Prairie. In the summer we will all go to the buffalo plains of the Missouri, if the white chiefs will protect us from the Snakes and Pahkees."
"Hold high the peace flag we have given you, and it will turn your enemies into friends," instructed Captain Lewis.
The Grand Council was not to be held for two or three weeks yet. By the close of the first week of June the river had fallen six feet, showing that the snows were partially melted. The captains decided to push along without guides.
"We cannot wait till July and the full moon, boys," declared Captain Lewis, in an address to the company. "It's only 160 miles from the Kamass Prairie to our old camp on the other side at Traveler's Rest Creek, and there we'll be done with the snow. If no guides overtake us, Drouillard and Labiche and some of the rest of you are as good trailers as the Indians, and can lead us through."
"Hooray!" cheered all. They were as anxious as the captains to go. They were in fine fettle. They had been playing prisoner's base, among themselves, and had been running foot-races with the Nez Percés, to harden their muscles. In the races only one Indian had proved as fast as Peter and John Colter, the American champions.
Now on June 10 camp was broken, and the march to the mountains begun.
"Ten days'll see us through," confidently declared Pat.
