Page:California Digital Library (IA openingwestwithl00sabirich).pdf/271

 settled so thickly on the captain's gun-barrel as to prevent his taking aim!

"We achieved one important thing," laughed the captain. "We named a river for York!"

"Yessuh!" gabbled York. "Yessuh! Dar's a ribber up yahnduh 'long de Yallerstone named foh me: Yawk's Dry Ribber."

Sergeant Pryor, George Shannon, Hugh Hall and Dick Windsor had been detailed to drive the remaining fifty horses overland to the Mandan town; but the first night, Indians had stolen every one of these, also, and the squad were obliged to turn back. On the way, while the sergeant was asleep in camp a wolf had bitten him through the hand, and and tried to seize Dick, but George Shannon had shot just in time. Back again at the Yellowstone they had manufactured two round canoes, like Mandan canoes, from buffalo hides stretched over basketry, with hoops as top and bottom. In these they had finally caught up with Captain Clark.

"You're in command now, Will," said Captain Lewis. "I can't do much—I can't even write the records. But we're in the home stretch. Let's push on as fast as we can."

The two free-trappers, Hancock and Dickson, came down in their canoe to go with the company as far as the Mandan town.

"Sure, we'll be there in a jiffy," proclaimed Sergeant Pat. "'Tis wonderful good fortune we've had—clane across to the Paycific an' nigh home ag'in, an'