15 December: Early in the morning, terribly cold storm out of [the] northwest, which blew down the chimney guard made from boards. The previous evening, that storm had brought much snow, which ceased when it turned northwest. At nine eight o’clock, 14°F [−10°C]. It was a strange sight. When one stepped in front of the gate of the fort, one would think of seeing a terrible storm on the ocean. The wide, snowy expanse of the prairie was whipped up by the wind into a snow cloud; at the same time [it] was so cold that one could not open an eye against the wind. [One] found oneself in a cloud of powdery snow. Above this cloudy “snow atmosphere,” [however,] one could see the tops of the prairie hills stand out dark and blurred. We worked the whole day at home; the storm continued. Dipäuch visited us, and his son again brought a beautiful ermine caught with a snare. I did not want to give him more than two dollars. He demanded more; usually the Indians are paid six dollars for them (four such pelts for a gun). His father was present and told his son that [we] were collecting rarities, so he should give us the animal but bring no others in the future. At twelve o’clock, 25 1/2°F [−3.6°C]; wind northwest. In the afternoon Charbonneau returned; he had turned over and could hardly see the trail. [From] the Hidatsas he could get neither meat nor tallow for candles. There, too, they had nothing and went hungry. Their enemies had recently stolen six horses from them. In the evening Dipäuch came and told us about the myths of his people until eleven thirty. The wind abated in the night; the sky became clear.