“Make some buffalo stew for the men immediately,” Clark ordered. He looked at the trembling Indians. “I guess we’ll have to take these prisoners to Vincennes with us.”
Just at this moment Jim and Willie came up to the colonel. When Jim saw the Indians, he stopped and stared as if he didn’t believe his own eyes. Then he dashed over to the taller Indian boy. “Wahbunou!” he cried. “What are you doing here?”
Wahbunou tried to smile, but was too frightened to talk. He just grabbed Jim and clung to him.
George Rogers Clark looked at Jim in amazement. “Jim, do you know this boy?”
“Oh, sir,” Jim cried, “this is Wahbunou, my Potawatomi friend that I told you about.”
Colonel Clark looked keenly at the boy and then at Jim. “Is this the boy who did not tell his people about seeing the Long-Knives marching that summer afternoon?”
“Yes, sir.”
Clark smiled at the Indian boy. “Well then, Wahbunou, I am sorry we had to take your food. But my men have had nothing to eat for several days. You are no longer a prisoner of Chief Long-Knife. All four of you are free to take your canoe and return home.”
Wahbunou did not understand all that Colonel Clark said to him, but when Jim interpreted, the Indian boy nodded his head and smiled.
George Rogers Clark shook hands with Wahbunou and said, “If you will come to Fort Sackville in a few days I’ll pay you for your food. Unfortunately, I have nothing to give you for it tonight.”