The Crossing

e above

ed Twelve Mile Island, and emerging from the narrow channel which divides Six Mile Island from the northern shore, we beheld, on its terrace above the Bear Grass, Louisville shining white in the morning sun. Majestic in its mile of width, calm, as though gathering courage, the river seemed to straighten for the ordeal to come, and the sound of its waters crying over the rocks far below came faintly to my ear and awoke memor

t at the landing in the Bear Grass. But no sooner had we entered the town than we met a number of country people on horseback, with their wives and daughters-ay, and sweethearts-perched up behind them: the men mostly in butternut linsey hunting shirts and trousers, slouch hats, and red handkerchiefs stuck into t

n the middle of the tune; "welcome home, Davy. Y

another, a huge, long-haired, sallow, d

"he ought to be barbecued; he nearly bit off Ensign Barry's nose a co

out and escorted us into his cool store, and while he waited on his country customers bade his negro brew a bowl of toddy, at the mention of which Mr. Bill Whalen, chief habitué, roused himself from a stupor on a tobacco

mong other things, that the General was there. Louisville was deserted, the tavern porch vacant; but tacked on the logs besi

R. CLARK

ND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE FRENCH REVO

opo

h posts on the Mississippi, for opening the trade of th

of footsteps within, and Mr. Easton

gton and all his European fellers east of the mountains won't be able ter hold us back this time. I reckon we'll gallop over

, a laughter and shoutin

in it," and he pointed his thumb over his shoulder to the proclamati

Easton's whiskey, and a

," said Mr. Easton. "Thar ain't quite so much

ing to take a few gentlemen to see General Clark. I agreed to pay the damages if he were late in returning for these gentlemen, and soon he was shooting me with pulsing strokes across the lake-like expanse towards the landing at Fort Finney. Louisville and the fort were just above the head of the Falls, and the little town of Clarksville, which Clark

giment. Perched on a tree-dotted knoll above the last spasm of the waters in their two-mile race for peace, was a two-storied log house with a little, square porch in front of the door. As I rounded the corner of the house and came in sight of the porch I halted-by no will of my own-at the sight of a figure sunken in a wooden chair. It was

al!" I

to his feet, a

-I was expecting-some friends-Dav

I am glad to see

f the French Republic and Commander-in-chief of th

Colonel Clark to m

l. Egad, I remember how you fooled the Kaskaskians when you told them we were going away." He looked at me

I laughed as I ans

re only possible for the bachelor." Hearing a noise, he glanced nervously in the direction of the woods, onl

ng, General," I said, no

it, Davy,-you, a little gamecock, a little worldly-wise hop-o'-my-thumb, eh? Hamilton's scalp hanging by a lock, egad-and they frightened out of their five wits because it was growing dark." He laughed, and suddenly became solemn again. "There comes a time

mber, G

istcoat, and straightened himself with

city,"-he pointed in the direction of Louisville,-"for the power and wealth of which I conquered this Northwest territory. Listen! I am now in the service of a republic where the people have rights, I am Commander-in-chief of the French Revolutionary Legion on the Mississippi. Despite the supineness of Washington, the American nation will soon be at

been wont to speak of his intentions, who had

izing me by the arm, "I will write the commission this instant. But hold! you read French,-I remember the day Father Gibault gave you your first lesson." He fumbled in his p

ar in a falt

yen G

ne devait pas s'adresser en vain au ministre de la République fran?aise. Général, il est temps

. Maps hung on the wall, beside them the General's new commission, rudely framed. Among the littered papers on the table were two whiskey bottles and several glasses, and strewn about were a number of chairs, the arms of which had been whittled by the General's guests. Acro

afford to get the fever now. Let us drink succes

eral," I said, "to the o

ng the thousand papers on the table. But at length, with a grunt of satisfaction, he produced a form and hel

, "I have decided to make you, David Ritchie, with full confidence in your ability and l

and as he put his pen to pap

and I knew now that it would never come off. I was willing to make almost any sacrifice rather than offend him, b

ed; "you have affairs t

peak, but he

He rose and laid his hands affectionately on my shoulders. "Ah, Davy, commerce makes a man timid. Do you forget the old days

