Lewis: June 23, 1806

Monday June 23rd 1806. Apprehensive from Drewyer’s delay that he had met
with some difficulty in procuring a guide, and also that the two indians
who had promised to wait two nights for us would set out today, we thought
it most advisable to dispatch Frazier and Wiser to them this morning with
a vew if possible to detain them a day or two longer; and directed that in
the event of their not being able to detain the indians, that Sergt. Gass,
R & J. Feilds and Wiser should accompany the indians by whatever rout
they might take to travellers rest and blaize the trees well as they
proceeded and wait at that place untill our arrivall with the party. the
hunters as usual wer dispatched early this morning. the does now having
their fawns the hunters can bleat them up and in that manner kill them
with more facility and ease. the indians pursue the game so much on
horseback in this neighbourhood that it is very shye. our hunters killed 4
deer and a bear today. at 4 P.M. Drewyer Shannon and Whitehouse returned.
Drewyer brought with him three indians who had consented to accompany us
to the falls of the Missouri for the compensation of two guns. one of
those men is the brother of the cutnose and the other two are the same who
presented Capt. Clark and myself each with a horse on a former occasion at
the Lodge of the broken arm. these are all young men of good character and
much respected by their nation. we directed the horses to be brought near
camp this evening and secured in such manner that they may be readily
obtained in the morning being determined to make an early start if
possible.Colter one of our hunters did not return this evening.