“Good!” praised Whistler. “That’s the proper spirit. We’ll need every man who can tote a gun, if this plot of Black Hawk’s develops as he plans.” “What steps do you aim to take?” questioned Brown. “My first move,” the officer responded, “will be to send a detachment of sixty mounted troops--all I can spare from the garrison--straight across country to Rock River.” “A smart plan,” nodded the giant scout approvingly. “If the Hawk ain’t already raised his war-cry, that may make him think twice, afore he does it.” “It will take perhaps three days to organize this expedition. Meanwhile, I’m sending urgent dispatches east to the Secretary of War, Mr. Lewis Cass at Washington.” “Cass is a western man,” commented Brown. “Yes, he was once Governor of Michigan Territory.” “He’ll see right off that big things is in the air,” declared the scout. “I think so.” “Oh, he knows that Black Hawk ’ll be a tough foe, an’ that this won’t be no taffy-pull.” “Cass is a man of action,” agreed Whistler. “I have an idea that he’ll send out General Winfield Scott, famous old Fuss and Feathers, with a strong body of regulars.” “An’ how ’bout gittin’ word to Gov’ner Reynolds at Vandalia?” offered Bill. “It’ll be up to him to call fer volunteers, if the Hawk breaks loose.”[A] [A] Vandalia was the first capital of the State of Illinois. “Yes, that is the duty of the governor of the state. I must get dispatches to him without delay.” There was some further talk about Black Hawk, mostly speculation as to what his plan of campaign would be, in case he unsheathed his scalping-knife. Then Brown and the two boys took leave of Whistler, after being assigned by him as roving scouts, to accompany the coming foray of the sixty troopers. “Many of these soldiers are greenhorns, fresh from the east,” stated the Major to the frontiersman. “The aid of a veteran scout like you will be invaluable to them, I am sure.” By the time the three had left the fort and returned to their lodgings, it was early afternoon. “Let’s grab a snack,” proposed Ben, “and then hot-foot it to the Pottawattomee village.” “Say, it’s good you thought of that, Ben,” observed Tom. “We did tell Bright Star that we’d be out to see him this afternoon.” “I reckon I’ll trot along, too,” declared Bill Brown. “I have several good friends amongst the Pottawattomees. Mebbe, twixt the three of us, we kin pick up some news that’ll be more er less useful to the Major.” CHAPTER 6 Among the Pottawattomees The tepee of wise, old Shaubena, noted sachem of the Pottawattomees, and father of the dauntless Bright Star, was pitched some distance west of Fort Dearborn. When within a mile of the Indian village, Bill Brown and the two Gordons came upon a section of the regular foot-trail that was covered with water, as the spring freshet was now at its height. A slight detour to the north was thus made necessary.