Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-01-16

wnen this explanation brought ont
Beverley's tender interest in Alice. but
he sympathlzed cordially, for he him.
self knew what love is.
Although Beverley was half starved
and still suffering from the kicks and
blows given him by Long Hair and his
warriors, his exhausting run on the
trail Of Clark and his band had not
worked him serious harm. All of the
officers and men did their utmost 20
serve him. He was feasted without
stint and furnished with everything
that the scant supply of clothing on the
pack horses could afford for his com
fort. He promptly asked for an as
signment to duty in his company and
took his place with such high enthusi
asm that his companions regarded him
with admiring wonder None of them
save Clark and Oncle Jazon suspected
that love for a fair haired girl yonder
In Vincennes was the secret of his
amazing zeal and intrepldity.
In one respect Clark's expedition was
sadly lacking in its equipment for the
march. Ii had absolutely no means Of
transporting adequate supplies. Tho
pack horses were not able to carry
more than little extra ammunition
few articles Of clothing, some sim
pie cooking utensils and such tools az
were needed in improvislng RATS and
canoes. Consequently, although bur
,alo and deer were sometimes plentiful
shey furnished no lasting supply Of
meat because II could not be trans.
ported. and as the army neared Vim
| ccnnes wild animals became scarce, SO
that the men began TO suffer from hun-
ger when within but a few days Of
their journeys end.
Clark made almost superhuman ef-
forts in urging forward his chilled, wa
ter soaked, footsore command. To
ward the end of the long march de
cided fall Of temperature added ice
to the water through which our daurt-
less patriots waded and swan for
miles. The wind shifted northwester.
ly taking on a searching chill. Each
gust, indeed, seemed to shoot wintry
splnters into the very narrow Of the
mems bones. The weaker ones began
to show the approach of utter exhaus-
ton just at the time when a final spur,
OF unhlnching power was needed.
True, they struggled heroically, but ma.
ture was nearing the inexorable limit
Of endurance. Without food, which
there was no prospect Of getting, col
lapse was sure to come.
Standing nearly waist deep In freez
Ing water and looking out upon the
muddy, sealille food that stretched fai
away TO the channel OF the Wabash
and beyond, Clark turned to Beverley
and said, speaking low. so as not &c
be overheard by any other Of his OF.
hcers or men:
els II possible. Lieutenant Beverley,
that we are TO fail, with Vincenncs al
most in sight OF usY'
"No, sir, It Is not possible" was the
firm reply. Nothing must, nothi1s
can, stop us. Look at that brave child.
He sets the heroic example"
Beverley pointed as he spoke at p
boy but fourteen years old, who was
using his drum as a float TO bear him
up while he courngeously swan beside
the men.
ClHrks clouded face cleared once
more. "You are right" he said Come
on! We must win or diev'
Sergeant Dewitt" he added, turning
TO an enormously tall aud athletic mar
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
bprkw
The huge man caught the spirit OF
his commanders order. In a twnkllng
he hnu the boy astrlde of his neck with
the kcttledrum resting on his head,
and then the rattllng music began.
Clark followed pointing onward with
his sword. The half frozen and totter-
ing soldiers sent up a 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 time when not a mouth
ful 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 hlgh lana, ana 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
in forty-eight hours"
~. -.
or will die trying 10 get them" Bey-
erley responded. depend upon me-"
They had constructed some canoes
In which TO transport the weakest. of
the men.
Il will take a dugout and some pick
ed fellows. We will pull TO the wood
yonder and there we shall find some
kind OF game which has been forced to
shelter from the high water"
1t was a cheerful view of forlorn