first across the continent-第18章
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ch Cruzatte plays extremely well。〃
The journal continues：
〃We were now occupied ＇at White Bear camp＇ in fitting up a boat of skins； the frame of which had been prepared for the purpose at Harper's Ferry in Virginia。 It was made of iron； thirty…six feet long； four and one…half feet in the beam； and twenty…six inches wide in the bottom。 Two men had been sent this morning for timber to complete it； but they could find scarcely any even tolerably straight sticks four and one…half feet long； and as the cottonwood is too soft and brittle； we were obliged to use willow and box…elder。〃
On the twenty…seventh； the main party； which was working on the upper part of the portage； joined that of Captain Clark at the lower camp； where a second cache； or place of deposit； had been formed； and where the boat…swivel was now hidden under the rocks。 The journal says：
〃The party were employed in preparing timber for the boat； except two who were sent to hunt。 About one in the afternoon a cloud arose from the southwest； and brought with it violent thunder； lightning； and hail。 Soon after it passed； the hunters came in； from about four miles above us。 They had killed nine elk and three bears。 As they were hunting on the river they saw a low ground covered with thick brushwood； where from the tracks along shore they thought a bear had probably taken refuge。 They therefore landed； without making a noise； and climbed a tree about twenty feet above the ground。 Having fixed themselves securely； they raised a loud shout； and a bear instantly rushed toward them。 These animals never climb； and therefore when he came to the tree and stopped to look at them； Drewyer shot him in the head。 He proved to be the largest we had yet seen； his nose appeared to be like that of a common ox； his fore feet measured nine inches across； the hind feet were seven inches wide and eleven and three quarters long； exclusive of the talons。 One of these animals came within thirty yards of the camp last night； and carried off some buffalo…meat which we had placed on a pole。〃
The party were very much annoyed here by the grizzlies which infested their camp at night。 Their faithful dog always gave warning of the approach of one of these monsters； but the men were obliged to sleep with their guns by their side； ready to repel the enemy at a moment's notice。
Captain Clark finally broke up the camp on Portage Creek； June 28； having deposited in his cache whatever could be left behind without inconvenience。 〃On the following day；〃 the journal says：
〃Finding it impossible to reach the upper end of the portage with the present load； in consequence of the state of the road after the rain； he sent back nearly all his party to bring on the articles which had been left yesterday。 Having lost some notes and remarks which he had made on first ascending the river； he determined to go up to the Whitebear Islands along its banks； in order to supply the deficiency。 He there left one man to guard the baggage； and went on to the falls； accompanied by his servant York； Chaboneau； and his wife with her young child。
〃On his arrival there he observed a very dark cloud rising in the west； which threatened rain； and looked around for some shelter； but could find no place where the party would be secure from being blown into the river； if the wind should prove as violent as it sometimes does in the plains。 At length； about a quarter of a mile above the falls； he found a deep ravine； where there were some shelving rocks； under which he took refuge。 They were on the upper side of the ravine near the river； perfectly safe from the rain； and therefore laid down their guns； compass； and other articles which they carried with them。 The shower was at first moderate； it then increased to a heavy rain； the effects of which they did not feel； but soon after； a torrent of rain and hail descended。 The rain seemed to fall in a solid mass； and instantly； collecting in the ravine； came rolling down in a dreadful current； carrying the mud； rocks； and everything that opposed it。 Captain Clark fortunately saw it a moment before it reached them； and springing up with his gun and shot…pouch in his left hand； with his right clambered up the steep bluff； pushing on the Indian woman with her child in her arms； her husband too had seized her hand and was pulling her tip the hill； but he was so terrified at the danger that he remained frequently motionless； and but for Captain Clark； himself and his wife and child would have been lost。 So instantaneous was the rise of the water that； before Captain Clark had reached his gun and begun to ascend the bank； the water was up to his waist； and he could scarcely get up faster than it rose； till it reached the height of fifteen feet； with a furious current which； had they waited a moment longer； would have swept them into the river just above the Great Falls； down which they must inevitably have been precipitated。 They reached the plain in safety and found York； who had separated from them just before the storm to hunt some buffalo； and was now returning to find his master。 They had been obliged to escape so rapidly that Captain Clark lost his compass ＇that is； circumferentor＇ and umbrella； Chaboneau left his gun； with Captain Lewis' wiping…rod； shot…pouch； and tomahawk； and the Indian woman had just time to grasp her child； before the net in which it lay at her feet was carried down the current。〃
Such a storm is known in the West as a cloud…burst。 Overland emigrants in the early rush to California often suffered loss from these sudden deluges。 A party of men； with wagons and animals； have been known to be swept away and lost in a flood bursting in a narrow canyon in the mountains。
