Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-02-05
meat, because It could not be trans
ported, and as the army neared Vim


ported, and as the army nsared Vim
cennes wild animals became scarce. 20
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 q de-
cided fall of temperature added ice
to the water through which our daunt-
less patriots waded and swan for
miles. The wind shifted Northwestern
ly, taking on a searching chill Each
gust, indeed, seemed to shoot wintry
splinters into the very marrow of the
mems bones. The weaker ones began
to show the approach of utter exhaus-
ton just at the time when final squirt
Of unnlnching power was needed.
True, they struggled heroically, but ma
ture was nearing the memorable 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, sealike flood that stretched far
away to the channel Of the Wabash
and beyond, Clark turned to Beverley
and said, speaking low, so as not to
be overheard by any other of his Of
ficers or men:
as it possible, Lieutenant Beverley
that we are to fail, with Vincennes al
most in sight of usT
mo, sir, it is not possible" was the
firm reply. Nothing must, nothing
can, stop us. Look at that brave child!
He sets the heroic example"
Beverley pointed as he spoke at a
boy but fourteen years old, who was
using his drum as a float to bear him
up while he courageously swan beside
the men.
Clarks clouded face cleared once
more. "You are right" he said. Come
on! 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 kettledrum resting on his head
and then the rafting music began
Clark followed, pointing onward with
his sword. The half frozen and totter
tnry sn1d ont oh hot FONT
back to where Captain Bowman was
bringing up the rear under orders tC
shoot every man that struggled OF
shrank from duty.
Now came time when not mouth
full Of food was left. A whole day they
foundered on, starving, growing faint
er at every step, the temperature fall
ing, the ice thickening. They campet
on high land, and next morning they
heard Hamiltons distant sunrise CUR
boom over the water.
"One half ration for the men," sale
Clark, looking disconsolately in tn,
direction whence the sound had come
Just five mouthfuls apiece, even, an(
I'll have Hamilton and his fort with
in forty eight hours"
I'VE will have the provisions, colonel
or 1 will die trying to get them" Bev
erley responded. Depend upon me-"
They had constructed some canoe
in which to transport the weakest o
the men.
81 will take dugout and some pick
ed fellows. We will pull to the WOO,
ha
kind of game which has been forced t
shelter from the high water"
1t was a cheerful view of a forlorl
hope. Clark grasped the hand extend
ed by Beverley and they looked en-
couragingly into each others eyes.
Oncle Jazon volunteered to 60 in tn
pirogue. He was ready for anything
everything
81 can't shoot wo'th cent" h
whined as they took their places in tn
cranky pirogue, "but might jes' haI
pen to kill squirt or a elephant @
somepin' mother"
VERY wellw shouted Clark in lout
cheerful voice, when they had paddle
away to considerable distance. "Brin
y
der" pointing to a distant island-lik
ridge far beyond the creeping foot
"We'll be there ready to eat it!'
He said this for the ears of his mel
They heard and answered with strai
Cling but determined chorus Of al
proval. They crossed the rolling GU
rent of the Wabash by tedious pro-
ess of ferrying, and at last foun
themselves once more wading in bac
, water up to their armpits, breaking IL
an inch thick as they went. 1t Wa
: the closing struggle to reach the hig
wooded lands. Many of them fell e.
hausted, but their stronger comradt
: lifted them, holding their heads aboy
water, and dragged them on.
Clark, always leading, always inspi
ing, was first to set foot on dry Ian
} He shouted triumphantly. waved h
: sword and then fell to helping the me
out of the freezing food. This accor