Lewis: August 9, 1806

Saturday August 9th 1806. The day proved fair and favourable for our
purposes. the men were all engaged dressing skins and making themselves
cloathes except R & J. Fields whom I sent this morning over the river
with orders to proceed to the entrance of the White earth river in surch
of Capt. C. and to hunt and kill Elk or buffaloe should they find any
convenient to the river. in the evening these men returned and informed me
that they saw no appearance of Capt. Clark or party. they found no game
nor was there a buffaloe.to be seen in the plains as far as the eye could
reach. nothing remarkable took place in the course of the day. Colter and
Collins have not yet overtaken us I fear some missfortune has happened
them for their previous fidelity and orderly deportment induces me to
beleive that they would not thus intentionally delay. the Perogue is not
yet sufficiently dry for reparing. we have no pitch and will therefore be
compelled to use coal and tallow.