Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-22

Now came a time when not mouth 9ul of food was left A whole day they houndered 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 disconsolately in the direction whence the sound had come. "Just five mouthfuls apiece, even, and I'll have Hamilton and his fort with fin forty-eight hours"
 we will have the provisions, colonel, or I will, die trying to get them" Bev- erley responded. Depend upon me.
 They had constructed some canoes an which to transport the weakest of the men.
 T will take a dugout and some pick ed fellows. we will pull to the wood wonder, and there we shall-fnd- some ! kind of game which has been forced to Shelter from the high water" It was a cheerful view of forlorn hope. Clark grasped the hand extend ed by Beverley and they looked en- couragingly into each others eyes.
 Oncle Jazon volunteered to go in the pirogue. He was ready for anything, everything.
 q can't shoot woth a. cent" he whined as they took their. places in the cranky pfroguer a1'bI1t might ties' hap pen to kill squirl or a. elephant or somepin' mother"
 .svery well!' shouted Clark in loud, cheerful voice, when they had paddled away to considerable distance. Bring the meat to the woods on the hill yon- Ider,' pointing to distant island-ltke ridge far beyond the creeping flood. sssWe'll be there ready to eat itv'
 He said this for the ears of his men. They heard and answered with strag- gling but determined chorus of ap- provaI. They crossed the rolling cur rent Of the Wabash by tedious proc ess of ferrying, and at last found themselves once more wading in back water up to their armpits, breaking ice an inch thick as they went. It 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 water, and 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 food This accom- plished, he ordered fires built, but there was not soldier of them all whose hands could clasp an ax handle, so weak and numbed with cold were they. He was not to be bafied, how ever. If fire could not be had, exercise must serve its purpose Hastily pour ing some powder into his hand, he dampened it and blacked his face. s'VictOry, men, victoryv' he shouted, taking off his hat and beginning to leap and dance. Come onI We'll have war dance and then a feast as soon as the meat arrives that have sent for Dance, you brave lads, dancel Victoryl Victory
 The strong men, understanding their colonePs purpose, took hold of the deli cate ones, and the leaping, the caper- ing. the tumult of voices and the stamping of slushy moccasins with which they assaulted that stately for est must have frightened every wild thing thereabout into a deadly rigor. Clark's irrepressible energy and op- tinism worked a veritable charm upon his faithful but almost dying compan- Ions In arms. Their trust Tn him made them feel sure that food would soon be forthcoming. The thought afforded a stimulus more potent than wine. It drove them into an ecstasy of frantic motion and shouting which soon warm ed them thoroughly.
 It. is said that fortune favors the brave. The larger meaning of the sentence may be given thus: God guards those who deserve his protec- ton. History tells us that just when Clark halted his command almost in sight of Vincennes- 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 buf. falo captured from some Indians. The scouts were Beverley and Oncle Jazon And with the meat they brought Tn, dian kettles in which to cook it.
 R5th consummate forethought Clark arranged to prevent his men doing themselves injury by bolting their food or eating it half cooked. Broth was first made and served hot; then small D1lS we'll OIO4IS0 SCCdk- WCIS out, until by degrees the fine effect o1 nourishment set in and all the com mand felt the fresh courage of healthy reaction.
 T ain't no gin'ral, nor corp'ral, rol nothin'," remarked Oncle Jazon tC Colonel Clark, "but f I's you I'd hist up every dad dinged ole flag in the Sdg'ment, wen got ready to show my Self to 'em, an I'd make lem think over wander at the fort, at I had 'bou' ninety thousan men. Hit d skeer tha1 sandy faced gov'nor over there till he'd think his backbone was a-comin' out'r i'm by the roots.''
 Clark laughed, but his face showed that the old mans suggestion struck him forcibIy and seriously.
 'fWe'H see about that presently OncIe Jazou Wait till we reach th(