were afraid of the white people's medicine, but they hoped that the new father would send traders and trappers into their country, to show them how to live and how to catch the beaver.
On the last day of the council, or July 22, Captain Lewis was able to walk about a little, for the first time since he had taken to the boat.
Rapidly traveled the boats. Wild turkeys were seen; ripe wild plums were found; the grasses were high and luxurious.
"We gettin' down into lower country," chattered Drouillard, happily.
There were signs of many buffalo. On July 29, 20,000 in one herd darkened the plain. The day following, halt was made in a wild plum orchard. Everybody ate. But this was Sioux country, and below the wild plum orchard sudden exclamations arose from the boats.
"De Sioux!"
"Look at the bloody rascals!"
"Tetons, aren't they?"
"Mebbe Yankton. They act like they want to talk."
Some twenty Indians had appeared on a high bank opposite. One man with them wore a blanket-coat and a 'kerchief around his head. He might be a French trader. A short distance farther down almost a hundred other Indians emerged, to the shore; from their guns they fired a salute. They all were well armed.
