Fort Mandan, preparing for departure — John Ordway: February 20, 1805

hunters went on eairly we delayed a Short time to let them git
on a head, we then set out and proceeded on verry well about 10
miles & halted broiled & eat Some meat & proceeded on a Short
distance & took on 3 deer which the hunters had killed and hailed
on the Ice. we came about 8 miles further which took us above the
Mandans Island as we call it. we heard the hunters Shooting on
the S. Side, we camped on the South Side the hunters came in
had killed five Elk we packed in three of them and night came
on so that the hunters could not find the other 2.