July 11, 1805   
 " We had now nothing to do but wait for the canoes; as they had not returned I sent out some of the small party with me to hunt; in the evening they returned with a good quantity of the flesh of a fat buffaloe which they had killed.  the canoes not arrived this evening.  I saw several very large grey Eagles today they are are a half as large again as the common bald Eagle of this country.  I do not think the bald Eagle here qute so large as those of the U' States; the grey Eagle is infinitely larger and is no doubt a distinct species*.  a little before sunset I heared two other discharges of the unaccountable artillery of the Rocky Mountains proceeding from the same quarter that I had before heard it. I now recollected the Minnetares making mention of the nois which they had frequently heard in the Rocky Mountains like thunder.  I paid no attention to the information supposing it either false or the fantom of a supersticious immagination.  I have also been informed by the engages that the Panis and Ricaras give the same account of the Black mountains which lye West of them.  this phenomenon the philosophy of the engages readily accounts for; they state it to be the bursting of the rich mines of silver which these mountains contain."  Lewis

distinct species* - Lewis's gray eagle may be the golden eagle; on the average they are smaller then the bald eagle.

" a fair windey morning wind I dispatch W Bratten (who cannot work he having a tumer rising on his finger) to meat the Canoes & bring from them two axes, which is neccessary for the work at the perogues or Canoes, and is indespnceable  he returned in about two hours & informed that one Canoe was within three miles, about 2 oClock the Canoe which Bratten left arrived haveing killed a Buffalow on the river above our Camp, at which place the bend of the river below & that above is about 1 mile apart, I dispatched Serjt. Pryor with 3 men in the Canoe to get the meat  they killed another buffalow near the one killed and brought the meat of both down.  as Sunset the 3 remaing Canoes arrived unloaded & returned imeadeately with orders to flote down to Camp at the portage to night for the purpose of takeing up the remaining baggage.  Musquitors verry troublesom, and in addition to their torments we have a small Knat."    Clark

tumer rising on his finger - Whitlow, an infection often extremely painful, under and around the nail and sometimes deep into the bone.

July 12, 1805  
 " The canoes not having arrived and the wind still high I dispatched Sergt. Gass with three men to join Capt. Clark and assist in completing the canoes retaining only a few who in addition to those in the canoes that I expect every moment, will be sufficient to man the six canoes and take up all the baggage we have here at one load.  I feel excessively anxious to be moving on. "  Lewis

"All hands at work at Day light on the canoes & others drying meat for our voyage.  Dispatched W. Brattin to the lower Camp* for two axes which are necessary to carry on our work at this place & Serjt. Pryors Sholder was put out of place yesterday Carrying Meat and is painfull to day.  four men arrives from the lower camp by land to assist at this place in building the canoes. "  Clark

lower Camp* - The White Bear Island camp, not the now-abandoned lower portage camp.

July 13, 1805     
 " I now bid a cheerfull adue to my camp… continued up to Capt Clark’s camp and found them busily engaged with their canoes Meat & c …. Meat now forms our food principally as we reserve our flour parched meal and corn as much as possible for the Rocky mountains which we are shortly to enter." Lewis

"we were visited by a Buffalow Bull who came within a fiew steps of one of the Canoes as the men were at work.  Capt. Lewis one man arrived over Land at 9 o Clock."  Clark

July 14, 1805   
 " All hands that could work were employed about the canoes. Which we completed and launched this evening.  the one was 25 feet and the other 33 feet in length abd about 3 feet wide.… every prepertion except the entire completion of the oars poles is made for our departure tomorrow." Lewis

July 15, 1805  
" We arrose early this morning, assigned the canoes their loads and had it put on board.  we found our vessle eight in number all heavily laden, notwithstanding our several deposits; tho' it is true we have now a considerable stock of dryed meat and grease.  we find it extreemly difficult to keep the baggage of many of our men within reasonable bounds; they will be adding bulky articles of by little use or value to them.  At 10 AM we once more saw ourselves fairly under way much to my joy and I believe that of every individual who compose the party."   Lewis