Marias River decision camp — Patrick Gass: June 4, 1805

North Branch, to see if they could find any certain marks to
determine whether that was the Missouri or not; and Captain
Clarke myself and four others went up the South branch, for
the same purpose with regard to that branch. About eight
miles above the confluence, the South branch and the small
river which falls into the North branch, are not more than
200 yards apart. Near this place and close on the bank of
the South branch is a beautiful spring where we refreshed
ourselves with a good drink of grog; and proceeded on
through the high plains. Here nothing grows but prickly
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 95
pears, which are in abundance, and some short grass. We
went on about thirty miles and found the river still extending
in a South West direction. We saw a mountain to the South
about 20 miles off, which appeared to run East and West, and
some spots on it resembling snow. In the evening we went
towards the river to encamp, where one of the men having got
down to a small point of woods on the bank, before the rest
of the party, was attacked by a huge he-bear, and his gun
missed fire. We were about 200 yards from him, but the
bank there was so steep we could not get down to his assist-
_ ance: we, however, fired at the animal from the place where
we stood and he went off without injuring the man. Having
got down we all encamped in an old Indian lodge for the
night.