The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-21
.(Continued.l


 here. Get my old spyglass. I may need it, and I always fancy to have it with me when I travel, as was my cus- tom in the west Secure for our costs in travel some gold-three or four hun dred dollars, imagine. I will take some in my belt and give the rest to you for the saddle trunk" ''Your excelIency plans to go by land, then, and not by scar"
 -"I do not know. I must save all the time possible. And Peria"-
 'sYes, excellency."
 Have my pistols well cared for and your own as we'll See that my small powder canister, with bullets, is with them in the holsters. The trails are none too safe. Be careful whom you advise of our plans My business is of private nature, and do not wish to , be disturbed. And here, ;. take my watch he concluded. Ut was given to me by a friend-a good friend, MT. Wirt, and I prize 1t very much, so much that fear to have it, on my per son Care for it in the saddle trunk.".
 5''Yes, excellency." i
 "Do not call me sexcellency.' I de test the title. am Governor Lewis and may so be distinguished. Go now, and do as I have told you. We shall need about ten men to man the barge. Arrange it. Have our goods ready for an, early start tomorrow morning All that night, sleepless, fevered, all most distracted, Meriwether Lewis sat at his desk writing, or endeavoring to write, with what matters upon his soul we may not ask But the long night wore away at last, and morning came, | a morning of the early fall, beautiful as 1t may be only in that latitude. l Without having closed his eyes in sleep the governor made ready for his jour- ney to the east.
 Whether or not Peria was faithful to all his instructions one cannot says but certainly all St. Louis knew of the in tended departure of the governor. They loved him, these folk, trusted him, would miss him now, and they gathered almost en masse to bid him speed upon his journey.
 l He was ready to depart, but stood still, looking about for the tall figure which presently he saw advancing through the throng, tall man with wide mouth and sunny hair, with blue eye and stalwart William Clark. the friend whom he loved so much and whom he, was now to see for the last time in his life.
 General Clark carried upon his arm l the baby which had been n&med after l the governor of the new territory. Lewis took him from his fathers arms and pressed the child's cool face to his own, suddenly trembling little about his own lips as he felt the tender flesh < of the infant. No child of his own might he ever hold thus. He gave him l back with last look into the face of his friend.
 'sGoodby, Will!'' said he.
 The governors barge swept down the rolling flood of the Mississippi, i'm pelled by the blades of ten sturdy oarsmen. Little by little the blue I smoke of St. Louis town faded beyond the level of the forest. The stone tow CT. of the old Spanish stockade, where 1Hoated the American flag, disappeared at length from view.
 Meriwether Lewis sat staring back, but seeming not to note what passed He did not even notice long bateau which left the wharf just before his own and preceded him down the river, now loaflng along aimlessly, sometimes ahead, sometimes behind that of the governor and his party. In time he turned to his lap desk and began his vising. Now and again he muttered te himself. The fever was indeed in his
 blood.
 They proceeded thus, after the usual
 fashion of boat travel in those days
 down the great river until they had passed the mouth of the Ohio and reached what was known as the Chick asaw bluffs, below the confluence of the two streams. Here was little j post of the army arranged for the com
 mander, Major Nicely, Indian agent al that point.
 l As was the custom, all barges tie6
 up here, and the governors craft moor
 ed at the foot of the bluff It's chiei
 passenger was so weak that he hardly
 could walk up the steep steps cut il
 the muddy front of the bank.
 Governor Lewis!' exclaimed Majol
 Nicely as he met him. ''You are i'll
 You are in an aguep
 Perhaps, perhaps. Give me res
 here for day or two, if you please
 Then fancy shall be strong enougf
 to travel east. See if you can ge
 horses for myself and my party. an resolved not to go by sea. I have no l time" ) The governor of Louisiana, haggard flushed with fever, staggered as he fol : lowed his friend into the apartmen assigned to him in one of the cabins of the little post. He wore his usua
 travelling garb, but now, for som' l T. I-r I,1