to bear arms obtained from the northern traders. They
reached the portage of the Great Falls without difficulty, and eagerly
examined the caches which they had left there. Now they were to divide
their party.

"Sergeant Gass," said Captain Lewis, "I am going to leave you here.
You will get the baggage and the boats below the falls, and take
passage on down the river. Six of you can attend to that. I shall take
Drouillard and the Fields boys with me, and strike off toward the
north and east, where I fancy I shall find the upper portion of
Maria's River. When you come to the mouth of that river--which you
will remember some of you held to be the real Missouri--you will go
into camp and wait for us. You will remain there until the first day
of September. If by that time we have not returned, you will pass on
down the Missouri to Captain Clark's camp, at the mouth of the
Yellowstone, and go home with him. By that time it will have become
evident that we shall not return. I plan to meet you at the mouth of
Maria's River somewhere about the beginning of August."

They parted, and it was almost by a miracle that they ever met again;
for now the perils of the wilderness asserted themselves even against
the marvelous good fortune which had thus far attended them.

Hitherto, practically all the tribes met had been friendly, but now
they were in the country of the dreaded Blackfeet, who by instinct and
training were hostile to all whites coming in from the south and east.
A party of these warriors was met on the second day of their
northbound journey from the Missouri River. Lewis gave the Indians
such presents as he could, and, as was his custom, told them of his
purpose in traveling through the country. He showed no fear of them,
although he saw his own men outnumbered ten to one. The two parties,
the little band of white men and the far more numerous band of
Blackfeet, lay down to sleep that night in company.

But the Blackfeet were unable to resist the temptation to attain
sudden wealth by seizing the horses and guns of these strangers.
Toward dawn Lewis himself, confident in the integrity of his guests,
and dozing for a time, felt the corner of his robe pulled, felt
something spring on his face, heard a noise. His little dog was
barking loudly, excitedly.

He was more fully awakened by the sound of a shout, and then by a
shot. Springing from his robes, he saw Drouillard and both of the
Fields boys on their feet, struggl