inches at a time, with the oars. This gap was named the Gate of the Mountains.
"I told you we'd find a gate," reminded Pat, to Peter. "Now what's inside, an' where be the Snakes?"
For this was the Sho-sho-ne country, at last. The Sho-sho-nes were horse Indians. The captains counted on getting horses from them, and leaving the canoes. The firing of guns was limited, lest the Snakes should hear and be alarmed. Indian trails and abandoned camps were passed. The snowy range of the Shining Mountains was nearer, in the west. Captain Clark took Chaboneau and Joe Fields and York and John Potts, and set out ahead, by land, to find some Indians, if possible.
Sa-ca-ja-we-a began to remark familiar places, where she and other Sho-sho-ne women had been, before she was captured by the Minnetarees. Now little flags were hoisted on the canoes, to tell the Sho-sho-nes that the United States soldiers were coming in peace.
"Soon de river make t'ree forks, Sa-ca-ja-we-a say," informed old Cruzatte, at the evening camp after Captain Clark had been gone almost nine days.
"An' which is the trail then, I wonder," mused Sergeant Pat. "Sure we ought to be crossin' the mountains before we get much furder south. It's near August, already."
At breakfast time the next morning, July 27, the crew hauling the leading boat against the stiff current suddenly cheered, frightened the big-horn sheep
