that he thought he felt a path. We examined, and found it so, and
concluded that it kept on the highest ground, which it did; and, by
taking pains to follow it we got to the Sugar Camp without the least
difficulty, where there was about half an acre of dry ground, at least
not under water, where we took up our lodging.

The Frenchmen that we had taken on the river appeared to be uneasy at
our situation. They begged that they might be permitted to go in the two
canoes to town in the night. They said that they would bring from their
own houses provisions, without a possibility of any persons knowing it;
that some of our men should go with them as a surety of their good
conduct; that it was impossible we could march from that place till the
water fell, for the plain was too deep to march. Some of the [officers?]
believed that it might be done. I would not suffer it. I never could
well account for this piece of obstinacy, and give satisfactory reasons
to myself or anybody else why I denied a proposition apparently so easy
to execute and of so much advantage; but something seemed to tell me
that it should not be done, and it was not done.

The most of the weather that we had on this march was moist and warm for
the season. This was the coldest night we had. The ice, in the morning,
was from one-half to three-quarters of an inch thick near the shores and
in still water. The morning was the finest we had on our march. A little
after sunrise I lectured the whole. What I said to them I forgot, but it
may be easily imagined by a person that could possess my affections for
them at that time. I concluded by informing them that passing the plain
that was then in full view and reaching the opposite woods would put an
end to their fatigue, that in a few hours they would have a sight of
their long-wished-for object, and immediately stepped into the water
without waiting for any reply. A huzza took place.

[Illustration: CLARK TOOK THE LEAD]

As we generally marched through the water in a line, before the third
entered I halted, and called to Major Bowman, ordering him to fall in
the rear with twenty-five men, and put to death any man who refused to
march, as we wished to have no such person among us. The whole gave a
cry of approbation, and on we went. This was the most trying of all the
difficulties we had experienced. I generally kept fifteen or twenty of
the strongest men next myself, and judged from my own feelings what must
be