The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-09
By nAuRNE

courage and energy seemed to burn
stronger and brighter. Beverley WAS
always at his side, ready TO undertake
any task, accept any TASK; his ardor
made his face glow, and he seemed to
thrive upon hardships. The two men
We're a source OF inspiration-their fol-
lowers could not flag and hesitate while
under the influence of their example.
Toward the end of the long march
q decided fall of temperature added ice
to the water through which our daunt-
less patriots waded and swan for
miles. The wind shifted northwesterly,
taking on a searching chill. Each gust,
indeed. seemed to shoot wintry splin-
ters into the very marrow of the mems
bones. The weaker ones began to show
the approach of utter exhaustion just
at the time when a final squirt of IN
fiinching power was needed. True, they
struggled heroically; but nature was
nearing the memorable limit of endur-
ance. Without food, which there was
no prospect OF getting, collapse was
sure to come.
Standing nearly waist deep in freez-
ing water and looking out upon the
muddy, sea-li1e flood that stretched
far away 10 the channel of the Wa
bash and beyond, Clark turned 10 Bey-
erley and said, speaking low, so as not
to be overheard by any other OF his Of
ficers or men;
TT is possible, Lieutenant Beverley,
that we are to fail, with Vincenpes al
most IN sight of us?''
NO, sir, il is not possible was ths
firm reply. Nothing must. nothing can
stop us. Look at that brave child. He
sets the heroic example
Beverley pointed. as he spoke. at &
boy but Ii years old, who was using his
drum as a float to bear him up while he
courageousiy swan beside the men.
Clarks elouded face. cleared once
more. You are right he said, come
enl we must win or die
Sergeant Dewitt" he added, turning
to an enormously tall and athletic man
near by, take that little drummer and
his drum on your shoulder and lead the
way. And, sergeant. make him pound
that drum like the devil beating tan
bark.'
The huge man caught the spirit of
his commanders order. In a twinkling
he had the boy astride of his neck with
the kettle drum resting on his head,
and then the rafting music began.
Clark followed, pointing onward with
his sword The half frozen and totter-
ing soldiers sent up shout that went
back to where Captain Bowman was
bringing up the rear under orders TO
shoot every man that struggled or
shrank from duty.
Now came a time when not d mouth
full of food was left. A whole day they
floundered on, starving, growing faint
er at every step. the temperature fall
ing, the ice thickening- They camped
on high land; and next morning they
heard Hamilton's distant sunrise gun
boom over the water.
"-One half-ration for the men," said
Clark, looking diseonsolately in the d.
rection whence the sound had come.
Just five n1outhfuls apiece, even, and
I'll have Hamilton and his fort within
forty-eight hours.
Eve viii nave the provisions, colonel
or I will die trying to get them" Bev
erley responded. Depend upon me-"
They had constructed some canoes in
which to transport the weakest of the
men.
II will take dugout and some picked
fellows We will pull to the wood yon-
der, and there We shall find some kind
of game which has been forced to shell
I ter from the high water"
1t was a cheerful view of forlorn
hope. Clark grasped the hand extend
ed by Beverley and they looked en-
couragement into each others eyes.
Oncle Jazon volunteered to go in the
pirogue. He was ready for anything,
everything
Il can't shoot wo'th a cent" ne
wh1ned. as they took their places in
the cranky pirogue; 'but I might jes'
happen to kill a squirt or a elephant
or somepin MOTHER
Very WELL" shouted Clark in loud
cheerful voice, when they had padded
away TO a considerable distance, bring
the meat to the woods on the hill yon-
der, pointing to a distant isiand-lile
ridge far beyond the creeping flood.
We'll be there ready to eat it.''
He said this for the ears of his men.
They heard and answered with strag-
Cling but determined chorus of ap-
prevail They crossed the rolling cur
rent of the Wabash by a tedious proc
ess of ferrying. and at last found them
selves once more wading In back water
up to their armpits, breaking ice an
inch thick as they went. 1t was the
Closing struggle to reach the high
wooded lands. Many of them fell ex-
hausted; but their stronger comrades
lifted them, holding their heads above
the water, asd dragged them on.
Clark, always leading, always inspir-
ing, was first TO set foot on dry land
He shouted triumphantly, waved his
sword. and then fell TO helping the men
out of the freezing flood. This accom-
plished. he ordered fires built; but there
was not a soldier OF them all whose
hands could clasp an ax-handle, so
NCdh anu LuHlDeQ Win cold were they.
be was not to be baffied, however If
fire could not be had. exercise must
serve It's purpose. Hastily pouring
some powder into his hand, he damp
ened IL and BACKED his face Victory.
men, victory. he shouted, taking off
his hat and beginning to leap and
dance. Come on Wen have a war
dance and then a feast. as soon as the.
meat arrives that I have sent for.
Dance, you brave lads, dance, Victory,
Victory
The strong men, understanding their
colonefs purpose, took hold OF the deli
cate ones; and the leaping, the caper-
ing, the tumult of voices and the
stamping of slushy nnoccasins with
| which they assaulted that stately for
est must have frightened every wild
thing therea bouts into a deadly rigor.
Clark lrrepressible energy and optirr1-
ism worked a veritable charm upon
Dis faithful but almost dying compan-
ions in arms Their trust in him made
them feel sure that food would soon be
forthcoming The thought afforded a
stimulus more potent than wine: il
drove them into an ecstacy of frantic
| motion and shouting which soon
warmed them thoroughly
1t is said that fortune favors fhe
brave The larger meaning of the SEN
tenee may be given thus: God guards
those who deserve his protection. His
tory tells us that just when Clark
halted his command almost in sight Of
Nincennes-just when hunger was
about to prevent the victory so close to
his grasp-a party of his scouts
brought in the haunch of a buffalo