you afterward saw that I told you the truth.  How, therefore, can you doubt what I now tell you?  You see that I divide amongst you the meat which my hunters kill, and I promise to give all who assist us a share of whatever we have to eat.  If, therefore, you intend to keep your promise, send one of the young men immediately, to order the people to remain at the village till we arrive.’  The two inferior chiefs then said that they had wished to keep their word and to assist us; that they had not sent for the people, but on the contrary had disapproved of that measure, which was done wholly by the first chief.  Cameahwait remained silent for some time; at last he said that he knew he had done wrong, but that, seeing his people all in want of provisions, he had wished to hasten their departure for the country where their wants might be supplied.  He, however, now declared that, having passed his word, he would never violate it, and counter-orders were immediately sent to the village by a young man, to whom we gave a handkerchief in order to ensure despatch and fidelity. . . .

“This difficulty being now adjusted, our march was resumed with an unusual degree of alacrity on the part of the Indians.  We passed a spot where, six years ago, the Shoshonees had suffered a very severe defeat from the Minnetarees; and late in the evening we reached the upper part of the cove, where the creek enters the mountains.  The part of the cove on the northeast side of the creek has lately been burned, most probably as a signal on some occasion.  Here we were joined by our hunters with a single deer, which Captain Lewis gave, as a proof of his sincerity, to the women and children, and remained supperless himself.  As we came along we observed several large hares, some ducks, and many of the cock of the plains:  in the low grounds of the cove were also considerable quantities of wild onions.”

Arriving at the Shoshonee village on the Lemhi, Captain Lewis found a note from Captain Clark, sent back by a runner, informing him of the difficulty and impossibility of a water route to the Columbia.  Cameahwait, being told that his white friends would now need twenty more horses, said that he would do what he could to help them.  The journal here adds:—­

“In order not to lose the present favorable moment, and to keep the Indians as cheerful as possible, the violins were brought out and our men danced, to the great diversion of the Indians.  This mirth was the more welcome because our situation was not precisely that which would most dispose us to gayety; for we have only a little parched corn to eat, and our means of subsistence or of success depend on the wavering temper of the natives, who may change their minds to-morrow. . . .