STO R I E S

A M E RIC A N P ION E E RS

D A N IE L
AN D C L A RK
F RE M O N T
KIT C A RSO N

E D ! C A T I ON A L P! BL I SH I N G c

BO ST O N

N E W Y OR K C H IC AG O SA N F RA
 CO NT E NTS .

D A N I EL B OONE
W e s tw a r d
Bo o n e s Bro t h e r

Th e N ew H ome
Bo o n e s E

s c a pe

C ol o nel Boo n e

Br y a n S t a t i o n

A n A mb u scad e

Boo n e s L ast e ar s

Y

M E RI WE TI I E R E W I S AND W I L LI A M
L C LARK
J OIIN C H A R L E S F R E M ON T AND K I T C A RS ON
Kit C ar s o n a s F re m o n t s

G u id e
F re m o n t s
P ea k

A Se c o n d E xp ed i ti o n
re m o n t S Su rp r i s e d

F M en
 F D ANlEL B
STORY O OONE ,

1 73 5 1 820 .

D an i el Boon e wa s a Pen n syl van i a boy .

He l ived in E xete r ,
th e n a ve ry l i t t l e town
s i xty m i l es fro m P h i l ad el ph i a .

E ve n wh en a boy he s h owed rare pl u c k

an d co u rage .

O n e day h e wa s at pl ay i n th e wood s
with tw o oth e r boys whe n a wi l d yel l echoed
,

th ro ugh th e fo res ts .

T h e boys t u rn e d p a e wi t h frigh t fo r

th ey we l l k n ew not h i n g b u t a pan th er co u l d
m ake t hat c ry .
8 D AN I EL B O ON E .

E very boy s ei z ed h i s ri e ; fo r i n th os e
d ays boys a l ways c arri ed ri es wi t h th e m .

T h e pan th er wi th an o th e r yel l l eaped

fro m th e great roc k to th e l i m b o f a tree .

T h en h e s e t h i s ye l l ow eyes u po n t h e boys
an d crept toward s t h e m .

!

S tay h e re , s ai d B oon e to t h e boys .

I wi l l ru n toward s t h e creat u re . I f I fa i l
to s h oot h i m , an d h e attacks m e co m e an d ,

h el p .

T h e n D an i el crep t toward s th e pan th er .

H e h e l d hi s ri fl e ready , and ,
as th e e rce
an i m al s p rang fro m th e tree h e red ,
.

S n ap ! s n ap ! wen t th e ri fl e ; an d th e
pan th e r wi th an o th e r yel l fel l at t h e yo u ng
, ,

h u n te r s feet d ead

, .

T h e boys d ragged th e creatu re i n to th e

vi l l age an d al l th e p eopl e cam e to l oo k at
,

th e p a n the r t h at l i t tl e D an B oon e h ad ki l l ed .
10 D AN I E L B OONE .

Fro m t h i s t i m e D an i el began to ,
S pe n d

m u ch of h i s ti m e i n t he fores ts . H e l oved
t h e big t rees ; an d to h i m th ere wa s n o s u ch
S po rt as h u n ti ng .

O n e d ay wh i l e h e
, wa s p rowl i n g u p an d
d own t h e S ch uyl k i l l R ive r ,
h e cam e u po n a
s pot m os t beau t i fu l .

Wh at a pl ace fo r a h u t ! h e t ho ugh t .

I wi l l bu i l d on e . S o h e s at to wo rk at
o n ce .

It wa s n o t a l og cabi n t h e boy bu i l t .

O ,
no ; th at wo u l d not h ave bee n wi l d
en o ugh to s u i t his tas te .

I n on e pl ace t h e re were two great roc k s

cl ose toget h er . The S i d es we re s teep as i f ,

so m eti m e th e r oc k h ad s pl i t apart .

T h i s wi l l m ake a n e cave ,
h e s aid . So
h e cl eared away th e s m al l roc ks be tween an d ,

covered th e fl oor ove r wi t h cl ean d ry l eaves ,

.
 D A N I EL B OON E .
11

T h e n h e bu i l t u p a back fo r h i s cave ,

an d cove red i t wi th a roof Of twigs an d

gras s es .

Wi th s to n es h e m ad e a pl ace to d o h i s
coo ki n g ; h e p i l ed u p l eaves i n on e co rn er
to m a k e a bed fo r h i m s el f an d h i s dog an d ,

t h e n h i s h u t was n i s h ed .

H ow wo u l d yo u l i ke to l i ve h ere ol d ,

fel l ow ? h e s ai d p atti n g t h e h ead of h i s

,

fai t h fu l fri en d .

T h e dog l ooked u p i n to h i s m aste r s

face an d wagged
,
his tai l .

H e u n d e rs tood an d D an i el u nd e rs tood ;

so th ey we n t i n to th ei r h u t an d wen t to .

sl ee p .

F or s eve ral d ays t he boy an d t h e d og

l i ved t h e re th e h app i es t boy an d th e h ap
p i es t dog i n al l t h e wo rl d .

B u t by an d by D a n i el s paren ts began
, ,

12 DAN I EL B OONE .

to fear s o m e acci d en t h ad h appen ed to th e

boy ; an d th en th e m e n of th e vi l l age s et

ou t i n to t h e fores t to n d him .

T h ey cam e on e m orn i n g j u s t as D an i el
was cook i n g his break fas t . The s m oke
po u red ou t th rough t h e l i ttl e h ol e i n th e roof
of th e h u t .

Th ere h e i s ! t h ey cri ed ; an d s tarted
toward s th e h u t .

Good m orn i n g ,
t h ey s ai d wh en ,
t h ey
cam e u pon D an i el h ard at work at th e door
way of his n ew home .

S o D an i el h ad
co m pan y fo r b reak fas t ;
an d wh en a few h o u rs l ater h i s g u es ts we n t
, ,

bac k to th e vi l l a g e h e wen t bac k wi t h t h e m

,
.

But he a l ways s ai d h e n ever h ad s u ch

a g ood ti m e i n al l hi s l i fe as h e h ad t h at
week al o n e i n th e woods .
 W E ST W A R D .

By an d by D an i el s pare n ts m oved to
,

N o rth C arol i n a . D an i el l i ked th e c h ange ,

fo r i t was war m e r t h ere an d h e cou l d l ive

,

i n t h e wood s th e wh ol e year ro u n d i f h e
wi s hed .

H ere i n Ca rol i n a D an i el g rew to be a

, ,

m an . He was very h appy farm i n g and h u n t

,

i ng . A n d wh e n th e C h e ro k ee I n d i an war
b roke o u t h e ,
was o n e of th e m os t dari ng
h e roes i n t h at war .

But it wa s w h en D an i el l eft his C ar

ol i n a h o m e an d wen t wes t t h at t h e won d e r
fu l part o f h i s l i fe be g an .

Wh en th e C h e ro kees were d ri ve n wes t

13
 D A N I EL B OONE . 15

ward ,
wh i te s ettl ers began to h ea r of th e
wond e rfu l co u n try b eyo n d t h e m o u n tai n s .

T h ey we re tol d t h at t h e s oi l wa s ve ry
ferti l e ; t h at i t wa s a ri ch farm i n g cou n try ;

th at gam e was pl en ty ; an d th at th ere wa s

i ron an d si l ve r i n th e m i n es .

I t was th e fu r trad e rs w h O b ro u g h t bac k

'

th es e m arvel l o u s s to ri es .

L ate r p arti es of wh i te m en began

to take j o u rn eys i n to th i s n ew cou n try .

T h ey fo u n d i t as beau ti fu l as th e fu r t rad ers

h ad s ai d .

I wi l l g o too , ,
s ai d D an i el B oon e ; so
h e p ac ked h i s kn ap sac k an d s tarted o u t
-
.

We kn ow i t was as earl y as 1 7 60 th at

D an i el B oo n e wen t wes t ; for h e c u t s o m e

words on a beec h t ree an d th e date , ,
1
7 6 0 .

T h i s ol d tree was s tan d i n g u n t i l on ly a f ew

years a g o .
15 D A N I E L B OON E

T h e word s D an i el B oo n e c u t were th es e
D B oon
.

C ill E D A B ar
in ThE

y E A R 1 7 60

Y ou see fro m t h i s t h at D an i e l w as n o t
, ,

an ed u cated m an . H e cou l d n ot always s pel l

as he should . An d h e does n t s ee m to
h ave qu i te u n d e rs tood th e u s e of cap i tal s ;
B u t we m u s t re m e m be r t h ere we re n o
s chool s i n t hos e days excep t i n t h e town s ,

an d vi l l a g es . I f a boy l earn ed to read easy

word s an d cou l d wri te h i s n am e t h at ,
w as

en ough .

In 1 6
7 9 ,
D an i el B oon e becam e acq u ai n ted
wi th J am es Fi n d l e y Fi n d l ey was a s u ccess
fu l Ken tu cky t rad er . E ac h ti m e h e cam e
bac k to Carol i n a h e h ad won d e rfu l s tori es
,

to tel l .
 DAN I EL B OONE .
17

I t was wi th J am es F i n dl ey an d fou r oth e r

d ari n g m en ,
J oh n S t u art ,
J os ep h H o l d en ,

J a m es M u rray and Wi l l i am C ool t h at B oo n e

,

rs t s et o u t i n t o t h e wi l d wes t .

T h ey trave l ed th ro ugh fores ts so d e n s e

t h at th e s u n l igh t cou l d n o t peep th ro ugh ;
th ey s wa m acros s ri vers ; an d th ey cl i m bed
u p an d down roc ky m o u n tai n s .

T h ere we re h os ti l e I n d i an s on eve ry
Side . A t an y t i m e an arrow m igh t co m e
wh i zz i n g o u t fro m beh i n d a tree at th em .

A t n igh t th e wol ves h owl ed an d th e pan th e rs

eH ed
y .

A t l as t th ey gai n ed a peak of th e C u m
b erl an d an d l ooked d own u pon th e beau ti fu l
,

el d s of K en t u c ky .

T h e re l ay th e s parkl i ng K en tu cky ri ver ,

an d u p an d down i ts ban ks h e rd s Of b u ffal o

we re g raz i n g .
 DAN I EL B O O NE .
19

I n th i s val l ey th e s 1x h u n te rs m ad e th e i r
cam p an d t h ere t h ey s p en t t h e wi n ter
,
.

L ate i n D ece m ber D an i el ,

B oon e an d
J oh n S tu art s tarted toward s O h i o to h u n t
an d expl o re t h e cou n t ry . T h ey h ad s ee n n o
I n d i an s u p to t h i s ti m e . B u t on e d ay wh i l e ,

t h ey were h u n ti ng o n t h e ban ks of th e K e n
t u c ky a ban d of s avages s p ran g o u t fro m
,

th e tal l gras ses an d attac ked th e m .

O f co u rs e two m e n we re h el pl es s before
,

s o m an y I n d i an s .

T h e s ava g es s ei z ed th e m by th e a rm s
an d l ed t h e m away .

We m u s t n ot be afrai d . We m u s t p re
ten d to be i n teres ted i n th e . W igwam l i fe o f
t h ese p eo pl e , s ai d B oon e .

I h ave h eard th at wh e n a capti ve

ap pears to enj oy h i s n ew l i fe In th e cam p of
his cap to rs th ey are n ot l i kel y to ki l l h i m
, .
20 DAN I E L B OONE .

T h e I n d i an s began after a ti m e to treat , ,

th e m as g u es ts .

So t he tw o m e n prete n d ed to be greatly
i n terested i n th e cam p to wh i c h th ei r cap to rs
too k th e m .

T h ey pl ayed wi th th e l i ttl e ch i l d re n .

T h ey h el ped to gri n d th e co rn . T h ey s howed

t h e I n d i an s how to b u i l d cabi n s . T h ey h el ped
th ei r cap tors to gath e r the t h i c k can e b rake ,

an d to p repare th e gam e for cook i ng .

T h en the I n d i an s began to t reat t h e m

as fri en ds . T h ey grew l ess watc h fu l of t h e m .

By an d by t h ey d i d n ot t i e th e m at al l wh e n
,

n i g h t ti m e cam e
-
. T h ey al l owed th e m to s l eep
i n th e wigwam s as free as t h e warri ors t h e m
,

s el ves .

B u t al l th i s t i m e Boo n e an d S tu art we re
on t h e watc h .

O n e n i g h t th e I n d i an s were ve ry ti red .
 D AN I EL B O ONE .
21

T h ey h ad bee n h u n ti ng al l d ay l o ng ,
and so

s l ep t h eavi l y .

I n t h e m i dd l e of the n igh t ,
the tw o

m e n c rep t o u t fro m th e i r W igwam .

T h ey c rep t s oftl y i n to th e t h i c ket an d

m ad e th ei r way toward s t h e ri ve r . A l l n igh t
l on g t h ey ran ; an d wh e n mo rn i n g cam e t h ey
h i d agai n i n t h e d en s e fores ts .

W h en t h e I n d i an s k n ew th e i r cap ti ve s
h ad ed ,
th ey ran i n al l d i recti on s . O n ce
B oon e h eard t h e m n ot far away ; but they
d i d n ot n d t h e wh i te m en an d s oo n g ave ,

u
p t h e s earch .

T h en Boon e an d S tu art h u rri ed d own

th e r ive r ti l l t h ey cam e at l as t to t h e ol d
cam p .

B u t a s t range t h i n g h ad h app e n ed . The

cam p was d es erted an d n o t a m an
,
wa s to
be fo u n d .
 D A N I E L B OONE .
23

The cabi n ,
t h o u gh i n ru i n s ,
was s ti l l
s tan d i ng . A nd n ear by was a pi l e of l ogs
s ti l l b u rn i ng .

B oon e an d S t u art wai ted t h i n k i ng th e ,

fo u r co m pan i o n s m u s t h ave gon e o u t to h u n t .

A n d s ti l l t h ey wo u l d n ot h ave l eft
t h e n cam p u ngu ard e d ,
sai d B oon e .

T h e re s ee m to be s i g n s of a s tru g gl e o r

m as s ac re ,
s ai d S t u art .

B u t wh ateve r h ad o r h ad n ot h ap pen ed ,

th e fo u r m en n ever cam e bac k to t h ei r ca m p .

A n d n o on e to th i s d ay , ,
ha s e ver k n own
wh at becam e of t h e m .

Th e I n d i an s ro u n d abo u t we re q u es ti o n ed ,

b u t t h ey al l d ecl ared th ey d id n ot know .

C e rtai n l y th e m e n d id n o t ret u rn to C arol i n a !

an d so th e f ate of t h es e fo u r m en is s ti l l
a mys tery .
TH E CO M I N G OF BOON E S B ROTH E R

.

B oon e an d S t u art we re n ow al l al o n e i n
th e d eep fo res ts . T h ey h ad very l i t tl e
am m u n i ti o n an d th ey kn ew th e re
,
wa s d an
ge r on eve ry Side .

T h ey b u i l t a l og cabi n for th e m s el ve s
an d p l as te red i t over wi t h m u d . T h i s pl as
ter k ep t o u t th e rai n an d s n ow . A n d besi d es
, ,

th e m en co u l d co n ceal th e m sel ves bet t e r i n

m u d h u ts i n cas e of attac k fro m th e red m en .

F or a l on g t i m e th e tw o m e n l i ved
h e re al on e . I t was wi n te r an d t h ey dared
n ot s et o u t to travel h o m eward u n ti l th e
s n ow was gon e .

O n e day i n m i dwi n te r ,
tw o wh i te m en
ap peared be fo re th e cab i n . N eve r we re tw o
25
26 D A N I E L B O ONE .

wh i te m en so g l ad to s ee two oth er w h i te m en
A n d th e greates t s u rpri s e of al l was t h at

th e tw o m en we re fro m B oon e s C aro l i n a

home . T h ey h ad co m e i n s earch o f D an i el
an d th e oth e r m e n of th e party .

O n e of th e m en wa s S q u i re B oon e ,

D an i el s own b roth e r We were wo rri ed

.

abo u t you ,
s ai d h e ;

an d so s ta rted o u t to
n d you . We th o ugh t yo u m i g h t n eed food
an d am m u n i ti on .

I n d eed we do ,
s ai d B oon e .

Y ou h ave
n ot com e a d ay too s oon .
!

B u t wh ere are th e oth er m en ?

T h en Boon e an d S t u art tol d th e s tory

o f t h ei r own cap t u re an d th e e m p ty cam p
th ey h ad fo u n d on t h ei r retu rn .

Fo rtu n atel y ,
the tw o n ew -
co m e rs h ad
brou g h t a g ood s u p pl y of am m u n i ti on .

N OW ,
s ai d B oon e ,

we wi l l be g i n h u n t
 DAN I EL B OONE .
27

i n g i n good earn es t . S t u art an d I w i l l h u n t ,

an d yo u tw o s h al l p repare th e Ski ns . T h en
wh e n s p ri n g co m es we wi l l g o bac k to C ar
ol i n a an d s e l l o u r fu rs .

SO each d ay Boon e an d S tu art wen t

o u t i n to th e fores ts ,
an d eac h n i g h t th ey
bro ugh t h om e t h ei r gam e .

T h ey h ad l i ttl e fear ,
fo r th e red m en
we re n ot apt to be prowl i ng abo u t th e fo res ts
i n th e wi n te r .

B u t i n s o m e way th e I n d i an s h eard th at
,

th e wh i te m e n we re l i vi n g i n t h e ol d cam p
an d th ey d e te rm i n ed to watch fo r th e m .

T h e wh i te m e n s u spe cted n o dange r ; bu t

o n e d ay as t h ey we re t ram pi n g t h ro u g h t h e
fores t a vo l l ey of arrows po u red i n u pon t h e m
,
.

I n d i an s were ri n g u pon th e m fro m a m o ng

'

t h e b u s h es an d beh i n d t rees .

B oon e an d S tu art rai s ed t h ei r g u n s b u t ,

28 D A N IE L B OONE

i t was too l ate . A n oth e r vol l ey cam e an d

S tu art fel l d ead . B oo n e fl ed to a t h i c ke t an d
m an a g ed to es cap e . O n l y a d ay or tw o

aft e r ,
S q u i re B oo n e s co m pan i on retu rn ed
ho m e an d th e
,
tw o b ro th ers were l eft al on e .

It was ve ry l on e l y t h en i n th e cabi n an d ,

wh en s p ri n g cam e D an i el s broth e r too k wh at ,

s ki n s th ey h ad p repared an d we n t bac k to
C arol i n a .

I wi l l get h ors es an d a m m u n i ti on ,

D an i el ,
h e s ai d ,

bu t why n ot co m e h o m e
wi th m e ?
!

B u t D an i e l l oved th e fores ts an d wo u l d ,

n o t l eave th e m . S ol i tary an d al o n e h e roam ed

th e fores ts fo r two m on th s befo re h i s broth e r ,

a g ai n fo u n d h i m . To g eth er th ey th en s et
o u t expl o ri n g th e co u n try .

D an i e l fou n d a beau ti fu l pl a ce on th e
K en t u c ky r i ver an d m ad e u p h i s m i n d th at
,

h e wo u l d m ake a ho m e for h i s fam i l y th ere .

 D A N I EL B OON E .
29

T wo years pas s ed ,
h owever ,
be fo re h e
re t u rn ed t o N ort h C arol i n a . T h en h i s broth e r
his

wi t h fam i ly D an i el s fa m i l y an d ve o th e r
,

fam i l i es ,
s et o u t fo r t h e K e n t u c ky h o m e .

