Florance Walton Taylor

“ Wahbunou nodded slowly. “But, Jim, you don’t know where your father and mother are. Nor do I. I only know they were prisoners of the Shawnees. And they live far to the east. We Potawatomis do not mingle with them.”
Jim’s lips trembled as he said, “If they’re still alive, I’ll find them some day, Wahbunou. I wouldn’t be happy being a real Potawatomi.”
Wahbunou sighed and was silent for a while. Finally he said, “Jim, I do understand that you want to be with your own people. Believe me. But Chief Minnemung has spoken. His word is law with us. ”

“ But you must promise not to tell anyone about seeing the Long-Knives. I’ll steal away at night. I’ll find those men.”
“But, Jim, you’d get lost in the dark. And Chief Minnemung would hear you. Indians have sharp ears.”
“I’ll have the stars to guide me. My father taught me to tell direction by the stars. The Long-Knives certainly won’t march all night. I’ll find them, never fear.” Jim clutched Wahbunou more firmly. “Now promise me—no word about the Long-Knives.” ”

“ Quite a bit of honey had trickled down the tree, so the bees stayed behind, instead of following Willie and Jim.
As the boys walked back through the woods, Willie looked admiringly at Jim. “I didn’t realize you’re so much larger than I am,” Willie said. “Why, you’re as tall as lots of men. How old are you?”
Jim smiled. “I guess I grew a lot while I was with the Potawatomis. I’m thir—why, Willie, I’m fourteen now. I forgot all about my birthday this year. But no wonder, I was fourteen the day after we captured Kaskaskia the fifth of July.” ”

“ Jim watched as Willie climbed the tree. What a ridiculous sight he was, with the blue capot flapping against his skinny legs.
Willie thrust the long knife into the hole and began turning it slowly around and around. Only a few bees emerged and buzzed around his blue hood.
“Fix the bucket, Jim,” Willie called as the honey began oozing down the tree.
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Jim put his bucket under the tree and began slapping at a few bees that were buzzing all around him.
“Don’t fight them, Jim. It makes them angry. Just let them buzz and I don’t think they’ll sting you.” ”

“ Jim and Willie became the best of friends, spending many long evenings together either at Willie’s house or at Colonel Clark’s headquarters. Jim taught him to play his drum; Willie was such an apt pupil and so filled with rhythm that he soon played as well as Jim. In return Willie taught Jim all the gay lilting French songs he knew.
Jim enjoyed living in Kaskaskia; if his parents had been with him, he would have willingly spent the rest of his life among the French. They were a gay light-hearted people, always ready to stop work and have fun. ”

“ After a few minutes a tall, erect, haughty chief, dressed in a handsome buffalo robe, came forward to stand directly in front of Colonel Clark. “Chief Long-Knife,” he began, “we hope the Great Spirit has brought us together for good and that we may be received as friends. The bad bird British ordered us to attack your countrymen.” ”

“ I pleaded, but Chief Minnemung wanted only you and your drum. Why Jim, he traded his handsomest buffalo robe for your drum.”
“But my parents will be unhappy separated from me,” Jim persisted.
Wahbunou sighed and nodded. “I know, Jim. But I think no harm will come to them now, because the Shawnees are on their way to Detroit to deliver their prisoners to the great British Hamilton. He pays the Indians well for white prisoners.” Wahbunou picked up the drum and sticks. “Come, Jim, I want you to meet my family because soon we will be breaking camp.” ”

“ When supper was ready, one old woman brought scant servings of stew in small gourds to the Hudsons, and three small dry corncakes. Ma wasn’t able to eat a bite, but Pa and Jim found the stew surprisingly good. They could have eaten another helping, but the woman did not bring them any more.
After the Indians had eaten their fill, the women banked the fires for the night; men and boys relaxed on the ground. Poor Ma Hudson had either fainted from fright or had fallen into an exhausted sleep. ”

“ Clark pointed to a hill about halfway to Vincennes. “You are to march your men around and around that hill, every sixth man carrying a flag so far as possible. Thus you will give the effect of many divisions, each carrying its flag, to anyone watching from Vincennes. When I give the order, you march around that hill until dark. Then I will issue your orders for the night.”
Colonel Clark led the line of march, followed by Willie Watson with the drum, Jim Hudson, Captain McCarty and the first of the color bearers. They marched around and around the hill in plain view of the townspeople. ”

“ He shook hands with Jim, then with Pa. “Of course I remember you, Hudson.” He gestured toward his companion. “This is Tom Shelton. He’s one of the settlers going back to Virginia with me.”
“Howdy,” Tom Shelton said, shaking Pa’s hand.
George Rogers Clark looked inquiringly at the Hudsons. Then he asked, “What are you doing out here so far from Virginia?”
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“We came out here three years ago,” Pa replied, “to take up a claim. It’s wonderful land; my boy and I are clearing it as fast as we can.” ”

