第52章 THE CAMPAIGN BEGINS(4)

The word was cried from boat to boat, and we could see the men pointing upwards and laughing.And then, as the light began to grow, we were in the midst of the tumbling waters, the steersmen straining now right, now left, to keep the prows in the smooth reaches between rock and bar.We gained the still pools below, the sun came out once more and smiled on the landscape, and the spirits of the men, reviving, burst all bounds.

Thus I earned my reputation as a prophetFour days and nights we rowed down the great river, our oars double-manned, for fear that our coming might be heralded to the French towns.We made our first camp on a green little island at the mouth of the Cherokee, as we then called the Tennessee, and there I set about cooking a turkey for Colonel Clark, which Ray had shot.Chancing to look up, I saw the Colonel himself watching me.

``How is this, Davy?'' said he.``I hear that you have saved my army for me before we have met the enemy.''

``I did not know it, sir,'' I answered.

``Well,'' said he, ``if you have learned to turn an evil omen into a good sign, you know more than some generals.

What ails you now?''

``There's a pirogue, sir,'' I cried, staring and pointing.

``Where?'' said he, alert all at once.``Here, McChesney, take a crew and put out after them.''

He had scarcely spoken ere Tom and his men were rowing into the sunset, the whole of our little army watching from the bank.Presently the other boat was seen coming back with ours, and five strange woodsmen stepped ashore, our men pressing around them.But Clark flew to the spot, the men giving back.

``Who's the leader here?'' he demanded.

A tall man stepped forward.

``I am,'' said he, bewildered but defiant.

``Your name?''

``John Duff,'' he answered, as though against his will.

``Your business?''

``Hunters,'' said Duff; ``and I reckon we're in our rights.''

``I'll judge of that,'' said our Colonel.``Where are you from?''

``That's no secret, neither.Kaskasky, ten days gone.''

At that there was a murmur of surprise from our companies.Clark turned.

``Get your men back,'' he said to the captains, who stood about them.And all of them not moving: ``Get your men back, I say.I'll have it known who's in command here.''

At that the men retired.``Who commands at Kaskaskia?'' he demanded of Duff.

``Monseer Rocheblave, a Frenchy holding a British commission,'' said Duff.``And the British Governor Abbott has left Post St.Vincent and gone to Detroit Who be you?'' he added suspiciously.``Be you Rebels?''

``Colonel Clark is my name, and I am in the service of the Commonwealth of Virginia.''

Duff uttered an exclamatory oath and his manner changed.``Be you Clark?'' he said with respect.``And you're going after Kaskasky? Wal, the mility is prime, and the Injun scouts is keeping a good lookout.But, Colonel, I'll tell ye something: the Frenchies is etarnal afeard of the Long Knives.My God! they've got the notion that if you ketch 'em you'll burn and scalp 'em same as the Red Sticks.''

``Good,'' was all that Clark answered.

``I reckon I don't know much about what the Rebels is fighting for,'' said John Duff; ``but I like your looks, Colonel, and wharever you're going there'll be a fight.

Me and my boys would kinder like to go along.''

Clark did not answer at once, but looked John Duff and his men over carefully.

``Will you take the oath of allegiance to Virginia and the Continental Congress?'' he asked at length.

``I reckon it won't pizen us,'' said John Duff.

``Hold up your hands,'' said Clark, and they took the oath.``Now, my men,'' said he, ``you will be assigned to companies.Does any one among you know the old French trail from Massacre to Kaskaskia?''

``Why,'' exclaimed John Duff, ``why, Johnny Saunders here can tread it in the dark like the road to the grogshop.''

John Saunders, loose limbed, grinning sheepishly, shuffled forward, and Clark shot a dozen questions at him one after another.Yes, the trail had been blazed the Lord knew how long ago by the French, and given up when they left Massacre.

``Look you,'' said Clark to him, ``I am not a man to stand trifling.If there is any deception in this, you will be shot without mercy.''

``And good riddance,'' said John Duff.``Boys, we're Rebels now.Steer clear of the Ha'r Buyer.''