T h ey b ro ug h t ve ho rs es l oaded wi t h
h o u s eh ol d good s an d t h ree cows ,
. Fo rty ot he r
men afte rward s j oi n ed th e m . T h ey were
s u re so l arge a co m pan y co u l d p ro tect t h e m
s el ves fro m t h e I n d i an s ; an d so fel t h appy
an d s ec u re .

B u t al as ! eve n befo re th ey h ad reac h ed

t hei r n ew h o m e t h e red m en fel l u po n t h e m
, ,

an d a erce battl e fol l owed .

S eve ral of th e w h i t e p eop l e were s l ai n '

an d al l we re d i s co u raged .

Le t u s go n o
fart h e r ,
th ey s ai d ,

i n to t h e wi ld ern es s . L et
us re t u rn .

SO th ey ret u rn ed to a s et tl e m e n t o n th e
C l i n c h ri ve r i n ! i r g i n i a an d D an i el B oon e
,

wen t an d l i ved t h ere wi th th e m .

30 D AN I EL B OONE .

H e s tayed on ly a f ew m on t h s for t h e
,

gove rn or o f ! i rgi n i a s en t him bac k i n to

K en tu c ky to n d s o m e s u rveyors of a co m
pan y t h at h ad bee n s e n t o u t th ere . No
soon er h ad D an i el agai n re tu rn ed t h an a
co m pan y cal l ed t h e T ran s yl van i a C o m p an y
, ,

was form ed to p u rc h as e K en t u c ky fro m th e

I n d i an s wh o cl ai m ed i t .

T h ey wi s h ed to m ake a s ettl e m en t o u t
th ere ,
an d t h ey k n e w n o on e brave r th an
B oon e to pl ace i n c h arge of th e party .

.
I t was d an ge ro u s b u s i n es s . T h ey h ad to
m ake a road way t h ro ugh th e wi l d ern es s b u t ,

B oon e g l ad ly s et out . Wh en t h ey reac h ed

th e Ken t u c ky river , t h ey began b u i l d i n g a
fo rt . T h ree ti m es th e s ava g es attacked th e m ,

an d each ti m e s o m e of t he wh i t e m en were
ki l l ed .
 TH E N E W H OME .

B u t D an i el B oon e was n ot t h e m an to
be d ri ven bac k . T h e fo rt was rai s ed pal i ,

s ad es co n s t r u cted ; an d n ot u n ti l al l was do n e
d i d Boon e re tu rn to h i s h o m e on t h e C l i n ch .

T h e s e ttl e m e n t was n a m ed B oon es boro ,

i n h on o r of i ts d ari ng l ead e r ; an d by an d ,

by D an i el an d h i s fa m i l y m oved o u t to i t
, ,

bri ngi n g m any ot h e r fa m i l i es w i t h t h e m .

The new col on y pros pe red . I n a year

t h e re we re t h ree h u n d red peo pl e l i v i n g th e re .

Fo r a l ong t i m e th e re h ad bee n n o tro u bl e !

wi t h t h e I n d i an s . T h e peop l e we re begi n
n i ng to th i n k th ere wo u l d be n o trou bl e wi th
th e m eve r a g ai n .
 D AN I EL B OONE .
33

B u t on e d ay w h e n t h ree yo u ng gi rl s
we re row i n g i n a ca n oe i n t h e r i ve r t h e red ,

m en s p ran g o u t fro m t h e reed s a l on g th e

ban k an d d ragged th e can oe to th e op pos i te
s h o re .

T h e gi r l s s c ream ed fo r h el p an d we re ,

h eard a t t h e fort .

M e n ca m e ru n n i n g down to th e wate r b u t ,

i t was t oo l ate . O n e o f th e gi r l s was a

d au gh te r of B oon e ; an d w h en h e cam e i n at
n igh t fro m h u n ti n g i n th e fo re sts th e p eopl e ,

ru s h ed o u t to tel l h i m .

D an i el B oon e d i d n ot even s top to l ay

down h i s gu n .

C o m e wi th m e ,
h e sai d
to th e m en . A n d away t h ey wen t to try
to n d th e t h ree cap ti ves . Fo r d ays t h ey
t rave l ed t h ro ugh th e fo res ts . It wa s n igh t
wh en at l as t B oon e an d o n e co m pan i on w ho
, , ,

h ad h u rri ed o n ah ead ,
reac h ed t h e I n d i an
34 D A N I EL B OON E .

cam p . T h ere t h e th ree gi rl s l ay as l eep ,

tw o

I n d i an s wat ch i n g ove r th e m .

B ang ! ban g ! we n t ri fl es fro m o u t of th e

fores ts . Two I n d i an s f el l . T h e ot h e r I n d i an s
we re too frigh te n ed to move .

B ang ! bang ! bang ! A gai n th e bu l l e ts

wh i zz ed t h rough th e ai r . T h en i n ru s h ed
Boon e s fri e n d s

. A t s igh t of th e m t h e I n d i an s ,

yel l ed an d ran . T h ey forgot eve ryth i n g i n

t h ei r frigh t . So th e wh i te m en h ad on l y to
u n ti e th e th ree gi rl s an d ret u rn to t h e i r ca m p .

T h e re was g reat rej oi ci ng wh e n t h e party

cam e bac k s afe agai n .

B u t t h e I n d i an s we re very angry at t h e
l os s of t h ei r th ree capti ves . T h ey m ean t to
keep t h e m fo r s l aves .

E very l i ttl e wh i l e th ey wo u l d m ake s o m e

attack u pon th e vi l l age . T h ey d i d n o t h ar m
the peop l e ve ry m uch ,
fo r s en ti n el s we re
 DAN I E L B OO N E .
35

a l w a ys o n t h e watc h B u t on e nI
g h t t h ey

bu rs t u po n B oo n e s boro m ean i ng to d es t roy ,

it . T h ere wa s a l arge n u m be r o f th e I n d i an s ,

an d t h ey at tac ked t h e l i ttl e s ettl e m en t o n al l

S i d es at on e ti m e .

I t was a hot gh t b u t th e ,
s avage s we re
d ri ve n o ff at l as t an d fo r a w hol e year m ad e
,

n o fu rth e r t ro u bl e fo r t h e wh i te m en .

It wa s i n th e wi n te r of 1777 an d 1
77 8

t h at th e l i tt l e col on y ex h au s ted t h ei r s u pp l y
of s al t . T h ey co u l d n ot l i ve wi th o u t s al t .

T h ey co u l d n ot p res e rve t h e i r m eats . S al t

t h ey m u s t h ave .

An d so B oon e wi th t h i rty m e n s tarted

o u t to L i c ki ng C ree k . H e re t h ere we re s o m e
s al t s p ri ngs . T h ey obtai n ed th e s al t by boi l i ng
th e water of t h e s p ri n gs i n l arge kettl es . But
t h ey h ad n ot bee n l on g at work before t h ey ,

were attack ed by t h e I n d i an s .
 DAN I EL B OON E .
37

A gai n B oo n e was taken p ri s o n e r . He

k n ew t h e l i ttl e party at t h e c ree k co u l d n ot
p rotec t th e m s el ve s agai n s t So m an y I n d i an s .

SO h e p re te n d ed to be pl eas ed th at h e h ad
fal l e n i n to t h e h an d s o f th es e I n d i an s . He
co m pl i m en ted th e m on t h ei r n e vi l l age an d
t h ei r h an d s o m e warri ors . H e feign ed great
i n tere s t i n t h ei r ways Of h u n t i n g an d sh

ing . H e tri ed to d o eve ryth i n g h e sa w them

d o ti l l th e I n d i an s we re
,
so d el igh ted wi th
h i m th at t h ey d eci d ed to ad op t h i m .

This wa s be tte r t h an bei n g ki l l ed ce r ,

ta i n l y . S o B oon e s tood as s ti l l as a t ree

while t h e red m e n oi l ed h i m an d pai n ted
h i m an d s t u c k feat h e rs i n h i s h ai r .

T h en th e y d an ced an d w h ooped ; fo r t h i s
was th e way t h ey a l ways d i d w h en t h ey
adop t ed an y on e i n to t h e i r tri be .

A l l th i s B oo n e p reten d ed to enj oy ve r y
38 D A N I EL B OONE .

much . H e too d an ced an d wh ooped ti l l t h e

, , ,

I n d i an s we re s u re h e wo ul d m ak e a n e warri or .

Wh en the cere m on y was ove r ,

B oon e
s ai d ,

Co m e n ow , l et us go n d m y co m
pan i on s . L et u s take t h e m p ri s on ers an d
carry t h e m to t h e B ri ti s h cam p . T h e B ri ti s h
wi l l tak e care of th e m .

SO th e I n d i an s l ed B oon e to his co m
p an i on s . H e gave t h e wh i te m en a S ign to
d o wh atever h e tol d t h e m to d o .

T h e m en d i d n ot k n ow wh at i t al l m ean t '

b u t th ey kn ew i t m u s t be al l righ t . SO th ey
al l owed t h e m s el ves to be t aken by th e s ava g es
an d carri ed to t h e B ri ti s h cam p .

I n t h i s way B oon e s aved h i s ow n l i fe an d

th e l i ves of h i s co m p an i on s .

The B ri t i s h we re wi l l i n g to s en d th e
oth e r m en bac k to B oon es boro bu t B oon e ,

th ey wi s h ed to k eep i n th e i r ow n ca m p .
 DA N I E L B OONE .
39

N O, no ,
t h e I n d i an s s ai d ,

h e bel ongs
to us . A n d B oo n e was m arc h ed bac k to
t h e h o m e of th e I n d i an s .

Poo r B oo n e ! his h eart wa s ve ry h eavy .

H e l onged to get bac k to h i s own peopl e at

B oon es bo ro .

B u t h e was t oo wi s e to S h ow th at h e
wa s u n h ap py . H e p rete n d ed th at h e was
gl ad to go bac k w i t h th e I n d i an s . A n d wh e n
h e reach ed t h e i r v i l l age ,
h e began at on ce
to m ake fri en d s wi t h al l t h e p eopl e .

H e taugh t th e m m an y t h i n g s ; h e tol d
th e m wo n d e rfu l s to ri es ; h e d an ced an d s an g
wi th t h e m .

By an d by t h ey began to t ru s t h i m to
,

g o ou t to h u n t . A t rs t t h ey watc h ed h i m .

B oon e k n ew t h ey wo u l d ,
so he m ad e no
atte m pt to es cape .

T h ey th e n gave u p watch i n g h i m bu t ,
40 D AN IEL B OONE .

th ey c o u n ted th e s hot th ey gave h i m . T he n

w h en h e cam e i n fro m th e h u n t th ey wo u l d ,

co u n t th e gam e an d expe ct him to bri ng

bac k th e righ t a mo u n t of s h ot .

B u t B oon e soo n l earn ed to c u t t h e l i ttl e

bu l l e ts i n h al ves ,
an d s o m ake on e b u l l e t
s hoot two bi rd s .

I n th i s way he wa s soo n abl e to h i d e

away a g reat d eal of s hot for his own us e
l ater o n .
 DAN I EL B O O N E S
ES CAP E .

O n e n igh t wh en B oon e cam e i n fro m a

,

h u n t h e fo u n d ve h u n d red warri o rs
,
In the
vi l l age fro m a n eig h bo ri n g tri be .

T h ey we re cove red wi th war pai n t an d ,

th ey h ad t h e i r to m ah aw ks an d s cal p i ng k n i ves .

T h ey we re on their way to B oo n e s boro .

T h ey h ad co m e to j oi n Boon e s t ri be then

th ey wo u l d attac k th e fo rt toge th e r .

B oon e p re te n d ed n o t to n o ti ce wh at t h ey
s ai d . H e p reten d ed to be too t i red to tal k .

But . wh e n t h e I n d i an s we re asl e ep h e s tarted

,

o u t f ro m h i s wigwa m . H e crawl ed t h ro ug h
t h e h igh gras s u n ti l h e was o u t o f s ig h t .

T h e n h e ran .

O n o n h e wen t ti l l h e re ach ed at l as t
, ,

41
42 D AN I EL B OON E .

the O h i o ri ver .

I f I o n ly can cros s i t ,

h e s ai d ,

I s h al l f eel s afe .

Boon e d read ed t h e s wi ft rive r for h e co u l d ,

n ot s wi m very we l l . B u t wh e n h e r each ed
t h e s h ore ,
t h ere l ay an o l d can oe . It wa s

l eaky f o r th ere was a big b reak i n o n e s i d e

,
.

B u t B oo n e s oon m en ded t h i s an d pad

d l ed acros s . Then h ow h e ran ! H e d i d n ot
s top to ea t o r s l eep . A n d at t h e en d of th e
ft h day th e b rave m an s t agge red i n to t h e
,

fort h a l f d ead
,
.

A l l h e c o u l d s ay wa s ,

T h e I n d i an s are
co m i ng ! th e I n d i an s are co m i n g !

A s soon as h e was abl e B oo n e cal l ed ,

th e m e n toge th e r .

H e p u t t h e for t i n o rd er an d m ad e th e
defe n c es s t ronge r . T h en wi th a brave l i t tl e
ban d h e s tar t ed o u t .

O n t h e ban k s of a river h e cam e u po n

 D AN IE L B OON E .
43

a ban d of fty I n d i an warri o rs so u n d as l e ep .

T h es e h e p u t to ro u t an d t h e n h u rri ed o n .

S oo n h e cam e u pon th e m ai n b o d y * ve

h u n d re d O f th e m .

These he l earn ed we re on t h e way to

B o o n es bo ro . O f co u rs e i t was u s e l e s s to
atta c k s o l arge a n u m be r ; s o h e c rep t bac k
to th e fo rt a n d m ad e i t ready fo r th ei r co m
ing .

T h e s e ve h u n d red m e n w e re i n c h arge
o f a B ri ti s h o f c e r ; f o r t h i s wa s d u ri n g t h e
R evo l u ti o n ; an d th e B ri ti s h yo u k n ow o f ten
, ,

j o i n ed wi t h t h e I n d i an s agai n s t t h e col o n i s ts .

A t l as t t h e ve h u n d red I n d i an s reac h ed
,

th e fo r t

We d e m an d s u rren de r , s ai d t h e B ri ti s h
co m m an d er .

Y ou m u s t gh t fo r i t th en , ,
an s w e red
Boon e ; an d t h e bat tl e began .
 D AN IE L B OONE .
45

F or h o u rs t h e bu l l ets ew fas t an d th i c k .

B u t l i tt l e h arm wa s do n e t h e fo r t ; fo r m an y
of t h e b ul l e t s l odged i n t h e h ard wood p a l i
s ad e s .

T h e n th e I n d i an s t ri ed t o re th e b u i l d
i n gs ; b u t wa t er was p l e n t i fu l an d agai n t h ey ,

fai l ed .

T h en t h ey t ri ed to d ig a t u n n e l u n d e r
gro u n d b u t th e p i on ee rs
, sa w wh at th ey we re
d oi n g ; fo r t h e s o i l t h ey d ug o u t m ad e th e
wate r o f t h e ri ve r m u d dy .

T h e n B oo n e began too to m ake a m i n e , , ,

t h rowi n g t h e s o i l o u t ove r the pa l i s ad e s .

T he I n d i an s d i d n ot l i k e t h i s . T h ey too
, ,

w e re i n d ange r an d s o i n a f ew m o re d ay s

th ey gave u p th e s i ege an d wen t ba c k to

t h ei r own vi l l age s .

Wh i l e Boo n e h ad bee n i n t h e vi l l age o f

t h e I n d i an s h i s fa m i l y h ad go n e ba c k t o t h e i r
,
46 D AN IE L B O ONE .

o l d ho m e i n N orth C aro l i n a . M rs Boon e

.

be l i eved he ha d. bee n k i l l ed by t h e s avages ,

and ,
so ,
l onged to go ba c k to h e r f ath e r s

hom e .

A s soon ,
t h e n a s th e
, S i ege was ove r ,

Boon e s et ou t fo r N o r t h C aro l i n a to n d ,

h i s fam i ly an d S h ow them he wa s s ti l l a l ive .

It wa s s o m e l i t t l e ti m e befo re h e b ro ugh t
h i s fa m i ly bac k to K en t u c ky fo r t h ere w ere ,

al l k i n d s of erran d s to be don e for t h e

peopl e of B oon es boro .

O n e wan ted a c ow bo ugh t for him ;

an o th e r wan ted a h ors e ; t h e re were n ai l s an d

carpen te rs tool s to be bo ugh t an d l ead fo r ,

s h ot
A t l as t , al l th es e were col l e c ted . But
be s i des th i s B oon e h ad a great d eal of m on e y
, ,

T h i s m on ey h e wa s c arr y i ng t o t h e p i o n eer s
f ro m th ei r fri e n d s i n t h e eas t . T h i s m on ey
 D AN I EL B OONE . 47

h e h ad s to red awa y i n his boot s ,

an d h e
s u ppo s e d n o o n e k n ew t h at h e h ad i t .

B u t s o m e o n e d i d kn o w ; f o r w h en h e
h ad rea c h ed t h e d en s es t p art o f th e wi l de r
n es s , o u t s p ran g s o m e I n d i an s u po n h i m ,

S h o u ti ng
T h e wa m p u m ! t h e wam p u m !

It wa s u s e l es s to s t rugg l e on e m an
aga i n s t s o m an y an d h e gave u p t h e m o n ey
, .

A sad , s ad m an was h e wh e n h e d ragged

h i m sel f an d h i s fam i l y i n to th e fort . He
tol d h i s s to ry to th e p eo pl e ; th en sat d own
an d b u ri ed h i s face i n h i s h an d s .

B u t sad d es t o f al l was this . B rave an d

u p righ t as h e h ad al ways been t h e re we re a ,

few wh o bel i eved D an i el B oo n e h ad h i d d e n

t h e m on ey .

This ,
B oon e u sed to sa
y ,
wa s th e
h ard es t tri al I eve r ha d
!

to bear .

B u t th es e fool i s h peopl e d i d n o t bel i eve

48 DAN IE L B OONE .

i l l of B oo n e ve ry l on g . H e was t oo h on es t
i n h i s l i fe an d too ready a l ways to do for
,

h i s p eop l e a l l th a t co u l d be don e . The fe w

w h o h ad s poke n evi l of h i m grew to be
as h am ed of wh a t t h ey h ad sai d .

Soon after h i s re t u rn to t h e for t B oon e ,

an d his b ro t h er s tarted ou t a l on e to t h e
p l ace wh ere t h ey h ad s et u p t h e s a l t works .

J u s t as t h ey we re b eg i n n l n g to work
I n d i an s s p ran g u pon t h e m fro m an am b u s h .

B oon e s broth er th ey s h o t down

; b u t wh i l e
t h ey were wh oopi n g an d yel l i ng over th e i r
vi ctory B oon e es caped
, . F or two d ays an d
two n igh ts h e ran th i s way an d th at tryi ng ,

to es cape th e p u rs u i n g s avages .

O n ce th e i r dogs were c l os e u pon h i m .

! u i ck as a as h h e sei z ed th e h i g h
bran ch of a t ree spran g i n to th e ai r an d
, ,

l et i t swi n g h i m far o u t over a ban k .