" I answered, "and I have always been rea

now it. I would not offend you. You shall have the

n to write, but

go, Genera

and rose and recoiled a step. "My God," he said, "you cannot be a Federalist, you can't have marched to Kaskaskia and Vincennes,

here came, unbidden, his own counsel which he had given me long ago, "Serve the people, as all true m

r the sun to go down, and you reminded me that it was the nation's birthday. And you said that our nation was to be a refuge of the oppressed of this earth, a nation made

ords was gone forever. The eyes of this man before me were fixed, as it were, upon space. He heard, but he did not respond; for the spirit was gon

ered in the streets in the name of Liberty? What have those blood-stained adventurers to do with Liberty, what have the fish-wives who love the sight of blood to do with you tha

eived it, well I knew the inscription on its blade, "Presented by the State of Virginia to her beloved son, George Rogers Clark, who by the conquest of Illinois and St. Vincennes extended her empire and aided in the defence of her libert

gratitude of my c

of forest and waters lighted by the afterglow. Then I felt a hand u

l!" I turned

I trust you," he said. "I-I

they drew nearer, and then something in the walk and appearance of the foremost began to bother me. He wore a long, double-breasted, claret-colored redingote that fitted his slim figure to perfection, and his gait was the easy gait of a man who goes throu

de St. Gré. At the foot of the steps he halted an

ec's to you and mek our report, and ver' happy to see you look w

le Général!" cried the t

he descended the steps and took each of them by the hand. "Citizens,

ami, Monsieur Reetchie. Ver' happy you have this honor, Monsieur;" and snatching hi

al to me, "you know the

, mon général," Monsieur Auguste

de St. Gré, Davy?" s

I answered, I fea

t. Gré. And you are also embark in the glorious cause-Ah,

butternut hunting shirt. He had charge on the Bear Grass of building the boats for the expedition, and was likewise a prominent member of that august body, the Jacobin Society of Lexington. Next cam

ou known to me,

p to analyze. He was a small man, with a little round hand that wriggled out of my grasp; he had a big French nose, bright eyes that popped

ik to know citizen's name glor

, citizens?" sa

ad got there. We went into the room, where the General's slovenly negro was already lighting the candles and the Gene

braved the elements, who brought to their knees the minions of a despot king." A slight suspicion of a hiccough filled this gap. "Cast aside by a

uted, draining their glasses.

ifted hands. To those remaining veteran patriots whose footsteps we followed to this distant desert, and who by their blood

a look of disgust slowly creeping into the Citizen Quartermaster's eyes, and

es the proclamation! I see he have participate in those hand

e Citizen Gignoux, slyly, "we all brin

ghing, "the Citizen Captain Depeau-he has

of an adventurer. Mr. Depeau was an honest and worthy gentleman, earnest enough in a cause which was more

did not require any great perspicacity on my part to

country. But to beesness, citizens,-we embark on glorious enterprise. The King and Queen of

é, "the Citizen Quartermaster will

nd the Citizen Quartermast

fia, fight duel, spend family money. Aristocrat then. No, I not hold my tongue. You go France and Monsieur le Marquis de St. Gré he get you

tared at the Sieur de St. Gré. But General Clark brought down his fist o

nce," he cried; "and I beg to inform Citizen Depea

at was easy for him, "I never mek secret of my history-no. It is true my relation, Mon

le the coackade, what I hear f

smiled with a p

ayette and the National Guard. That I have since fight for the Revolution. That I am come

Capitaine-h

Gignoux, who had been sitting

he repeated, "I have it

e chosen the Citizen Captain to go at once to New Orleans and organize a regiment among the citizens there faithful to France. On account of his

choice," put in

much for the confidence. I leave by first flatboat and will have all things stir up when you

ies at Knob Licks, and Citizen Sullivan's account of the boats. But hold," he cried, glancing around him, "where is Captain

he name inv

ated, while they stared

te de St. Gr

Nouvelle Orléans. He is at ze tavern, and he has had

d his canoe. The road was long, and yet short, for my brain whirled with the expectation of seeing Nick a

s Clark had