Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-05-31
lngS.

PASAhPVN SAS OWAk
act OF their leader without threst
without warning; the instant readiness
Ut the others to back their leaders
initiative. caught every one of these
rude fighting men in the sudden grip
OF surprise. They hesitated.
Il nm no fighting man." said Meri-
wether Lewis. turning to them, yet
neither may l be insulted by any lout
who chooses to call me ashore to
thrash him. Do you think that an Off
Ger Of the army has no better bust.
ness than that? Who are you that
would stop us?'
The group fell back muttering. lack
ing concerted action. What might
have occurred in case they had reach
ed their arms was prevented by the
action of the party Of the first part in
this rencontre-of the second part, per.
haps, he might better have been called
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 I done now,
and me Il soldier! But We done it fair!
And We nivver vance gouged me nor
Jumped on me whin l was down. Be-
gorrah, l felt both me eyes to see If
they was in! Ye lone ait fair. and
ye're an officer and a gintleman, who
ever We be. I'd like to shake hands
with ye."
II 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 we'll"
He shook hands with his opponent,
who, stung by the rebuke, now began
to snifle.
"Sor," said he, II am no rufian. I
am a soldier meself and on me way
to join me company at Kaskasky. down
below. Me time was out awhile back,
and l came east to the States to have
a bit av a fling before l enlisted again.
Now, what money haven't give to me
parents I've spint like q man. | have
had me fling for awhile. and I'm goin'
back to sign on again. Sor, l am q
sergeant, and a good wan. though I
do say it. Me record is clean. l am
Patrick Gass, first sergeant of the
Tinth dragons, the same now sta
toned at Kaskasky. Though We are
not in uniform. l know we'll enough We
are an officer, Sor, l ask yer pardon.
Twas only the whisky made me feel
s~portin'-like at the time, do We mindy"
"Gass. Patrick Gass. you said?"
"Yis, sor. of the Tinth. Barrin' nue.
love for fightin', ! am a good soldier.
There are stripes OF 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. his easy
and natural dropping into the position
of the soldier.
You say the Tenth?" said he brief
ly. "You have been with the colors?
Look here, my man. do you want to
server"
~ am goin' right back to Kaskasky
for it, sor."
"Why not enlist With us? | need
men. We are off for the west. up the
Missouri, for q long trip. like enough.
You seem a we'll built man. and you
have seen service. l know men when
I see them. l want men of courage
and good temper. VIII you go?"
81 could not say. sor. l would have
to ask leave at Kaskasky. l gave me
word I'd come back after I'd had me
fling here in the east, We see"
I'll 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"
eyes. 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"
"Ill need not the half of two!' re
Joined Patrick Gass promptly. Give
me leave Of my captain. and l 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 | am, and
I'd like to see the ind of the world be-
fore 1 die"
"You will come as neal seeing this
end of it with us as anywhere else I
know" rejoined Lewis quietly. Get
your war bag and come aboard."
In this curious fashion Patrick Gass
of the army-later N 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
- ~ H.. Io>1L-I,- l1I