 D AN I EL B OON E .
49

O n on cam e th e d ogs th ei r n os es cl os e
, , ,

d own t o t h e e art h . B u t wh e n t h ey reach ed

t h e t ree t h e t rai l was l os t
,
.

T h ey ran rou n d an d ro u n d . T h e n th ey
ran y e l p i ng ba c k to th e i r m as te rs
, ,
. But in
al l t h i s t i m e B oon e h ad gai n ed a m i l e u pon
th e m an d
,
so at l as t reach ed th e fo rt agai n
i n s afe ty .
 CO LO N EL B O O N E .

By an d by t h e re we re s o m an y p i on ee r s
,

i n K e n t u c ky th at th e y a s ked
,
f o r m i l i t ar y
p ro te c ti o n .

T h e gove rn o r o f ! i rgi n i a s e n t o u t m i l i
tary for c es . T h e pi on ee rs th e m s el ves fo rm ed
a m i l i tary co m pan y an d D an i e l B oon e wa s
,

p l a c ed at t h e h ead .

H e d es erves t h e h o n o r ,
s ai d th e gov
e rn o r,

f o r h e f o u n d ed t h e rs t s ettl e m e n t ;

h e h as protected i t fo r years ; an d h e i s t h e
!

b raves t p i on ee r i n K e n t u c ky .

D an i el B oo n e n ow C ol on e l Boon e
s en t S i m o n K e n t o n o u t as a s py . T h es e
p i on eers h ad to k eep s p i es al ways o n t h e
watc h ; fo r t h e I n d i an s we re l i kel y at an y
5 1
 D AN IE L O NE
B O .

t i m e to bu rs t o u t fro m t h e f ore s ts an d atta c k

t h e wh i te s ettl e m e n ts .

N ow t h e B ri ti s h h ad l earn ed to d read
,

Boon e . T h e y k n ew h e was t h e l eader i n al l

battl es . T h ey k n ew too th at t h ey co u l d n eve r
, ,

d es t roy B oon e s boro ti l l h e was c ap t u red .

H e u n de rs tood t h e wa y s o f t h e I n d i an s ,

an d s o was a l ways m o re t h an a m a tc h
,
f or

th e m .

S t i l l t h e I n d i an s we re a l ways l u rk i ng i n
th e fore s t s . T h e B ri t i s h h ad t o l d th e m to
keep o n th e watc h . T h ey h ad o f fe red t h e
savages great reward s i f t h e y wo u l d bri ng
th e s cal p of C o l on el B oon e to th ei r c am p .

O n e d ay K e n to n t oo k h i s gu n early i n
th e mo rn i n g an d wen t ou t to s h oot . J ust
as he l eft the fort , he sa w tw o I n d i an s
s p ri ng o u t fro m t h e fo res t an d atta c k tw o

wh i te m e n .
54 D AN I EL B OONE .

O n e o f t h e m t h ey k i l l ed ; K en to n rai sed
h i s ri e an d s h o t t h e I n d i an d ead . T h en h e
p u rs u ed t h e o t h er s .

Boon e h eard th e s h ots an d ru s h ed cut

fro m th e fo r t wi th ten ot h e r m en . T h ey sa w

i n an i n s t an t t h at t h e re wa s t ro u bl e ; t h ey ,

too rai s ed th ei r ri e s an d ran wi th K e n t on

,

after th e red m en .

B oon e d i d n ot kn ow t h ere we re s o m an y
I n d i an s i n th e gh t f or t h ey h i d t h em s el ves
,

i n t h e t al l gras s .

B u t as soon a s th ey we re wel l away fro m

th e fo rt th e s avages s pran g o u t
, . A n d be fo re
Boon e kn ew i t h e was s u rro u n d ed by t h e m
,

on a l l S i d es .

C h arge ! s h o u ted B oon e an d bang wen t

,

th e ri es of eve ry m an . O n e s e co n d an d a ,

vo l l ey o f s h ot po u re d fro m th e ri es of t h e
red m en .
 D AN IE L B OO N E .
55

S i x o f t h e te n m e n d ro p ped w o u n d ed ;
an d B o on e h i m s el f f e l l h i s l eg b ro ke n an d, ,

h i s arm bad l y h u rt .

T h e I n d i an s gave a ye l l o f d e l igh t an d ,

s p ran g t oward s h i m . O n e I n d i an h ad a l r eady

s e iz ed h i m by t h e h ai r an d wa s o u ri s h i ng
h i s s c al p i ng k n i f e .

K en to n sa w this ,
an d red . H is

ri e n eve r fai l ed an d t h e s avage fel l bac k

,

d ead . T h en Ken to n s e i z ed B o o n e by t h e
arm s t h rew h i m ove r h i s s t ro ng
,
S h o u l d e rs ,

an d ran wi t h h i m t o ward s t h e f o rt . The

ot h e r m e n h el d t h e s avages at bay ti l l t h e
fc t wa s rea c h ed ; an d t h e n w h e n t h e I n d i an s
,

k n ew t h ey h ad l os t B oon e t h ey ran away i n t o ,

th e fores ts .

Y ou m ay be s u re B oo n e n eve r fo rg ot
his d e bt to K e n to n . T h ey we re l i fe l o ng -

fri e n d s . A n d wh e n by an d by t h ey both
, ,
56 D AN I EL B OON E .

d i ed th ey were b u ri ed i n th e sam e b u ri al
gro u n d . I f you Should vi s i t K e n t u cky t o d ay ,

yo u wo u l d s ee t h e s to n es t h at m ark t h ei r
graves .
 B RY A N S TAT I O N .

Not ve ry far fro m B oo n e s bo ro wa s

an o th e r col ony . This was s e ttl ed by t h ree

of M rs . B oon e s b roth e rs ,
J a m es ,
Wi l l i am ,

an d D an i el B ryan It cal l ed B ryan s

. wa s ,

S tati on .

O n e m o rn i n g ve h u n d red I n d i an s l ed ,

L! Z a c ru el ut e rn an a h , ex e zu u i an
O u tcas t f el l u po n t h i s l i ttl e s e ttl e m e n t .

T h e re we re o n l y fty m en i n th e cam p ,

an d th e fo rt wa s n o t i n good co n d i ti on . The
s avages k n e wf t h ka an d c h os e u r nma

The attac k began rs t wi t h twe n ty

I n d i an s w ho ra n ah ead an d red i n to t h e
f ort .
too k t h e i r p l aces at th e wal l s ,
ready to
re at t h e rs t red ma n t h at d ared S h ow

h i m s el f .

T h ree m en crept o u t fro m t h e fort an d

crawl ed th ro ugh t h e gras s an d ran for h el p .

S oon t h e twen ty I n d i an s appeared agai n .

T h ey red on e vol l ey ,
t h en ran agai n i n to
t h e fores ts . I n t h i s way t h ey hoped to d raw
,

t h e m e n o u t fro m th e fo rt . T h e res t of t h e
ve h u n d red ke pt th e m s el ves h i dd en .

We kn ow you r pl an ,
s ai d th e l ead er
i n s id e th e fort ;

bu t we fal l n ot i n to yo u r
trap .
!

N ow t h e s p ri n g fro m w h i c h
,
t he p eop l e
of t h e s ettl e m en t d rew th ei r wate r ,
wa s out
side the fort . This was u n fo rt u n ate for
 D AN I EL B OONE .
59

wate r m u s t be h ad es pec i al l y i f t h e fo rt was ,

to be bes i eged .

Wh at s h al l we d o ? t h e me n as k ed of
each oth e r .

L e t t h e wo m en bri n g t h e wat er ,
s ai d
on e Ol d l ady T h e I n d i an s wo u l d b e m o re
-

.

l i kel y to l et us go u n h ar m ed . T h ey cou l d
h ave n o o bj ect i n attac k i n g us . I t i s th e
fo rt t h ey wan t .

F or a m o m en t the wo m en h el d bac k .

M oth e rs cl as ped t h ei r c h i l d re n cl os e to t h ei r
h earts an d wep t .

L e t m e go al on e ,
s ai d th e ol d l ady
agai n ,

p e rh aps i t wou l d be j u s t as wel l .

T h en ,
too i t wo u l d
,
n ot m atte r i f . I we re
k i l l ed . F or I am ge tti ng ol d an d am not of
m u ch u s e to yo u h e re .

B u t at t h i s twe n ty wo m e n ,
s p ran g to
th ei r fee t .

L e t yo u g o o u t i n to dange r
al on e ! N eve r ! th ey s ai d .
 D AN I E L B OON E .
61

Th e n eac h too k a b u c k et an d toget h er ,

t h ey we n t o u t to t h e s p ri ng .

T h e i r h earts beat h ard an d m an y a face ,

was w h i te wi t h fear . B u t t h ey we n t o u t
bravel y l augh i ng an d tal k i ng an d p reten d i n g
, ,

to h ave n o fear .

T h e s avages l ay eve rywh e re con cea l ed

i n t h e gras s . T h ey sa w t h e wo m en co m e
an d go ; b u t m ad e n o atte m p t to h arm t h e m .

N ow we are ready fo r a S i ege ,

i f t h ere
!

m u s t be on e ,
sai d t h e m en .

Then th i rteen m e n we re s en t o u t to
d raw t h e I n di an s on to bat tl e .

I f th e re
must be a battl e l et ,
us h ave it n ow ,

th e cap tai n t h o u gh t .

A s s oon as th e t h i rteen m e n fro m th e

fo rt appeared ,
th e I n d i an s re treated . T h ey
wan ted to d raw t h e m i n to th e fo res t . T h en
th ey co u l d s u rro u n d t h e m an d k i l l t h e m a l l .
62 D AN I EL B OO N E .

B es i d es ,
t h ey s u p pos ed t h es e t h i rtee n m en
were al l t h e re we re i n th e fort .

Wh e n the I n d i an s h ad d rawn th es e
th i rteen away ,
t h e wh i te l ead e r crep t u p
toward s t h e fo rt . H e t h o ugh t h e co u l d tak e
i t eas i ly n ow .

But wh e n he d rew n ear o u t

,
bl azed
th i rty v e ri es at h i m
-
. S everal I n d i an s fel l
d ead . T h e n cam e an oth e r vol l ey ! A n ot h er
an d an oth er ! T h e s avages ran for th ei r
l iv es .

T h e l i ttl e party wh o were attack i n g t h e

th i rteen ed too . T h en t h e th i rteen cam e
bac k to th e fo rt .

T h ey cl osed th e gates an d p repared for

a s i ege .

T h e I n d i an s an d th e i r w h i te l ead e r crep t
bac k soon . T h ey h id i n the g ras s an d
wai ted . T h e m en i n th e fo rt k n ew t h ey we re
 D AN IE L B OON E .
63

t h e re ,
fo r eve ry n ow an d t h e n t h ey wo u l d
s h oo t at t h e fort .

B u t al r eady h el p wa s co m i n g . T h e m en ,

wh o h ad c rep t o u t fro m th e fort to go fo r

h el p ha d rea c h ed t h e o th e r s et tl e m e n ts i n s afe ty .

F i fty h o rs e m e n rod e u p to t h e fo rt .

T h e m e n i n t h e fo rt c o u l d n o t gi ve t h e m
warn i ng ; an d befo re t h ey k n ew t h at the
I n d i an s we re in t h e gras s ,
ou t cam e a
vol l ey of s h o t u po n t h e m .

T h e m e n i n th e fo rt t h rew o p e n t h e
gates an d t h e h o rs e m e n ru s h ed i n . N ot a
m an was k i l l ed bu t s evera l we re wo u n d ed
,
.

The wh i te l ead e r o f t h e I n d i an s was

an gry en o ugh t h at h e h ad l os t th e fo rt . He
kn ew wel l en o ugh i t was u s e l es s to at te m p t
ba t t l e n ow .

S o h e cl i m bed u pon a s t u m p an d m ad e
a s peech to t h e peo pl e i n t h e fo rt .
64 D AN I EL B OONE

I t was a ve ry wo n d e rfu l s p ee ch n o d o u bt ; ,

bu t i t d i d n o t s care t h e p i o n ee rs .

Th ey on ly l augh ed at h i m an d tol d h i m
t o bri ng on h i s s avages an d th ey wou l d wh i p
t h e m al l .

The wh i te l eade r sa w he cou l d not

frigh ten t h e pi on ee rs ,
so h e crept bac k i n to
t h e gras s . T he n ext m o rn i n g h e h ad d i s
ap peared an d taken h i s s avages wi t h h im .
 AN AM B ! S CA D E .

N ews of th e at t ac k o n B ryan S tati on

h ad S p read fro m col o n y to co l on y . E ac h

co l o n y s en t m en to th e res c u e ; an d o n th e
n ext m o rn i ng on e h u n d red an d eigh ty m e n
h ad co m e to th e s t ati on .

A m on g t h e s e was D an i el B oon e .

L et
!

us p u rs u e these I n d i an s ,
s ai d th e m en .

We m ay ove rtake an d s u rp ri s e t h e m .

I d o n o t bel i eve i t wi l l be wi s e ,
s ai d

B u t t h e t rai l i s eas y to fol l ow ,

s ai d
t h e m en . E ve rywh e re are S ign s o f t h e ro u te
t h ey h ave take n . T h e gras s i s t rodd en down
t rees are b roken ,
an d even ol d coats are
l yi ng In th e b u s h es .
GG D A N I EL B OONE .

T h at i s j u s t why I th i n k i t wo u l d n o t
be wi s e to p u rs u e t h e m ; s ai d B oon e ,

I n d i an s
k n ow better t h an to l eave th ei r t rac ks l i ke
th a t .

Perh ap s t h ey forgot ,
i n t h ei r h u rry ,

s ai d o ne .

I n d i an s n eve r fo rget , an s wered Boon e .

A n d y o u m ay be s u re th ey h ave d on e th i s
s i m p l y to d ecoy u s . T h ey t h i n k w e s ha l l
f ol l ow be cau se th e trai l i s
,
so p l ai n . Then
th ey wi l l h i de th e m s el ve s an d wai t fo r u s .

B efo re we kn ow i t we s h al l be i n a t rap
, .

B u t t h e m e n wo u l d n ot l i s te n to Boon e .

T h ey we re eage r fo r battl e an d s o p u s h ed ah ead

,

T h ey m arc h ed for s eve n m i l es befo re an

I n d i an s howed h i m s el f at al l .

A t L i c ki n g C reek a f ew we re p rowl i n g
aro u n d . N eve r h ad a t rai l bee n s o easy to
fol l ow .
 DAN I EL B OONE .
67

Wh at i f Boo n e was ri gh t ,
on e m an
wh i s pe red .

I h al f bel i eve he wa s, wh i s pe red

an o th e r .

Wh at do yo u t h i n k of i t n ow Boon e ?

as ked th e co m m an d er .

I t h i n k we are n ear a n am b u s cad e ,

an swe red B oon e cool ly .

T h e I n d i an s are i n
t h at ravi n e yon d er o r I d on t kn ow I n d i an s

, !

W h atever el se we d o we m u s t n ot c ros s th i s ,

ri ve r .

N on se n s e ! cri ed th e l ead e r . And

t u rn i n g his ho rs e ,
h e g al l o ped down the
ban ks of th e ri ve r ,
s ho u ti n g ,

Come on !

co m e on ! A l l wh o are n o t coward s co m e ,

on !

D own th e ban k th e wh ol e co m pan y

ru s h ed afte r th ei r h o t h ead ed l ead e r

,
-
. Boon e s
h eart s an k b u t h e fol l owed o n,
.
(38 DAN I EL B OONE .

H ard l y h ad t h ey s h aken th e m s elves d ry

on t h e oth er s i de of th e ri ve r ,
wh e n ou t
bl az ed t h e ri es of t h e red m en .

T h e re t h ey were ,
as B oo n e h ad s ai d .

Sn ap ! s n ap ! s n ap ! wen t t h e i r ri es . F i ve
h u n d red of t h e m ! T h e savages we re every
wh ere ! I n th e grass i n t h e trees be h i n d , ,

th e roc ks !

T h e wh i te m e n h ad ri dd e n i n to a n et .

M os t bravel y t h ey fo ugh t B oon e i n th e ve ry ,

fron t ; but it wa s a terri bl e battl e . The

wh i te m en fel l i n ten s an d twen ti es . A t l as t ,

the f ew th at were l eft t u rn ed an d ed

, . T h ey
h u rri ed back to th e s tati o n l es t t h e I n d i an s ,

s h ou l d agai n attac k th e fo rt .

T h en B oon e wro te a l ong l e t ter to th e

govern or of ! i rgi n i a beggi ng h i m to s en d
,

t h e m h el p . The I n d i an s m ean t m ischief ,

t h e re co u l d be n o d o u bt .
 D AN I EL B OON E .
69

T h e K en tu c ki an s for m ed t h e m s el ves i n to
an ar m y an d we n t u p an d d ow n th e co u n try ,

t ryi ng eve rywh e re to beat bac k t h e s avages .

I t was a t e rri b l e yea r . The I n d i an s

we re m ad d en ed an d th e B ri ti s h we re al ways
read y to u rge th e m o n . I t was 1
7 8 2 ,
the
d arkes t year i n th e h i s to ry of K en t u c ky .
 DAN I EL BOON E S LA S T

Y EA R S .

B u t at l as t t h e
,
war betwee n t h e B ri ti s h
an d the col on i s ts cam e to an en d . The
B ri t i s h gave u p th e i r s tati on s i n th e wes t
an d we n t bac k to E ngl an d .

T h e I n d i an s co u l d n o t gh t so wel l n ow .

T h ey d i d n ot k n ow how to pl an th e i r attac k s .

T h e y were n ot s o bol d an d t h e p i on eers co u l d

,

m an age t h e m eas i ly .

T h e p eopl e began to co m e fro m t h e eas t

to K en t u c ky . H u n d red s an d h u n d reds o f
fam i l i es cam e . By an d by th e re we re , so

m any p eop l e t h ey cal l ed t h e m s e lves a s tate .

T h ey chos e a capi tal . E ach m an h ad h i s

own l an d w h e re h e rai s ed co rn an d toba c co ,

an d trad ed it for g ood s fro m t h e eas t

72 D A N I EL B OONE .

D an i e l B oon e b u i l t a co m fortabl e h o m e
for h i m s el f an d m ean t to s pen d th e res t of
,

h i s l i fe i n q u i et .

B u t by an d by s pe c u l ato rs cam e o u t to
, ,

Ke n t u c ky an d began to b uy u p th e l an d .

T h ey t h at B oon e s l an d was g ood

saw ,

an d so rs t tri ed to b uy i t of h i m .

I do n ot care to s el l ,
h e s ai d ;

my
fam i l y i s co m fo rtabl e an d ,
we are co n ten t to
s tay h ere .

B u t th e s pec u l ators we re d e te rm i n ed to
h ave his l an d . T h ey as ked h i m to s h ow th e
d eed s . B oon e brough t th e m forth ; b u t th e
s h arp men soon sa w t hat th ey we re not
carefu l ly m ad e o u t . T h e l awyer w h o h ad
m ad e th e m h ad been carel es s . H e th ough t
i t d i d n t m atte r o u t th ere i n t h e wi l de rn es s

A n d so D an i el B oon e l os t h i s l an d . It
was a cru el th i ng to do to t h i s m an w ho h ad
fou g h t so b ravely fo r Ke n tu c ky
 DAN I EL B OONE .

