Fort Mandan, preparing for departure — Patrick Gass: February 19, 1805

and there we killed three deer. The next day we went on to
more Indian camps and killed some deer. On the 7th we
encamped in a bottom on the south side of the Missouri, and
the next day turned out to hunt. We killed 10 elk and 18
deer, and remained there all night. On the 9th we built a
pen to secure our meat from the wolves, which are very nu-
merous here ; and in the evening went further down and
encamped. The next morning we set out on our return
towards the fort ; and killed some elk and deer in our way.
On the 1 2th we arrived at the fort; and found that one of
our interpreter’s wives had in our absence made an addition
to our number. On the 13th we had three horses shod to
bring home our meat.