Fort Mandan, preparing for departure — John Ordway: February 18, 1805

hunters went our eairly a hunting, the remainder moved the camp
about 5 mh down the River to a bottom where cap* Clarks party
had some time before been a hunting, and had made a pen and put
up 2 Elk and 11 Deer which we found Safe as they left it. Several
men out packing in the meat which was killed yesterday we fixed
our camp at an old Indian cabbin near the meat pen. the hunters
came in had killed one Elk. & Seven deer we got the meat all
packed in, Cap* Lewis concluded that we would Start for the
Fort the next morning, we {leased the meat from the bones and
eat the marrow out of them.