he foot of the Great Falls of the Missouri,
alone, majestic here in the wilderness, soundless save for their own
dashing--those wonderful cascades, now so well known in industry, so
nearly forgotten in history.

"The girl was right--this is the river!" said Lewis to his men. "It
comes from the mountains. We are right!"

Cascade after cascade, rapid after rapid, he pushed on to the head of
the great drop of the Missouri, where it plunges down from its upper
valley for its long journey through the vast plains.

Now word went down to the mouth of Maria's River; but the messenger
met Clark already toiling upward with his boats, for he had guessed
the cause of delay, and at last believed Sacajawea.

"Make some boat-trucks, Will," said Lewis, when at last they were all
encamped at the foot of the falls. "We shall have to portage twenty
miles of falls and rapids."

And William Clark, the ever-ready engineer, who always had a solution
for any problem in mechanics or in geography, went to work upon the
hardest task in transportation they yet had had.

"We must leave more plunder here, Merne," said he. "We can't get into
the mountains with all this."

So again they cached some of their stores. They buried here the great
swivel piece which had "made the thunder" among so many savage tribes.
Also there were stored here the spring's collection of animals and
minerals, certain books and maps not needed, and the great grindstone
which had come all the way from Harper's Ferry. They were stripping
for their race.

It took the party a full month to make the portage. They were worn to
the bone by the hard labor, scorched by the sun, and frozen by the
night winds.

"We must go on!" was always the cry.

All felt that the summer was going; none knew what might be on ahead.

At the cost of greater and greater toil they pushed on up their river
above the falls, until presently its course bent off to the south
again. They passed through a country of such wealth as none of them
had ever dreamed of, but they did not suspect the hidden treasures of
gold and silver which lay so close to them on the floor of the
mountain valleys. What interested them more was the excitement of
Sacajawea, who from time to time pointed out traces of human
occupancy.

"My people here!" said she, and pointed to camp-fires. "Plenty people
come here. Heap hunt buffalo!" She pointed out the trails made by the
lodge-poles.

"She knows, Will!" said Lewis, o