Lewis: June 21, 1806
The party retraced their steps back to the Quamash Flats, frustrated at being forced to turn back through brush and fallen timber that endangered their horses. One of Thompson's horses fell ill and one of Cruzatte's was badly injured in the groin. At Collins Creek they met two Indians traveling over the mountain who had recovered three lost horses and a mule, and reported seeing Drouillard and Shannon. The Indians agreed to wait two nights to guide them across. Reubin and Joseph Field and Sergeant Gass stayed behind to hunt; hunters sent ahead killed one deer.
Saturday June 21st 1806. We collected our horses early set out on our
return to the flatts. we all felt some mortification in being thus
compelled to retrace our steps through this tedious and difficult part of
our rout, obstructed with brush and innumerable logs of fallen timber
which renders the traveling distressing and even dangerous to our horses.
one of Thompson’s horses is either choked this morning or has the
distemper very badly I fear he is to be of no further service to us. an
excellent horse of Cruzatte’s snagged himself so badly in the groin in
jumping over a parsel of fallen timber that he will evidently be of no
further service to us. at the pass of Collin’s Creek we met two indians
who were on their way over the mountain; they had brought with them the
three horses and the mule that had left us and returned to the quawmash
grounds. these indians returned with us about 1/2 a mile down the creek
where we halted to dine and graize our horses at the same place I had
halted and remained all night with the party on the ____ of Septembr last.
as well as we could understand the indians they informed us that they had
seen Drewyer and Shannon and that they would not return untill the
expiration of two days; the cause why Drewyer and Shannon had not returned
with these men we are at a loss to account for. we pressed these indians
to remain with us and to conduct us over the mountain on the return of
Drewyer and Shannon. they consented to remain two nights for us and
accordingly deposited their store of roots and bread in the bushes at no
great distance and after dinner returned with us, as far as the little
prarie about 2 miles distant from the creek, here they halted with their
horses and informed us they would remain untill we overtook them or at
least two nights. they had four supenumery horses with them. we sent on
four hunters a head to the quawmash flatts to take an evenings hunt; they
so far succeeded as to kill one deer. we left Reubin and J. Feilds at the
Creek where we dined together with Sergt Gass in order to hunt about that
place untill our return. at seven in the evening we found ourselves once
more at our old encampment where we shall anxiously await the return of
Drewyer and Shannon.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Saturday, June 21st, 1806. We gathered our horses early and set out on our return to the flats. We all felt some embarrassment at being forced to retrace our steps through this tedious and difficult part of our route, obstructed with brush and countless logs of fallen timber, which makes the traveling distressing and even dangerous for our horses. One of Thompson's horses is either choked this morning or has distemper very badly; I fear he will be of no further service to us. An excellent horse of Cruzatte's snagged himself so badly in the groin while jumping over a pile of fallen timber that he will clearly be of no further service to us.
At the crossing of Collins's Creek we met two Indians who were on their way over the mountain. They had brought with them the three horses and the mule that had left us and returned to the quamash grounds. These Indians turned around and came back with us about half a mile down the creek, where we stopped to eat and graze our horses at the same place I had halted and stayed all night with the party on the ____ of September last. As well as we could understand the Indians, they informed us that they had seen Drewyer (Drouillard) and Shannon, and that they would not return until two days had passed. We are at a loss to explain why Drewyer and Shannon did not come back with these men.
We urged these Indians to remain with us and to guide us over the mountain when Drewyer and Shannon returned. They agreed to wait two nights for us, and accordingly stored their supply of roots and bread in the bushes not far away, then after dinner came back with us as far as the little prairie about 2 miles from the creek. There they halted with their horses and told us they would stay until we overtook them, or at least for two nights. They had four extra horses with them.
We sent four hunters ahead to the quamash flats to do an evening's hunt; they managed to kill one deer. We left Reubin and J. Fields at the creek where we had dined, along with Sergt. Gass, so they could hunt around that place until our return. At seven in the evening we found ourselves once more at our old camp, where we shall anxiously await the return of Drewyer and Shannon.
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