Evening star., 1924-02-10
BY EMERSON HOUGH.

the strong lace or the otner. Inere,
man." said .he. "since you seem to
mean well!"
He shook hands with his opponent,
who, stung by the rebuke, now began
to sniff1e.
"Sor," said he. "I am no ruffian.
am soldier meself, and on me way
to join me company at kaskasky,
down below. Me time was out awhile
back, and 1 came east to the states
to have a. bit az a fling before /
enlisted again. Now, what money
haven't give to me parents I've spint
like 4 man. 1 have had me fling for
awhile, and I'm goin' back to sign on
again. Sor, 1 am a sergeant and a
good wan, though l do'say it. Me
the same now stationed at Kaskasky.
Though We are not in uniform. I know
well enough ye are an officer. Sor
l ask your pardon-'twas only the
whisky made me feel ,sp.ortin' like
at the time. do ye mind?'
"Gass. Patrick Gass, YOU said?' :
''Yis, sor, Of the 10th. Barrin'
me love for .fightin' l am good SOL
dier. There are stripes on me sleeves
be rights. but me old coats hangin
in the barracks down below"
Lewis stood looking curioGsly 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 soldier.
t'You say the 1oth?" said he
briefly. You have been with the
colors? Look here. my man, do you
want to Serve?"
Il am going right back to Kask
why not enlist with us? ! need
men. We are off for the vest, up
the Missouri-for a long trip, like
enough. You seem well built man.
and you have seen service. 1 know
men when l see them. I want men
YOU go?''
81 could not say. sor. I would have
to ask leave at Kaskasky. I gave
me word I'd come back after I'd had
me fling here in the east. ye 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 I
know yeZ-yeS are the Capt. Lewis
that has been buildin' the big boat the
last two months up at the yards
Capt. Lewis f-;om Washington"
yes, and from the Ohio country
before then--and Kentucky. too. l
am to join Capt. Clark at the Point
of Rocks on the Ohio. I need another
way. Two minutes ought to be
enough for you to decide"
Eth 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. 'TiS fond of
travel 1 am, and I'd like to see the
ind of the world before i die"
"You will come as near seeing the
end of it with us as anywhere else
know" rejoined Lewis quietly.
Get your war-bag and come aboard"
In this curious fashion Patrick Gass
of the Army-later one of the jour-
nalisrs of the expedition, and always
one Of its most faithful and efficient
members-siEned his name on the
rolls of the Lewis and Clark expedi-
ton.
There was not one of the frontiers
men in the boat who had any COM
transaction; indeed. it seemed much
in the dav's work to them. But
from that instant every man in the
boat knew he had a leader who could
efficient action in any emergency. and
from that moment. also, their leader
knew he could depend on his men.
81 have nothing to complain Of"
said Patrick Gass. addressing his new
friends impartially. as he shifted
his place at a rowing seat. Il have
nothing to complain OF. I've been
sayin' I would like to have one more
rale tight before 'enlisted-the Army
None O thin at the camp yonder
where I was two days. would take it
on with me after the first day. l
was fair longin' for something to
interest me-and, be jabbers. l found
it! Now 1 am continted to ind me
of business life"
The boat advanced steadily enough
thereafter throughout the night
They pulled ashore at dawn. and
travellers. were soon about the busi-
ness of the morning meal.
The leader of the party drew apart
for the morning plunge which was his
custom. Cover lacking on the bare
bar where they had landed. he was
driving himself for dressing. Un-
his arm extended. he
looked for all the world the very
statue of the young Apoxvomenos OF
the Vatican-the finest figure Of a
man that. the art of antiquity has
handed down to US.
AS that smiling youth out Of the
mast stood. scraper in hand. drying
himself after the. games. SO now
a new race, splendid as the Greeks
in the immortal beauty
Of life. His white body shining in
the sun. every rolling nuscle plainly
visihle-even that rare muscle over
the hip beloved of the ancients, but
now forgotten of sculptors. because
rarely seen on a man today-so
comely was he. SO like a gnd-in his
clean youth. that Patrick Gass. un-
by backwardness himself.
turned to his new companions. whom
already he addressed each by his first
name.
George" said he to young Shan
non, George. saw We ever the like
Of Won? What a man! Lave I had
knowed he could strip like yon. niver
would 7 have taken the chance I did
last night 'Tis wonder he didn't kill
me, in which case I'd niver have bad
me Job. The lord loves US Irish,
amy way you fix it,"
CHAPTER XII.
Capt. William Clark.