CHAPTER XXIV
A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT
AFTER that neither of the boys could utter a word for a time. They juststood there, trembling with emotion, and staring at the moving figuresdown the river.
Then, as if by agreement, they turned and faced each other. Dick thrustout his hand impulsively, and it was instantly seized by his cousin.Indeed, Roger looked as though he could hardly restrain himself fromthrowing his arms about the neck of his companion, so greatly washe overcome; but probably the conviction that such an act, howevernatural, would seem weak and childish, restrained him. Boys in thosedays had so much responsibility placed upon their young shoulders thatthey had to call themselves men long before they reached the age oftwenty-one.
By degrees they became somewhat calmer, and could even speak once morewithout betraying their emotion.
"They're making headway against even that powerful current, don'tyou see, Dick?" was what Roger remarked, as though something in theoccurrence pleased him.
"Yes, it would have to be greater difficulties than that to keep thosedetermined men from pushing forward," observed Dick, in turn. "Theyhave overcome everything that has cropped up to try and discouragethem, up to now. And with such a leader as Captain Lewis, they arebound to cross all the way to the ocean."
"But don't you see that, if they can breast that current, they will beable to get us off this island trap?" continued Roger.
"I'm sure of that," answered the other; "and now, Roger, let's signalto them, for as yet they don't seem to have noticed us standing here."
"Then they're due for the greatest surprise of the whole trip,"chuckled Roger. "It must be the last thing they'd ever think to see, acouple of white boys further up the river than they've come after allthese months. Say when you're ready, Dick, and we'll call out hello!"
"Let it be now, then," replied his comrade.
Together they sent out lusty hails, forming their hands into cups thatwould answer the purpose of a megaphone, though neither Roger nor Dickhad ever seen such a thing, since it was utterly unknown at that day.
And indeed, when the sound of their voices reached the pluckyexplorers, there seemed to ensue something like a small panic.
Some of the men were seen to jump for their firearms, doubtless underthe impression that they were about to be attacked by a strolling bandof the fierce Sioux, always striving to be the lords of the northwestprairies.
Then they apparently discovered that the two on the little islandamidst the swirling waters of the flood were white boys, and that theywere beckoning wildly, as though trying to let the exploring party knowthey needed help.
After that some of the men hurried up the shore so as to sooner reacha point opposite the island. Among them the prisoners of the floodrecognized the figure of Captain Lewis, himself; for they had seenhim talking to others in St. Louis early in the spring, before theexpedition started.
"Who are you, and how did you come there?" demanded the leader of theparty, also using his hands in order to make his voice carry above theroar of the current.
"We come from St. Louis, and have been trying to overtake you!" repliedDick.
"I hope it is nothing serious; do you come with a message for me fromthe President? I trust he has not seen fit to recall the expedition,and abandon the plan for exploring the Great Northwest country?" thecaptain shouted next, doubtless a prey to many anxieties.
"No," called out the boy; "we are only up here on private businessconnected with one who is among your number. We lost the river, andwandered several days; but, when we struck it again at this point, wemust have gained enough to place us ahead. We have horses, and campedon this island when the water was low; but the storm came and trappedus. Do you think you can get us off, Captain Lewis?"
"Without a doubt we can," the other answered, heartily, "and will veryshortly, when the boats get up this far. Have no anxiety on that score,friends. But you seem to be only boys; is it possible that two suchyouths could make this long journey, and escape all the perils that liein wait for white travelers in this region?"
"We have been very fortunate," was Dick's modest reply.
"Ah! you have been more than fortunate!" cried Captain Lewis,admiration in his tones; "and I shall be very proud to take you bothby the hand. It is wonderful how you pioneer boys are built; nothingseems to daunt you. No wonder that some of the men with me are so readyto accept any hazards, when they spring from such stock as that. Havepatience, lads, and we will soon be able to reach you."
Neither of the boys had any longer the slightest doubt that theirrescue was as good as accomplished. When such dauntless men set aboutdoing anything they would not let difficulties stand in the way.
So, standing there, they watched with considerable interest as theboats were forced against that apparently resistless current of theswollen Missouri. At times stout poles were resorted to; and, whena particularly bad bend was to be negotiated, ropes came into playin order to warp the craft around the point where the water flowedswiftest.
In this fashion they would be able to make quite a number of milesduring the course of a day, and every one counted as so much gained.
When finally the entire expedition had reached a point opposite to theisland, they came to a halt, and preparations for the release of theprisoners were instituted.
A giant, carrying the end of a rope, plunged recklessly into the riverabove the upper end of the island, and battled with the current. He wasof course swept down the stream, in spite of his sturdy efforts, but itappeared that he had calculated well, for he reached the shore of theisland, and was able to crawl up the bank.
Then the rope was fastened to a tree, and those on the mainland drew ittaut, so that it only dipped in the center into the water.
Under the directions of this experienced frontiersman, who turned outto be one of the Kentuckians forming a part of the expedition, thehorses were one after the other started for the shore. A traveling ringon the rope was used to secure their stout rope bridles, and, once theywere forced to plunge into the water, and kept from returning to theisland, the intelligent animals seemed to understand what was requiredof them, and struck out for the mainland.
The rope served to keep them from being swept down-stream, so that inthe end they emerged from the water, and shook themselves like dogs.
Meanwhile the boys had prepared for the passage, taking off a part oftheir garments, and making them into compact bundles, that were to becarried with their other few possessions remaining; for most of themhad been attached to the horses, and were already safe ashore, awaitingtheir coming.
