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herds of buffalo； and of elk。 They killed six fallow deer； and next day they counted fifty…two herds of buffalo and three herds of elk at one view； they also observed deer； wolves； and pelicans in large numbers。
The ledges in the bluffs along the river often held nests of the calumet bird； or golden eagle。 These nests； which are apparently resorted to； year after year； by the same pair of birds； are usually out of reach； except by means of ropes by which the hunters are let down from the cliffs overhead。 The tail…feathers of the bird are twelve in number； about a foot long； and are pure white except at the tip； which is jet…black。 So highly prized are these by the Indians that they have been known to exchange a good horse for two feathers。
The party saw here a great many elk； deer； antelope； and buffalo； and these last were dogged along their way by wolves who follow them to feed upon those that die by accident； or are too weak to keep up with the herd。 Sometimes the wolves would pounce upon a calf； too young and feeble to trot with the other buffalo； and although the mother made an effort to save her calf； the creature was left to the hungry wolves； the herd moving along without delay。
On the twenty…first of October； the explorers reached a creek to which the Indians gave the name of Chisshetaw； now known as Heart River； which； rising in Stark County； North Dakota； and running circuitously through Morton County； empties into the Missouri opposite the city of Bismarck。 At this point the Northern Pacific Railway now crosses the Missouri； and here； where is built the capital of North Dakota； began； in those days； a series of Mandan villages； with the people of which the explorers were to become tolerably well acquainted； for it had been decided that the increasing cold of the weather would compel them to winter in this region。 But they were as yet uncertain as to the exact locality at which they would build their camp of winter。 Here they met one of the grand chiefs of the Mandans； who was on a hunting excursion with his braves。 This chief greeted with much ceremony the Rickaree chief who accompanied the exploring party。 The Mandans and Rickarees were ancient enemies； but； following the peaceful councils of the white men； the chiefs professed amity and smoked together the pipe of peace。 A son of the Mandan chief was observed to have lost both of his little fingers； and when the strangers asked how this happened； they were told that the fingers had been cut off （according to the Mandan custom） to show the grief of the young man at the loss of some of his relations。
Chapter VI
Winter among the Mandans
Before finally selecting the spot on which to build their winter quarters； Lewis and Clark held councils with the chiefs of the tribes who were to be their neighbors during the cold season。 These were Mandans； Annahaways； and Minnetarees； tribes living peacefully in the same region of country。 The principal Mandan chief was Black Cat； White Buffalo Robe Unfolded represented the Annahaways； and the Minnetaree chief was Black Moccasin。 This last…named chief could not come to the council； but was represented by Caltahcota； or Cherry on a Bush。 The palaver being over； presents were distributed。 The account says：
〃One chief of each town was acknowledged by a gift of a flag； a medal with the likeness of the President of the United States； a uniform coat； hat and feather。 To the second chiefs we gave a medal representing some domestic animals and a loom for weaving； to the third chiefs； medals with the impressions of a farmer sowing grain。 A variety of other presents were distributed； but none seemed to give them more satisfaction than an iron corn…mill which we gave to the Mandans。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
In the evening the prairie took fire； either by accident or design； and burned with great fury； the whole plain being enveloped in flames。 So rapid was its progress that a man and a woman were burned to death before they could reach a place of safety； another man； with his wife and child； were much burned； and several other persons narrowly escaped destruction。 Among the rest； a boy of the half white breed escaped unhurt in the midst of the flames； his safety was ascribed to the great medicine spirit； who had preserved him on account of his being white。 But a much more natural cause was the presence of mind of his mother； who； seeing no hopes of carrying off her son； threw him on the ground； and； covering him with the fresh hide of a buffalo； escaped herself from the flames。 As soon as the fire had passed； she returned and found him untouched； the skin having prevented the flame from reaching the grass on which he lay。〃
Next day； says the journal；
〃We were visited by two persons from the lower village： one； the Big White； the chief of the village； the other； the Chayenne； called the Big Man： they had been hunting； and did not return yesterday early enough to attend the council。 At their request we repeated part of our speech of yesterday； and put the medal round the neck of the chief。 Captain Clark took a pirogue and went up the river in search of a good wintering…place； and returned after going seven miles to the lower point of an island on the north side； about one mile in length。 He found the banks on the north side high； with coal occasionally； and the country fine on all sides； but the want of wood； and the scarcity of game up the river； induced us to decide on fixing ourselves lower down during the winter。 In the evening our men danced among themselves； to the great amusement of the Indians。〃
It may be said here that the incident of a life saved from fire by a raw…hide； originally related by Lewis and Clark； is the foundation of a great many similar stories of adventures among the Indians。 Usually； however； it is a wise and well…seasoned white trapper who saves his life by this device。
Having found a good site for their winter camp； the explorers now built a number of huts； which they called Fort Mandan。 The place was on the north bank of the Missouri River； in what is now McLean County； North Dakota； about sixteen hundred miles up the river from St。 Louis； and seven or eight miles below the mouth of Big Knife River。 On the opposite bank； years later； the United States built a military post known as Fort Clark； which may be found on some of the present…day maps。 The huts were built of logs； and were arranged in two rows； four rooms in each hut； the whole number being placed in the form of an angle； with a stockade； or picket； across the two outer ends of the angle； in which was a gate； kept locked at night。 The roofs of the huts slanted upward from the inner side of the rows； making the outer side of each hut eighteen feet high； and the lofts of these were made warm and comfortable with dry grass mixed with clay； Here they were continually visited during the winter by Indians from all the region around。 Here； too； they secured the services of an interpreter； one Chaboneau； who continued with them to the end。 This man's wife； Sacajawea； whose Indian name was translated 〃Bird Woman；〃 had been captured from the Snake Indians and sold to Chaboneau； who married her。 She was 〃a good creature；