Ordway was in charge of the five canoes, Sergeant Pat and squad had charge of the white pirogue, which was the flagship.
A sharp lookout was kept for the Big Bellies on the banks. However, nothing happened. The mouth of the Yellowstone was several days ahead; and when it was reached, no Captain Clark or others of that party appeared in sight. When halt was made, to look for sign, traces of the captain's camp were found, and in the sand Lepage discovered the scrawl:
W. C. a few miles further down on right hand side.
"When was that written, Lepage, do you think?"
queried Captain Lewis.
"Mebbe two, mebbe t'ree day ago," said Baptiste. "De rain haf washed it."
"At any rate, he's safe," uttered the captain, with much satisfaction. "I expect the mosquitoes drove him out of here. Whew!" For the mosquitoes were worse than ever. "We'll overtake him to-morrow."
But they did not overtake the captain's party on the morrow, nor on the next day. On the third day, which was August 11, the canoes stopped to take aboard some meat; the white pirogue continued on, until Captain Lewis espied a herd of elk in some willow brush, near the shore.
"Turn in, boys," he bade. "Wait here. Come on, Cruzatte. We'll get a few of those fellows."
Out he leaped, gun in hand; and he and One-eyed Cruzatte disappeared in the brush.