Dick insisted on going first, for he wanted Roger to observe whathe meant to do, so that the more impetuous boy might pattern by hisexample. But Roger came close behind, since the rope was amply able tobear a double strain.
For a short time it was pretty exciting work, since the current wasswift, and seemed to tear at them, as though determined not to becheated out of its prey. But the boys had no difficulty in keeping holdof the rope, and thus hitching themselves along, a foot at a time.
"CAPTAIN LEWIS AND CAPTAIN CLARK . . . WERE PLEASED TOWELCOME DICK AND ROGER."]
Once past the middle of that portion of the river lying between theisland and the shore, the worst was over; and every rod gained nowmeant an easier time, so that presently eager hands were outstretchedto help them up the bank.
A shout that might have been heard far away attested the deep interestsoldiers and frontiersmen had taken in the rescue. Every man camecrowding up to squeeze the hands of the two lads, and declare that hewas proud to welcome them to the ranks of the expedition. After allthese weary weeks of battling with the current of the great river, andmeeting every imaginable kind of danger and difficulty, it was like abreath from home to thus come upon two valiant young fellows, away uphere in the land of the fighting Sioux.
It seemed almost incredible to think of mere boys capable ofaccomplishing such a task. No wonder both Captain Lewis and CaptainClark, his capable
fellow commander, were pleased to welcome Dick andRoger.
"It seems to me I have seen you both before," remarked the former. "Itmust have been in the settlement of St. Louis, while we were arrangingthe details of our long trip, and waiting for some of the men toarrive."
"Yes," replied Dick, "it was there, and you met our fathers, theArmstrong brothers, sons of old David Armstrong, who came fromVirginia, settled on the Ohio, and finally made his way down the riverto the Mississippi, acting under the advice of Daniel Boone, who washis life-long friend."
"Now I remember you," responded Captain Lewis. "Which one of you caughtmy runaway horse before he got fairly started? It was a quick action;and I believe I thanked whoever it was on the spot, and shook handswith the lad."
"That was Roger, here, Captain Lewis!" declared Dick quickly, only tooglad of the opportunity to bring his cousin into the light.
"But both of you are shivering with the cold, after getting wet,"remarked the soldier captain, William Clark. "See, some of my men havestarted fires, for we intend to cook our noonday meal at this spot. Goover there and keep warm, while some of us dry your garments. This hasbeen the happiest event of the whole trip. Only it was a little unwisefor you to camp on that island, when a storm threatened. The Missouriis a freakish stream, and you have to watch it closely, or it willcatch you napping some time."
"That was all my fault, Captain," admitted Roger, frankly. "I am wildfor fishing, and begged my cousin to cross over and camp there, so thatI could watch my lines close to our little cooking fire. And whilehe gave in to me, I could see that it was really against his betterjudgment. But we were the luckiest fellows going to get out of the trapso easily. And we are happy to know that, after our long chase, we havecaught up with you at last."
Neither of the boys had as yet ventured to say anything regardingthe nature of their mission. That would come later, when they founda better opportunity to chat with the genial leaders. And the advicegiven by the soldier was worth following, because, of a truth, theywere both shivering with the coolness of the air after the storm, sincethe few garments they had on were thoroughly soaked.
It was a bustling scene that the boys looked on as they sat close tothe fire, drying their clothes. How different things would be now,when they no longer had any reason to hide their fire. A force oftwenty-one regular soldiers, as well as an equal number of youngKentuckians and frontiersmen, who acted as scouts and hunters, in orderto supply fresh meat to the expedition, had little fear of the Indians.
Besides, their boats were arranged to be of more or less value to themas places of refuge in case of an attack, one of them being coveredover, and capable of serving as no mean fortress, from behind whosewalls they could pour their fire into the lines of any attacking force.
By the time a hot dinner had been cooked the boys were once morefeeling comfortable, since their garments were all well dried. They satdown with the two comrades, as their especial guests, and it becameapparent that Captain Lewis in particular had been much taken with bothDick and Roger.
As they ate and talked Captain Lewis finally introduced the subjectthat had been puzzling him so long.
"Would you mind telling us what caused you to take this daring journey,my lads?" he asked, with a kindly smile.
"An enemy of our fathers," Dick went on to explain, "one FrancoisLascelles, has managed in some way to secure a hold upon the propertywhich was secured by our grandfather from the original French settlersabove St. Louis, and threatens to take it away from them. His claimis undoubtedly a false one; but, unless we can secure the signatureof a certain party to a paper we carry, it is certain that the entirevaluable tract of land will be taken from our parents by spring, at thelatest. Too late, it was learned that this man had agreed to join yourforce somewhere on the way. We started out after you had been gone forweeks; but, as we had good horses, and you had your boats to force upthe river, we gradually came up on you, until now we have arrived."
"Have you seen the one you are seeking among the men here?" asked thecommander.
"We do not know him by sight, but his name is Jasper Williams," repliedRoger.
The face of Captain Lewis clouded.
"I am indeed sorry to hear that," he said; "because only two days agoI sent Jasper Williams, whom I count as my best scout, to go on ahead,and make friends with the Mandan Indians, whose hunting grounds we willbe approaching in a few weeks, and with whom I may determine to remainall winter. So that you will have to keep on with us until we can comeup on him once more!"
The Pioneer Boys of the Missouri; or, In the Country of the Sioux Page 27
