Lewis: to Great Falls / Clark: to Three Forks — Patrick Gass: July 6, 1806

frost, and renewed our journey early; saw a great many serv-
ice berries, not yet ripe, and some flax which grows on these
plains. Having gone about seven miles we crossed a north
branch of the Co-qual-la-isquet, which is 40 yards wide and
was mid-rib deep on our horses, with a rapid current. About
seven miles up the valley we passed a beautiful small lake;
where the river and road leaves the valley, and bears towards
the northeast between two hills not very large. We kept up
the river, through a small brushy valley about the eighth of a
mile wide, for a mile and an half, and then halted for dinner.
Here our two hunters came to us, and had killed a deer. We
keep two men out every day hunting. In this small valley
there is a considerable quantity of cotton wood timber; and
the musquitoes are very troublesome. At 1 o’clock we pro-
ceeded on, passed a number of handsome streams which fall
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION — 257
into the river, and a number of old Indian lodges. As we
advance the valley becomes more extensive, and is all plain.
At night we encamped on a beautiful creek, having travelled
twenty-five miles. Our hunters killed four deer to day.