B u t th e m en d i d n ot care . T h ey too k
t h e l an d an d B oo n e we n t bac k t o
, ! i rgi n i a .

Boo n e s s on ,
m ean ti m e ,
h ad go n e to
M i ss o u ri . A n d w h e n h i s fath e r l os t h i s h o m e
h e s en t fo r h i m to co m e to h i m i n t h e n ew

s tate . D an i el we n t an d i t was t h e re h e s p e n t
,

t h e res t of h i s l i fe .

B u t th e Ke n t u c ky peop l e n eve r forgo t

t h e fo u n d e r o f th e i r s tate ! A n d i f yo u S h o u l d
vi s i t Fran k fo rt K e n t u c ky t o d ay yo u wo u l d
, , ,

n d t h e re a n e m on u m e n t u po n wh i c h i s ,

c arved fou r p i ctu res o f I n d i an batt l e s , an d

be n eath t h e m t h e n a m e Of DA N IE L B OO N E .
 M E R I W ET H E R LEW I S AN D

W I LLIAM C LA R K .

Wh en J e fferso n becam e P res i d en t of

the ! n i ted S tates h e m ad e u p ,
his m i n d to
k n ow m o re of t h i s broad co u n try .

We are on l y l i vi n g al ong th e coas t of
!

i t as ye t ,
h e s ai d .

T h e re is a ri ch co u n t ry
beyon d th e A l l eg h a n i e s ; but we h ave h ard ly

c ros s ed t h e m to see .

T h ere m u s t be great rive rs . T h e re
must be wi d e p l ai n s an d ri c h l an d s fo r
farm i n g .

To be s u re we h ave l ong own ed th e
l an d as far as th e M i s s i s s i pp i ; but we know
n oth i n g abou t i t . A n d as to th e l an d beyon d
th e M i s s I S S I ppI ,
n o t eve n o u r f ew t rad e rs
dare c ros s i n to i ts fo res ts .
76 LE WIS A N l) C L A RK .

S o rs t of al l J e ffe rs on
, ,
s et to work far ,

s eei ng m an t h at h e was to ,
b uy th e l an d
beyon d th e M i s s i ss i pp i fro m t h e F re n c h wh o
cl ai m ed i t u n de r th e n am e of L o u i s i an a
,
.

N ow th e Fren ch s i n ce th ey own e d
,
th e

l an d beyon d th e M i s s i s s i p p i h ad of co u rs e , , ,

t h e righ t to sai l u p an d down th e ri ve r wi t h

th ei r c an oes ,
es tab l i s h i n g trad i n g s tati on s ,

t h at t h ey m igh t carry on fu r t rad e wi th th e

I n d i an s . T hi s co m m e rce J e ffers on wan ted to
b ri ng u n d e r co n trol of t h e ! n i ted S tates .

An d so i n ,
1 80 4 , h e s u cceed ed i n m ak i ng
s ati s facto ry te r m s wi t h F ran ce an d th e l an d ,

wes t o f t h e M i s s i s s i pp i becam e th e p roperty

of o u r peopl e .

N ow , we are i n deed a great c o u n t ry ,

sai d J e ffe rs on .

O u r l an d s tre tc h es from
ocean to ocean . We h ave h o m es for al l who
wi l l co m e to o u r s h o res ; an d we s h al l s om e
 L EWIS A N D C LAR K .

ti m e be p e rh ap s th e greates t am on g n ati on s
, , .

N ow J e ff e rso n was a m an o f act i on .

T h erefo re w h e n t h e l an d was o n ce t h e p rop

e rt
y of the ! n i ted S tates h e ap poi n ted
,
two

m en L eW I s an d C l ark to exp l ore i t .

N ow we so m et i m es t h i n k t h at al l th e
,

e x p l ori n g wa s don e i n th e ti m es of D e S o to
an d L a S al l e ; b u t t h i s i s n ot s o .

I t i s h ard for u s to u n d e rs tan d i t ; but

wh e n i n 1 80 4 on ly abo u t n i n e ty years ago
th es e two b rave m en s et o u t th ere ,
wa s j u s t as
m u c h d ange r an d h ard s h i p befo re t h e m as

ever th ere h ad been i n t h e d ays o f D e S oto

an d L a S a l l e .

T h e f o res ts we re j u s t as dense . The

I n d i an s q u i te as l i ke l y to p rove u n fri e n d l y ;
t h e s wam ps an d m o ras ses we re j ust as

t reach e ro u s .

T h e g reat ri ve rs o f th e far wes t we re al l

 L E WIS A ND C L A RK .
79

u n kn own ; an d as to d i s tan ces an d d i re cti on s ,

t h es e m en k n ew n o m ore t h an h ad t h os e
d ari ng m e n t h at fol l owed C ol u m b u s . O ften
th ey wo u l d wan d e r i n to d en s e wi l d ern es s es ,

fro m wh i c h i t was al mos t i m poss i bl e to es

cape . T h ey co u l d n ei t h e r go o n n or retreat ,

s u ch wa s th e d ange r befo re th e m an d beh i n d .

O ften th ey wo u l d travel for d ays al on g a

t rai l on l y to com e i n
, th e en d to s o m e in

s u rm o u n tabl e m o u n tai n ran g e or so m e rive r ,

u n s afe to cros s by boat an d i m pos s i bl e to

fo rd .

S ti l l kn owi ng th at al l th es e th i ngs m u s t
,

be L ewi s an d C l ark
,
s et o u t com m i s s i o n ed
,

by J e ffers on to expl o re t h e
,
n ew co u n t ry an d
m ake a repo rt to th e gove rn m en t o f al l t h at
h appen ed to th e m .

S t L o u i s was th en th e m os t p ros p ero u s

.

trad i n g s tati o n ; an d th e gove rn m e n t ha d

80 LEW IS A N D C L A RK .

h opes t h at som e d i rect ro u te m igh t be d i s

cove red fro m th at s tati on to th e Pac i c .

Fu l l d i recti on s we re give n th e two

expl o re rs an d wi th boats l ad en wi t h p res en ts
,

for t h e pos s i bl y h os ti l e I n d i an s t h ey s e t ou t ,
.

F i rs t th ey we re to v i s i t t h e I n d i an s u p
,

an d d own th e wes te rn ban k o f th e ri ve r tel l ,

th e m of t h e ch ange i n own ers h i p an d wi t h ,

p res en ts an d p ro m i s es fo r t h e fu t u re Wi n ,

t h ei r good wi l l an d co -
ope ratio n .

O f co u rs e n o on e co u l d fo rs ee wh e th er
,

th e I n d i an s wo u l d be fri e n d ly or h os ti l e .

N ei t her wa s i t k n ow n w h at d an ge rs m i gh t
awai t th e m in atte m p ti n g to as cen d th e
res tl es s ru s h i n g M i s so u ri
,
.

F i rs t of al l a keel boat, ,
f ty v e-
feet
l on g n o t d raw i ng m o re th an th ree fee t o f
,

water ,
was m ad e at Pi t ts bu r g ,
fo r t he
expl ore rs .
 LE W IS AND C L AR K .
81

I t was an odd boat to be s u re l ook I ng ,

n ot u n l i k e t h e ol d Gree k gal l eys wi th i ts

l arge s q u are s ai l an d
,
i ts pl aces for twen ty .

t w oars m en
o . T h e re was a h al f d e c k at t h e
b ow an d an oth e r at t h e s te m ; an d th es e
fo rm ed th e c ab i n s . B etwee n t h e cabi n s w as

th e s pace wh ere t h e twen ty two oars m e n s at -

.

Two oth e r s m al l e r boats p rop el l ed by oars ,

on l y were p rov i d ed by t h e gove rn m en t an d

, ,

wi t h th es e th e exp l ore rs p re pared to s et s ai l .

Twen ty v e b rave m en were s el ected by

-

L ew i s an d C l ark ; t h e s m al l e r boats we re
l oad ed wi t h co ffee s ugar c rac ke rs d ri ed m eats
, , , ,

c a rp en te r tool s ,
an d al l m an n e r o f b righ t
col o red obj ects fo r p res en ts to be d i s t ri b u te d
am on g t h e I n d i an s .

A f ew h o rs es eve n we re m ad e roo m fo r
, ,

on t h e l arge boat ; an d so, h eavi l y l ad en t h e ,

l i tt l e ex
pl o rI n
g party s et O ff , down t h e O h i o ,
82 LE WIS A N D C LAR K .

i n to th e M i s s i s s i p pi ,
s top p i ng rs t at t h e
F ren ch vi l l a g e S t L o u i s
, . .

H ere at S t L o u i s t h e l ead e rs fo u n d i t
.
,

q u i te n eces s ary to re m a i n u n ti l d e n i te
k n owl edge of t h e t ri bes u p an d d own t h e
rive r cou l d be gath e red . Twen ty m o re m en
j oi n ed t h e e x ped i ti on an d on t h e , 4 t h of M a
y ,

1 80 4 , th e exp l ore rs l e ft S t L o u i s an d real l y .

,

e m barked u pon th e d ange ro u s j o u rn ey m ak ,

i n g th at n igh t t h ei r rs t e n c am p m e n t on t h e
, ,

ban ks of th e u n kn own M i s so u ri .

I t was very l W t h ei r as cen t o f t h e

ri ver for th e c u rren t al ways t u rb u l en t was , ,

n ow s wol l en wi t h t h e h eavy sp ri n g rai n s ,

an d

o fte n wh ol e t rees wo u l d co m e cras h i ng d own

th e s tream ; o r th e ban k gi vi n g way wo u l d , ,

fal l ac ross th e ri ve r h el pi n g to catch an d ,

ban k u p th e d ri fti n g d e b ri s t h at cam e d own

wi th th e c u rren t .
 LE W IS A N D CL ARK .
83

F ro m t i m e to t i m e t h e m e n we re forced
,

to fas t e n t h ei r boats s e c u rel y l es t th ey be ,

c ru s h ed an d carri ed d own t h e s trea m ; m ean

wh i l e t h ey s et to wo r k to cl ear t h e ri ve r .

Fo r a wh i l e t h ey d ared n ot advan ce
i n th e d arkn es s l es t s o m e t ree co m e cras h
,

i ng dow n u po n t h e m ; nor was i t al ways

pos s i b l e to g u i d e t h e boats i n t h e m I g h ty
wh i r l pool s eve n u n d er t h e f u l l l igh t of t h e d ay
, .

A t t h e m o u t h of th e O s age th e party ,

at l as t d e c i d ed to e n ca m p an d s en d o u t
par t i es to exp l o re th e i n te ri or .

! p t h e O s age l ived th e O s age I n d i an s

, ,

a tri be parti c u l arl y s trong an d , e rce an d

,

war l i ke an d h avi ng a rep u ta t i o n fo r h osti l i ty

, ,

agai n s t a l l wh i t e m en .

T h erefo re th e arm s an d am m u n i ti o n of
,

th e l i t tl e party were carefu l l y exam i n ed before

t h e m en wen t i n to t h e fores t .
84 LE WIS A N D CL AR K .

It was a l an d ri c h i n ti m be r t h e y fo u n d ,

h e re . T h e re were oak an d a sh, h i c ko ry an d

bl ac k wal n u t ,
l arge Ol d t rees
for th es e
fores ts h ad s tood u n d i s tu rbed t h ro ugh ou t
cen tu ri es .

O n t h e fo u rt h of J u n e t h e p arty re tu rn ed , ,

bri ngi ng wi t h th e m te n d ee r ,
wh i c h were
m os t wel co m e to th e tas te of th e exp l orers ,

afte r l i vi n g on e m on th on d ri ed m eats . The

coo k p repared a great feas t u po n th e ban k
of t h e M i sso u ri at th e m o u t h of th e O sage
, ,

an d t h e h u ngry m en fo rgetfu l fo r th e ti m e ,

o f al l d angers f eas ted righ t m e rri ly

,
.

O n t h e n ext d ay t h ey s tarted o n u p t h e,

M i s s ou ri . ! e ry very sl owl y th ey we re fo rced

,

to m ake t h e i r way , so wi l d wa s t h e c u rre n t .

F i rs t th ey m e t s o m e F re n ch can oes l oad ed

, ,

wi th fu rs .

T h es e s ai d th e F ren c h m en
, ,

we bough t
 LE W IS AN D C LAR K .
85

fro m I n d i an s up the ri ve r . And l ate r

an o t h e r p arty of F ren ch m en was m e t th ei r
,

c an oes l oad ed al s o wi th fu rs ; bo ug h t too of ,

th e I n d i an s u p th e ri ve r .

B u t on e d ay t h e boats s w u ng i n to a
,

n arrow be n d i n t h e river . H e re th e c u r re n t
r u s h ed an d s eet h ed d ri ven ,
o n t h rough t h e
s t rai t by t h e great m as s of wate rs fro m
be h i n d .

I n t h e m i d s t o f th e s tream w h i rl i n g an d ,

s wi rl i ng l ay a great raft o f d ri ft w ood

,
. C l ark
s tood at t h e h el m wh e n t h e great m ass ,

s weep i ng t h ro ugh th e s trai t bo re down u pon ,

'

t h e l arge boat To t h e oars ! to th e !

. o a rs

to th e oars ! h e s h o u ted . O n e i n s tan t an d ,

every m an was i n h i s pl ace .

B ac k h e r ! bac k h e r ! t h u n d e red t h e
captai n . E very m an s trai n ed to h i s u t m os t !
Then th e s tern caugh t fas t .

Pu l l ! pull !
86 LE WIS AN D C LAR K .

pull ! t h e captai n t h u n d e red agai n . And the

m en d id p u l l .

B an g agai n s t th e s i d e of th e boat cam e

th e raft rak i ng th e s i d es fro m en d to en d
, .

For a m o m en t th e oars m en on th at Side

we re powerl es s . Th e boat s wu ng acros s t h e

s tream . I t t ossed an d careen ed . B u t wi th
a g reat s tro ng l ong p u l l t h e m en w ren c h ed
, , ,

th e s te rn fro m i ts en tan gl e m en t ; th e boat

righ ted i ts el f an d agai n rod e free
, .

B ravo ! s ho u ted C l ark . A l l fel t m u ch

rel i eved ; for h ad th e boat bee n w re c k e d ,
.
t h ey

m u s t h ave m ad e th e i r way bac k to P i tts b u rg ,

an d th e exped i ti on wo u l d th u s h ave been a .

fai l u re .

B u t n ow a great wi n d aros e . I t s wep t

down th e ri ve r an d acros s th e p rai ri es l i ke
a m i g h ty te m pes t . T he wate rs ros e l i ke
ocean waves ; th e Wi n d roared an d th e fores ts
,
 LEWIS AN D C L A RK 87

c reaked . T h i s was a wes te rn gal e a p rai ri e

sweep th e rs t on e t h es e eas te rn expl o re rs
h ad k n o w n
Wi t h m u c h d i f c u l ty th ey an chored t h ei r
boats . T h en m ak i ng th ei r way to th e s h o res
, ,

t h ey t h rew u p e n o u g h s h el ter an d en c a m ped

fo r t h e n i g h t . A l l n igh t l ong t h e wol ves
h owl ed an d th e pan th ers yel l ed ; bu t s e n t i n el s
kept gu ard an d th e weary m e n s l ept .

T h e n ext m o rn i n g b roke cl ea r an d brigh t .

A t s u n ri s e t h e ex pl ore rs we re awak e an d
ready to s et ou t agai n o n t h e ri ve r Al l
d ay l on g th ey s ai l ed m eeti ng w i th n o a d v e n
,

t u re ti l l n ear th e eve n i n g T h e n t h ey m et
.

a ee t o f can oes l oaded wi t h fu rs an d pel t

ri es w h i c h th e F ren c h m en we re carryi n g to
St . L o u i s fro m th e ca m p s of t h e Sioux
I n d i an s fart h e r u p t h e rive r .

To g e th e r t h e expl o re rs an d t he Fre n ch
88 L EW IS AN D C LA RK .

m e n e n cam ped an d al l n igh t l ong t h ey tal ked

,

of t h ei r pl an s . T h e F ren ch were k i n d l y an d ,

L ewi s an d C l ark gai n ed m u ch i n form ati o n

re g ard i ng th e co u n try an d th e s avage t ri bes
th at dwel t al o ng th e river ban ks . One

F ren ch m an who u n d e rs tood wel l t h e I n d i an

,

l angu age ,
t h ey i n d u ced to j oi n t h e ex
pl or

i ng p arty an d act fo r th e m
, as i n terp reter .

B u t th ey h ad co m e n ow u pon a grove
of oak an d h i cko ry .

L et u s s top h e re an d m ake n ew oars
fro m t h e wood of t h es e s tron g ol d t rees ,

s ai d th e oars m en . And ,
i n deed , th e re was
n eed for n ew oars ; fo r i n t h e ri ver c o l l i s i on ,

many h ad bee n bro ken an d oth e rs h ad bee n

s trai n ed an d w ren ch ed .

S o th e l i ttl e co m pan y en cam ped agai n

t h i s ti m e for s eve ral d ays . A n d wh i l e t h e
o ars m e n wo rked at t h e oars an d u pon t h e
 L E WIS AND C L A RK .
89

boats t h e h u n te rs scou red th e co u n try for

,

gam e .

E ac h n i gh t th ey ca m e i n wi t h sh an d
fow l ; an d o n ce wi t h d ee r an d bear .

From t h es e th e expl ore rs h ad an o th e r

feas t an d wh e n t h e feas t
,
wa s ove r t h e re was
,

s ti l l an abu n d an ce of m eat to p repare an d

s tore away fo r fu t u re u se . T h ere s ee m e d
n ow l i ttl e d ange r of s tarvi n g w h ateve r el s e ,

t h e fu t u re m igh t h ol d fo r t h e m .

A t l as t the oars we re m ad e ,
an d al l
i nj u ri es to th e boat repai red . T h e n t h e l i tt l e
co m pany s et fo rt h agai n . Fo r a d ay o r tw o

al l wen t wel l ; t h en a s u dd en ri s e i n t h e
rive r t id e an d t h e ru s h i n g c u rren t agai n cam e
down u pon th e m .

E ve ry m an s trai n ed at t h e oars . Fo r
h ou rs t h ey worked agai n s t th e c u rre n t . To
an ch or wa s i m pos s i bl e ; for eve n th e h eavi es t
90 LE W I S A N D C L A RK .

an ch ors d ra gg ed . Fas te r an d fas te r th e ru s h

i ng c u rre n t po u red down u pon t h e m . N ot

on l y was p rogres s i m poss i bl e ,

b u t i n s p i te
of al l e ffort t h e boat was d ri fti n g down th e
,

ri ve r .

T h i s wi l l n eve r do ,
s ai d C l ark .

We s h al l n d o u rs e l ves bac k at th e
m o u t h of t h e M i s so u ri , s ai d L ewi s .

We m u s t p u l l th e boat al on g t i l l we
pas s t h es e rap i d s , s ai d t h e cap tai n .

S o a great c ab l e wa s fasten ed th ro u g h
t h e boat t h e en d s reac h i n g fro m ban k to
,

ban k
T h en th e m en rowed to t h e s hores an d ,

ru n n i ng wi th th e great cabl e p u l l ed t h e boat ,

u p th e s trea m .

