Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-02-05
sy MAURICE THOMPSON
CHAPTER XVII.

N tne olh uay VI reprudiy'
1779, Colonel George Rogers
Clark led an army across the
Kaskaskia river and camped.
This was the first step in his march
toward the Wabash. An army! Do not
smile. Fewer than 200 men, II is true,
answered the roll call when Father
Gibault lifted the cross and blessed
them. .,. ..Hr
1t was an army, small indeed, but
yet an army, even though so rudely
equipped that, could we now see 1t be-
fore us, we might wonder of what use
it could possibly be in military way.
Clark knew when he set out on his
march to vincennes that he was not
indulging visionary impulse. The
enterprise was one that called for all
that manhood could endure, but not
more. With the genius of a born lead
er he measured his task by his means.
He knew his own courage and forti-
tude and understood the best capacity
of his men. He had genius-that is he
possessed the secret Of extracting from
himself and from his followers the last
refinement of devotion to purpose.
There was certainty, from first to
last, that effort would not flag at any
point short of the topmost possible
strain.
The march before them lay over
magnificent plain, mostly prairie, rich
as the delta of the Nile, but extremely
difficult to traverse. The distance, as
the route led, was about ITO miles. On
account Of an open and rainy winter
all the basins and fat lands were in
undated, often presenting leagues Of
water ranging in depth from a few
inches to three or four feet. Colonel
Clark understood perfectly the stra-
| tegic importance of Vincennes as post
commanding the Wabash and as a
base of communication with the many
Indian tribes north of the Ohio and
east of the Mississippi. Francis Vigo
(may his name never fadsD had
brought him a comprehensive and &C
curats report Of Hamilton's strength
and the condition Of the fort and gar
rison. This information confirmed his
belief that 1t would be possible not only
to capture Vincennes, but Detroit as
we'll.
Just seven days after the march be-
gan the little army encamped for a
nights rest at the edge Of a wood, and
here, just after nightfall, when the fires
were burning merrily and the smell of
broiling buffalo steaks burdened the
damp air, a wizened old man suddenly
appeared, how or from where nobody
-. It,.tx IL,
every way disreputable in appearance,
looking like an animated mummy
bearing long rifle on his shoulder and
walking with the somewhat hating
activity Of a very old yet vivacious and
energetic simian. OF course it was On
Gle Jazon, "Oncle Jazon sui generis," as
Father Beret had dubbed him.
"Well, here l amr' he cried, ap
preaching the fire by which Colonel
Clark and some of his officers were
cooking supper. But We can't guess in
a mile O. who l am to save yer livers
an lights"
He danced few stiff steps, which
made the water gush out of his tat
tered moccasins, then doffed his monde
head in salutation to the commander,
Clark looked inquiringly at him
while the old fellow grimaced ant
rubbed his shrunken chin. ~,
II smelt yer fat a-fryin' somepin
like 2 mile away, an 1t set my in'ardl
to grumblin' for a snack, 80 jes
thought I'd drap in on ys an chav
whites WI ye."
| Your looks are decidedly agains
you" remarked the colonel, with a dr..
smile. he had recognized Oncle ia
! ION after a little sharp scrutiny. Z"
suppose, however, that we can let 20,
gnaw the bones after we've got Off tn
meat"
"Thank zee, thank zee. plenty good
A Teller ats as hongry as l am kin g
through a bone like a feesh through
! water"
Clark laughed and said:
81 don't see any teeth that you hav
worth mentioning, but your gums ma
be unusually sharp"
'Ya-a-s, bout as sharp as yer Wi
.. Colonel Clark, an sharper n yer eyes
long shot Ye don't know me,
| ye? Take ernother squirt at me. ar
see f We kin member a good lookiI
| man.
"You have somewhat the appearance
Of an old scamp Of the name Of Jazo
that formerly loafed around with
worthless gun on his shoulder, an
used to run from every Indian he ga,