"Captain," inquired Chouteau at length, "your luggage, your boxes--where are they?"
Meriwether Lewis pointed to a skin parfleche and a knotted bandanna handkerchief which George Shannon carried for him.
"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.
"And all the world is swimming in blood across the sea," went on their garrulous informant. "Napoleon and Great Britain are at war again. Were it not so, one or the other of them would be at the gates of New Orleans, that is sure. This country is still discontented. There was much in the plan of Colonel Burr to separate this valley into a country of its own, independent--to force a secession from the republic, even though by war on the flag. Indeed, he was prepared for that; but now his conspiracy is done. Perhaps, however, you do not hold with the theory of Colonel Burr?"
"Hold with the theory of Colonel Burr, sir?" exclaimed the deep voice of Meriwether Lewis. "Hold with it? This is the first time I have known what it was. It was treason! If he had any join him, that was in treason! He sought to disrupt this country? Agree with him? What is this you tell me? I had never dreamed such a thing as possible of him!"
"He had many friends," went on Chouteau; "very many friends. They are scattered even now all up and down this country--men who will not give up their cause. All those men needed was a leader."