Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-05-16


The fallen warrior sat up. rubbing his
throat. He struggled to his knees and
at length stood. There was something
of rude river chivalry about him. after
all.
IAN officer. did We say?' said he.
"Oh. wirra! What have done now.
and me Il soldier! But We done it fair!
And We nivver vance gouged me nor
jumped on me whin I was down! Be-
gorrah, felt both me eyes to see II
they was in! Ye done it fair. and
ye're an officer and gintleman, who
ever We be. I'd like to shake hands
with ye."
81 am not shaking hands with ruff
fans who insult travellers" Captain
Lewis sternly rejoined. But he saw
the crestfallen look which swept over
the strong face Of the other There,
man." said he. "since you seem to
mean WELL"
He shook hands with his opponent,
who, stung by the rebuke. now began
to sniftie.
"Sor." said he, Il am no ruftian.
am soldier meself and on me way
to join me company at Kaskasky. down
below. Me time was out awhile back,
and came east to the States to have
a bit av fling before enlisted again.
Now. what money haven't give to me
parents I've spint like man. have
had me fling for awhile. and I'm goin'
back to sign on again. Sor, l am a
sergeant, and good wan, though l
do say it. Me record is clean. ! am
Patrick Gass. first sergeant of the
Tinth dragons, the same now sta.
toned at Kaskasky. Though We are
not in uniform. know well enough We
are an officer. Sor, ask yer pardon.
Twas only the whisky made me feel
sportin' like at the time. do We mind|''
"Gass, Patrick Gass, you saidT'
"Yis, sor, of the Tinth. Barrin' me
love for fghtin', am good soldier.
There are stripes on me sleeves be
rights, but me old coats hangin' in the
barracks down below"
Lewis stood looking curiously at the
man before him, the power Of whose
grip he had felt In his own. He cast
an eye over his erect figure. bis easy
and natural dropping into the position
of the soldier.
"You say the Tenthy' said he brief
ly. "You have been with the colors?
Look here, my man, do you want to
server"
II am goin' right back to Kaskasky
for it, sor."
"Why not enlist with US? l need
men. We are of for the west up the
Missouri. for long trip. like enough.
You seem we'll built man, and you
have seen service. know men when
see them. want men Of courage
and good temper. Will you go?"
II could not say. sor. would have
to ask leave at Kaskasky. gave me
word I'd come back after I'd had me
ding here in the east. ye see"
'Tll take care of that. have full
authority to recruit among enlisted
men"
Excuse me. sor. Ye are sayin' ye
are goin' up the Missouri? Then ]
know yez. Yez are the Captain Lewis
that has been buildin' the big boat the
last two months up at the yards-Cap-
tain Lewis, from Washington"
"Yes, and from the Ohio country be-
fore then, and Kentucky too. am to
join Captain CLARK at the Point OF
Rocks on the Ohio. need another
oar. Come. my man. we are on our
way. Two minutes ought to be enough
for you to decide"
"Tll need not the half of two!' re-
Joined Patrick Gass promptly. "Give
me leave of my captain, and am with
yez! There Is nothin' In the world I'd
lever see than the great plains and the
buffalo. IT'S fond of travel l am, and
I'd like to see the ind Of the world be-
fore die"
"You will come as near seeing the
end Of it with US as anywhere else
know" rejoined Lewis quietly. Get
your war bag and come aboard"
In this curious fashion Patrick Gass
of the army-later one Of the journal
lists Of the expedition and always one
Of its most faithful and efficient mem
bers-signed his name on the rolls of
the Lewis and Clark expedition.
There was not one of the frontiers
men in the boat who had any comment
to make upon any phase of the trans
action. Indeed. it seemed much In the
days work to them. But from that
instant every man in the boat knew he
had leader who could be depended
upon for prompt and efficient action in
any emergency. and from that moment
also their leader knew he could depend
on his men.
"I have nothing to complain Of said
Patrick Gass. addressing his new
friends impartially as he shifted his
belongings to suit him and took his
place at rowing seat. II have moth
ing to complain of. I've been sayin' l
would like to have one more rale fight
before enlisted. The army Is too
tame for fellow of rale spirit. None
O. thin at the camp yonder, where ]
was two days. would take it on with
me after the first day. | was fair
longin' for something to interest me.