ittle flotilla landed, and Clark
led his men northward against the Illinois towns. In one of them,
Kaskaskia, dwelt the British commander of the entire district up to
Detroit. The small garrison and the Creole militia taken together
outnumbered Clark's force, and they were in close alliance with the
Indians roundabout. Clark was anxious to take the town by surprise and
avoid bloodshed, as he believed he could win over the Creoles to the
American side. Marching cautiously by night and generally hiding by day,
he came to the outskirts of the little village on the evening of July 4,
and lay in the woods near by until after nightfall.

Fortune favored him. That evening the officers of the garrison had
given a great ball to the mirth-loving Creoles, and almost the entire
population of the village had gathered in the fort, where the dance
was held. While the revelry was at its height, Clark and his tall
backwoodsmen, treading silently through the darkness, came into the
town, surprised the sentries, and surrounded the fort without causing
any alarm.

All the British and French capable of bearing arms were gathered in the
fort to take part in or look on at the merrymaking. When his men were
posted Clark walked boldly forward through the open door, and, leaning
against the wall, looked at the dancers as they whirled around in the
light of the flaring torches. For some moments no one noticed him.
Then an Indian who had been lying with his chin on his hand, looking
carefully over the gaunt figure of the stranger, sprang to his feet, and
uttered the wild war-whoop. Immediately the dancing ceased and the men
ran to and fro in confusion; but Clark, stepping forward, bade them be
at their ease, but to remember that henceforth they danced under the
flag of the United States, and not under that of Great Britain.

The surprise was complete, and no resistance was attempted. For
twenty-four hours the Creoles were in abject terror. Then Clark summoned
their chief men together and explained that he came as their ally, and
not as their foe, and that if they would join with him they should be
citizens of the American republic, and treated in all respects on
an equality with their comrades. The Creoles, caring little for the
British, and rather fickle of nature, accepted the proposition with joy,
and with the most enthusiastic loyalty toward Clark. Not only that, but
sending messengers to their kinsmen on the Wabash, they persuaded the
peop