continued his march.  Tracks of horses were followed across a bog, along what was plainly an Indian road, till the sources of the Missouri became so narrow that one of the men put a foot on each side and thanked God that he had lived to bestride the Missouri.  Stooping, all drank from the crystal spring whose waters they had traced for three thousand miles from St. Louis.  Following a steep declivity, they were presently crossing the course of a stream that flowed west and must lead to some branch of the Columbia.

[Illustration:  Spying on an Enemy’s Fort.]

Suddenly, on the cliff in front, Captain Lewis discovered two squaws, an Indian, and some dogs.  Unfurling his flag, he advanced.  The Indians paused, then dashed for the woods.  Lewis tried to tie some presents round the dogs’ necks as a peace-offering, but the curs made off after their master.  The white men had not proceeded a mile before they came to three squaws, who never moved but bowed their heads to the ground for the expected blow that would make them captives.  Throwing down weapons, Lewis pulled up his sleeve to show that he was white.  Presents allayed all fear, and the squaws had led him two miles toward their camp when sixty warriors came galloping at full speed with arrows levelled.  The squaws rushed forward, vociferating and showing their presents.  Three chiefs at once dismounted, and fell on Captain Lewis with such greasy embraces of welcome that he was glad to end the ceremony.  Pipes were smoked, presents distributed, and the white men conducted to a great leathern lodge, where Lewis announced his mission and prepared the Indians for the coming of the main force in the boats.

[Illustration:  Indian Camp at Foothills of Rockies.]

The Snakes scarcely knew whether to believe the white man’s tale.  The Indian camp was short of provisions, and Lewis urged the warriors to come back up the trail to meet the advancing boats.  The braves hesitated.  Cameahwait, the chief, harangued till a dozen warriors mounted their horses and set out, Lewis and his men each riding behind an Indian.  Captain Clark could advance only slowly, and the Indians with Lewis grew suspicious as they entered the rocky denies without meeting the explorers’ party.  Half the Snakes turned back.  Among those that went on were three women.  To demonstrate good faith, Lewis again mounted a horse behind an Indian, though the bare-back riding over rough ground at a mad pace was almost jolting his bones apart.  A spy came back breathless with news for the hungry warriors that one of the white hunters had killed a deer, and the whole company lashed to a breakneck gallop that nearly finished Lewis, who could only cling for dear life to the Indian’s waist.  The poor wretches were so ravenous that they fell on the dead deer and devoured it raw.  It was here that Lewis expected the boats.  They were not to be seen.  The Indians grew more distrustful.  The chief