19 February: In the morning, bright [and] clear, fairly calm, moderately cold. At six thirty, 14°F [−10°C]; at seven thirty, 16°F [−8.9°C]. The wind rose out of the west. The sky that [at first] promised a bright day [became] cloudy again. The wind changed from west to south several times in a quarter of an hour. Dreidoppel went to look for rabbits. Dipäuch visited us early and smoked near our fire. Some Indians with inflamed eyes came into the fort. Mr. Kipp dripped lead acetate in [their eyes]. Many Indians walked now and then on [to and from?] the river. The Dacota (Yanktonai) came into the fort. About noon the wind blew strongly; it had turned more toward the west. At twelve o’clock, 37°F [2.8°C]; wind strong out of the west. Dreidoppel came back from his hunt and had shot a very nice red fox (Canis fulvus). He lured [it], and the fox came as close to him as twelve paces, when he shot it. It was very nice, different from the European [animal].

At noon a few Hidatsas came and stated that it was certain that the Assiniboines had shot one of the two engagés sent upriver to the Yellowstone by Mr. Dougherty [Page 3:151](of the Sublette and Campbell Fur Company). They [had] led [the engagés] into their camp and sent [only] one of them back again.

In the afternoon, clear sky and sunshine; at the same time, cold wind out of the west. The son of the Arikara brought me a kind of mouse (Arvicola) that I did not know yet. Dreidoppel went out but did not see anything. This evening the news of the dead engagé was withdrawn. The Indians often convey false news. Evening clear, cold, windy, moonlit.