a. "You do not know that man, the Governor. He has
the eye of a hawk, the ear of a fox--you can keep nothing from him. He
fears nothing in the world, and in his moods--you'd best leave him
alone. Don't let him suspect, or----" And Peria shook his head.

The cavalcade was well out into the wilderness east of the Mississippi
on that afternoon of October 8, in the year 1809. Stopping at the
wayside taverns which now and then were found, they had progressed
perhaps a hundred miles to the eastward. The day was drawing toward
its close when Peria rode up and announced that one or two of the
horses had strayed from the trail.

"I have told you to be more careful, Peria," expostulated Governor
Lewis. "There are articles on the packhorse which I need at night. Who
is this new man that is so careless? Why do you not keep the horses
up? Go, then, and get them. Major Neely, would you be so kind as to
join the men and assure them of bringing on the horses?"

"And what of you, Governor?"

"I shall go on ahead, if you please. Is there no house near by? You
know the trail. Perhaps we can get lodgings not far on."

"The first white man's house beyond here," answered Neely, "belongs to
an old man named Grinder. 'Tis no more than a few miles ahead. Suppose
we join you there?"

"Agreed," said Lewis, and setting spurs to his horse, he left them.

It was late in the evening when at length Meriwether Lewis reined up
in front of the somewhat unattractive Grinder homestead cabin,
squatted down alongside the Natchez Trace; a place where sometimes
hospitality of a sort was dispensed. It was an ordinary double cabin
that he saw, two cob-house apartments with a covered space between
such as might have been found anywhere for hundreds of miles on either
side of the Alleghanies at that time. At his call there appeared a
woman--Mrs. Grinder, she announced herself.

"Madam," he inquired, "could you entertain me and my party for the
night? I am alone at present, but my servants will soon be up. They
are on the trail in search of some horses which have strayed."

"My husband is not here," said the woman. "We are not well fixed, but
I reckon if we can stand it all the time, you can for a night. How
many air there in your party?"

"A half-dozen, with an extra horse or two."

"I reckon we can fix ye up. Light down and come in."

She was noting well her guest, and her shrewd eyes determined him to
be no common man. He had the bearing of a gentl