the Missouri River since the
repulse of his convoy by the Sioux. "Tell the Great Father that he
must send me soldiers to take me back home to my people. My heart is
poor!"

"Governor, see if you can get me an artificial limb of some sort while
you are in the East."

It was young George Shannon who said this, leaning on his crutch.
Shannon had not long ago returned from another trip up the river,
where in an encounter with the Sioux he had received a wound which
cost him a leg and almost cost him his life--though later, as has
already been said, he was to become a noted figure at the bar of the
State of Kentucky.

"Yes! Yes, and yes!" Their leader, punctilious as he was kind, agreed
to all these commissions--prizing them, indeed, as proof of the
confidence of his people.

He was ready to depart, but stood still, looking about for the tall
figure which presently he saw advancing through the throng--a tall man
with wide mouth and sunny hair, with blue eye and stalwart
frame--William Clark--the friend whom he loved so much, and whom he
was now to see for the last time.

General Clark carried upon his arm the baby which had been named after
the Governor of the new Territory. Lewis took him from his father's
arms and pressed the child's cool face to his own, suddenly trembling
a little about his own lips as he felt the tender flesh of the infant.
No child of his own might he ever hold thus! He gave him back with a
last look into the face of his friend.

"Good-by, Will!" said he.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE WILDERNESS

The Governor's barge swept down the rolling flood of the Mississippi,
impelled by the blades of ten sturdy oarsmen. Little by little the
blue smoke of St. Louis town faded beyond the level of the forest. The
stone tower of the old Spanish stockade, where floated the American
flag, disappeared finally.

Meriwether Lewis sat staring back, but seeming not to note what
passed. He did not even notice a long bateau which left the wharf just
before his own and preceded him down the river, now loafing along
aimlessly, sometimes ahead, sometimes behind that of the Governor and
his party. In time he turned to his lap-desk and began his endless
task of writing, examining, revising. Now and again he muttered to
himself. The fever was indeed in his blood!

They proceeded thus, after the usual fashion of boat travel in those
days, down the great river, until they had passed the mouth of the
Ohio and reached w