Dance! you brave lads, dance! Victory! victory!" The strong men, understanding their Colonel's purpose, took hold of the delicate ones; and the leaping, the capering, the tumult of voices and the stamping of slushy moccasins with which they assaulted that stately forest must have frightened every wild thing thereabout into a deadly rigor, dark's irrepressible energy and optimism worked a veritable charm upon his faithful but almost dying companions in arms.

Their trust in him made them feel sure that food would soon be forthcoming.
The thought afforded a stimulus more potent than wine; it drove them into an ecstasy of frantic motion and shouting which soon warmed them thoroughly.
It is said that fortune favors the brave.

The larger meaning of the sentence may be given thus: God guards those who deserve His protection.

History tells us that just when Clark halted his command almost in sight of Vincennes--just when hunger was about to prevent the victory so close to his grasp--a party of his scouts brought in the haunch of a buffalo captured from some Indians.

The scouts were Lieutenant Beverley and Oncle Jazon.