A Dream of Empire | Page 7

like a muskrat, but he has
one failing--only one so far as I know--he will drink, and when he's
drunk he's vicious. But they all take their whiskey, these boatmen, and
so does almost every landsman, for that matter--and Pierce is no worse
than the rest. But here's the point: cap had a row at the tavern, and his
crew took him down to your boat to sober off."
"Why there?"
"Well, I thought you'd ask that. I gave them leave to go to your boat out
of regard to you. I told him if he'd whistle together five or six
experienced poles and a good cook, like as not you'd hire him to take
charge of her for you and steer her down the river; see to the kitchen,
beds and everything."
Inwardly remarking that the agent had presumed beyond his
commission, Burr was conducted to the boat, within which he found
half a dozen rough rivermen seated around a table, playing poker. Their

redoubtable chief rose with a civil salutation not to be expected from
one of his station. He was a stalwart fellow, of swarthy complexion and
strongly marked features. A broad yellow belt confining a leather
doublet was buckled around his waist; the legs of his coarse blue
woollen trousers were stuffed into the wide tops of heavy Suarrow
boots, and his head was covered by a broad hat, such as were worn by
Spanish traders on the lower Mississippi.
"That's your man; that's Burke; born and raised on a broad-horns.
Speak for yourself, cap; this is Mr. Burr, which I told you about."
The boatman spoke for himself in surprisingly good language, with an
air combining the bold and the obsequious. For a fixed sum, payable in
weekly instalments, he proposed to give his own services and to hire
the additional help necessary to navigate the boat, under the general
control of the owner. To this arrangement Burr finally agreed,
notwithstanding an instinctive repugnance which he had felt on first
seeing the letter A oar, who was tough as a bull and who had but one
failing. As the captain received in his palm an advance payment, he
called upon his men to witness the contract and to vouch for his
character, and pledged word and honor that, by six o'clock on the
evening of the following day, the boat would be in readiness for the
voyage.
Relieved of present care, Burr returned to the tavern, where many
citizens, incited by various motives, waited to pay him their respects.
The rumor of his arrival had spread over town, and speculation was rife
concerning his movements. What could be the noted politician's object
in coming to the West? Was he flying from persecution? Could he be
suffering remorse? Or was he merely making a tour of observation for
commercial reasons?
Burr's reticence gave little satisfaction to the busybodies who sought by
direct question to verify their several conjectures. All comers were
received with a hearty handshake and were entertained with urbane
speeches. Not the humblest caller was slighted. It was late in the
evening when, having affably gotten rid of his last visitor, Burr
proposed that he and Arlington should retire. They were well content to

make the best of the scanty accommodations of the one sleeping-room
to which they were both assigned.
After a disturbed night's rest Burr awoke early and called his drowsing
companion.
"Rouse up, Mr. Arlington. Shake off this downy sleep."
"Downy sleep!" answered the Virginian, yawning and stretching; "the
only down of this couch is shucks and corn-cobs."
The two men had scarcely finished breakfasting when a committee of
local officials called to invite them to see the sights of growing
Pittsburg.
The "Emporium," as the Gazette called the town, had a population of
about two thousand. Most of the buildings were of logs; a few of stone
or brick.
Burr listened with every appearance of intense interest to animated
accounts of the academy, the old Dutch church, the ferries, the
shipping-yard, Suke's Run, and Smoky Island. The party sauntered
along muddy thoroughfares--Southfield Street and Chancery Lane.
They strolled through Strawberry Avenue and Virgin Alley. They
viewed the ruins of Fort Pitt, stood on the site of historic Du Quesne,
and paused to gaze up at the garrisoned post of La Fayette, over which
floated the flag of the Old Thirteen. During the tour Burr kept up a
sprightly conversation. His guides took pains, at his request, to
introduce to him the young men of Pittsburg, and those who had the
favor of being presented felt themselves enrolled among his devoted
adherents. He carried their hearts, not by storm, but by irresistible
sunshine.
At the appointed time the visitors were warmly welcomed at Colonel
Neville's, where they were gratified to meet Judge Brackenridge.