CHAPTER XVII

PIKE LAKE TO FORT UNION

General course W. 10° N.--Lieutenant Grover surveys separate route--Country within forty miles examined by side trips--Route passes near Breckinridge, Jamestown, Minot, and Great Northern Railroad nearly to Rocky Mountains--Crosses Chippewa River--Camp regulations--Bois de Sioux--Description of country--Red River hunters--Sheyenne River--Lander's adventure--False alarm of Indians--Myriads of buffalo--The hunt--Lake Jessie--Buffalo threaten camp; stop train--Horse and mules go off with buffalo--Governor Stevens disabled-- Lander returns--Inveterate horse-killer--James River--Anxiety at non-return of Tinkham--Guns fired--Parties sent back to find him--Sioux reported approaching--Train arranged for defense--Red River hunters--Tinkham returns safe--Governor Wilkie and Red River hunters--Customs--Hunts--Government--Air tainted by slaughtered buffalo--Maison du Chien--Coteau de Missouri--Mouse River--More Red River hunters--Exchange visits--Express dispatched to Fort Union--Assiniboine Indians--Council--Distribution of presents--Arrives at Fort Union 320