d his hours of cautious interview with the elder and
minutes of furtive dalliance with the widow, Burr rode back to
Cincinnati, and regretful that he had lost the companionship of
Arlington, resumed his housekeeping and his journey on the flatboat,
which he now christened Salome.

Burke Pierce was retained as captain, notwithstanding his late
atrocious conduct.

"I didn't know what I was about," he assevered, in self-exculpation;
"I was full of Monongahela, and there's a quarrel in every pint of
that and manslaughter in every quart."

Burr, whose prospective foray in Mexico would require the service of
all the dare-devils who could be enlisted, did not scruple to
conciliate this outlaw, nor to give him an inkling of warlike
preparations against the Spaniard. Pierce, flattered by this
confidence, readily volunteered to lend his aid at any time to
whatever enterprise Burr might propose, and, like one of the tools of
Brutus, he was ready to say, "Set on your foot; I follow you to do I
know not what." Yet he knew more than might be supposed, of the
history, official rank and designs of his employer. To the soothing
counsel, "You must not bear malice toward that young Virginian;
remember, he is one of us." Burke replied with a nod and a sinister
laugh.

The Salome was moored at the landing near Fort Massac. General
Wilkinson, whose barge lay in port, was stopping temporarily at this
station before proceeding to his headquarters in St. Louis. Burr must
win Wilkinson, and to the winning of an ally so influential he must
bring to bear all the arts of address and insinuation, for he had to
deal with a wily character. Yet he did not doubt that, by discreet
appeals to the vanity and cupidity of the general, he could induce
that blandest of politicians to embark in an enterprise which promised
evergreen laurels and rich returns of gold.

Arrayed in his best cloth, with boots freshly polished and face
smoothly shaven, with queue and ruffles in perfect condition, a Beau
Brummel of exterior proprieties and a Machiavelli in _finesse_, Aaron
Burr presented himself at the barracks, and was welcomed with effusive
cordiality by his friend and comrade. The two shook hands with the
hearty familiarity of veterans glad to renew old associations.

"Colonel Burr, I am delighted to see you here. Your letter, written in
Philadelphia, reached me at the capital. Pray, take this big chair; it
is rather comfortable."

"Very elegant, I should