Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-06-07

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George, saw we ever the like of yon?"
gaunt, red headed, blue eyed, smiling,
himself a splendid figure of a man
you, Merne, are a great man now, ia.
nous there in Washington, Mr.. JEFF
ferson's right hand man. We hear of
you often across the mountains. |
have been waiting for you here, as
anxious as yourself"
1.-THE water is low" complained
Lewis, land a thousand things have
delayed US. Are you ready to start?"
"In ten minutes-in five minutes. |
will have my boy York go up and get
my rifle and my bags"
"Your brother. General Clark, how is
he?"
William Clark shrugged with a smile
which had half as much sorrow as
mirth in it.
"The truth is, Merne, the generals
heart is broken. He thinks that his
country has forgotten him."
Forgotten him? From Detroit to
New Orleans we owe it all to George
Rogers Clark. 1t was be who opened
the river from Pittsburgh to New Or
leans. He'll not need. now. to be an
ally of France again. Once more a
member of your family will be in at
the finding of a vast new country"
"Merne. I've sold my farm. got
$4,000 for my place, and so l am off
with you. not with much of it left in
my pockets, but with a clean bill and
a good conscience and some of the
family debts paid. l care not how far
we go or when we come back. |
thank Mr.. jefferson for taking me on
with you. IT'S the gladdest time in all
my life"
1--WE are share and share alike. Will"
said his friend Lewis soberly. Tell
me. can we get beyond the Mississippi
this fall, do you think?"
Doubtful" said Clark. THE Span
ish of the valley are not very well
reconci!ed to this Louisiana sale, and
neither are the French. They have
been holding all that country in part
nership, each people afraid of the 9th
er and both showing their teeth to us.
But | hear the commission is doing
we'll at st. Louis. and | presume the
transfer will be made this fall or win
ter. After that they cannot stop us
from going on"
"What sort of men have YOU in your
party. Merney"
"Only good ones. l think. Young
Shannon and an army sergeant by the
name of Gass-Patriok Gass. They
should be very good men. brought
on Collins from Maryland and Pete
Weiser from Pennsylvania. also good
stuff, ! think. McNeal. Potts, Gibson
II got those around Carlisle. We need
more men,"
II have picked out a few here.'' said
Clark. lyon know Kentucky breeds
explorers. have a good blacksmith,
Shields. and Bill Bratton is another
blacksmith Either can tinker q gun
If need be. Then l have John Coalter,
an active, strapping chap. and the two
I1CANo DOyos "hOu L huOW " D6 SOOu
men. and Charlie Floyd. Nate Pryor
and a couple of others-Warner and
Whitehouse. We should get the rest
at the forts around st. Louis. want
to take my boy York along. A negro
is always good natured under hard.
ship, and a laugh now and then will
not hurt any of u.s."
Lewis nodded assent.
"Your judgmentsof men is as good
as mine. Will. But, come. It. Is Sep
TENDER, and the leaves are falling
All my men have the fall hunt in their
blood. They will start for any place
at any moment. Let US move Sup.
pose you take the boat on down and
let me so across, horseback. to Kas'
kaskia. I have some business there
and I will try for a few more recruits
We must have fifty men,"
The day was but beginning for the
American republic. All the air was
vibrant with the passion of youth and
romance. Yonder in the west there
might be fame and fortune for any
man with courage to adventure. The
world had not yet settled down to In.
. exOrable O nf life frnm which, oc