The Yale expositor., 1909-12-31

were in the Shoshone country. A few
days later Capt. Clark, while making
a reconnaissance, came suddenly upon
three Indian women, whom he cap
tured. They were the first Indians
that the party had seen since leaving
fort Mandan in April.
Following close upon the capture o,
the women appeared band of Sho
shone warriors, ready for battle,
taking the strangers for their ancient
enemies, the Blackfeet. When she
saw the mounted warriors approach
ing Sacajawea danced for joy and
made a sign which indicated that they
were members of her own tribe. One
of the captured women, when she saw
Sacajawea, ran to her and threw her
arms around her neck. 1t was the
girl who had been captured with her
and who had escaped. The presence
OF the woman with the expedition con-
vinced the warriors that they had not
met war party, and a parley fol-
lowed.
The description of the meeting be-
tween Sacajawea and the chief of the
Shoshones is as follows:
while Sacajawea was renewing
among the women the friendships of
former days, Capt. Clark went on,
and was received by the chief, who,
after the first salutations were over
conducted him to a circular tent, or
shade of willows. After much cere-
mony the smoking began. After this
the conference was to be opened.
Glad of an opportunity of being able
to converse more intelligently, they
sent for Sacajawea, who came into
to interpret, when in the person OF
Cameawait, the chief, she recognized
her brother She instantly jumped
up, and ran and embraced him. throw
ing over him her blanket. and weep
ing profusely. The chief was himself
moved, though not in the same de-
gree. After some conversation be-
tween them, she resumed her seat and
attempted to interpret for us; but her
new situation seemed to overpower
her, and she was frequently interrupt
ed by tears"
Although the temptation to remain
with her own people was great. SAGA
jawea was loyal to her promise to
guide the white men over the noun
tains, and solicited help from her
brother, telling him how kind Capt.
Lewis and Capt. Clark had been to
her, especially in her illness. Came
await yielded to her entreaties and
persuaded his men to furnish horses
and induced some of them to go along
| as guides.
1t was a cold, rainy day in Novem-
Der before the party was able to raise
| the joyful shout which Xenophon's
! Greeks raised upon another historical
occasion. "Thalassa! Thalassa!" The
sea! The sea!-"the object of all
their labors, the reward of all their
anxieties Pacific.
Sacajawea was overawed by the
! sight of the great water" but as
soon as she overcame her fears her
| delight was unbounded, and she was
wildly demonstrative.
|
coast during the winter and it was not
until the middle of March that the
return journey began. In the months
that followed much of their former
J sufferings and privations were re-
peated. In July before leaving the
mountains the expedition was divided,
Lewis heading directly for the falls
of the Missouri, and Clark, with ten
men and Sacajawea. taking the more
circuitous route to the Yellowstone.
Through all this unknown country
Sacajawea led the way and brought
her companions safely to the meeting
place near the falls of the Missouri,
whence they travelled joyfully down
the river to Fort Mandan, where they
arrived in August. 1906. Here Char.
!: bonneau and the bird-woman bade
Lewis and Clark good-by.
! Sacajawea was last heard of In 1911
| when she and Charbonneau were met
on the upper Missouri by the traveller
Breckenridge.