Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-02-25

oooaV roaDo96eG depend suSo1 Ne"
TAaV Nd, eoaeoRocted seano canoes
in which to transport the weakest Of
the Mea.
Il VII take q duoout and some pick
eA fellows. We WIN pull to the wood
yondsr. and there We shall find some
kind Of game which has been forced to
shelter from the high watsr.'
It was q cheerful view Of forlorn
hope. Clark srasped the hand extend
Cd by Beverley and they looked en-
ssuEasinsH into each sthers eyes.
Oncle Jagon volunteered TO 50 in the
piregue. He was ready for anything.
everything.
81 can't shoot we'th q cent" he
whined ~ they took their places in the
cranky pirogue. "but might jes' hap
pen to kill q squirt or q elephant or
somepin' mother"
every welly shouted Clark in loud,
cheerful voice. when they had padded
away to q considerable distance. Bring
the meat to the woods on the hill yon-
der." pointing to a distant island-like
ridge far beyond the creeping food.
"W@n 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 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 ~ they wont. 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
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 az handle,
so weak and numbed with cold were
they. He was not to be baf1ed, 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 BACKED his face.
"victory, men, victory!' he shouted.
taking off his hat and beginning to
leap and Dance "Come on! Well
have a war dance and then a feast as
soon as the meat arrives that have
sent for. Dance, YOU brave lads, dance!
Victory! Victory!'
The strong men, understanding their
colonel's 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 deadly rigor.
Clark's irrepresstble energy and OPP
dmisn, worked veritable charm upon
his 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
stimulus more potent than wine. It
drove them into an ecstasy of frantic
motion and shouting which soon warm
ed them thoroughly.
1t 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 buff
falo captured from some Indians. The
scouts were Beverley and Oncle Jazon.
And with the meat they brought In
dian kettles in which to cook it.
With consummate forethought Clark
arranged to prevent his men doing
themselves injury by boiling their food
or eating it half cooked. Broth was
first made and served hot; then small
bits Of we'll broiled steak We're doled
out, until by degrees the fine effect of
nourishment set in, and all the COM
reaction.
Il Amt no gin'ral, nor corp'ral, nor
nothin'," remarked Oncle Jazon to
Colonel Clark, "but 4 rs you I'd hist
up every dad dinged ole flag in the
regiment, wen got ready to show l::y-
self to 'em, an I'd make 'em think.
over yander at the fort. AT l had bout
ninety thousan' men. Hit d skeer that
sandy faced gov nor over there till i:,'d
think his backbone was a-comir' cut'i,
i'm by the roots"
Clark laughed, but his face showed
that the old mans suggestion asruti:
him forcibly and seriously.
'We'll see about that p:'.':-?.t:..'
Oncle Jazon. Wait till VIC r.:;cA L,
hill yonder, from which the " CO t:::':,
can observe our manauveG.;: ti, Ii W. :.
try it, maybe"
Once more the men wer" s..:r.! -
the roll call gone through VIII s;stii.+
factorily and tue question .'':t:
'Are we ready for ::ilo.ii : l,...,;.:ss.'
through the mud and water
The answer cane il! the affirmative,
with a unani1nity not to be mistaken
The weakest heart Of t::e::i all be;,-
to the time of the charge step. Again
Ao