“ And what a colorful procession they made; the men wore silken hose and bright silver shoe buckles, their richly trimmed coats open to show their fancy, embroidered waistcoats; the women dressed in feathered finery imported from France by way of New Orleans and the Mississippi River. ”

“ Everyone ate his fill of berries while the women and children gathered some in their kettles and gourds to take with them. Wahbunou told Jim they would be leaving the forests now and riding through wide meadows of prairie grass. There would not be another opportunity to pick berries this summer.
The two boys tethered their horse, scrambling farther and farther into the brambles away from the rest of the Indians and seeking larger and larger berries. All at once Jim looked back and saw the Potawatomis riding away without them.
“Wahbunou!” he cried. “Look! Minnemung and the rest are leaving.” ”

“ I’m Jim Hudson.”
“Willie——Willie Watson,” the boy replied.
As soon as all soldiers were ferried across the river and assembled in their respective companies, Colonel Clark stepped out in front of them. It was too dark to see this erect, commanding man, but there was no mistaking the stern authority in his voice.
“Men,” he said, “our first objective is to take this town. By seizing Kaskaskia, we’ll be protecting our countrymen in the western country. You all know the British have been inciting the Indians to war against our settlers. ”

“ Clark’s new headquarters were in a house beside the Cahokia River. In a few days a band of Winnebagos, often called Stinkers by the French, pitched camp in a Frenchman’s yard, just across the road from Clark’s headquarters.
When Jim Hudson saw the Indians he was frightened and said to Colonel Clark, “I don’t think those Stinkers should camp so near you, sir. They might attack us. We don’t have many soldiers here.” ”

“ And Chief Minnemung said his rifle was Shemolsea.”
Wahbunou whispered, “Shemolsea—Long-Knife. Men who carry long knives. You know your father had one. He is Shemolsea.”
“Oh! You mean all of us Kentucky settlers are Long-Knives?” Jim started to stand up, but Wahbunou pulled him down. “Do you want them to kill you, Jim?” he whispered in terror.
“Why, they wouldn’t kill us. Maybe I might know some of them.” Jim raised up to take another look at the men. Their column had turned southwest and Jim could no longer see their faces. There were so many men Jim was afraid to call out to them. ”

“ Jim asked. He and Wahbunou were mounted on the horse ready to start on the journey.
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Wahbunou smiled. “Cahokia is a French village a long way from here. We go there every year about this time. The French have a trading post and we’ll trade our furs for many supplies which we need.”
“What supplies, Wahbunou?”
“I’m not sure what we’ll get this trip, but sometimes we get food or blankets. I think Chief Minnemung may want to trade for guns and some powder. The French are our friends; we always stay a while in their village. Then we’ll move on for the annual council of our tribe.” ”

“ Why, you’re a man! Jim dear, we knew you were alive and well in Kaskaskia. Captain Helm told Pa.”
“Captain Helm? But he’s a prisoner of Hamilton. And where is Pa?”
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Ma looked worried. “I hope he’s still alive in the fort. Pa and I are also Hamilton’s prisoners. Pa’s probably had to man the guns against the Americans.”
“Against his own countrymen!” Jim gasped. “How do you happen to be outside the fort?”
Ma shrugged her thin shoulders. “Since there wasn’t any place for women in the fort, the British put me in one of the French homes here. And the people have been good to me.” ”

“ When Pa had freed the boy from the vine, he gathered him in his arms and turned to Jim. “You go ahead with the rifle, Jim, and Ma, you walk behind me. Mind you both keep a sharp lookout. We’ll have to take him back to the cabin.”
“But Pa,” put in Jim, “what’ll we do about the horse?” He nodded toward the animal standing a few feet away.
“Bring him along. And tie him up in our lean-to next to Nellie. But not too close to our horse. She might nip him.”
The Hudsons took the boy and his horse back to their cabin without seeing another human being. ”

“ The Potawatomis rode hard for several days against a biting northwest wind. Finally they stopped on the banks of the Au Sable River, in a wide valley protected by rolling hills. It was an ideal camp site because the hills protected the Indians from bitter winter winds.
Several families had already arrived. Wahbunou told Jim that these people were members of another clan in his tribe. His clan, the Golden Carp, always tried to return to this camp to hear news of their relatives and to share in the tribe’s winter sports. ”

“ We can’t go too early as we have to wait until most of the bees are out of the hive.”
“I’ll be there, Willie.”
“Be sure to wear your moccasins—” Willie looked doubtfully at Jim’s thin, worn clothes, “and you’d better get some buckskin clothes to wear. Bees can’t sting through buckskin.”
“All right. See you tomorrow.”
Colonel Clark said Jim might go after the honey, but added he couldn’t go unless they found some buckskin clothes for him to wear. He hunted through some of the supplies at headquarters and found a buckskin outfit. ”

