“Ready, barge?” called Captain Lewis.
John Newman gripped the last of the hands extended to him by his former comrades, and clambered aboard. He and five of the Corporal Warfington privates from St. Louis were the guard. The sixth private, Moses B. Reed, was being returned as a prisoner, for he had attempted to desert, with his musket and other government equipment. Corporal Warfington was in command. Trader Gravelines was the pilot. Two French boatmen were the crew. Chief Brave Raven, and two other Arikaras who had accompanied Mr. Gravelines up from the Arikara village, also were aboard. They were going on to Washington to see their great white father.
For President Jefferson were being sent Captain Clark’s journal and map, and Captain Lewis’s report to this very date. And many hide and wooden boxes of specimens and trophies: two stuffed antelope, a white weasel pelt entire, squirrels that had been brought by the Minnetarees clear from the Rocky Mountains, dried prairie dogs, mountain sheep and elk and deer horns, a painted buffalo robe picturing a battle of Mandans and Minnetarees against Sioux and Arikaras, a beautiful shield made and decorated by Chief Black Cat especially for the great white father, Peter’s bear head, a yellow bear hide and other furs, Indian shirts and leggins and moccasins, a Mandan bow and battle-ax, and even an ear of the red Mandan corn. And three cages containing a live ground squirrel, a prairie hen, and four magpies.
Not until ten months later did these wonders arrive at Washington.
“All ready, sir,” responded Corporal Warfington, to the captain.
“Give way.”
Out pushed the barge. Captain Lewis drew his sword.
“Present! Ready! Fire!” he shouted. And every rifle, of canoes and pirogues, cracked in a volley.
“For the United States,” murmured Patrick Gass. “Arrah—but good luck to ’em.”
Then into the white pirogue sprang Captain Lewis.