Fo r a wh ol e m i l e t h ey h ad p u l l ed wh en ,

th e kee l s c raped u pon a s an d bar j u s t at a

tu r n i n th e ri ve r .
 LE W IS AN D C LAR K .
91

A s an d bar ! a s an d bar ! s h o u ted th e

c ap t ai n ; for h i s t rai n ed ear k n ew wel l th e
sou nd Of t h e grati n g kee l .

Pull ! pull ! pull !

T h en t h e s t ron g m en p u l l ed .
.
Wi th al l
t h e i r s tre ngth an d wi th al l t h e i r wi l l t h ey
, ,

p u l l ed .

B u t th e fates were fo r t h e ti m e agai n s t

th em ; th e cabl e s n ap ped an d th e great boat , ,

n ear l y s tran d ed fel l u pon i ts s i d e

,
.

T h en th e great m as t s wayed to an d
f ro . I t s n ap ped an d fel l an d l a y d raggi n g ,

t h e boat ove r s ti l l m o re u pon i ts s i d e . All

th i s ti m e t h e wi n d was ri s i ng an d t h e fu ry ,

o f th e te m pes t i n c reas i n g .

I t s an i l l wi n d t hat b l ows n o good

s ai d o n e of t h e m e n ; fo r al ready t h e wate r
was ri s i n g ,
d ri ve n on by t h e great fo rce
beh i n d an d by th e ru s h i n g wi n d ; an d wi t h
92 LE WI S A ND C LAR K .

th e bu rs ti n g o f on e great wave over t h e san d

bar th e boat l u r c h ed righ ted i ts e l f an d was
, , ,

agai n free .

T h en t h e m en c u t away th e m as t an d
fas ten i ng th e boat u n t i l th e h u rri c an e was
over en c a mped ti l l th ey we re ab l e to p u s h
,

th ei r way o n agai n u p th e ri ver .

F o r t h ree or fou r d ays afte r th i s th ey ,

s ai l ed on i n p ea c e an d q u i e t . Th en t h ey
reach ed th e m o u th o f t h e Kan s as .

T h i s i s a rive r o f i m portan ce ,
C l ark
an d L ewi s s ai d ; so t h e co m pan y en c am ped
agai n ,
an d on e party was s en t to expl ore ,

wh i l e an o t he r was se n t to h u n t f or gam e .

Fo u r d ee r an d tw o wo l ve s were b ro ugh t
in ; an d on e d ay th e h u n te rs s n ared a great
wood rat of a ki n d n eve r s ee n befo re by
th es e expl ore rs .

I t was l ate i n J u l y wh e n at l as t t h ey
 LE WIS AN D C LAR K .
93

rea c h ed t h e m o u t h o f t h e P l atte . T h ere were

I n d i an s h ere an d L ewi s an d C l ark s e n t o u t
,

a p arty to n d t h e m .

T h e Fre n ch m an wen t wi th t h e m an d
s t rove to m ake t h e m u n d e rs tan d t h at n o
l onge r we re th ey to obey th e K i n g of F ran ce ,

b u t th a t th e G reat F a t h e r at Was h i ngto n

h ad bough t t h e wh o l e vas t t e rri tor y fro m
F ran ce an d th at h en cefort h al l I n d i an s wes t
,

o f t h e M i s s i ss i pp i we re to l o o k to t h i s G reat
Fat h e r fo r prote cti on .

T h e red m e n s ee m ed con te n ted wi th t h e

c h an ge an d th e c h i efs cam e an d
,
sa t i n co u n
ci l wi t h L ewi s an d C l ark ben eat h th e grea t
,

b l u ffs ove r agai n s t wh ere t h e c i t y of O m ah a

n ow s tan d s .

A fter a l on g c o u n c i l an d th e e xc h an ge
,

o f man y gi fts t h e p eace p i pe

,
wa s s m oked ,

th e p l ace was n am ed C o u n c i l B l u ffs an d th e ,

 LE WIS AN D C LA RK .
95

wh i te m en gl ad t h at th ei r rs t m eeti n g wi t h
,

the s avages of t h e fo res ts h ad en d ed so

s u c ces s fu l l y agai n s e t fo rth u p t h e ri ve r
, .

I t was to t h e m a won d erfu l co u n t ry t h ey

, ,

were n ow p as s i n g t h rough . F ro m t h e h i gh
bl u ffs t h ey h ad l oo ked o u t u pon t h e vas t
prai ri e rea c h i n g i n al l d i rec ti o n s l i k e a grea t ,

sea fro m h ori zo n to h ori z on

, .

T h es e p l ai n s were t reel es s an d gras s y ,

an d great h erd s of bu ffal o roa m ed u p an d d own

th e m . B u t th e ex pl o re rs were n ow com i ng
i n to t h e regi o n of D akota wh e re d wel t m an y ,

s avages n ot as p eacefu l n or as ki n d l y d is

posed toward t h e wh i t e m e n as h ad bee n

t h e tri be o n t h e Pl atte .

At once ,
co u n ci l s we re h el d an d t h e
I n d i an s we re given p res e n ts . S ti l l fo r so m e
,

re ason th e red m e n s ee m ed d i s s ati s ed

, ; an d
o n ce wh en t h e exp l o rers we re abo u t to re t u rn
,
 LE W I S AN D C L A R K .
97

to t h ei r ca m p t h e y s eiz ed th e cab l e an d wo u l d
,

n ot al l ow th e boat to p u s h o u t .

Ai m ! s ai d L ewi s cool ly .

Ai m ! bu t
d o n o t re .

I n an i n s tan t eve ry ri e was poi n ted

to w ard s t h e s avages .

We m ean n o h arm -
,
s ai d th ey d rop ,

p i ng th e cabl e an d m ovi n g bac k .

It is
on l y t h at we wi s h to t rad e wi t h yo u s ti l l
m o re .

But th e expl o re rs d ee m ed i t wi s er to
m ove away an d ,
so th e boat was rowed rapi d ly
u
p th e ri ver .

T h e I n d i an s fol l owed on h oweve r al on g , ,

th e ban k of th e ri ve r ca l l i n g to t h e wh i te
'

m en an d tel l i ng th e m t h at th ere were oth er

,

t ri bes farth e r i n l an d th at w i s h ed to tal k wi t h

th e m . B u t t h e m o re earn es t t h e i nvi tati on s ,

t h e m ore wort h wh i l e i t s ee m ed to t h e wh i te
98 L E WI S AN D C L A RK .

m en to paddl e al ong i n th e m idd l e of th e

ri ver .

B u t al l t h i s t i m e t h e s u m m e r h ad been
pas s i ng ; a u tu m n too h ad co m e an d gon e ;
, ,

an d al ready t h e col d wi n te r was s e ttl i ng down .

T h e t rees were bare t h e fo res ts we re h eavy

,

an d m ore th an on ce t h e rive r h ad cru s ted ove r .

We m u s t go i n to wi n te r q u arters ,
s ai d
C l ark . S o t h ey s el ected an i s l an d i n th e
terri to ry of t h e M an dan s wh o m th ey h ad good ,

reason to bel i eve wo u l d be fri e n d l y an d b u i l t ,

th ei r w i n te r q u arte rs .

N ow i n t h es e d ays th e art o f m ak i ng
,

m atch es was q u i te u n kn own . T h e I n d i an s ,

wh en t h ey n eed ed to s tri ke a re d i d i t by ,

a m os t l abo ri o u s proces s .

T h ey wou l d take two s ti c ks an d ru b th e m

to g eth er ti l l t h ey we re h o t e n o ugh to catc h
re fro m eac h oth e r .
 LE W IS A ND C L A RK .

T h e wh i te m an s way of s tri ki ng re

was on l y a l i ttl e l es s cru d e . H e h ad l earn ed

th at s tri ki ng i n t an d s teel toge th e r wou l d
prod u ce a q u i c k s park . T h en i f t h i s
,
S park

cou l d fal l u pon so m e eas i l y i n a m m ab l e s u b

s tan ce , a - bl az e co u l d be s tarted .

But if the s un w a s S h i n i ng ,
t h e re was an
eas i e r way s t i l l t h an th i s . T h e wh i te m an
h ad l earn ed to u se a s u n gl as s fo r th i s by , ,

con c en t rati ng th e rays of l igh t wo u l d eas il y ,

prod u ce a bl az e .

T h e I n d i an s of co u rs e k n ew n oth i ng of ,

t h e wh i te m an s way of m aki n g a re An d

so wh en C aptai n C l a rk ca m e i n to t h e i r wig
,

wam an d l igh ted

,
h I s pI pe wi t h h i s s u ngl ass ,

m ean i n g to h ave a s oci al s m o ke th e I n d i an s ,

l oo k ed o n i n terror .

A t rs t t h ey on l y s t ared eyes an d m o u t h ,

wi de o pen . T h en t h ey gave a great whoop ,

an d ran away i n to t he fo res ts .

1 00 LE WIS AN D C LAR K .

'

Wh a t can th e m atte r be ? sai d C l ark .

I m ean t to s m o ke the p eace p i pe wi th

!

them .

I wi l l n d ou t ,
sai d t h e F ren ch i n te r
preter ; an d away h e wen t i n p u rs u i t of th e m .

N ow t h es e I n d i an s h ad n eve r s ee n a
,

wh i te m an before ; an d i t h appe n ed th a t w h e n
C l ark rs t c am e i n to t h e i r v i l l age h e h ad ,

rai s ed his gu n an d s hot down a wi l d goos e

T h e I n d i an s h ad n o t s ee n h i m ap p roa c h
i ng ; b u t h ad o n l y h eard th e report o f h i s gu n .

Wh at co ul d i t be ! T h ey ran o u t fro m
t h e i r wigwa m s to l oo k . T h e re was t h e s m oke
s ti l l i n th e ai r ; an d t h ere u pon a ro c k s at a
s t range be i ng ,
l i ke n o m an t h ey h ad eve r
s een befo re .

S u rel y h e h ad d rop ped fro m th e s ky !

A n d th e n o i s e t h ey h ad h eard wa s t h e th u n d e r
th at h ad s e n t h i m down !
 L EWIS AN D C LAR K .
101

N o won d e r th e i n n o c en t red m en we re
f righ t e n ed . T h ey ran ba c k to t h e i r wigwam s
an d d rew toge t h er th e s k i n s t h a t co ve red t h e
do o rway s . t l oo k o u t
T h ey d ared no .

T h e n C l ark al l u n c on s c i o u s o f th e pan i c
,

h e h ad p rod u c ed c am e u p to t h e wigwam o f
,

t h e ch i ef .

H e open ed t h e doo r o f t h e W igwam an d

l ooked i n . T h ere s at t h e c h i ef t re m b l i ng
wi th f ear b rave c h i ef th o ugh h e was
,
.

B u t C l ark s po k e k i n d l y to h i m an d gave ,

p res en ts so t h at by an d by h e grew l es s
, , ,

a f rai d .

H e was s u re C l ark was a s p i ri t even

n ow ; b u t h e was a good s pi ri t an d m ean t
n o h arm to t h e red m en .

But wh en he l igh ted his pi p e wi t h

n oth i ng !
t h at was m o re t h an t h ey co u l d
bel i eve even o f a good s pi ri t . A gai n pan i c
 L EWIS AND C L A RK . 1 03

s t ru c k t h em an d ,
awa y t h ey ed wh oopi ng
an d y e l l i n g .

I t was a l ong ti m e be f ore th ey co u l d

be m ad e to u n d ers tan d ; b u t w h e n t h ey d i d
t h ey were ki n d an d fri en d ly . T h ey we re
wi l l i ng to h e l p t h e wh i te m e n i n t h ei r h u n t
i ng an d i n t h e i r bu i l d i n g . T h ey watc h ed
t h e m i n t h ei r coo ki ng an d t ri ed to coo k t h ei r
,

ow n m eats as t h ey sa w t h e w h i te m e n d o .

T h ey l earn ed to m ake a q u i ck re wi t h i n t
an d s teel ,
an d were ve ry pro u d t h at t h ey
h ad l earn ed s o m any t h i ngs t h at oth er I n d i an s
d i d n ot k n ow .

The W i n te r was l ong an d col d b u t th e ,

ti m e p as sed q u i ckly . Fo r o fte n th e M an dan s

wo u l d co m e i n to t h e W h i te m e n s cam p an d

t el l m os t won d er f u l s to ri es of th ei r own
peopl e .

T h e M an d an s ,
so th ey tol d t h e w h i te
1 04 L EW IS AN D C LAR K .

m en ,

wi l l go down ben eat h th e great l ak e
to d we l l b y an d by wh e n t h ey d i e ; f o r th at
wa s t h e i r o rigi n a l h o m e .

Fo r l on g l ong years t h e t ri be dwe l t

,

t h e re ; b u t o n e d ay a b rave ch i e f cl i m bed
a l on g t h e roo t s an d u p t h e t ru n k o f a tal l
grapevi n e .

He sa w t h e l igh t ab o ve an d was s u re
that h e h ad fo u n d a wo r l d m o st beau ti fu l .

T h en he h u rri ed bac k an d tol d h i s

p eop l e . Toge th e r t h ey a l l c l i m bed t h e grape
v i n e an d o n e h al f o f t h e m h ad a l ready l e aped
,

o u t u po n t h e ear t h . T h en al as t h e grape
, ,

v i n e bro ke an d al l t h e ot h e r M an d an s fel l
,

ba c k i n to t h e i r ol d h o m e ben eat h t h e l a ke

an d s o i t was t h at t h e w h ol e t ri be wh en at , ,

l as t t h ey s h o u l d d i e m u s t go bac k to th e
,

o rigi n al h o m e o f t h ei r peop l e .

S o th e wi n ter p as sed . O fte n t h e wh i te

 LE W IS AND C L A RK .
1 05

m e n h ad bee n col d a nd h u ngry ; an d ofte n

t h ey h ad l onged fo r a l ook i n to t h ei r
co m f o rtab l e h o m es far away beyon d th e
A l l eg h a n i e s .

B u t th ey we re n ot th e m en to t u rn bac k
t i l l t h e i r work was n i s h ed ; an d s o, w h en
s p ri n g cam e agai n an d t h e ri ve r was cl ear
,

of i ce an d t h e re
,
was n o d a n ge r fro m oods ,

th ey s et o u t agai n .

The M an dan s h ad tol d th e m m u c h of

t h e co u n try beyon d .

T h e re we re great
mo u n t ai n s ,
t h ey h ad s ai d .

A n d th ere was
a great gorge ,
W h ere a w h ol e river pl u nged
ove r t h e cl i f fs . I t h ad a roar l i ke t h u n d er
an d o n t h e c l i ffs th e re an ea g l e s n es t .

wa s

I t was i n t h e co tto n wood an d i n t h e very ,

m id s t of t h e torren t .

M ore an d m o re d i f c u l t grew t h e j o u rn ey
u
p th e rive r . T h e wate r was s hal l ow h ere
 LE WI S AN D C L A RK 1 07

an d th ere an d m ad e
, i ts way ove r s h a rp an d
d angerou s roc ks . T h e cabl e was u s ed often ,

an d so m eti m es t h e boats co u l d be gu i ded

am ong t h e roc ks on l y by oars an d l on g pol es .

A t l as t o n t h e ,
2 6th of M ay t h e ,
Y el l ow
s ton e R i ve r was pas s ed ; an d u p agai n s t th e s ky

ros e t h e R ock i es . T h e s u m m i ts we re covered

wi t h s n ow even as th e M a n d an s h ad s ai d
,
;
an d on e d ay In J u n e beh ol d
,
th e cataract
i tsel f wa s h eard roari ng i n th e d i s tan ce .

T h en L ewi s s tarted o u t . Fo r ho u rs h e
trave l ed ,
for c i ng his way th rough d en s e
t h i ckets an d t h rough t reach e rou s wate rs .

L o u d e r an d l o u d er grew t h e roar ; an d
at l as t cl i m bi ng on a ro c ky h i l l L ewi s s tood
, ,

u pon a h igh c l i f f an d l ooked down u pon t h e

catarac t th e rs t wh i t e m an wh o h ad eve r
l oo ked u po n t h i s s u bl i m e s igh t !
Fo r th i rteen m i l es on e teari ng down
1 08 LE W I S A ND C L A RK .

u pon an oth er wi t h great a reas of foam i ng

rap i d s betwee n s t re tc h ed t h es e won d erfu l
cascad es of t h e M i s so u ri
A we s t ru c k ,
.

L ewi s s tood an d l oo ked *

fo r wh ere on th e wh ol e eart h i s t h ere a s igh t
m o re gran d !

T h en L ewi s we n t back to t h e boats .

I t i s worth al l t h e s u ffe ri n g an d al l t h e
d anger to h ave s een s u c h g l ory ,
h e s ai d ; n or
co u l d an y word s d es c ri be i t
Th e boats were b rough t u p to th e foot
of t h e rap i d s ; an d al th o ugh it was fu l l
eigh teen m i l es to s a f e wate rs agai n beyon d
th e rap i d s ,
th e m e n p repared to d rag th e

boats by l an d arou n d t h e fa l l s .

T h e hors es wh i ch t h ey h ad bro ugh t fro m

,

Pi tts b u rg h ad pe ri s h ed d u ri n g t h e l ong wi n te r ;
,

an d th e re was n o way to carry t h e boats b u t

to bu i l d rou g h wagon s o r con s t ru ct rol l ers
,

an d s o d ra g th e m ove rl an d .
 LE W IS AND C LAR K .
1 09

T h i s t h e brave m e n d id ; an d wi th g reat
c abl es d ragged t he boats al ong . T h i s was a
t as k m os t d i f c u l t ; an d n o on e bu t m en of
h eroi c sou l s wou l d h ave h ad th e co u rage to
atte m p t i t . Fo r we m u s t n ot forget th e con
d i t i on of t h e co u n t ry . To h ave p u l l ed th es e
great boats a l ong a s m ooth road by h an d , ,

wo u l d h ave bee n n o s m al l tas k ; b u t h ere

was al l th e ro ugh n es s an d wi l d e rn es s of a
f ores t wh i c h i n a t ho u s an d years h ad been
,

u n mol es ted . T rees h ad to be fel l ed th i cke ts ,

cl eared roc k s d ug o u t an d th e soi l l evel l ed

, ,
.

B u t i n s p i te of al l th i s ,
t h e m e n we re
n ot d i s co u raged . R o ugh c arts wi t h crud e
wh eel s were m ad e ; th e great boats we re
m o u n t ed an d s o m e way
,
t h e m e n th e m
s elves ofte n wo n d ered years afte r h ow th ey
, ,

did it th e wo rk was accom pl i s h ed . A

m on th l ater t h e boats w e re rel au n ch e d an d ,

t h e expl orers a g ai n Se t s a i l u p t he r i ve r .
 LE WI S AN D C L AR K .

B u t agai n th ey we re bro ugh t to a h a l t .

For h ard l y we re t h ey wel l o n t h e i r way ,

wh en th ey f o u n d th at agai n t h e rive r was

u n n avigab l e at l eas t by boats l i ke t h es e -

A gai n th ey s topped fel l ed t r e es an d b u i l t

, ,

n ew boats . T h i s ti m e th e boat s we re on l y

d ugo u ts ; fo r s u ch onl y co u l d wi th s t an d
th e s h arp roc ks h i dd en everywh e re be n e ath
t h e wate r .