“ See that British flag flying above the fort? Tomorrow, God willing, it’ll be flying the American flag.
“You see, Jim, Colonel Clark has to take this country from the British to make our Kentucky settlers safe from Indian attack. Commander Hamilton at Detroit has been stirring up the Indians against our people.” ”

“ The Indians wanted to build up their supply of salt, so the trench fires under the kettles were not allowed to go out. Several women took turns piling on firewood during the first night.
In the evening one man brought Jim’s drum to him, gesturing for him to play it. Jim played his loudest and best, executing ruffles and long rolls for their entertainment. The Indians loved these sounds and his skill with drumsticks, so kept him playing until quite late. ”

“ Pa smiled and pointed toward Jim. “He shot the deer, Ma. Got him on the first shot. We have a squirrel and some turkeys too, so we’ve a lot of work to do these next few days, jerking this meat.”
The next morning was quite cold as a north wind had risen in the valley during the night. But the Hudsons began working early anyway. Jim helped Pa cut the deer meat into long strips and spread it to dry in the sun.
Pa glanced toward the sun. “I think maybe we’ll have to smoke this meat after all, Jim. This sun isn’t warm enough to cure meat.” ”

“ Ma Hudson sighed. “We didn’t get away from them, Jim. I think they intended to take us up north to Hamilton, but the snows came and they weren’t able to get through to Detroit. It was a rugged winter, with not much to eat.”
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Jim frowned. “How did you and Pa get down here?”
“Last autumn the Shawnees heard Hamilton was marching south, so they rode to meet him and traded us for some guns and blankets. Hamilton brought us down here with other prisoners. I’ve been mending for Hamilton’s soldiers and sewing some for the people here. ”

“ Jim and Willie were assigned to Captain Bowman’s division.
“Kenton,” Colonel Clark continued, “you’re to go with me. Now, men, if we take the fort and capture de Rochblave without resistance, you’ll hear three shots. The shots will be my signal of victory. Then all of you are to yell and shout as loudly as you can. And Jim,” Colonel Clark peered into the darkness, “where’s Jim Hudson?”
“Here, sir.”
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“When the men start yelling, you beat your drum as hard as possible. Run through the town from one end to the other beating it. That will help make the French think we have a large army. ”

“ Wahbunou gave Jim one of his blue cloth shirts, just like the one he had been wearing when the Hudsons found him. Then everyone mounted their horses. Once again Jim rode with Wahbunou.
Chief Minnemung started northward with his group. Jim was to learn they would be constantly on the move during the spring and summer, as the Potawatomis had no lands of their own to cultivate. Frenchmen and some neighboring Indian tribes called them squatters because of their habit of moving in on land claimed by both the French and Indians. ”

“ Their shirts were held in at the waist by broad belts.
Pa hung his long knife from his belt and Jim started down the clearing, carrying Pa’s heavy flintlock rifle. It was as long as Jim was tall and difficult for him to carry, but he tried to manage it proudly.
As Pa went striding through the thick woods, Jim did his best to keep up with him. Now and then a squirrel darted along in front of them, or a few wild turkeys flew over their heads, frightened by their approach.
Jim stopped and started to raise his rifle. “Let’s shoot some turkeys, Pa. Ma always likes to cook turkey.” ”

“ Jim played until he was exhausted, all the while hoping to see the Long-Knives coming to the camp. But no one came, and nothing broke the stillness of the summer night save the beating of his drum.
At last Chief Minnemung signaled for him to stop playing. Immediately all the Indians lay down to sleep. Wahbunou’s mother forgot to pack Jim’s drum away, so he put it carefully down on the ground between him and Wahbunou. Then he lay down and pretended to sleep. ”

“ Pa tried to smile reassuringly at Ma and Jim, but one of the men clapped him on the head, picked him up as though he were a feather and dumped him head down across a horse. Then the Indian climbed on behind him. In a moment a second man had done the same to Jim. At once the band rode off with their three white prisoners toward the north.
About dusk they stopped for the night by a small stream. Pulling the Hudsons from their horses, they tied Pa and Jim to one tree, Ma to another. Several women began making fires and filling kettles with water; while other women prepared supper. ”

“ Then they started out to find the tree Willie had marked with Father Gibault’s initials. They wandered quite a way before Willie suddenly cried, “See, Jim, there it is!” He pointed to a tree with a large fork high above the ground.
Jim also saw the initials F. G. on the trunk; these Willie had carved the day the Long-Knives had found him in the boat. “Why did you put Father Gibault’s initials there, Willie?”
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“Why, to show the honey belonged to Father Gibault. No one will steal honey from a marked tree,” Willie explained as he untied his cloth bundle. ”

“ No Indian’s going to squat very long on our land. They’re a roving people. The worst they could do would be to burn our cabin, and we could build another one, I guess. But I haven’t made up my mind yet, Jim. Better not say anything to your ma about our meeting with Colonel Clark today. ”