Oxford Democrat., 1904-02-02
loved name brimmed his heart with

Sweetness.
Clark went to meet them as they
came in. He. hugged the gaunt lieu
tenant with genuine fervOr of joy
while Oncle Jazon ran around them
making Il series of grotesque capers
The whole command, hearing Oncle
JazOn's patriotic words. set up wild
shouting on the spur Of II general i'm
preston that Beverley came as a mes
senger bearing glorious news from
Washington's army in the east.
1t was a great relief to Clark when
he found out that his favorite lieuten-
ant had not broken his parole. but had
instead boldly resurrcndered himself,
declaring the obligation no longer bind
ing and notifying Hamilton Of his in
tention to go away with the purpose
of returning and destroying him and
his command. Clark laughed heartily
when this explanation brought out
Beverley's tender interest in Alice, but
he sympathized 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 Oh the
trail of Clark and his band had not
worked him serious harm. All of the
officers and men did their utmost to
serve him. He was fHsted 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 fair haired girl yonder
in yincennes was the secret of his
amazing zeal and intrepidity.
In one respect Clark's expedition was
sadly lacking in its equipment for the
march. 1t had absolutely no means of
transporting adequate supplies. The
PACK horses We're not able to carry
more than little extra ammunition.
few articles Of clothing, some sim
pie cooking utensils and such tools as
We're needed in improvlsing rafts and
canoes. Consequently, although buf-
falo and deer were sometimes plentiful.
they furnished no lasting supply of
medt, because II could not be trans
ported. and as the army neared Vim
cennes wild animals became scarce, so
that tine men began TO suffer from hun
ger when within but 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 daunt-
less patriots waded and swan for
miles. The wind shifted northwestern
ly, taking on searching chill. Each
gust. indeed. seemed to shoot wintry
splnters into the very marrow of the
mems bones. The weaker ones began
to show the approach of utter eXlalls-
ton Just mt the time when Il final sl"lrt
of unhinching power was needed.
True, they struggled heroically, but ma
ture was nearing the ineEorabl2 limi;
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:
us it possible, Lieutenant Beverley.
that we are to fail, with NincenneS al-
most in sight of us?"
NO. 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 rs he spoke ut Il
boy but fourteen years old. who was
using his drum rs float 10 bear him
up while he courageously swan beside
tle men