A war party, three hundred strong, were prowling in the neighborhood; others might be met with higher up the river; it behooved the travellers, therefore, to be upon their guard against robbery or surprise, for an Indian war-party on the march is prone to acts of outrage.
In consequence of this report, which was subsequently confirmed by further intelligence, a guard was kept up at night round the encampment, and they all slept on their arms.

As they were sixteen in number, and well supplied with weapons and ammunition, they trusted to be able to give any marauding party a warm reception.

Nothing occurred, however, to molest them on their voyage, and on the 8th of April they came in sight of Fort Osage.

On their approach the flag was hoisted on the fort, and they saluted it by a discharge of fire-arms.

Within a short distance of the fort was an Osage village, the inhabitants of which, men, women, and children, thronged down to the water side to witness their landing.