17 February: At daybreak, hazy, foggy horizon; hoarfrost on the forests. At seven thirty, 1°F [−17.2°C], with daylight, −2°F [−18.9°C]. The water had frozen in our room, but not the ink. Wind south, afterward more southwest. The river rose very much, forming channels in the old hollows; the banks were slightly flooded. Paths had to be found for the sleds [transporting] firewood across the ice to avoid the water. On this bank, the river reached up to our boats. The sun rose brightly, and soon it became a little warmer.

The Arikara and an old Mandan were in the fort early. They brought news about the two people traveling to Fort Union, Contois and Bourgua; one of them had been shot, [but] the other [had] arrived at Bijoux’s. Probably an Indian lie. Later one of our firewood sleds broke through the ice a little. Síh-Chidä visited us. As usual, we suffered greatly from the smoke in our room. At twelve o’clock, 10°F [−12.2°C], wind southeast.

There were three to four Hidatsas at Mr. Kipp’s who stated that the Assiniboines had killed one of Mr. Dougherty’s people [in retaliation] for the man killed by the Hidatsas. The other one they let go—but none of this was certain yet.

The river was still rising. On the opposite bank, it stood far above the sandy area. In the afternoon it snowed heavily. Dipäuch told us a long story this evening about the Corn Festival. At nine thirty the snow was 2″ deep. In the evening, cloudy sky; snowfall; a strong, cold, southwest wind.