... passed three streames today which discharged themselves on the Lard side; ... we called it Big dry Creek, ... I find that the curiossity of our party is pretty well satisfyed with rispect to this anamal, the formidable appearance of the male bear killed on the 5th added to the difficulty with which they die when even shot through the vital parts, has staggered the resolution [of] several of them, others however seem keen for action with the bear; I expect these gentlemen will give us some amusement sho[r]tly as they [the bears -- Ed.] soon begin now to coppolate [copulate]. ... it is now only amusement for Capt. C. and myself to kill as much meat as the party can consum; ...

May 06, 1805
John Ordway

pleasant and warm.   we Set off early   Sailed on under a gentle breeze from the East.  Some of the party caught two beaver last night.   we Saw a brown bair Swimming the River before us.  Saw beaver looking out of their holes along the bank.   we came 16 miles by 2 O.C. then halted to dine    Capt. Clark killed an Elk on N.S. in a bottom covred with timber.    one man killed a beaver.   we proceed on    passed a large Creek or Small river which came in on the S.S. about 200 yards wide named [blank] [Prairie Elk Creek (Lewis and Clark's Little Dry River.) The party had passed two previous streams on the south side during the course of the day.]   Some Sprinkling rain, but did not last long.   proceeded on passed high land on S.S. Smoth plains on N.S. and timbered bottoms on each side.  Came 26 1/2 miles in all this day, and Camped [A few miles southwest of Oswego.] in a bottom of Small timber on the S. Side.

May 06, 1805
Patrick Gass

We set sail with a fair wind and pleasant weather.  At 12 a few drops of rain fell, but it soon cleared up.  We passed a river on the South side about 200 yards wide; but the water of this river sinks in the sand on the side of the Missouri.  We went twenty-six miles and encamped on the South side.

May 06, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse

clear pleasant and warm.   the wind from the East.   we Sailed on verry well.  Caught two beaver last night.  Saw a brown bair Swim the River before us.   about 2 oC. we halted to dine at a handsom bottomcovered with timber on the N.S.  Capt. Clark killed an Elk, a light Sprinkling of rain, but did not last long.   passed a bluff on S.S. and Some hills also.   high plains & bottoms on the N. Side and on the S.S.  Came about 27 miles in all this day, and Camped in a bottom of timber on the S. Side.   the bottoms is all trod up by the Game, and different paths in all directions &c--

May 06, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse

We had this morning the weather pleasant, and Warm, and a fair wind from the East, We set out early, and proceeded on with our Sails set, some of the party during last night caught 2 Beaver, about 2 hours after we started we saw a brown Bear swimming the River before us   About 2 o'Clock P.M, we halted to dine at a handsome bottom, covered with Timber lying on the North side of the River.  Captain Clark went out here a hunting, and killed an Elk which was brought by our Men to us.--  We proceeded on our Voyage, at 4 o'Clock P.M; and passed a Bluff lying on the south side of the River, and some hills on the same side, & bottoms & high plains also lying on the South side--  We had sprinkling rain fell this afternoon but it lasted but for a short time.--   In the Evening we came too; and encamped in a bottom cover'd with Timber lying on the South side of the River,  This bottom as well as that we dined at was much trod with Game of different kinds, and they had made fair paths in them in different directions--