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Show ~56 Lewis aud Olarke•s Expediti01z, &c. of the nar'l·ow pass, and had slipped down to the very verge of the precipice where he lay on his belly, with his right arm and leg ovet• the precipice, while with the other leg and at·m he was with difficulty olding on to keep himself from being dashed to pieces below. His dreadful situation was instantly perceived by captain Lewis, who stifling his alarm, calmly told him that he was in no danger; that he should take his knife out of his belt with the right hand, and dig a hole in the side of the bluff to receive his right foot. 'fith great. presence of mind be did this. aml then raised himself on hiEknees; captain Lewis then told him to take off his moccasins and come forward on his hands and 1mces, holding the knife inone hand andhis rifle in the other. He innncdiatelycrawled in tbis way till be came to a secure S}lOt. 'J:'he men who had not attempted thjs passage, were ordered to return and wade the river at the foot of the bluff, where they found the 'vater breast high. 'fhis adventure taught them the danger of crossing the slippery heights of the river; but as the plains were intersected by deep ravines almost as difficult io pass, they continued down the river, sometimes in the mud of the low grounds, sometimes up to their arms in the water, and when it became too deep to wade, they cut foot~ holds with their knives in the sides of the banks. In this way they travelled through the rain, mud, and water, and having made only eighteen miles during the whole day, encamped in an old Indian lodge of sticks, which afforded them a dry sbel· ter. Here they cooked part of six deer they had killed in tbe course of their walk, and having eaten the only morsel they had tasted during the whole day slept comfortably on some willow boughs. CHAPTER X. Return of e:~ptain Lewis-Account of captain Clarke's researches with his e.·. pl01·ing- party-Pet·ilous situation of one of his party-Tansy river describedThe !)arty still believing the southern fot·k the Mis9Quri, captain Lewis resolves to ascend it-Mode of making a place to deposit provisions, calletl cacheCaptain Lewis explores the southern fork-Falls of the Missom·i discovered, which ascertains the question-Romantic scenery of the surrounding coun· tt·y-Narrow escape of captai11 Lewis-The main body untler captain Clat•ke :tpproach within five miles of the falls, and prepare for making a portage over the rapids. Saturday 8. IT continued to rain moderately alllait night, and the morning was cloudy till about ten o'clock, when it cleared off, and became a fine day. 'rhey breakfasted about sunrise and then proceeded down the river in the same "ay as they had done yesterday, except that the tra,·clling was somewhat better, as they had not so often to wade, though they passed some very dangerous bluffs. 'fhe only timber to be found is in the low grounds which are occasionally on the river, ami these are the haunts of innumct•ablc bir·ds, wbo, when the sun began to shine, sang very delightfn!Jy. Among these bh·ds they distinguished the brown thrush, robin turtledove, linnet, goldfinch, the large and small blackbird, the wren, and some others. As they came along, the whole of' the party were of opinion tha.t this river was the ti'tW Missom .. i; but captain Lewis heing fully persuaded chat ii was neither the main stream, nor· that which it would be ad~ visable to ascend, gave it the name of .1\-lal·ia.'s ri\'et·. After travelling all day they reached the camp at fiVt· o'clock in the afternoon, and found captain Clarke and the party vel'y anxious for theh~ safety, as they had staid two days longcL' tbau had been expected, and as captain Clal'l~e had returned at the appointed time, it was feared that the~ had met l~ith some aecidr |