It was this same spirit which made the American soldiers in France press forward, ever forward, and yield not an inch of ground. Lieutenant Pike was an officer to love as well as to respect. He asked no favors; only obedience, and willingness to endure what he had to endure. He never spared himself. While others might stay in camp, he it was that went out into the cold and snow, hunting for meat. He made it plain that his honor, his country and his duty were more to him than his life. These were the three ideals that inspired him to go on when he might have been excused for camping in safety and giving up his search for the Red River. The name of Pike lives in history. We have a famous mountain named for him, and we know that he died――“killed in action”――as a brigadier-general, aged thirty-four. The names of his brave men have vanished. What became of John Sparks, Pat Smith, Jacob Carter, and the rest, we do not know. We do not know that the Government even rescued from the Spaniards those whom their lieutenant had been obliged to leave. We do not know that any of them received gifts of land and extra pay, such as the Lewis and Clark men received. But heroes they were, every one, who did not fail their leader nor their flag. So their company roll is printed in this book, that they also may live again. THE AUTHOR CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE COMING OF THE SPANIARDS 19 II. THE COMING OF THE AMERICANS 36 III. THE PAWNEES ARE OF TWO MINDS 52 IV. ON THE TRAIL OF THE SPANIARDS 70 V. THE CHASE OF THE BIG ELK 85 VI. LIEUTENANT WILKINSON SAYS GOOD-BY 99 VII. “THE MOUNTAINS! THE MOUNTAINS!” 112 VIII. BAD HEARTS IN THE WAY 127 IX. A TRY AT THE “GRAND PEAK” 139 X. ONWARD INTO WINTER 156 XI. SEEKING THE LOST RIVER 167 XII. IS IT FOUND AT LAST? 176 XIII. MEAT FOR THE CAMP 187 XIV. A TRAIL OF SURPRISES 200 XV. NOT YET DEFEATED 225 XVI. BLOCKED BY THE GREAT WHITE MOUNTAINS 237 XVII. THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS 250 XVIII. VISITORS FROM THE SOUTH 261 XIX. IN THE HANDS OF THE SPANIARDS 275 XX. STUB REACHES END O’ TRAIL 289 XXI. GOOD-BY TO LIEUTENANT PIKE 306 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE “It’s the Wrong Peak, Men――Yes, the Wrong Peak” _Frontispiece_ Lieutenant Zebulon Montgomery Pike 15 “I Bring You the American Flag” 55