hington.
Six feet tall, of magnificent presence, with hair white
and coarse as a horse's mane, Shahaka, of all the chiefs,
was the one to carry to the States the tradition of a white
admixture in the Mandan blood. "The handsomest
Injun I iver saw," said Patrick Gass.
Arrangements for departure were now made as rapidly as possible. Presents of corn, beans, and squashes, more than all the boats could carry, were piled around the white men's camp.
The blacksmith's tools were intrusted to Charboneau for the use of the Mandans. The blunderbuss, given to the Minnetarees, was rolled away to their village with great exultation.
"Now let the Sioux come!" It was a challenge and a refuge.
The iron corn mill was nowhere to be seen. For scarcely had Lewis and Clark turned their backs for the upper Missouri before it had been broken into bits to barb the Indian arrows.
Sacajawea looked wistfully. She, too, would like to visit the white man's country.
"We will take you and your wife down if you choose to go," said Captain Clark to Charboneau.
"I haf no acquaintance, no prospect to mak' a leeving dere," answered the interpreter. "I mus' leeve as I haf done."
"I will take your son and have him educated as a white child should be," continued the Captain.
Charboneau and Sacajawea looked at one another and at their beautiful boy now nineteen months old, prattling in their midst.
"We would be weeling eef de child were weaned," slowly spake Charboneau. "Een wan year, he be ole enough to leaf he moder. I den tak' eem to you eef you be so friendly to raise eem as you t'ink proper."
"Bring him to me in one year. I will take the child," said Captain Clark.
Captain Lewis paid Charboneau five hundred dollars, loaded Sacajawea with what gifts he could, and left them in the Mandan c
