“I don’t want to go home,” said Robert warmly. “What I want to do is to find Black Hawk, and find him soon too. I can’t help but think that there is some way to do it.”
“If we only had a trustworthy guide,” said John Mason. “Some man who knows what he is talking about and whose word can be relied upon.”
“But where can we find such a man?” demanded Joseph.
“I wish I knew,” exclaimed Mason.
“We can get supplies here,” remarked Joseph. “That is some consolation anyway.”
“Yes, but a pretty poor one,” growled Robert. “What we want is Black Hawk, not supplies.”
“We must have supplies first though, Red,” reminded Mason. “Don’t you know what I told you the other day that no man can fight on an empty stomach?”
“Nor without sleep either,” added Joseph. “I’m going to bed.”
The fifteenth of July came and the troops left Fort Winnebago. General Alexander’s men insisted upon returning by the shortest possible route to General Atkinson and the main army. Consequently they set out with twelve days’ provisions. Henry and Dodge, however, had received a clue as to Black Hawk’s whereabouts and decided to follow it.
At Fort Winnebago there was a famous halfbreed trader and scout named Pierre Paquette. He had long been a trusted employee of the American Fur Company and to all appearances answered John Mason’s requirements of a man whose word could be relied upon and who knew what he was talking about. Paquette had informed General Henry of the true location of Black Hawk’s camp and with a dozen Winnebago assistants was engaged to lead the army there.