The Crossing [150]
or steal your sleep,'' he went on, giving the log a push with his foot, ``and I will come to the point. When I first laid eyes on this fine gentleman, General Wilkinson, I too fell a victim to his charms. It was on the eve of this epoch-making trip of which we heard so glowing an account to-night, and I made up my mind that no Spaniard, however wily, could resist his persuasion. He said to me, `Wharton, give me your crop of tobacco and I promise you to sell it in spite of all the royal mandates that go out of Madrid.' He went, he saw, he conquered the obdurate Miro as he has apparently conquered the rest of the world, and he actually came back in a chariot and four as befitted him. A heavy crop of tobacco was raised in Kentucky that year. I helped to raise it,'' added Mr. Wharton, dryly. ``I gave the General my second crop, and he sent it down. Mr. Ritchie, I have to this day never received a piastre for my merchandise, nor am I the only planter in this situation. Yet General Wilkinson is prosperous.''
My astonishment somewhat prevented me from replying to this, too. Was it possible that Mr. Wharton meant to sue the General? I reflected while he paused. I remembered how inconspicuous he had named me, and hope died. Mr. Wharton did not look at me, but stared into the fire, for he was plainly not a man to rail and rant.
``Mr. Ritchie, you are young, but mark my words, that man Wilkinson will bring Kentucky to ruin if he is not found out. The whole district from Crab Orchard to Bear Grass is mad about him. Even Clark makes a fool of himself--''
``Colonel Clark, sir!'' I cried.
He put up a hand.
``So you have some hot blood,'' he said. ``I know you love him. So do I, or I should not have been there tonight. Do I blame his bitterness? Do I blame--anything he does? The treatment he has had would bring a blush of shame to the cheek of any nation save a republic. Republics are wasteful, sir. In George Rogers Clark they have thrown away a general who might some day have decided the fate of this country, they have left to stagnate a man fit to lead a nation to war. And now he is ready to intrigue against the government with any adventurer who may have convincing ways and a smooth tongue.''
``Mr. Wharton,'' I said, rising, ``did you come here to tell me this?''
But Mr. Wharton continued to stare into the fire.
``I like you the better for it, my dear sir,'' said he, ``and I assure you that I mean no offence. Colonel Clark is enshrined in our hearts, Democrats and Federalists alike. Whatever he may do, we shall love him always. But this other man,--pooh!'' he exclaimed, which was as near a vigorous expression as he got. ``Now, sir, to the point. I, too, am a Federalist, a friend of Mr. Humphrey Marshall, and, as you know, we are sadly in the minority in Kentucky now. I came here to-night to ask you to undertake a mission in behalf of myself and certain other gentlemen, and I assure you that my motives are not wholly mercenary.'' He paused, smiled, and put the tips of his fingers together. ``I would willingly lose every crop for the next ten years to convict this Wilkinson of treason against the Federal government.''
``Treason!'' I repeated involuntarily.
``Mr. Ritchie,'' answered the planter, ``I gave you credit for some shrewdness. Do you suppose the Federal government does not realize the danger of this situation in Kentucky. They have tried in vain to open the Mississippi, and are too weak to do it. This man Wilkinson goes down to see Miro, and Miro straightway opens the river to us through him. How do you suppose Wilkinson did it? By his charming personality?''
I said something, I know not what, as the light began to dawn on me. And then I added, ``I had not thought about the General.''
``Ah,'' replied Mr. Wharton, ``just so. And now you may easily imagine that General Wilkinson has come to a very pretty arrangement with Miro. For a certain stipulated sum best known to Wilkinson and Miro, General Wilkinson agrees gradually to detach Kentucky from the Union
My astonishment somewhat prevented me from replying to this, too. Was it possible that Mr. Wharton meant to sue the General? I reflected while he paused. I remembered how inconspicuous he had named me, and hope died. Mr. Wharton did not look at me, but stared into the fire, for he was plainly not a man to rail and rant.
``Mr. Ritchie, you are young, but mark my words, that man Wilkinson will bring Kentucky to ruin if he is not found out. The whole district from Crab Orchard to Bear Grass is mad about him. Even Clark makes a fool of himself--''
``Colonel Clark, sir!'' I cried.
He put up a hand.
``So you have some hot blood,'' he said. ``I know you love him. So do I, or I should not have been there tonight. Do I blame his bitterness? Do I blame--anything he does? The treatment he has had would bring a blush of shame to the cheek of any nation save a republic. Republics are wasteful, sir. In George Rogers Clark they have thrown away a general who might some day have decided the fate of this country, they have left to stagnate a man fit to lead a nation to war. And now he is ready to intrigue against the government with any adventurer who may have convincing ways and a smooth tongue.''
``Mr. Wharton,'' I said, rising, ``did you come here to tell me this?''
But Mr. Wharton continued to stare into the fire.
``I like you the better for it, my dear sir,'' said he, ``and I assure you that I mean no offence. Colonel Clark is enshrined in our hearts, Democrats and Federalists alike. Whatever he may do, we shall love him always. But this other man,--pooh!'' he exclaimed, which was as near a vigorous expression as he got. ``Now, sir, to the point. I, too, am a Federalist, a friend of Mr. Humphrey Marshall, and, as you know, we are sadly in the minority in Kentucky now. I came here to-night to ask you to undertake a mission in behalf of myself and certain other gentlemen, and I assure you that my motives are not wholly mercenary.'' He paused, smiled, and put the tips of his fingers together. ``I would willingly lose every crop for the next ten years to convict this Wilkinson of treason against the Federal government.''
``Treason!'' I repeated involuntarily.
``Mr. Ritchie,'' answered the planter, ``I gave you credit for some shrewdness. Do you suppose the Federal government does not realize the danger of this situation in Kentucky. They have tried in vain to open the Mississippi, and are too weak to do it. This man Wilkinson goes down to see Miro, and Miro straightway opens the river to us through him. How do you suppose Wilkinson did it? By his charming personality?''
I said something, I know not what, as the light began to dawn on me. And then I added, ``I had not thought about the General.''
``Ah,'' replied Mr. Wharton, ``just so. And now you may easily imagine that General Wilkinson has come to a very pretty arrangement with Miro. For a certain stipulated sum best known to Wilkinson and Miro, General Wilkinson agrees gradually to detach Kentucky from the Union