"Nossuh. Didn't get no shot at him. We des seen his track, in dem bushes yonduh near de mout' ob de ribber. Oof! Marse Will he set his moccasin cl'ar inside, an' dat track it stuck out all 'round. 'Spec' dis chile ain't got bus'ness wif dem critters. Oof!"
"Yes," agreed George Shannon. "According to Drouillard even the Indians won't tackle one of those white bears, except in a crowd of six or eight. And if they don't shoot him through the head or heart he's liable to out-fight them all. Before they go after him they make big medicine, same as if they were going to war with a whole nation."
"He's 'special fond of black meat, too, I hear tell," slyly remarked John Thompson.
York rolled his eyes, and muttered. But the Kentuckians, some of whom had hunted with Daniel Boone, fingered their rifles eagerly and surveyed the low country at the mouth of the river, as if hoping to see York's monster stirring.
The next day the first Arikara Indians came aboard, from their lower village. Captain Lewis went with some of them to return the visit. He was accompanied back by Mr. Tabeau and Mr. Gravelines, two French traders who lived with the Arikaras. Mr. Gravelines spoke the Arikara language.
There were three Arikara villages, so that the captains ordered camp made on the north side of the river, across from the villages.
The Arikaras were tall, handsome people—much
