It was well manned and heavily
armed. Clark fitted it out before beginning his march and expected
it to be of great assistance to him in the reduction of the fort,
but the high waters and the floating driftwood delayed its
progress, so that its disappointed crew saw Alice's flag floating
bright and high when their eyes first looked upon the dull little
town from far down the swollen river. There was much rejoicing,
however, when they came ashore and were enthusiastically greeted
by the garrison and populace. A courier whom they picked up on the
Ohio came with them. He bore dispatches from Governor Henry of
Virginia to Clark and a letter for Beverley from his father. With
them appeared also Simon Kenton, greatly to the delight of Oncle
Jazon, who had worried much about his friend since their latest
fredaine--as he called it--with the Indians. Meantime an
expedition under Captain Helm had been sent up the river with the
purpose of capturing a British flotilla from Detroit.
Gaspard Roussillon, immediately after Clark's victory, thought he
saw a good opening favorable to festivity at the river house, for
which he soon began to make some of his most ostentatious
preparations. Fate, however, as usual in his case, interfered.
Fate seemed to like pulling the big Frenchman's ear now and again,
as if to remind him of the fact--which he was apt to forget--that
he lacked somewhat of omnipotence.
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