Evening star., 1924-02-06
CHAPTER VIII.
The Parting,

| >HERE were others in Washing
ton who did not sleep that
| i night. A light burned until
sunrise in the little office room
OF Thomas jefferson. Spread upon his
desk, covering its litter. of unfinished
which today would cause any schoolboy
TO smile, but which at that time repre-
scented the wisdom Of the world re-
North American continent. It had
served to afford anxious study for two
men these many hours.
iur f9nder 2n 1t lies, Capt. Lewis" said
how little known! We know our
climate and soil here. It is but reason
able to suppose that they exist yonder
as they do with us, in some part, at
ieast. III so, yonder are homes for mill
lions now unborn. Had Gen. Bona
would have fought the world rather
tnan al1enate su n n region"
The President tapped long fore
nnger on the map.
This, then" he went on, "is your
Examples of its soil, its products. its its
vegetable and animal life Espy out
respectfully for us any strange animals
there may be of which science has not
vet account. I hold it probable that
mere may be yonder living examples
of the mastodon whose bones we have
found III Kentucky. You yourself may
See those enormous creatures vet alive. ="
MeriWethef Lewis listened in silence.
MT; Jefferson turned to another branch
OF his theme
Il fancy that some time >fhera will
be canal built across the isthmus that
ipinds this continent to the one below
Ia canal which shall connect the two
great oceans. But that is far in the
future. 1t. is for you to spy out the
way now, across the country itself Ex-
lplore 1t-discover tit is our new
world.
! "A few must think for the many" he
went on: Il had to smuggle this ap-
preparation through Congress-twenty.
five hundred dollars-the price of a
with the Constitution itself in order to
make this purchase of a country no,
Included in our original territorial lines
have taken my own chances-just as
you must take yours now. The finger
protector; Are you ready. Capt
Indeed, the sun was rising over
Washington, the mists of morning were
Ireeking along the banks Of the Potomac
i can start in half an hour" replied
Are your men ready, your supplies
gathered together?'
! The rendezvous is at Harpers Ferry,
| up the river. The wagons with the
supplies are ready there 1 will take
boat from here myself with a few OF
the men. Not later than tomorrow
AFTERNOON / promise that we will be on
our way. We burn the bridges be-
hind US, and cross none until we come
to them
! Spoken like soldier! 1t is in your
hands. Go then -
There was one look, one handclasp.
The two men parted; nor did they
meet again for years
Mr.. Jefferson did not look from his
window to see the departure Of his
young friend. nor did the latter again
call at the door to say goodbye. Theirs
was indeed a warrior-like simplicity,
The sun still was young when Meri-
wether Lewis at length descended the
steps Of the Executive Mansion.
He was clad now for his journey, not
in buckskin hunting garb, but with re-
gard for the conventions Of a country
by no means free Of convention His
jacket was Of close wool, befted; his
boots were high and suitable for riding.
His stock, snowy white-for always
Meriwether Lewis was immaculate