Lewis: Great Falls / Clark: crossing to Yellowstone — Patrick Gass: July 15, 1806

started to go down to the other end of the portage, to see if
the periogue was safe, which we had left there; and in the
afternoon the man who had gone after the horses returned
unsuccessful; but as he saw some fresh Indian signs he sup-
poses they were stolen and taken back over the dividing
ridge. Capt. Lewis therefore concluded to take fewer men
and horses with him than he had intended on his excursion up
Maria’s river. In the evening the man who had started to go
to the other end of the portage, returned without being there.
A white bear met him at Willow creek, that so frightened
his horse, that he threw him off among the feet of the animal;
but he fortunately (being too near to shoot) had sufficient
presence of mind to hit the bear on the head with his gun;
and the stroke so stunned it, that it gave him time to get up
a tree close by before it could seize him. The blow, however,
broke the gun and rendered it useless; and the bear watched
him about three hours and went away; when he came down,
caught his horse about two miles distant and returned to
camp. These bears are very numerous in this part of the
country and very dangerous, as they will attack a man every
opportunity.
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION — 261