CHAPTER XXV
THE VILLAGE OF THE MANDANS
“That’s a bitter disappointment, Captain Lewis,” declared Dick, when he could speak clearly, after gulping down the lump that arose in his throat.
“Yes, I can well understand that it must seem so, after all the adventures and hardships you have met with in order to overtake us,” replied the genial leader of the exploring party; “but, then, what is to hinder you from accompanying us as far as the Mandan country, where we will undoubtedly come upon Williams again, and you can induce him to affix his signature to the document? Indeed, both Captain Clark and myself will only too gladly witness it, if that would please you.”
Dick looked at Roger, and the latter smiled, although a moment before he had felt the bitter tears of disappointment welling into his eyes.
“It is the only thing we can do, Roger!”
“And, after all, what could be nicer, since it will give us a chance to be in the company of Captains Lewis and Clark for many days,” the other rejoined, as though he had seen the sun gleam through the rain clouds.
“And,” the commander continued, encouragingly, “after we have decided where we shall spend the winter, somewhere near the Mandan village, so as to undertake the scaling of the mountains when spring comes again, we may be sending a couple of scouts back down the river with a message to the President, to inform him of what success we have met with thus far, since he will be anxious to know. If you choose, you can accompany that party; or, if you would rather remain with us, entrust one of them—a reliable man he shall be—with your valuable document, to be delivered, on my word of honor, to your grandfather on their reaching St. Louis.”
“Oh!”
That was all Roger said, but the light that flashed across his eager, boyish face baffled description. What Captain Lewis had just said amounted to an invitation to join the exploring force, and be a member of the expedition that was bound to go down in history as famous.