“That is all I have left,” said he. “But the mail for the East—the mail, M. Chouteau—we must get word to the President!”
“The President has long ago been advised of your death,” said Chouteau, laughing. “All the world has said good-by to you. No doubt you can read your own obituaries.”
“We bring them better news than that. What news for us?” asked the two captains of their host.
“News!” The voluble Frenchman threw up his hands. “Nothing but news! The entire world is changed since you left. I could not tell you in a month. The Burr duel——”
“Yes, we did not know of it for two years,” said William Clark. “We have just heard about it, up river.”
“The killing of Mr. Hamilton ended the career of Colonel Burr,” said Chouteau. “But for that we might have different times here in Mississippi. He had many friends. But you have heard the last news regarding him?”
It was the dark eye of Meriwether Lewis which now compelled his attention.
“No? Well, he came out here through this country once more. He was arrested last summer, on the Natchez Trace, and carried off to Washington. The charge is treason against his government. The country is full of it—his trial is to be at Richmond. Even now it may be going on.”
He did not notice the sudden change in Meriwether Lewis’s face.