Clark: 30th of November Friday 1804

This morning at 8 oClock
an Indian called from the other Side [of the river]
and informed that he had Something of Consequence to Communicate.
we Sent a perogue for him & he informed us as follows.

Viz: "five men of the Mandan Nation
out hunting in a S. W. derection
was Suprised by a large party of Seeoux [Sioux] & Panies [Arikaras],
one man was Killed and two wounded with arrows
& 9 Horses taken."

We thought it well to Show a Disposition to ade
and assist them against their enemies,
[so] I crossed the river in about an hour
with 23 men and flankd the Town.

The Indians not expecting to receive Such Strong aide
in So Short a time was much Supprised,
and a littled allarmed at [our] formadable appearence.
I explained to the nation the cause of my comeing
was to assist and Chastise the enemies of our Dutifull Children.

after a conversation of a fiew minits anongst themselves,
one Chief Said they now Saw
that what we hade told them was the trooth,
[we] were ready to protect them,
and kill those who would not listen to our Good talk.

"I knew Said he that the [Arikaras] were liers,
[I] told the old Chief that his people were liers and bad men
and that we killed them like the Buffalow, when we pleased,
we do not want to Kill you,
[but] will not Suffer you to Kill us
we will make peace with you as our two [American] fathers have derected,
but we fear the Ricares [Arikaras] will not be at peace long.”

And he said
"My father those are the words I Spoke to the [Arikara Chief].
You See they have not opened their ears to your good Councils.
My father the Snow is deep and it is cold
our horses Cannot travel thro the plains,
those people who have Spilt our blood have gone back?
if you will go with us in the Spring
we will raise the Warriers around about us, and go with you."

I told this nation that we Should be always willing
and ready to defend them
dureing the time we remain in their neighbourhood,
I was Sorry that the Snow in the Plains
had fallen So Deep
I wished to meet those Seeioux
& all others who will not open their ears, but make war
on our dutifull Children,

the Chief Said they all thanked me verry much
for the fatherly protection which I Showed towards them,
that the Village had been Crying all the night and day
for the death of the brave young man, who fell
but now they would wipe away their tears,
rejoice in their [Great American] fathers protection,
and Cry no more.