Lewis: August 9, 1805

Friday August 9th 1805. The morning was fair and fine; we set out at an
early hour and proceeded on very well. some parts of the river more rapid
than yesterday. I walked on shore across the land to a point which I
presumed they would reach by 8 A.M. our usual time of halting. by this
means I acquired leasure to accomplish some wrightings which I conceived
from the nature of my instructions necessary lest any accedent should
befall me on the long and reather hazardous rout I was now about to take.
the party did not arrive and I returned about a mile and met them, here
they halted and we breakefasted; I had killed two fine gees on my return.
while we halted here Shannon arrived, and informed us that having missed
the party the day on which he set out he had returned the next morning to
the place from whence he had set out or furst left them and not finding
that he had supposed that they wer above him; that he then set out and
marched one day up wisdom river, by which time he was convinced that they
were not above him as the river could not be navigated; he then returned
to the forks and had pursued us up this river. he brought the skins of
three deer which he had killed which he said were in good order. he had
lived very plentifully this trip but looked a good deel worried with his
march. he informed us that Wisdom river still kept it’s course obliquely
down the Jefferson’s river as far as he was up it. immediately after
breakfast I slung my pack and set out accompanyed by Drewyer Shields and
McNeal who had been previously directed to hold themselves in readiness
for this service. I directed my course across the bottom to the Stard.
plain led left the beaver’s head about 2 miles to my left and interscepted
the river about 8 miles from the point at which I had left it; I then
waded it and continued my rout to the point where I could observe that it
entered the mountain, but not being able to reach that place, changed my
direction to the river which I struck some miles below the mountain and
encamped for the evening having traveled 16 M. we passed a handsom little
stream formed by some large spring which rise in this wide bottom on the
Lard. side of the river. we killed two Antelopes on our way and brought
with us as much meat as was necessary for our suppers and breakfast the
next morning. we found this bottom fertile and covered with taller grass
than usual. the river very crooked much divided by islands, shallow rocky
in many plases and very rapid; insomuch that I have my doubts whether the
canoes could get on or not, or if they do it must be with great labour.Capt.
Clark proceeded after I left him as usual, found the current of the river
increasing in rapidity towards evening. his hunters killed 2 antelopes
only. in the evening it clouded up and we experienced a slight rain
attended with some thunder and lightning. the musquetoes very troublesome
this evening. there are some soft bogs in these vallies covered with turf.
the earth of which this mud is composed is white or bluish white and
appears to be argillacious.