The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-07
We shall surely reach them! We have
tContinued.l

We shall surely reach them! We have
won!'
Not vet had they won. These shin
ing mountains lay a long distance to
the westward, and yet other questions
were to be settled ere they might be
reached.
Often again in emergencies, often
again In cases of doubt, whether to go
in this direction or that, whether to
take this fork OF river or that, did
Sacajawea come to the rescue with
unerring instinct. Always did she
guide them true. And so a niche is
due her in history as one who has a
right to share in the glory of that ex-
petition
May we not wonder in these later
days IL any of us, who reap so care
lessly and SO selfshly where others
haye plowed and sown, reflect as we
should upon the first cost of what we
call our own? The $15,OOO,OOO paid
for the vast empire which these men
were exploring was little-that
was naught. But, ali, the cost in blood
and toll and WEAKNESS, in love and
loyalty and faith, in daring and suffer
ing and heartbreak Of those who went
ahead! 1t was few brave leaders
who furnished the stark, undinching
courage for all.
After many hardships the mountains
were reached, and Lewis led an ad-
vance party across the range. One
day, deep in the mountains, he was
sweeping the country with his spy
glass, as was his custom. He gave a
sudden exclamation.
what is it, captain?" asked one of
the party. Some gamer.
"No, a man-an Indian! Riding a
good horse too. That means he has
more horses somewhere Come, we
will call to himv'
The wild rider, however, had moth
ing but suspicion for the newcomers.
Staring at them, he wheeled at length
and was away at top. speed. Once
more they were alone and none the bet
ter off.
Ills people are that way said Lew
is "Come..'
But all that day passed and that
night, and still they found none of the
natives. But they began to see signs
Of Indians now-fresh tracks, hoof
prints of many horses. And thus
finally they came upon two Indian wo-
men and child, whom the white men
surprised before they were able to es-
cape. Lewis took up the child and
showed the mother that he was a
friend.
These are Shoshones." said he to
his men. II can speak with them. !
have learned some of their tongue
from Sacajawea. These are her peo-
pie. We are safer'
Sixty warriors met them, all mount.
ed, all gorgeously clad. Again the
great peace pipe, again the spread
blanket inviting the council. The Sho.
shones showed no signs of hostility
the few words Of their tongue which
Lewis was able to speak gave them
assurance.
"McNeal,' said Lewis. ego back now
across the range and tell Captain Clark
to bring up the men,
William Clark, given one nights
sleep, was his energetic self again and
not in mind to lie in camp. He had
already ordered camp broken, more OF
the heavier articles cached, the canoes
concealed here and there along the
stream and had pushed on after Lewis
He met McNeal coming down bearing
the tidings. Sacajawea ran on ahead
In glee.
'My people! My peoplet" she cried.
They were indeed safe now Sacaja
wea found her brother, the chief OF
this band of Shoshones, and was made
welcome. She found many friends OF
her girlhood, who had long incurred
her as dead. The girls and younger
women laughed and wept in turn as
they welcomed her and her baby Shs
was great person. Never had sucI
| news as this come among the Sho
| shones.
The course of the explorers now la.
along the eastern side of the lofty Bit
ter Root mountains. The going wa!
rude enough. since no trail had eve
D., been here, but mile after mile, day aft
er day, thy stumbled through to some
point on ahead which none knew ex
eept the guide. They came on a new
tribe Of Observation-Disclosures, who were
amazed and curious as the Shoshone.
had been at the coming of these whit,
men.