet； and had every appearance of having been left but a few hours before。 This was conclusive that the Indians had taken our horses； and were still prowling about for the remainder； which fortunately escaped last night by being in a small prairie surrounded by thick timber。 At length Labiche； one of our best trackers； returned from a very wide circuit； and informed Captain Clark that he had traced the horses bending their course rather down the river towards the open plains； and from their tracks； must have been going very rapidly。 All hopes of recovering them were now abandoned。 Nor were the Indians the only plunderers around our camp； for in the night the wolves or dogs stole the greater part of the dried meat from the scaffold。 The wolves； which constantly attend the buffalo； were here in great numbers； as this seemed to be the commencement of the buffalo country。 。 。 。
〃At noon the two canoes were finished。 They were twenty…eight feet long； sixteen or eighteen inches deep； and from sixteen to twenty…four inches wide； and； having lashed them together； everything was ready for setting out the next day； Gibson having now recovered。 Sergeant Pryor was directed； with Shannon and Windsor； to take the remaining horses to the Mandans； and if he should find that Mr。 Henry ＇a trading…post agent＇ was on the Assiniboin River； to go thither and deliver him a letter； the object of which was to prevail on the most distinguished chiefs of the Sioux to accompany him to Washington。〃
On a large island near the mouth of a creek now known as Canyon Creek； the party landed to explore an extensive Indian lodge which seems to have been built for councils； rather than for a place of residence。 The lodge was shaped like a cone； sixty feet in diameter at the base and tapering towards the top。 The poles of which it was constructed were forty…five feet long。 The interior was strangely decorated； the tops of the poles being ornamented with eagles' feathers； and from the centre hung a stuffed buffalo…hide。 A buffalo's head and other trophies of the chase were disposed about the wigwam。 The valley； as the explorers descended the river； was very picturesque and wonderful。 On the north side the cliffs were wild and romantic； and these were soon succeeded by rugged hills； and these； in turn； by open plains on which were descried herds of buffalo； elk； and wolves。 On the twenty…seventh of July； having reached the Bighorn； one of the largest tributaries of the Yellowstone； the party have this entry in their journal：
〃They again set out very early； and on leaving the Bighorn took a last look at the Rocky Mountains； which had been constantly in view from the first of May。 The ＇Yellowstone＇ river now widens to the extent of from four hundred to six hundred yards； it is much divided by islands and sandbars； its banks are generally low and falling in； it thus resembles the Missouri in many particulars； but its islands are more numerous； its waters less muddy； and the current is more rapid。 The water is of a yellowish…white； and the round stones； which form the bars above the Bighorn； have given place to gravel。 On the left side the river runs under cliffs of light； soft； gritty stone； varying in height from seventy to one hundred feet； behind which are level and extensive plains。 On the right side of the river are low extensive bottoms； bordered with cottonwood； various species of willow； rose…bushes； grapevines； redberry or buffalo…grease bushes； and a species of sumach； to these succeed high grounds supplied with pine； and still further on are level plains。 Throughout the country are vast quantities of buffalo； which； as this is the running…season； keep up a continued bellowing。 Large herds of elk also are lying on every point； so gentle that they may be approached within twenty paces without being alarmed。 Several beaver were seen in the course of the day； indeed； there is a greater appearance of those animals than there was above the Bighorn。 Deer； however； are by no means abundant； and antelopes； as well as bighorns； are scarce。〃
It is noticeable that the explorers； all along their route； gave to streams； rocks； mountains； and other natural features of the country many names that appear to us meaningless and trifling。 It would appear that they used up all the big names； such as Jefferson； Gallatin； Philosophy； Philanthropy； and the like； and were compelled to use； first； the names of their own p
