“That’s too bad, Jim,” Willie said. “Of course Indians do sometimes kill their prisoners, but it’s likely your parents are still alive. What are you going to do now?” Jim sighed. “I hope I’ll find them some day. Maybe Colonel Clark will have a job for me. I’d like to stay with him and his men.” Willie smiled. “If he doesn’t, Jim, I think I can get you a job working with me. Monsieur Cerré is a big merchant here and needs quite a few people in the fall. He’s away from Kaskaskia right now.” Jim nodded. “I may ask you later, Willie, because I have to find something to do.” “Guess I’d better go home now, Jim. Will you come home with me?” “No thanks, Willie. I have to see what Colonel Clark has in mind for me.” “Well, good-bye, for now,” and Willie ran happily down the street toward Father Gibault’s house. Jim walked slowly over to Colonel Clark’s headquarters. When he arrived Captain Bowman and a few French citizens were just leaving. Clark was giving them last-minute instructions. “Captain Bowman,” he was saying, “use all your persuasive powers and those of these good citizens,” he nodded toward the Frenchmen, “to get the people of Cahokia to swear allegiance to our Continental Congress. No violence, though.” “Yes, sir,” Captain Bowman replied, saluting smartly. “I think I can win them over with the help of these men.” Then he and the Frenchmen left headquarters for their ride to Cahokia. After they had gone Colonel Clark noticed Jim standing in the room. “Hello, Jim. What is it?” “I wonder, sir,” he began, “if you have a job for me. You see I have no home here, as Willie has.” Colonel Clark frowned for a moment and then smiled. “To be sure, I have a job for you, Jim. You can be my personal messenger. Now that we have won Kaskaskia, I have to deal with the Indian tribes camped in this neighborhood.” “Yes, sir.” “Are you a good penman, Jim?” “I can write a good hand, sir. My mother used to be a governess in Virginia and she taught me to read, write and figure.” “Good. I have a lot of letters to write and you can help me with them, too. You’ll sleep here at headquarters and eat with my men. Tomorrow you’ll have plenty of work to do.” “Oh, thank you, sir.” Jim’s heart was singing. All would be well with him if he could stay with Colonel Clark. [Illustration: uncaptioned] Chapter VII NO ADOPTION George Rogers Clark’s sudden appearance in the French settlements with his army threw the Indians camping there into a panic. They thought the army larger than it was and expected to be attacked momentarily. Some tribes asked their French friends in Kaskaskia and Cahokia what they should do. The French, who were now firm friends of the Long-Knives, advised them to call upon Clark and sue for peace. Then these same Frenchmen reported to Clark that the Indians had come to them for advice.