Read The Conquest: The True Story of Lewis and Clark Page 7

  V

  _A BARREL OF GUNPOWDER_

  Scarcely was Jefferson home from signing the Declaration when backfrom Kentucky came little William's tall strong brother, George RogersClark, elected by those far-away settlers, in June of 1776, torepresent them in the assembly of Virginia.

  Cut by a thousand briars, with ragged clothes and blistered feet,Clark looked in at the home in Caroline and hurried on toWilliamsburg.

  "The Assembly adjourned? Then I must to the Governor. Before theAssembly meets again I may effect what I wish."

  Patrick Henry was lying sick at his country-home in Hanover when theyoung envoy from Kentucky was ushered to his bedside. Pushing hisreading spectacles up into his brown wig, the Governor listened keenlyas the young man strode up and down his bed-chamber.

  The scintillant brown eyes flashed. "Your cause is good. I will giveyou a letter to the Council."

  "Five hundredweight of gunpowder!" The Council lifted their eyebrowswhen Clark brought in his request.

  "Virginia is straining every nerve to help Washington; how can she beexpected to waste gunpowder on Kentucky?"

  "Let us move those settlers back to Virginia at the public expense,"suggested one, "and so save the sum that it would take to defend themin so remote a frontier."

  "Move Boone and Kenton and Logan back?" Clark laughed. Too well heknew the tenacity of that border germ. "So remote a frontier? It isyour own back door. The people of Kentucky may be exterminated for thewant of this gunpowder which I at such hazard have sought for theirrelief. Then what bulwark will you have to shield you from thesavages? The British are employing every means to engage those Indiansin war."

  Clark knew there was powder at Pittsburg. One hundred and thirty-sixkegs had just been brought up by Lieutenant William Linn with infinitetoil from New Orleans, the first cargo ever conveyed by white men upthe Mississippi and Ohio.

  "We will lend you the powder as to friends in distress, but you mustbe answerable for it and pay for its transportation."

  Clark shook his head,--"I cannot be answerable, nor can I convey itthrough that great distance swarming with foes."

  "We can go no farther," responded the Council, concluding theinterview. "God knows we would help you if we could, but how do weeven know that Kentucky will belong to us? The assistance we havealready offered is a stretch of power."

  "Very well," and Clark turned on his heel. "A country that is notworth defending is not worth claiming. Since Virginia will not defendher children, they must look elsewhere. Kentucky will take care ofherself."

  His words, that manner, impressed the Council. "What will Kentuckydo?"

  To his surprise, the next day Clark was recalled and an order waspassed by the Virginia Council for five hundred pounds of gunpowder,"for the use of said inhabitants of Kentucki," to be delivered to himat Pittsburg. Hardly a month old was the Declaration of Independencewhen the new nation reached out to the west.

  "Did you get the powder?" was the first greeting of young WilliamClark as his brother re-entered the home in Caroline.

  "Yes, and I fancy I shall get something more."

  "What is it?" inquired the little diplomat, eager as his brother forthe success of his embassy.

  "Recognition of Kentucky." And he did, for when he started back MajorClark bore the word that the Assembly of Virginia had made Kentucky acounty. With that fell Henderson's proprietary claim and all the landwas free.

  With buoyant heart Clark and Jones, his colleague, hastened down toPittsburg. Seven boatmen were engaged and the precious cargo waslaunched on the Ohio.

  But Indians were lurking in every inlet. Scarce were they afloatbefore a canoe darted out behind, then another and another.

  With all the tremendous energy of life and duty in their veins, Clarkand his boatmen struck away and away. For five hundred miles the chasewent down the wild Ohio. At last, eluding their pursuers, almostexhausted, up Limestone Creek they ran, and on Kentucky soil, dumpedout the cargo and set the boat adrift.

  While the Indians chased the empty canoe far down the shore, Clark hidthe powder amid rocks and trees, and struck out overland for help fromthe settlements. At dead of night he reached Harrod's Station. Kentonwas there, and with twenty-eight others they set out for the Creek andreturned, each bearing a keg of gunpowder on his shoulder.