I n th es e th ey padd l ed on ti l l at l as t th ey
, ,

reach ed th e deep ve m i l e can yo n . N eve r

h ad th ey d ream ed o f s u c h gran d e u r . For i n
s o m e pl a c es t h e wa l l s o f t h e can yo n are a
t h o u s an d feet d eep ; th e cl i f fs are s t eep t h e ,

wate rs bl ack an d s ti l l .

T h e gate o f th e mo u n tai ns ! t h ey s ai d ;
an d al m os t wi t ho u t a wo rd ,
t h ey s i l e n tl y
'

rowed th e i r boats t h r ou gh an d cam e o u t at ,

l as t i n to th e s u n l igh t at t h e u ppe r co u rs e of
t h e ri ver .
 L EWIS AND C LA RK .
11 1

Taki ng t h e n o rt h e rn b ran c h of th e ri ver

wh i c h th ey n am ed t h e J e ffers on t h ey
fo u n d t h e m s e l ve s at th e foot o f th e rs t
r a nge of . th e R oc k i es .

D i f c u l t as h ad been t h ei r j ou rn ey u p
th e ri ve r t h e ro u te ah ead s ee m ed m o re
,
d i f

cu l t s til l . H ow we re t h ey to cl i m b th i s
ro c ky ri dge ? S co u ts were s en t o u t hopi ng ,

t h at I n d i an gu i des m igh t be fo u n d ; bu t

th o ugh t h ey travel ed i n al l d i recti on s n o s ign s ,

o f I n d i an l i fe co u l d be fou n d .

To atte m p t to c ros s th e ri dges wi th o u t

gu i d e s wou l d t h ey al l kn ew , ,
be m ere fool
h ard i n ess .

I wi l l S et o u t al on e sai d L ewi s It
'

!

,
.

m u s t be t h er e are tri bes so m ewh e re abo u t

th es e m o u n tai n s .

A n d s o c l i m bi n g th e preci pi ces L ewi s

, ,

m ad e his way to th e c res t of th e rid g e .

 LE WIS A N D C LAR K .
1 13

T h e re h e cou l d l oo k d own u pon th e

, w on d er

fu l val l ey on e i t h e r Side .

A t t h e wes tern bas e owed a ri ve r ;

an d fa r u p th e rive r h e cou l d s ee th e vi l l age
of t h e S hos h on es . T h es e L ewi s reach ed ; an d
h avi n g m ad e th e red m e n p res en ts i n d uced a ,

f ew of t h e m to ret u rn wi th h o rses to g u i d e
h i s peopl e ac ros s th e ri dge .

T h e re wa s great rej oi ci n g i n th e c am p
o n t h e J e fferson wh en L ewi s retu rn ed . At
on ce th ey al l s et fo rth i n to th e m ou n tai n s .

I t was a m os t pe ri l o u s j o u rn ey ; fo r th e g u i des
l ed t h e m t h ro ugh d eep can yon s ,
al o n g t h e
edges Of roc ky p reci p i ces al ways h igh e r an d
,

h igh er t i l ! at l as t th e cres t was reach ed an d

, ,

th e d own ward d es ce n t begu n . T h i s i f pos

,

s i bl e was m ore p eri l o u s s ti l l for so s teep were

,

th e d es cen ts an d so n arrow t h e p ath s th at ,

on e m i s ste p m u st h ave th rown bot h h ors e an d

 LE W I S A N D C L A RK .
1 15

ri d er do w n p reci pi ces tho usan d s o f feet d eep .

B u t t h e h ors es an d t h e gu i d es were wel l

t rai n ed an d th e m ou n tai n s we re fam i l i ar
, ; so

n o acci d e n ts h appen ed ,
an d th e l i ttl e p arty
at l as t reac h ed th e val l ey s afe an d s ou n d .

One whol e m on t h h ad been s pen t i n

th i s j o u rn ey ; fo r on s o m e d ays th e road s were
so bl ock ed wi t h s n ow or covered wi th i ce ,

th at n o o n e d ared t ru s t t h e h ors es to m ake

t h ei r way down t h e s te e p pl aces . O ften n ot
m ore th an ve m i l es co u l d be cove red i n a
day ; an d so m e d ays i t was s afe on l y to s top
an d cam p .

T h e wi n d s bl ew an d i t ,
wa s bi tte r col d
am o n g th e s n ow cl ad peaks H u n t i n g was .

i m pos s i bl e ; an d on ly an o cca S I o n a l s q u i rrel or

h awk co u l d be fo u n d ; for t h e re wa s l i t tl e l i fe
at th i s al t i t ud e .

A l i ttl e d ried m eat an d s h was al l t h at

1 10 LE WIS AN D C LAR K .

was l eft of t h e s u pp l i es th ey h ad bro ugh t ,

an d t h e m e n were fa m i s h i ng . O n e by on e ,

t h e h ors es d i ed fro m exh au s t i o n an d l ac k of

food ; an d u pon t h e es h of t h es e t h e s ta rv

i ng m en s ei z ed wi t h t h e fu ry of w i l d m en or
fam i s h i n g beas ts . T h e re was n o th i ng th es e
m e n d i d n ot s u ffe r d u ri ng t h i s t erri bl e mo n t h
i n t h e m o u n tai n s ; s t i l l t h ei r co u rage d i d n ot
fai l an d t h e b rave l ead ers we re ready al ways
,

to ch ee r th e m on .

R agged ,
s tarvi ng i l l t h ey c am e down i n to
, ,

th e vi l l age o f t h e I n d i an s .

H e re th ey res ted an d m ad e u p a good l y

,

s u pp ly of sh an d ga m e fo r th ei r j o u rn ey
farth e r wes tward . B oats we re b u i l t an d agai n ,

t h e l i ttl e party m ad e t h ei r way u p th e ri vers

wh i ch we now cal l t h e L ew i s an d t h e C l ark .

F ro m th es e th ey e n te red th e C ol u m bi a .

Fort u n ately al l al on g th e way t h ey fo u n d

, ,
 LE W I S AN D C LA R K .
117

tri bes of I nd i an s wh o we re fri end l y ,

an d
wi l l i ng al ways to s u pp l y t h e m wi t h s h .

It wa s N ove m ber agai n wh en th ey cam e

at l as t i n t o th e broad s m oot h Col u m bi a th at
,

po u rs i t s ood i n to t h e Paci c
'
. T h e col d ,

rai n y s eason h ad al ready s e t i n an d th ere ,

was n oth i n g to do b u t to agai n bu i l d cabi n s

an d en c am p fo r th e wi n te r m on th s .

T h e s eco n d wi n t er p as sed m u ch as th e

rs t h ad pas s ed . T h e I n d i an s we re fri end ly ,

an d were w i l l i n g a l ways to gu i d e th e wh i te
m en i n th e i r h u n ti ng exped i ti on s . T h ey
gath ered in the cabi n s d u ri n g th e l on g
wi n te r n igh ts an d tol d s tori es of th ei r tri bes
an d of th e cou n t ry ro u n d abo u t al l of wh i ch ,

L ewi s an d C l ark wrote down i n th ei r lon g

j ou rn al s to carry back to th e gove rn m en t at
Was h i n g ton .

A S soon ,
howeve r ,
as s ign s o f Sp ri ng
 L EWIS A N D C L A RK .
1 19

began to c o m e th e p arty were ready an d

,

eage r to s et o u t agai n fo r ho m e .

B oats were b u i l t an d th ey agai n e m barked

,

th i s ti m e toward s th e eas t an d ove r l an d ,

an d waters n ot Whol ly u n k n own . Th e I n d i an s

al ong th e rou te m et th e m wi th fri en d ly greet
i ngs an d eve ry tri be
, was wi l l i ng to hel p th e m
wi th food an d s u ppl i es o f corn .

T h e j ou rn ey bac k was s l ow fo r th e re ,

we re s ti l l th e m o u n tai n s an d t h e rapi d s ; but

i t was s u cces s fu l . A n d at l as t on e brigh t day, ,

th e l i ttl e ee t o f boats t u rn ed agai n i nto t h e

M i s s i s s i p p i an d en te red t h e l i tt l e po rt of S t .

Lo u i s . Gl ad i n deed were t h e peop l e to s ee

t h e m bac k agai n an d to h ear of al l th at h ad

h appen ed .

B u t L ewi s an d C l ark we re i m pa ti en t to
reac h Was h i n g ton ; so a way th ey s ped agai n ,

u p th e O h i o to Pi t tsb u r g an d th en over l an d ,

to Was h i n g to n .
 LE W IS AN D C L A R K .
121

Great wa s th e rej oi ci ng wh e n th e two

h eroes re t u rn ed . N ews was s en t u p an d
down th e co u n try an d p eopl e oc ked to th e
,

ci ty to get a gl i m ps e at th e travel e rs .

J e fferso n was p ro u d i n d eed of th e s u c

, ,

ces s of h i s p l an . T h e j ou rn al of th e voyage rs
was read and expl ai n ed ; s peci m en s of owe rs ,

an d trees an d roc k were p rod u ced an d a fu l l ,

report of th e whol e j o u rn ey gi ven .

T h e govern men t was convi n c ed th at th e

p u r c h as e of t h e l an d beyon d t h e M i s s i ss i pp i ,

wa s a wi s e m ove . L ewi s an d C l ark were

en rol l ed u pon th e cou n try s l i s t of brave

m en ; an d fo r th ei r servi ces to th ei r co u n try
th ey wi l l al ways be h el d i n hon or an d res p ect .
 J O H N CH ARLE S F REMONT A N D

KI T CA R S O N .

I t was in 1 84 2 th at t h e gove rn m en t
s en t out an o th e r e x p l ori ng party u n de r
J oh n C Fr em on t
. .

F re m on t was a yo u ng m an an d h e had ,

a l ready expl o red m u ch i n t h e wes t .

A l ready p i on eers h ad s ettl ed h ere an d

th ere t h ro ugh t h e wes t even to th e s ho res of
th e Paci c . T h ere were town s an d vi l l ages
eve rywh e re .

S ti l l th e d eep regi on s of t h e R oc k i es

h ad n o t bee n expl ored . Fre m o n t bel i eved

t h at wond erfu l t h i ngs were to be fou n d
th ere ; th en too t h e gove rn m en t was eager
, ,

to n d a s afe an d d i rec t ro u te th ro ug h t h e
mou n tai n s .

1 23
1 24 F R E M ON T A N D C AR S ON .

S o F re mo n t wen t to S t L ou i s s ti l l a .
,

l ead i n g fu r s tati o n . H e col l e c ted t h e re a

ban d of d ari n g m en an d s et o u t ,
.

The men were m o u n ted on h o rs es ,

ex cep t th os e wh o d rove th e p rovi s i on carts

an d K i t C arson was th ei r gu i d e .

N ow K i t C ars on h i m s el f was a won d er

,

fu l m an i n h i s ti m e . He wa s born i n M i s s
o u ri an d i n t h os e d ays w h en eve ry s ett l e r h ad
,

to keep a wa tc h ove r t h e I n d i an s .

H i s fath e r was a h u n te r ; an d K i t h i m
s el f becam e a h u n ter wh en a m ere boy .

B u t K i t s fath er was ve ry poor .

-

H e co u l d
n o t c l oth e h i s ch i l d ren an d often t hey we re
,

h u ngry an d col d .

O n e d ay wh en K i t was ftee n ye a rs
ol d h i s fat h e r s ai d to h i m
, ,

Ki t yo u m u s t
,

g o to work you m u s t l earn a t rad e

, .

A n d so Ki t was m ade an app ren ti ce

 FR E M ON T A N D C A RS ON .
1 25

Fo r tw o years h e wo rked h ard i n a sadd l er s

s h op . It was a hard l i fe for t h e h u n te r

boy and h e longed to escape to the wood s
, .

O n e m orn i n g a ban d of t rad ers cam e i n to

th e town o n th ei r way to
, N ew M exi co .

T h ey tol d m arvel l o u s stori es of th e pl aces

th ey h ad vi s i ted an d o f ,
N ew M exi co m os t
of al l . Ki t l i s ten ed to th es e s tori es as l on g
as h e co u l d th e n h u rri ed back to h i s work
,
.

The S hop s ee m ed d u l l e r t h an eve r . H e fel t

as i f h e were i n pri s on .

I wi l l n ot bear i t ! h e s aid .

I wi l l
be free ! an d wh en t h e traders l e ft t h e vi l
l age K i t wen t wi th th e m
, ,

I n M exi co h e fo u n d th e freedo m his s ou l

l onged for . Fo r a year h e s pen t his ti m e i n
catch i ng Wi ld hors es an d breaki n g t h e m to
th e h arn es s . This wa s a pe ri l ou s l i fe , but
K i t enj oyed i t becau s e i t wa s peri lo u s .
126 F R E M ON T AN D C AR S ON .

By an d by h e j o i n ed a party of trappers
,

who were goi ng wes tward to gh t th e

I n d i an s .

T h e party s et fort h on e m o rn i n g brigh t

an d earl y f o r t h e S al t
,
R i ve r . T h ere were
I n d i an s th e re Who we re al ways o n th e wat c h
to d ri ve away t h e trapp ers . T h ey d i d n o t
l i ke t h e c o m i n g of t h es e wh i te m e n fo r t h ey ,

were d es t royi n g t h e h om es of t h e beaver s

an d d ri vi ng t h e m u p t h e ri ver .

I t was h ere K i t C ars on h ad h i s rs t

I n d i an gh t . I t was a s h arp q u i c k gh t i n
, ,

wh i c h n ot o n e o f t h e trap pi ng party was

h arm ed .

A ft er a ti m e t h i s p arty bro ke u p an d ,

eigh teen of t h e m s tarted fo r C al i forn i a . Ki t

wen t wi t h t h e eigh teen fo r h e wan ted t o ,

s ee n ew l an d s an d m ake '

new d i s coveri es .

It was a l on g h ard j o u rn ey fro m M exi co

,
 F R E M ON T A ND C A R S ON .
1 27

to th e C al i fo rn i a coas t ; fo r th e re were o n l y
I n d i a n t rai l s to gu i d e th e wh i te m en . And
s o m eti m es i t was wi s es t to avoi d even th es e ,

an d creep al ong th ro ugh h i g h g rass es an d

d en s e fores ts .

T h e t rap pers s u ffered bi t terl y on th i s

j o u rn ey . T hei r food gave o u t an d often th ey ,

co u l d n d n o wate r . M o re than on ce th e
h ors es h ad to be ki l l ed for food an d wh en ,

at l as t th e C al i fo rn i a stati o n wa s reac h ed t h e ,

m en s an k down exh au s ted .

T h i s was you n g Ki t C ar s on s rs t bi tte r

e x peri en ce . S ti l l h e d i d n o t i n ch . For h e

l oved th e freedo m of th e trapp er s l i fe . He

u s ed to s ay ,

I wo u l d rat h e r s tarve h e re on
!

th e p rai ri es th an l i ve i n a ci ty !
O n e n igh t wh en th e trappers we re as l eep ,

s o m e D igge r I n d i an s c rep t down to t h e i r

cam p an d s tol e th ei r h ors es every o n e
, ,
.
128 F RE MON T AN D C AR S ON .

N ow K i t was o n l y n i n eteen b u t h e h ad ,

a l ready p roved h i m s el f p l u c ky an d d ari n g .

An d so to h i m wa s gi ve n th e l ead o f a l i tt l e
party to p u rs u e th e t h i eves .

I t was easy to fol l ow th e trai l . I nd eed ,

i t s ee m ed to Ki t C ar s on too easy ,
. Fo r th e
gras s es we re trodd e n down bu s h es we re ben t ,

as i d e ,
a nd eve ry th i ng l oo ked as i f a l arge
n u m be r h ad p as s ed th rou gh .

ow th e re we re on l y twel ve i n K i t s
p arty , an d t h ey we re poorl y eq u i p ped fo r
battl e . S ti l l th ey p u s h ed o n an d at l as t cam e
,

i n s igh t o f t h e I n d i an ca m p .

I t was j u s t at s u n s e t an d th e I n d i an s
,

we re ge tt i n g ready fo r th e n igh t . T h e re
we re c e rtai n l y a fu l l h u n d red o f t h e m ; s ti l l
Ki t bel i eved h e co u l d s u rp ri s e th e m .

S tretch i ng th e m s el ves i n th e gras s th ey ,

watch ed th e cam p u n ti l d ark ness fel l . Then

t h ey wai ted ti l l m id n i g h t .
 F R E M ON T AND C A R SON .
1 29

A t m i d n igh t th ey c rept down cl os e to

t h e cam p . T h en wi th a das h t h ey bu rs t
u pon t h e m . T h ey tore ope n t h e wi g wam s
an d S h ot s t raigh t i n u pon th e s avages . T h ey
wh oop ed an d ye l l ed ! T h ey ran rou n d an d
ro u n d ri n g every s econ d
, .

Th en th ey h u rri ed to t h e corral wh ere '

t h e h orses we re teth ered . E ac h m an m ou n ted

on e an d l ed an oth e r . Al l the res t were
s tam peded ,
so t h at t h e I n d i an s wou l d h ave
n o m ean s of p u rs u i t .

An d s o, befo re th e I n d i an s had ti m e to
col l ect th ei r wi ts t h e t rappe rs we re g on e an d
, ,

th ey we re l eft h el pl es s i n t hei r wigwam s .

 K I T CA R S O N A S F R E M O N T S G ! IDE

.

This was th e k i n d of l i fe Ki t C arson l ed

for years . H e wan d ered u p an d down th e
cou n try t h ro ugh th e
,
R ock i es ,
acros s th e pl ai n s ,

ti l l h e kn ew every trai l an d eve ry pas s .

Peopl e began to cal l h i m th e

M on ar c h
of th e Pl ai n s .

And so wh e n Gen eral F re m on t s tar t ed

out ,
h e se n t for C arson an d as ked h i m to
gu i d e th e m .

T h e l i ttl e party s et o u t fro m S t L ou i s

. .

R each i ng th e Kan ri ver t h ey l eft t h e i r boats

, ,

an d s t ru ck o u t across th e Kan sas p rai ri es to

th e Pl att e .

For a f ew days t h e j ou rn ey wa s peace

fu l . Too peacefu l C arson t ho u g h t for n oth
, ,

13 1
13 2 F R E M ON T AND C AR S ON .

i ng h appen ed . T h e re wa s n o d ange r fo r n o
,

I n d i an s ap peared .

B u t j u s t as th e party pas s ed Fo rt L ar
am i e a h e rd o f bu f fa l o appeare d u po n t h e
,

prai ri e an d t h e exp l ore rs gave c h as e

,
.

This was al l n ew an d won d erfu l to

Gen e ral F re m on t s m en an d Gen e ral F re mo n t

wro te i t a l l o u t i n th e j o u rn al h e wa s to carry
ba c k to th e gove rn m en t .

H ere is wh at h e wrote
A S we we re ri d i n g al on g a ban k a great ,

h e rd o f bu ffal o ca m e crowd i ng u p fro m t h e

ri ve r . T h ey h ad been d own to t h e wate r to
d ri n k .

T h e wi n d was favorabl e ; th e m o rn i ng
wa s cool t h e d i s tan ce ac ros s th e p rai ri e gave
us a goo d c h an ce to ch arge u pon t h e m .

It was too good a ch an ce to b e l os t .

Ki t C ars on , M axwel l an d I s tarted o u t o n

o u r h ors es for th e c h as e .
 FR E M ON T AND C A RS ON 13 3

T h e h erd was a h al f m i l e away . We

rod e ti l l we were abo u t t h ree h u n d red yard s
fro m th e m befo re t h ey saw u s co m i ng .