〃Captain Clark now relinquished his intention of going up the river； and returned to the camp at Willow Run。 Here he found that the party sent this morning for the baggage had all returned to camp in great confusion； leaving their loads in the plain。 On account of the heat； they generally go nearly naked； and with no covering on their heads。 The hail was so large； and driven so furiously against them by the high wind； that it knocked several of them down： one of them； particularly； was thrown on the ground three times； and most of them were bleeding freely； and complained of being much bruised。 Willow Run had risen six feet since the rain； and； as the plains were so wet that they could not proceed； they passed the night at their camp。
〃At the White Bear camp； also；〃 （says Lewis）； 〃we had not been insensible to the hailstorm； though less exposed。 In the morning there had been a heavy shower of rain； after which it became fair。 After assigning to the men their respective employments； Captain Lewis took one of them； and went to see the large fountain near the falls。 。 。 。 It is； perhaps； the largest in America； and is situated in a pleasant level plain； about twenty…five yards from the river； into which it falls over some steep； irregular rocks； with a sudden ascent of about six feet in one part of its course。 The water boils up from among the rocks； and with such force near the centre that the surface seems higher there than the earth on the sides of the fountain； which is a handsome turf of fine green grass。 The water is extremely pure； cold； and pleasant to the taste； not being impregnated with lime or any foreign substance。 It is perfectly transparent； and continues its bluish cast for half a mile down the Missouri； notwithstanding the rapidity of the river。 After examining it for some time； Captain Lewis returned to the camp。
。 。 。 〃Two men were sent ＇June 30＇ to the falls to look for the articles lost yesterday； but they found nothing but the compass； covered with mud and sand； at the mouth of the ravine。 The place at which Captain Clark had been caught by the storm was filled with large rocks。 The men complain much of the bruises received yesterday from the hail。 A more than usual number of buffalo appeared about the camp to…day； and furnished plenty of meat。 Captain Clark thought that at one view he must have seen at least ten thousand。〃
Of the party at the upper camp； opposite White Bear Islands； the journal makes this observation：
〃The party continues to be occupied with the boat； the cross…bars for which are now finished； and there remain only the strips to complete the woodwork。 The skins necessary to cover it have already been prepared； they amount to twenty…eight elk…skins and four buffalo…skins。 Among our game were two beaver； which we have had occasion to observe are found wherever there is timber。 We also killed a large bull…bat or goatsucker； of which there are many in this neighborhood； resembling in every respect those of the same species in the United States。 We have not seen the leather…winged bat for some time； nor are there any of the small goatsucker in this part of the Missouri。 We have not seen that species of goatsucker called the whippoorwill； which is commonly confounded in the United States with the large goatsucker which we observe here。 This last prepares no nest； but lays its eggs on the open plains； they generally begin to sit on two eggs； and we believe raise only one brood in a season； at the present moment they are just hatching their young。〃
Dr。 Coues says that we should bear in mind that this was written 〃when bats were birds and whales were fishes for most persons。〃 The journal confounds bats； which are winged mammals； with goatsuckers； or whippoorwills； which are birds。
The second of July was an interesting date for the explorers。 On that day we find the following entry in their journal：
〃A shower of rain fell very early this morning。 We then despatched some men for the baggage left behind yesterday； and the rest were engaged in putting the boat together。 This was accomplished in about three hours； and then we began to sew on the leather over the crossbars of iron on the inner side of the boat which form the ends of the sections。 By two o'clock the last of the baggage arrived； to the great delight of the party； who were anxious to proceed。 The mosquitoes we find very troublesome。
〃Having completed our celestial observations； we went over to the large island to make an attack upon its inhabitants； the bears； which have annoyed us very much of late； and were prowling about our camp all last night。 We found that the part of the island frequented by the bears forms an almost impenetrable thicket of the broad…leaved willow。 Into this we forced our way in parties of three； but could see only one bear； which instantly attacked Drewyer。 Fortunately； as he was rushing on； the hunter shot him through the heart within twenty paces and he fell； which enabled Drewyer to get out of his way。 We then followed him one hundred yards； and found that the wound had been mortal。
〃Not being able to discover any more of these animals； we returned to camp。 Here； in turning over some of the baggage； we caught a rat somewhat larger than the common European rat； and of a lighter color； the body and outer parts of the legs and head of a light lead color； the inner side of the legs； as well as the belly； feet； and ears； white； the ears are not covered with hair； and are much larger than those of the common rat； the toes also are longer； the eyes a
