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Indeed, Glass systematically exploited this windfall. Resting
beside the buffalo carcass and periodically dining off it, he al-
lowed his body to recuperate as thoroughly as possible. When
he resumed his journey a few days later, Glass had regained bi-
pedal locomotion.
His increased blood volume and improved circulation accel-
erated the healing process, but Glass' back wound, which he
could not reach, became infested with maggots. As he proceed-
ed downriver toward Fort Kiowa, he encountered Sioux Indians,
who thoroughly cleaned and treated his wound with an "astrin-
gent vegetable liquid." Sources suggest that the Sioux also pro-
vided access to a horse or buffalo-hide bullboat.
In either event, Glass arrived at Fort Kiowa no later than Oc-
tober 11. Following acquisition of supplies and weaponry, he
headed back upriver, probably by pirogue or a Mackinaw boat,
toward the Mandan villages. His party reached their objective by
November 20, but Glass narrowly escaped an Arikara attack. Four
separate accounts corroborate his rescue by one or two mounted
Mandans who took him to either their village or Fort Tilton.
Working initially from the premise that his quarry was then
stationed at the mouth of the Yellowstone, Glass embarked,
alone and on foot. This leg of his journey ultimately took him
550 miles to the newly established Fort Henry, located at the
confluence of the Little Bighorn and Bighorn rivers. Travel con-
ditions were miserable. According to Flagg, "snow lay on the
frozen soil for the most part of his route a foot in depth!"
Nevertheless, Yount relates that Glass appeared unexpected-
ly at Fort Henry on New Year's Eve. He confronted Jim Bridger,
Jim Bridger's rifle.
Photo courtesy of the
Museum of the Mountain Man.
UNPREPARED
UNPREPARED FOR THE SHEER TERROR
EXHIBITED BY THE 19-YEAR-OLD YOUTH,
GLASS FORGAVE BRIDGER.
