Part Two Chapter 17 The Friends

Scattered up and down the great valley, above and below St. Louis, and harboring in that town, were many of the late adherents of Burr's broken conspiracy. These liked not the oncoming of the American government, enforced by so rigid an executive as the one who now held power. Threats came to the ears of Meriwether Lewis, who was hated by the Burr adherents as the cause of their discomfiture; but he, wholly devoid of the fear of any man, only laughed at them. Honest and blameless, it was difficult for any enemy to injure him, and no man cared to meet Meriwether Lewis in the open.

But at last one means of attack was found. Once more--the last time--the great heart of a noble man was pierced.

"Will," said he to his friend, as they met at William Clark's home, according to their frequent custom, "I am in trouble."

"Fancied trouble, Merne," said Clark. "You're always finding it!"

"Would I might call it fancied! But this is something in the way of facts, and very stubborn facts. See here"--he held out certain papers in his hand--"by this morning's mail I get back these bills protested--protested by the government at Washington! And they are bills that I have drawn to pay the expenses of administering my office here."

"Tut, tut!" said William Clark gravely. "Come, let us see."

"Look here, and here! Will, you know that I am a man of no great fortune. You also know that I have made certain enemies in this country. But now I am not supported by my own government. I am ruined--I am a broken man! Did you think that this country could do that for either of us?"