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Show 15.2 our course bore t9o much west, and they dcsin:d to bear more for the hunting ground of the Osage. ln the moming sent out to obtain the buffalo meat, anu laid by until after breakf"ast. Proceeded at eleven o'clock, and crossiiw the river two or three titncs, we passed two camps wl1crc the Spanish tro ps had lu1.lted. Ilere they appcarcJ to have remained some days, their roads being so much blended with the traces of the buffalo that we lost them entirely. This was a mortifying stroke, as we had reason tC1 cal ·ulate, that they had good guide. , and were on the best route for wood and water. We took a south-west direction, and before njght, were fortunate enough to strike their roads on the left, and at dusk, much to our surprise, ~truck the cast fork of the Kans or La Touche de la Cote Bucanieus. Killed one buffalo. Distance l 8 miles. 13/b October, 1\fonday.-The day being rainy, we did not march until two o'clock, when it having an appearance of clearing off, we raised our camp, after which we marched s<:ven miles and C'nramped on th ("\ head of a br~nch of the river we left. llad to go two mil e~ for water. Killed one cabrie. l 4th October, T'ue.rday.-It having tl rizzkd rain all night, and the atmosphere being entirely obscured, we did not march until a quarter past nine o'clock, aml com· menced crossing the dividing ridge between the Kaus and Arkansaw rivers. Arrived on a branch of the latter at one o'clock; continued down it in search of water, until after dusk, when we found a pond on the prarie, which induced us to halt. Sparks did not come up, being scarcely able to walk with rheumatic pains. Wounded several buffalo, but could get none of them. Distance 24 miles. lSt!J October, Ttflcdnesday.-In the 1norning road out ip. search of the south trace, and cros~ed the low prairir, TO THE SOLRCES OF THE AltKANSA,V, &c. 1s0 which was nearly all covered with ponds, but could not di cover it. I• inding Sparks did not arrive, sent two nlen in search of him, who arrived with him about eleven o'clock. At twelve o'clock we commenced our line of march, and at five o'clock, Dr. Robinson and myself left the party at a large creek (having p inted out a distant wood to lieutenant ~ilkinson for our encampment) in or~~ r to search so:ne distance up it for the Spanish trace. Killed two builalo and left part of our clothing with them, to scare away the wolves. \Vent in pursuit of the party. On our arrival at the creek appointed for the encampment, did not find then1. Proceeded down it for some miles, and not finding them, encamped, struck fire, and then supped on one of our huJfaJo tongues. 1 Gtb October, Tbursrllly.-Early on horseback; proceeded up the creek sotne distance in search of our party but at twelve o'clock crossed to our two buffaloes; fout~c.l ~:great many wolves at them, nrJtwithstanding the prccautJOn tak:n to keep them o1I Cooked some n1an·ow bones and agam mounted our horses, and proceedcc.l down the creek to their j.unction. I~ in ding nothing of the party, I began to ~e senously alarm d for their safety. Killed two more buflalo, lllade our encampment anc..l feasted sumptuously on the n1al-row-bones. Rain in the night. 17th October, Friday.-Rose early' detennining to se.a rch th e cree l~r to I·t s source. Very hard rain, accompa-lll. ed by a cold north-w st all day. .Encamped ncar night Without being· bl d' . . . . a e to 1scovcr any s1gns of the party. Our sensatiOns now became excruciatinn·, not only for their per-. s onal . '~n'f ct Y' b l h r f' () u t e Lear o the failure of the national ob- JCcts lllt<:ndcLl to be accomplished by the expedition . ·mJ our ow · . · ' ' n sH_uaoon was not the most agreeable, not having ~nore than four rounds of ammunition each, and 400 miles 111 the nearest dire t. f · h ~ · · · · . c 1011 1om t e hrst cn·rlt:t:ed Inhabitant ; l. |