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 was the main fork of the Missouri; and up the Jefferson they all went.

"Arrah!" groaned Pat. "An' how d' ye like it, Peter? Bad cess to that Bird-woman. Didn't she say we'd meet her people, an' where be they?"

"Those Snakes are a wandering tribe, Pat," answered Sergeant Pryor. "And Sa-ca-ja-we-a hasn't been here since she was a girl, five years ago, remember."

But Sa-ca-ja-we-a was remembering. This was her home country. She pointed out a high shoulder of rock not far from the river, to the west, and exclaimed.

"Dat she say is w'at ze Snakes call ze Beaver's Head," explained Chaboneau. "Ze Snakes spen' deir summer 'cross ze mountains jes' ze odder side, an' she t'ink some sure to be on dis side, too. She t'ink we meet some of dem on dees river, furder up a leetle way."

"To-morrow I'm going in yonder and not come back till I find the Snakes and their horses, Will," declared Captain Lewis.

Immediately after breakfast Captain Lewis resolutely slung his knapsack on his back, donned his cocked hat, and with Drouillard, John Shields and Hugh McNeal, struck into the west.

"Keep traveling up river, Will," he directed, as last word. "I'll stay out this time till I find Indians and horses. You won't see me again, before."

This was August 9. For a week the canoes were