The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1917-06-21

tom IN the west. Secure for our cost
IN travel some gold-three or four hun
bred dollars. l imagine l will TAX
some in my belt and give the rest Z
you for the saddle trunk"
'Your exeelleney plans to go by land
then. and not by sea y
II do not know. I must save all thl
time possible. And perias--
yes, excellency."
"Have my pistols well cared for and
your own as WELL 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 l do not wish "a
be disturbed And here. take my
watch" he concluded. 1T was given
to me by friend-a good friend. Mr..
Writ. and I prize 1t very much. so
much that I fear to have 1t ON my per
son. Care for it In the saddle trunk"
Yes, excellency."
do not cali me 'excelleney.' 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 II. Have our goods ready for
an early start tomorrow morning"
All that night. sleepless. fevered. al
most distracted. Meriwether Lewis sat
at his desk writing. or endeayoring 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 it may be only in that latitude
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 say, but
certainly all St Louis knew OF the Tn
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.
He was ready to depart. but stood
still. looking about for the tall figure
which presently he saw advancing
through the throng. a tall man with
wide mouth and sunny hair. with blue
eye and stalwart frame 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
the baby which had been named after
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 a 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
back with last look into the face OF
his friend
.-GOodby. WiuT' said he
The governors barge swept down the
rolling Hood Of the Mississippi. Inn
PEELED by the blades Of ten sturdy
Oarsmen. Little by little the blue (
smoke Of st. Louis town faded beyond I
the level Of the forest. The stone tow
er Of the old Spanish stockade. where .
dOated the American flag. disappeared
10 length from view.
Meriwether Lewis sat staring back, Z
but seeming not to note what passed.
He did not even notice a long bateau
which left the wharf just before his
,wn and preceded him down the river,
low lOaing along aimlessly. sometimes
ahead. sometimes behind that Of the
governor and his party. In time he
.urned to his lap desk and began bis
.ndless task Of writing. examining, re-
Using. Now and again he muttered TO
limself The fever was indeed In his
Hood.
They proceeded thus, after the usual
ashton Of boat travel in those days,
own the great river until they had
assed the mouth Of the Ohio and
cached what was known as the Chick.
saw bluhs. below the confluence OF
be two streams. Here was a little
ost Of the army arranged for the COM
handler. Major Neely. Indian agent at
hat point.
As was the custom, all barges tied
D here. and the governors craft moor
d at the foot OF the blun. Its chief
asscnger was so weak that he hardly
ould walk up th@sneep steps cut In
Re muddy front OF the bank.
Governor Lewisr exclaimed Major
eely as he met him. "You are M
on are. in an agueF'
Perhaps. perhaps. Give me rest
ere for a day or two. II you please.
hen fancy I shall be strong enough
travel east. See II you can get
,rses for myself aB1 my, party. am
solved not to go by sea. ! have not
me-
The governor Of Louisiana, haggard.
Ished with fever, staggered as he fol-
wed his friend into the apartment
signed 10 him in one Of the cabins
the little post. He wore his usual Z
iveling garb, but now. for some
range reason, he seemed to lack his
ual immaculate neatness. Instead
the formal dress Of his Office be al
IRE an old, stained, faded uniform q
ut, its pocket buIging with papers.
is he kept at the head Of his bed
len at length he Iung himself down.