T h en th ey began to ru n h i th e r an d
th i th er . T h ey h ad see n u s an d were pre
pari ng fo r a s tam ped e .

We u rged ou r h ors es on , an d for a
t i m e rod e breas t to breas t wi th t h e m . We
we re cl os i ng i n u pon t h e m rapi d l y an d th os e ,

i n fron t we re teari ng al ong l i ke th e wi n d .

O n ce i n a wh i l e on e i n th e rear wo u l d
t u rn an d face u s th en das h on afte r t h e res t
, .

We we re n ow ru s h i ng ove r th e grou n d l i ke

a h u rri can e w h e n C arson g ave th e h u n te r s

,

s h o u t to c h ar g e an d we b roke u pon th e h e rd
We e n tered at on e S i de ,
an d t h e h erd
gave way before u s . M any of th em we re
th rown to th e g ro u n d an d al l s catte red i n al l
,

d i recti on s .
 13 4 F R E M ON T AN D C AR S ON .

My ow n h ors e wa s a trai n ed h u n ter .

!
A n d wi t h eyes as h i ng an d t h e foam yi ng
fro m h i s m o u th h e s et u pon o n e b u ffal o l i k e
,

a h u ngry t iger . We c am e u p al ong s i d e I ,

red an d t h e c reat u re f el l at o u r feet

,
.

T h en I l ooked aro u n d to s ee wh at
'

C ars o n wa s d oi ng . H e too h ad j u s t
, ,
S h ot

down a b u f fa l o an d away i n t h e d i s tan ce

,

M axwel l s gu n too was h eard , , .

B etween m e an d t h e h i l l t h e body o f
th e h e rd wa s s ti l l d as h i ng on . I t u rn ed my
h ors e an d agai n we d a s h ed afte r th e m
,
.

T h e t h i c k cl o u d of d u s t bl i n d ed an d
s ti ed m e so th at I co u l d n o t s ee t h e h e rd .

T h ey crowd ed cl os e r an d cl os e r toge th e r ;
s ti l l I co u l d s ee n oth i ng an d m y h ors e n ear l y
,

l eaped u pon th e m .

T h en the h e rd d i vi d ed . My h ors e
ru s h ed i n to t h e gap .
 F R E M ON T AND C A R S ON . 1 3 53

Fi ve o r Six of t h e m add en ed c reat u res

ch arged u pon us, bu t we l eft t h e m far be h i n d .

S i ngl i n g ou t on e i n t h e h erd I red ,

. M y ai m
was too h igh ; th e b u f fal o l eaped i n to th e ai r
wi t h a roar ,
th e n s cu rri ed on swi f te r t h an
before .

But we were rea c h i ng n ow a p rai ri e
dog vi l l age . I rei n ed u p m y h o rs e an d th e ,

h erd tore by l i ke t h e wi n d . I t was dangerou s

to p u rs u e th e m am ong th e m ou n d s an d th ey ,

s tretch ed i n a l l d i recti on s n ot l es s t h an t wo
m i l es .

B u t wh i l e Fre m on t p u rs u ed h i s b u ffal o ,

C arso n h ad been attacked by an oth e r

Wi t h a great roar on e h ad ch arged u po n
h i m horn s down an d h ee l s i n ai r
, ,

Cars on ,
too ,
ch arged ,
an d th e b u ff al o
t u rn ed an d ed .

Cars on p u rs u ed an d red . Th e bu l l e t
13 0 F RE M ON T AN D C AR S O N .

on l y wo u n d ed t h e an i m al h oweve r an d wi th , ,

an o th e r roar ,
h e t u rn ed an d ch arged u pon
C arso n agai n .

J u s t th en C ars on s h o rs e s t u m b l ed i n

t h e m ou n d s of t h e p rai ri e dog v i l l age -

,
an d
t h e ri d er was t h rown .

I t was n ow a race for l i fe . T h e b u ffa l o

was i n swi ft p u rs u i t ! T h ere was n o ti m e to
re l oad ! B u t on e t h i ng was pos s i b l e to
reac h t h e ri ver .

O n t h ey ew t h e b u ffal o gai n i n g a t
every bou n d . H i s roars l l ed t h e ai r . A l ready
h i s h ot b reat h was cl os e u pon h i m wh en
,

th e ri ver was reach ed an d Carso n s p ran g

i n to th e wate r !
For an i n s t an t t h e m add en ed bu ffal o
s tared . T h e n h e rai s ed h i s h ead an d be l
l owed . T h en h e S h oo k h i s great m an e an d
b raced h i s forefeet . H e ki c ked h i s h eel s h igh
i n t h e ai r an d roared a g ai n .
 FR E M ON T A N D C A RS ON .
13 7

B u t al l t h i s d i d Ki t C arson n o h arm
for h e was safe i n th e water o r at l eas t ,

beyon d th e reach of th e an g ry foe . I t was

on ly a q u es tion of h ow l ong th e bu ffal o
wo u l d keep h i m th ere .

T h e b u ffal o s eem ed to u n d ers tan d th e

S i tu ati on . H e bel lowed an d bel l owed th en ,

t u rn ed an d began to eat gras s keepi ng h i s ,

eyes al ways on h i s pri s on er .

H ow l ong th i s m i g h t h ave g on e on we

can n ot k n o w . B u t fortu n atel y M axwel l sa w

th e d i l e m ma an d crep t u p beh i n d th e bu ff al o
,
.

S o b u sy was t he creatu re watch i n g C ar

s on , th at h e d id n ot h ear th e approac h of
M axwel l ; an d wh en M axwel l rai s ed his gun ,

h e fel l ,
S h ot th ro ugh t h e h eart .
 F REMONT S P EA K !

A t Fort L aram i e Fre m on t fo u n d th e

I n d i an s i l l y d i s posed toward s al l wh i te m en .

O n l y recen tl y t h e re h ad been a con tes t

between th e r ed m en an d t h e wh i te m en i n ,

wh i ch t h e S i o u x h ad l os t ten o f th e i r warri ors .

T h ei r wa r pai n t t h erefo re
,
wa s s ti l l on ,

an d th ey we re ready to attac k an y wh i te m an
wh o Should en te r th e i r terri to r y .

F re mon t s m en were al l m e n w ho h ad

expl o red i n th ese re g i on s ; an d were t h en , ,

u s ed to d anger an d to I n d i an warfar e S ti l l ,

t h e reports m ad e th e m u n eas y . Carson h i m

sel f cal l ed it fool h ard i n es s to g o on an d , SO

th e l i ttl e part y en ca m ped at Fort L aram i e an d

wai ted .
 FR E M ON T A N I) C A RS ON .
14 1

Wh i l e th ey were en cam ped h ere th e red ,

m en m ade th e m m any vi s i ts . Frem on t h i m

s el f h ad g o n e to th e m an d tol d th e m w hy

h e h ad co m e i n to th e co u n try .

He S h owed th em th e t h erm om eters an d

baro m eters h e h ad bro ugh t an d tol d th em
th ei r u s es . Th e use o f th e ch ron om eters an d
th e q u ad ran t he expl ai n ed to th em . An d
wh e n t h ey we re s u re h e h ad n ot c o me to
m ol es t t h e m o r even to take u p a cl ai m of
l an d i n t h ei r co u n try th ey were wi l l i n g to
,

be fri en d l y

O n ce a red s k i n cam e to Fre m on t s ow n

te n t an d i n vi ted h i m to a dog feas t . Th i s

was t h e g reates t h on o r th e reds ki n co u l d
gi ve a strange r . O f cou rs e h e d i d n ot th i n k
t h e s trange r m igh t n ot enj oy th e d o g feas t .

Frem on t wou l d h ave been very g l ad i f

h e cou l d have
s en t re g rets . B u t h e d ared
14 2 FR E M ON T AN D C A RS ON .

n ot . T h e savages wo u l d n eve r h ave forgi ven

him .

S o h e wen t . He was i n vi ted i n to t h e

wigwam of t h e ch i ef . T h e wo m en a n d ch i l
d re n sa t i n ci rcl es o u ts i d e t h e w i gw a n s .

The d og W s ti l l boi l i ng i n th e ke ttl e

as

wh en F re m on t e n te red . B u t at o n ce a s q u aw
bai l ed i t ou t i n to h uge wood en bow l s an d
gave i t to t h e g u es t s .

I t tas ted l i ke m u t ton F re m on t t h o ugh t ;

,

an d h e t ri ed to t h i n k i t was m u t to n . He
h ad h i s bowl l l ed twi ce ; fo r i t wo u l d h ave
been ve ry rud e to eat o n l y o n e bowl fu l . Th e
red m e n wo u l d h ave t h o ugh t h e d i d n ot l i k e
t h ei r cook i ng .

F re m on t was i m p ati en t n ow to go on .

S o h e go t th e wago n s ready an d cal l ed th e

m en togeth e r .

I f any m an wi s h es n ow to g o h om e ,
 F R E M ON T AND C AR S ON .
14 3

s ai d F re mon t ,

n ow is h i s ti m e ; fo r I wan t
o n l y braves t m e n wi th m e i n th i s exped i tion .

O n l y on e m an refu s ed to go on . The
o th ers were eage r an d an x i ou s to go . So
F re mon t gave th e on e m an th e m on ey t h at
was his s h are an d s en t h i m ho m e .

J ust as F rem on t wa s ready to s tart ,

s o m e of th e ol d ch i efs cam e r u n n i ng to h i m .

Wai t wai t
, ! th ey s ai d .

O u r you ng war
ri o rs m ean to re u pon yo u . T h ey l i e i n
am b u s h fo r yo u !

F rem on t l i s ten ed wi th res pec t . Bu t he

d i d n ot bel i eve wh at t h e ch i efs sai d .

This
i s on ly a gam e ,
h e s ai d to his own m en ,

to k eep us h ere for trad e .

B u t we are al l ready to go ,
Frem on t
s ai d to t h e ch i efs ; an d we m u s t go . Tel l
th e yo u ng warri ors we h ave a great s u pp l y
of s ho t an d are ready for the m .
1 14 F RE M ON T AND C A RS ON .

Th e ch i efs wen t ba c k to t h ei r vi l l age ,

an d th e wh i te m e n wen t o n . T h ere wa s no
attack fro m th e yo u n g warri o rs an d th e l i t tl e ,

ban d p as sed t h ro ugh i n s a f ety .

A fte r a week of travel F re m on t cam e ,

i n to a l an d of d ro ugh t . T h e wi n d s were h ot
an d d ry ; t h e gras s wa s parch ed ; n ot a b u f
fal o

was to be s een . T h e gras s h opp e rs h ad

i n fes t ed t h e co u n try an d n ot a , S ign of l i fe
was l eft .

T h e I n d i an s h ad aban don ed th e i r vi l l ages

an d h ad go n e farth er so u t h .

T h en Fre mo n t cal l ed his m e n to h i m

an d s ai d
Y ou s ee th e co n d i ti o n of th e
co u ntry . B u t we m u s t pass t h rough i t i f
we wo u l d reach th e m ou n tai n s . We h ave
water an d we h ave ten d ays p rovi s i on s
, . If
we can n d n o gam e we can i f
, ,
we are
d riven to i t ki l l o u r h ors es an d m u l es fo r
,
 FR E M ON T AND C A RS ON .
14 5

food . H ow m any are ready t h en to p u s h

on ?

E ve ry m an s pran g to h i s fee t . And

I!
1 ,
Sir, ran g o u t ac ros s t h e prai ri e .

Th ey were n ow at t h e bas e of th e foot

hills . F u l l i n fro n t of th e m l ay th e wh i te
topped R oc ki es .

We m u s t l eave beh i n d ,
s ai d F rem on t

everyth i n g we d o n ot real ly n eed .

T he n th e m en al l s et to wo rk . Th ey
d u g a great hol e i n th e fores t an d l ai d i n ,

al l th e baggage . T h ey took th e wagon s to

p i eces an d l ai d th em too i n th e h ol e , ,
.

T h en t h ey covered th em over wi th tu rf
an d d ry l eaves . N o on e wo u l d h ave d ream ed
th at any c h ange h ad bee n m ad e i n th e soi l .

N ow i f a rai n wou l d co m e an d pac k
down th ese l eaves n o on e cou l d s u s p ect ,
us,

s ai d Fre mo n t .
 14 6 FR E M ON T AN D C AR S ON .

T h e m e n we n t bac k to t h e i r ten t . But

h ardly h ad t h ey reach ed i t wh e n d own cam e
a cy c l on e . I t caugh t t h e ten t u p as if it
were a m e re l eaf . I t u ps e t t h e baro m ete r
an d d as h ed i t agai n s t th e gro u n d an d b ro ke ,

t h e th erm o m ete r i n bi ts .

This l os s wa s s eri o u s ; for F re m o n t

wi s h ed to tes t t h e te m p e rat u re of t h e m o u n
- tai n p eaks ,
an d h ad b ro ugh t t h e th ermo m

e t er al l t h 1s d i s tan ce .

A f ew d ays l ate r i n cross i ng t h e Green

,

R i ve r ,
th e boat was u ps e t i n t h e rapi d c u rren t
C ras h we n t th e baro m eter u pon th e rock s ;

an d wh e n th ey pi c ked i t u p t h e tu be was ,

bro ken i n t h e m i dd l e
T h i s was a s ad l os s to F re m on t fo r ,

n ow h e wou l d h ave n o wa y of m eas u ri n g

t he h eigh t o f t h e p eak s .

Perh ap s i t can be re pai red yet , F re

 F R E M ON T A N I) C A RS ON .
14 7

m o n t sai d . So h e s et to work . Fo r tw o

wh ol e d ays h e w orked . Fi rs t h e m ad e g l u e
fro m th e hoofs an d horn s of th e b u ffal o .

T h en h e l ed down a p i ece of horn ti l l it

wa s exi bl e an d so th at i t co u l d be seen .

th rou g h .

Th i s h e bo u n d arou n d t h e t u be an d
h el d i t i n pl ace wi th t h e t h i c k g l u e . T h en
th ey tes ted t h e baro m eter an d to th e i r del i g h t
, ,

fo u n d th at i t was al l ri g h t .

N ow for th e h i gh es t peak ! s h ou ted

F re m on t .

T h e n ext m orn i n g eve ry m an ate a h ear ty

breakfas t . T h ey l l ed t h e i r kn apsacks an d
h i d th e res t of th ei r food u n der t h e rocks .

T h en th e m en s add l ed t h ei r mu l es an d
s tarted u p th e mo u n t ai n s . S om eti m es th ey
wen t u p pl ace s so s teep t h at th e m en h ad to
l i e at on th e m u l es backs

. S om eti m es they
 F R E M ON T AN D C A RS ON . 14 9

wen t th ro ugh pl aces so dark t h ey co u l d h ard l y

s ee th e rock ben eat h th ei r feet .

O n ce th ey cam e to a wal l of roc k

th o u s an d s of feet h igh .

A t th e en d of th i s wal l th ey fo u n d l akes
i n th e s oh d rock .

Bu t th e exp l o re rs were n ow n eari ng t h e

top of t h e m o u n tai n . I t was t h e ve ry h igh es t
i n t h e range an d th ey were am b i ti ou s to
,

s tan d on i ts very top .

S o t h ei r m u l es we re l eft to graz e
i n d eed th e re wou l d h ave b een n o gras s for
th e m fart h e r L i p an d th e m en s et o ff al on e .

The aIr g rew th i n n e r an d t h i n n er . It

was col d an d h ard to breat h e . T h e m en p u t
on m occasi n s fo r often th ey h ad to creep on
,

th ei r ha nd s

a nd feet . O ften th ere were on l y

crevi ces fo r th e m to s et th ei r g ras p u po n .

B u t at l as t th e peak was reach ed .

! The
15 0 F RE M ON T AND C AR S O N .

h igh es t peak i n al l th e R oc k i es . A ro u n d i t
l ay s n ow an d I ce . O n e by o n e t h e m en crep t
,

up on the top m os t roc k ; for i t was ve ry

s m al l o n l y abo u t t h ree fee t wi d e . But
eve ry m an s tood u pon i t , on e at a t i m e .

T h en t h ey pl aced t h ei r baro m eter to

es ti m ate t h e h eigh t . I t was feet abov e
t he s ea l evel .

T h ey gat h e red a f ew owe rs t h at grew

th ere even o n t h e ve ry edge Of t h e s n ow a n d ,

pl aced th e m in boo ks to carry bac k to

Was h i ngton .

T h e n th ey rai s ed t h e s tars an d s tri pes ,

a nd gave th ree ro u s i ng c h e ers fo r A m e ri ca !

T h e greates t co u n try i n al l t h e worl d t h ey
we re s u re !

B u t th e ai r was s o col d an d th i n an d ,

eve n a l i tt l e exerti on m ad e the men so

breat h l es s th ey were g l ad to d es cen d
, .
 D A N I EL B OON E . 15 1

T h ei r ret u rn eas t b y way o f th e Pl atte ,

th i s ti m e wa s h ap py an d s u cces s fu l . An d
i n a few wee ks th e party reach ed Was h i n g ton
ready to report to t h e govern m en t th ei r s to ry
of t h e won d erfu l R ocki es .
 A S E C O N D E! P ED ITION .

Fre m on t s s u cces s en co u ra g ed h i m to

s et o u t on a s eco n d exped i ti on .

A t Fo rt B en t h e a g ai n engaged C arso n
for a g u i d e an d th ey s e t o ff for th e S acra
,

m e n to ! al l ey .

T h ey reac h ed th e B ear R i ver an d rowed

u p twen ty m i l es ti l l th ey cam e u pon G reat
,

S al t L ake .

F rom h e re th ey p u s h ed on ward to th e
te rri to ry of th e Pi e rced N os es i n C al i forn i a ,
.

This was as far as Fre mon t cared to go ; fo r

fro m h ere an oth e r expl ore r too k u p th e l i n e
an d carri ed i t to th e coas t .

It was n ow n earl y m i dwi n te r . S ti l l

F re m on t was u n wi l l i n g to retu rn by t h e ol d
15 3
 F R E M ON T AN D C A RS ON .
15 5

o u te .

I t wo u l d be a was te o f ti m e ,
he
; ai d .

L et u s take an oth e r rou te an d s o
l i s co v e r s om eth i n g !

n ew .

T h e ro u te chos en t h i s ti m e was by way

)f T l a ma th L ak e ,
a rou te u n k n own even to
Z a rs on . B u t th e m en were ready to fol l ow
h ei r l ead e r an d th ey s e t ou t bravel y
, .

T h e re were on l y twen ty v e of th em an d -
,

;O me o f t h e m were ve ry you ng . B u t th ey
ve re dari ng , eve ry on e ; an d Frem o n t fel t
; ecu r e .

Two I n d i an gu i des were enga g ed an d ,

h ey m ad e t h ei r way rs t to T l a ma th L ake .

rh e l ake was rath e r a d i s ap poi n tm en t ; for

h ey fo u n d i t on ly a s h al l ow bas i n .

Wi t h n o g u i d e excep t th ei r co m pas ses

h ey p u s h ed on to M ary s L ake T h ey fo u n d

h ems el v es n ow i n a l an d of col d an d fam i n e .

