Part 27 (2/2)
The sounds of revelry were heard by the Mandans who caate
”White men make a medicine dance,” they said, and knocked for entrance
Tomen only were present--the wife of Jussauirl wife of Charbonneau, the interpreter of the Mandans These two had many presents
The face of Sacajareathed in smiles Always her eyes followed the tall form of Meriwether Leherever he went Her own husband was but her husband, and already she had elected Meriwether Lewis as her deity When her husband thrashed her, always he thrashed her husband
In her simple child's soul she consecrated herself to the task which he had assigned her Yes, when the grass came she would take these white men to her own people If they wanted to see the salt waters far to the west--her people had heard of that--then they should go there also The Bird Woman was very happy that Christiven her wonderful presents!
All the men danced but one--the youth Shannon, who oncewith the broadax at one of the canoes, he had had the misfortune to slash his foot, so must lie in his bunk and watch the others
”Keep the o to et forward some letters which I want to write--to my mother and to Mr Jefferson At least I can date theh Providence alone knohen they may be despatched or received!”
He returned to his own quarters, where he had erected a little desk at which he sometiht, as the sound of the dancing still cath he spread open the back of his little leather writing-case, unscrewed his ink-horn and set it safe, drew his keen hunting-knife, and put a point upon a goose-quill pen Then he put away the es which still lay in the portfolio, the product of his daily labors
Searching for fair white paper, his eye caught sight of a sealed and folded letter, apparently long unnoticed here a the written and unwritten sheets In a flash he knehat it was! Once more the blood in his veins seemed to stop short
TO CAPTAIN MERIWETHER LEWIS, IN CHARGE OF THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THE DISCOVERY OF THE WEST--ON THE TRAIL
He knehat hand had written the words For one short instant he had a mad impulse to cast the letter into the fire Then there ca which oppressed him all his life--that he was a helpless instru as he did so that it had a number scratched into the wax--and read the letter, which ran thus:
SIR AND FRIEND:
I know not where these presents may find you, or in what case Once o Onceup at you froe! Tell me, do you see me now before you?
Are other faces of women in your mind? Have they lost themselves as women's faces so often--so soon--are lost from a man's mind? Can you see me, Meriwether Lewis, your childhood friend?
Do you remember the time you saved me from the cows in the lane at your father's farinia? You kissed me then, to dry er Can you forget that tiet what you said?
”I will always be there, Theodosia,” you said, ”when you are in trouble!”
You said it stoutly, and I believed it, as a child
I believed you then--I believe you now I still have the sa; irl, as you say you never were a boy You know my husband--he has his own affairs But you alerea secret on your heart--one which you must observe all your life My letter is for you, and for no other eyes But now I come once more to you to hold you to your promise
_Meriwether Lewis, coh! We are counting absolutely on your return I heard Mr Merry tell my father--and I may tell it to you--that on your recall rested all hope of the success of our own cause on the lower Mississippi--for ourselves and for you If you do not come back to us, as early as you can, you condemn us to failure--myself--my life--that of my father--yourself also
Perhaps your delay may mean even more, Meriwether Lewis I have to tell you that ti for this republic Relations between our country and Great Britain are strained to the breaking-point Mr Merry says that if our cause on the lower Mississippi shall not prevail, his own country, as soon as it can finish with Napoleon, will coainst this republic once more--both on the Great Lakes and at the mouth of the Mississippi He says that your expedition into the West will split the country, if it goes on It ap must be mended by war
You see, then, one of the sure results of this mad folly of Thomas Jefferson
Go on, therefore, if you would ruin o on if you face possible ruin _for your own country_ by so doing? This I leave for you to say
Surely by now the main object of your expedition will have been accomplished--surely you may return with all practical results of your labors in your hands Were that not a wiser thing? Does not your duty lie toward the east, and not further toward the west? There is a lio when it assails a citadel Not every general is dishonored, though he does not con laid out for him Expeditions have failed, and will fail, with honor Leaders of men have failed, will fail, with honor I do not call it failure for you to return to us and let the expedition go on There is a limit to what may be asked of a man There are two of you for Mr Jefferson; but for us there is only one--it is Captain Lewis And--how shall I say it and not be misunderstood?--there is but one for her whose face you see, I hope, on this page
What lienerosity of a man like you--what limit to his desire to pay each duty, to keep each proet his promise always to kiss away the tears of that companion to whom he has come in rescue? I am in trouble