Upon reaching the cantonment, my first intention had been to seek out General Wilkinson. But within a few paces I caught sight of a company of the Second Infantry on parade, and one glance was enough to tell me that the officer in command was my friend Lieutenant Pike. Though I could see only his trim back, there was no mistaking the odd manner in which he stood with his head so bent to the right that the tip of his chapeau touched his shoulder. Before many minutes he dismissed the company, and turning about, saw me waiting within a dozen paces. In another moment he was grasping my hand, his blue eyes beaming and his fair cheeks flushing like a girl's beneath their sunburn. "Good fortune, John!" he cried. "I feared you had gone on down to settle in New Orleans. The General spoke of meeting you in Natchez." "Did he tell you the cause of that meeting--and the outcome?" "Surely you cannot blame him!" "No, no, Montgomery!--since it was you who had forestalled me!" "Yet you must have had your heart set upon leading the expedition." "It was to obtain the leadership that I went on to Washington." "No!" "A wild goose chase, as you see. But, worst of all, I am now more than ever anxious to go." "Yet--even if the General should remove me--" "He would not give the place to me. Nor could I ask your removal. Yet I _must_ go with you, Montgomery!" "You are not in the Service." "I will offer myself as a volunteer." "Nothing could give me greater pleasure! And we need a surgeon. Still--" "I am aware that the General does not regard me with favor. Yet if you should second my application--" "By all means! Have you met the General's son, Lieutenant James Wilkinson?" I shook my head. "Here he comes. I will introduce you. He is my second in this expedition. Stop and talk with him, while I see the General. I will have you on with us if it can be done." I turned and saw approaching a tall young lieutenant whose sallow but pleasant face was altogether unlike that of his father. Owing to this and to his cordial greeting when we were introduced, I was able to enter into a lively conversation with him, while my friend hastened away. A few remarks brought us to the subject of the expedition, and I found the Lieutenant so agreeable when I intimated my desire to volunteer that I ventured to ask his good services in the affair. To this he very readily assented, and upon the return of my friend, held a conference with him, the decision of which was that I should wait over a day, in view of the fact that the General had received Pike's intervention in my behalf with disfavor.