I n on e pl ace th ey h ad to s to p an d d ig
15 6 F R E M ON T A N D C AR S ON

t h ei r way t h r o ugh a wa l l of s n ow twe n ty fee t

d eep .

In thI S bi tte r col d ,

t h ei r pack h ors es
were l os t ,
an d m an y of t h e m en d i ed fro m
ex h au s t i on .

T h ey reach ed Fo rt S u tt er i n M ay an d
a p i ti fu l party i t was th at s tagge red i n to t h e
f ort ,
rag g ed an d s i c k an d h al f s tarved .

H e re at Fo rt S u tter th ey res ted for

s eve ral days . But as s oo n as i t s ee m ed
wi s e Fre m on t s et ou t agai n h o m eward
,
.

I t h ad n ot been a s u cces s fu l exp ed i ti on ;

m en h ad s u ffe red an d d i ed ; an d n o great

d i scovery h ad b ee n m ad e .

S ti l l i t h ad p roved t h e co u rage of th e
expl o rers m o re ,
p e rh aps ,
th an h ad th e rs t
exped i ti o n ; an d th e n am e of Fre mon t was
h on o red by h i s cou n trym en .

It wa s n ot ve ry l ong befo re h e s e t o u t
 FR E M ON T A ND C A RS ON . 15 7

on an o th e r exped i ti o n . Ag ai n -
he enga g ed
K i t C arson as g u id e an d th ey
,
s et ou t for
S u tter s Fort

M u c h of th e j o u rn ey l ay over th e ol d
gro u n d ; b u t th e com pany wa s be tter p re
pared th i s t i m e an d , so s u ffered l ess .

A t S u t ter s Fort th ey agai n res ted and

re l l ed th e i r wagon s wi th p ro v I S I O n S .

It was wel l th ey h ad t h i s res t ; for hard ly

h ad t h ey set ou t agai n wh en th ey m et a
body of M exi can s .

T h e M exi can s were l ed by Gen eral C as tro ,

wh o m ean t to d ri ve bac k any A m eri can s w ho

atte m p ted to com e n ear th ei r borde r l an d s .

T h i s was n ot l ong before th e war between

M exi co and A m eri ca broke ou t . An d i n
th i s war we S h al l soon l earn th at Fre mo n t
an d C arso n both fo u g h t bravel y for th ei r
co u n try .
15 8 F R E M ON T A ND C A RS ON .

T h e re we re fo u r h u n d red of t h ese M ex
i ca n s ;

b u t th ey h es i tated to attac k F re m on t s
l i ttl e p arty . T h ey k n ew t h at i t was a bol d ,

d ari n g co m pan y even i f s m al l

,
.

S o th ey wai ted u n ti l t h ey co u l d ge t t h e
A pach e I n d i an s to h el p th e m .

F re m o n t o f co u rs e k n ew n oth i ng o f al l
, ,

this ; an d s u dden ly d own p o u red t h e A pach e s

a t ho u s an d of th e m u pon th e val l ey .

We m u s t n o t s t ay h e re ,
s ai d F re m on t .

This bas i n is t h e wo rs t po s s i bl e pl ace .

T h e e n e my can s u rro u n d us an d po u r t h ei r
arrows down u pon uS .

T h e n a co u n ci l of war was h el d . C arson ,

wh o k n ew t h e ways o f I n d i an s advi s ed t h at ,

th ey keep a s h arp wat ch on th e enemy .

A n d wh en t h ey were l e as t s u s pect i ng i t ru s h ,

u po n th e m .

T h i s i s t h e s u res t way ,
s ai d C ars on ,

to d eal wi th sava g es .
 FR E M ON T A ND C A R S ON . 15 9

Y ou are righ t ,
s ai d Fre mon t . T h en
F re mo n t mad e C arso n l i eu ten an t an d th ey ,

m arch ed forward .

T h ey m arch ed so m e fty m i l es befo re th ey

reac hed t he pl ace wh e re th e I n d i an s we re
cam ped .

T h ey m arch ed ver y S l owly ,

so th at th e
h o rs es s hou l d n ot be exh au s ted . For th ey
wou l d n eed th e m i n th e attack . Two s co u ts
kep t o n a m i l e ah ead of th e party . One
n igh t j u s t at s u n s e t th ey cam e h u rry i n g back
, , .

We h ave fo u n d th e m ! th ey cri ed .

T h ey are i n the cam p bes i de th e l ake .

T h ey are o ff gu ard . T h ey are g etti n g ready

fo r th e n igh t . T h ey are n ot even on th e
watch !

F re m on t an d C arson h u rri ed forward to

see for t h e m s el ves . It wa s as th e s co u ts had
said .
 F R E M ON T AN D C A R S ON .

N ow is o u r ti m e ! s ai d C ars on .

T h en t h ey wen t back to th e m e n an d
p repared t h e m fo r an attac k

O u r bes t way wi l l be th i s ,
s ai d C ars on .

Wai t ti l l t h e s avages are as l eep . Then

ru s h i n u p o n t h e m . H owl an d yel l an d re !
M ak e t h e greates t pos s i bl e n oi s e ! T h row
th e m i n to con fu s i o n
!

! M ake t h e m t h i n k th ere
are te n th o u s an d of us ! I f we can do th i s
we can ro u t t h e m !

A t m id n igh t F re m o n t s party h ad c rep t

cl os e u p to th e cam p of t h e en e m y . The
s avages we re s o u n d as l ee p .

T h e n F re m on t s m en s cattered th e m s el ves

aro u n d the o u ts i d e of th e ca m p o n al l s i d es .

E ve ry m an was m o u n ted . R i es were ready .

W h en al l was ready F re m on t gave t h e ,

S i gn al ! A n d wi t h a wh oop t h e l i ttl e ban d

bo u n de d i n to t h e cam p .
a h ead appeared th e wh i te m en d i s ch a r g ed
,

t h ei r ri es u po n h i m .

B ang ! ban g ! bang ! Wh oop ! w hOOp !

whoop ! N o soon er d i d an I n d i an app ear

th an h e was s h ot down .

B u l l ets rai n ed in u pon t he wigwam s .

I n d i an s fel l i n ten s an d twen ti es .

T h en pan i c s ei zed th e m ! T h ey dared

n ot rai se an arrow eve n . B u t creepi n g o u t
from ben eath t h ei r wig w am s th ey ran l i ke ,

h ares i n to th e fo res ts .

I t was a great vi ctory . A co m pl et e

v i ctory ; an d on e th at tau g h t t h e I n d i an s a
l es son th ey d i d n o t soon for g e t .
 F REM O NT S
M EN S! RP RI SE D .

A fter th i s Fre m on t wen t bac k to L an

s on s Pos t for am m u n i ti on an d p rovi s i on s .

T h en h e s tarted off n o rth ward m ean i ng ,

to m ake his way i n to O regon .

O n e d ay as th ey were j o u rn eyi n g al ong

, ,

tw o wh i te m en cam e h u rryi ng to m ee t th e m .

This wa s a s u rp ri s e . A n d a g reate r s u rp ri s e
s ti l l wh e n F re m on t saw th ey were two
m e n who h ad s erved wi t h h i m i n t h e rs t
exped i ti on .

! u i ckl y th e m en tol d t h e i r s tory L i e u .

te n an t Gi l es pi e wi th a s m al l ban d of expl orers ,

was en cam ped n ot far away . T h ey were

n earl y s tarved an d were ,
in dan g er of attac k
f ro m t h e s avages .
164 F RE M ON T AND C AR S O N .

T h es e m en h ad bee n s en t o u t i n th e

h op es o f n d i n g F rem o n t s party .

Wi t h ou t fu rth e r word s F re m o n t wi th te n ,

o f h i s s t ron ges t m e n ,
s et o u t wi th food for
G i l e S pi e party

S .

F or s i xt
y m i l es th ey t ravel ed th ro ugh
th e ro ugh co u n t ry ; an d at l as t fo u n d th e l i tt l e
ba n d h i dd en i n a pas s i n th e m o u n tai n s .

G l ad i n d eed wa s G i l es p i e fo r food an d
h el p . The tw o men sa t by th ei r cam p re
tal k i ng ti l l m i d n igh t . A l l th e m en ti red wi t h
th ei r l on g m arc h were ,
so u n d as l eep . No
o n e d rea m ed of d an ge r .

B u t at m i d n igh t ,
wi th o u t a s o u n d of
warn i ng down ca m e th e s avages
,
. A wh oop ,

a yel l an d th ey were u po n t h e m
, .

It was th e T l a ma th c h i e f an d fo u rteen
o f h i s warri ors .

A h o t g h t fol lowed . The T l a ma th

 F RE M ON T A ND C AR S ON . 1 65

ch i ef h i m s el f was S l ai n at l as t h oweve r ; an d ,

as h e fel l th e savages ed .

A l l n igh t l on g th e wh i te m en l ay i n th e
tal l gras s expecti n g an oth er attac k . N on e
cam e . A n d i n th e m o rn i ng th ey gath e red u p

th e i r ow n d ead carri ed t h e m i n to th e fores t

,

an d cove red th e m ove r wi th l eaves an d

bough s of trees .

Fre m on t s party was angry w h en th ey

h eard of th i s m as s acre ,
an d th i rs ted fo r
revenge .

Co m e on ! s ai d C ars on . A n d wi t h a
p i ck ed h al f dozen h e s tarted o ff for th e
T l a m a th L ake cam p . I t was easy t o n d ;

an d wi thou t m ercy C arson ch arged u po n i t ,

d rove th e fri g h ten ed warri o rs i n al l d i recti on s

an d b u rn ed eve ry wi g wam of th ei r vi l l age .

From th e d i s patch es Gi l es pi e h ad bro ugh t ,

F rem on t l earn ed t hat wa r wa s n ow d ecl ared

160 F RE M ON T A N D C A R S ON .

between M exi co an d A m e ri ca . The I n d i an s

were al l i ed to th e M exi c an s . T h e refo re th ey
were eager n ow to at tac k t h e exp l o re rs for
two reas on s .

F re m o n t s

p arty n ow we n t down th e
S ac ra m e n to to l earn ,
i f po s s i bl e t h e p l an s
,

of th e M e x i can s .

S oon t h e M exi can s atta c k ed a garri s on

at S on o m a and carri ed
,
o ff a l arge am o u n t
of am m u n i ti on .

We w i l l k i l l eve ry A m e ri can i n C al i
!
forn ia ! s ai d th e M exi can ge n e ral .

!

We w i l l s ee ! s ai d F re m o n t . An d h e
go t toge th e r an arm y an d m ar c h ed toward s
th e M exi can c am p .

T h e M ex i can s h eard th at F rem on t was

com i n g . T h ey forgot to boas t n ow , an d
began to ru n away .

Fo r s i x days th ey ran Fre m on t fol l ow ,

 FR E M ON T AND C A RS ON . 1 07

ing . Fre mon t too k several pri son e rs an d

th e n t u rn ed bac k . S o s u ccess fu l had h e been ,

t h at m e n cam e to j oi n his arm y fro m al l

ove r t h e s tate .

Wi t h th i s army Fre m on t agai n s et ou t .

This ti m e to L os A ngel es ,
wh ere Gen eral
C as tro was s tation ed .

We wi l l d e m ol i s h t h e M exi can army
t h i s ti m e ,
s ai d K i t C arso n .

A n d s o t h ey wo u l d h ave h ad n ot C as tro
a
g aIn ed .

T h i s was a coward ly igh t ; for Cas tro

h ad twi ce as m an y m Fre m on t h ad
en as .

B u t h e kn ew th e ki n d o f m en Frem on t
h ad . T h at was w hy h e ed . A n d Fre m on t
too k L OS A nge l es wi t h ou t a s truggl e .

C al i forn i a wa s n ow free fro m M exi can

ru l e an d F rem on t was m ad e govern o r .

For a ti m e al l wen t wel l C arso n was ,

168 F R E M ON T AN D C AR S ON .

sen t to Was h i ngton to tel l al l th at h ad h ap

p en ed i n t h e far wes t . I t was a peri l ou s
j o u rn ey an d C ars o n was t h e on l y m an
,
w ho

kn ew th e ro u te we l l e n o ugh to atte m p t i t .

At th i s t i m e Co m m odo re S to c k to n sai l ed
fo r S an D i ego . N ow S to c k ton h ad c o m m an d
of s o u t h ern C a l i fo rn i a ; an d as so o n as h e
wen t away t h e M exi c an s c am e c reep i ng ba c k
,
.

T h ey re c ap t u red L os A nge l es an d m an y
!

oth er p l a c es . F re m o n t began to grow u n easy .

H e watch ed eager l y for t h e re t u rn of K i t

C ars on . H e n eed ed rei n f o rce m en ts . An d
h e l onged to go agai n i n to batt l e .

Ki t C ars o n at l as t cam e bac k ; an d wi t h

h i m cam e Ge n e ral K earn y wi t h a fo rce of ,

s eve ral h u n d red .

A t o n ce Kearny too k ch arge o f t h e C al i

f orn i a arm y Fre m on t j oi n ed
,
hi m an d war

began agai n i n th at s tate .

 F RE M ON T A N D C AR S ON .
1 09

I n th e s o u th Fre m on t an d Kearn y were

,

attac ked s udden l y by a great force o f M e x

i ca n s . Th ere were twi ce as m an y M e x i can s ,

an d for a t i m e th e A m eri can s s ee m ed l os t .

B u t th ey d rew o ff i n to a ti m berl an d an d
t h rew u p i n tren ch m en ts .

H ere th e M ex i c an s attacked th e m an d a
hot battl e fol l owed .

T h en th e M exi can s s ettl ed d own for a

s i ege .

We are l os t ,
s ai d Fre m on t s m en .

We can h o l d o u t on l y a f ew days .

!
O u r food wi l l give ou t .

T h e re is b u t on e hope ,
s ai d K i t C ar
son .

We m u s t h ave h el p . We m u st get
!

wo rd to th e arm y at S an D i ego .

B u t how can we get th ro ugh th e en e my s
l i n es ? T h ey are al l aro u n d u s . We are
h e m m ed i n by th e m .
170 FR E M ON T A N D C A R S ON .

B u t we ve go t to get th ro u gh ! wa s

C arson s an swe r I t i s ou r o n l y ch an ce


.

T h e n C arson wi t h on e c o m p an i o n s e t

A t m i d n igh t t h e y c rep t o u t f ro m th e
t i m ber . C arson h ad l earn ed fro m t h e I n d i an s
h ow to c raw l a l on g t h ro ugh t h e gras s .

I n th i s way th ey reach ed t h e rs t l i n e
o f gu ard s . T he s en ti n el s were o n t h e wat c h ,

b u t th ey d i d n o t s ee t h e tw o m e n c raw l i ng
al on g so n ear th e m .

S o m eti m es t h ey wou l d l i e s t i l l fo r a
wh ol e h al f ho u r ti l l a sen ti n el wal ked to
t h e oth e r en d of h i s l i n e .

S o m eti m es th e s en t i n el s c am e so n ear ,

th ey were s u re h e m u s t s ee t h e m .

A t l as t th ey h ad pas s ed th i s l i n e of s e n
ti n el s . T h en t h ey too k o ff t h e i r boo ts l es t ,

th ei r s teps eve n ,
now , Should be h eard by
 FR E M ON T A N D C AR S ON . 17 1

som e s cou t an d ran i n th ei r bare fee t over

,

th e rocks an d b ri ars an d acros s th e

S h arp ,

s tu bby gras s .

B u t Co m m odore S to c kto n was reach e d !

Fo rces we re s en t ; an d th e l i ttl e ar m y i n th e
ti m be r l an d wa s s aved from m as s acre .

B u t i t h ad bee n a te rri bl e j o u rn ey . Fo r
two m on th s C arso n was u n abl e to s tep an d ,

it wa s two years befo re his co m pan i on was

ab l e to take h i s pl ace i n t h e arm y aga i n .

B u t th es e brave m e n m ad e n o co m pl ai n t ;

both were pro u d th at th ey h ad don e th ei r

co u n try s u ch s ervi ce ; an d for i t th ei r co u n try
d i d n o t fai l to gi ve t h e m hon o r .

So th e war wen t o n i n C al i forn i a . F re

m on t an d Kearny al ways vi cto ri o u s tho u gh ,

th e M exi can forces were so l ar g e an d s trong .

A t l as t ,
o n e d ay ,
th e M exi can forces
started no rth toward s Fre mo n t s cam p

.
17 2 F RE M ON T AND C A RS ON .

A t a s hort d i s tan ce t h ey h al ted an d s en t

f o rward th ei r m es sen gers . T h e M exi c an gen
e ral wi s h ed to S peak wi t h Fre m o n t an d
Kearny . T h ey h ad c o m e to Su rren d e r th ei r
arm s ; th ey h ad c o m e to gi ve th e m s el ves u p
p ri son e rs of war . T h i s was t h e en d o f h o s
t i l i t i es , an d th e co u n t ry ove r wh i c h M e x i c o
and the ! n i ted S tates were d i s p u t i n g ,
n ow

c am e i n to t h e po s s es s i o n of t he ! n i ted S tate s .

Gl ad ly an d gen ero u s l y Ge n e ral Kearn e y

wrote to Was h i ngto n th i s l et t er .

T h i s m orn i ng L i e u te n an t Co l o n el F re

m on t of th e regi m en t o f m o u n t ed
,
ri e men ,

reach ed h ere wi th fo u r h u n d red vo l u n t ee rs

fro m S acram e n to . T h e e n e m y s u rre n d e red
to h i m yes t e rd ay agreei n g to l ay down th ei r
,

arm s . We h ave n ow t h e p ros pec t o f p eac e

i n th i s p art o f th e co u n try .
!

Wh e n th e wa r wa s over al l t h e s e b rave
 DAN I EL B OON E .
17 3

m en wen t to Was h i ngton ; an d yo u m ay be

s u re th at n o t l eas t am ong th e m any h eroes
we re Fre mon t an d his brave gu i de Kit
C ars on .
 M Y TH OL OG Y .

( S e con d Y ea r P u
pi i s ) .

Th e S t o ry of ! l ys s e s
Lar ge Ty pe Ed iti on I ll u st r a t ed B o ard s , 30 c e ts ;
n

Cl th 4 c e ts
. .

o , 0 n .

I n M y th l a n d
!

It I s o n e of t he m o st e xc e ll e n t b o o k s of its c hara ct er y et
pr od c ed
u .
M A SON SS. TO N E ,
 F or 3 rd an d 4 th Y ea rs .

Li t t l e F l ow er F ol k s, or Sto r i e s from
F l ow e rl a n d .

By M A RA L . P R A TT . ! o ls . 1 . and II B o ard s
.
, 3 0 c e ts ;
n

C l o t h 4 c e ts
, 0 n .

( A d p t ed i
o e e a l c iti e d S t a t e R ead i g C i c l e )
n s v r s an n r s .

Th e r e is i littl e c h il dr e
n i at e l o e f ers N o
n an nn v or ow .

s o e t h si astic all y e lc o m e s t he sp r i gti m e a s d o t h e

w

c h il dr e
on e n u n

n e ls e ha s ti m e t o w e lc o m e it t o
n o on e , n o on e

e ls e is it a ll s o w d b ea ti f l The wh y
ne an o r ish
u u . n n ot n u

an d c lti a t e t h is t a st e f t he c h il d f
u v t he o er o r l d ?
o or w -
w