The boys made their way back to Jim’s post and found it in the thick of the fighting. American soldiers were pouring the hottest fire possible into the fort. “Look, Willie,” Jim said as he got his rifle ready, “look at those gaps in the stockade.” Just then the British poked an artillery piece out of a porthole, while the Americans sent a shower of well-directed balls into it. “Hurrah!” cried Willie, “got some British that time.” The intense firing from both sides went on until about four o’clock in the morning. Then Colonel Clark withdrew all his troops save a few observation parties, and the firing ceased. About nine o’clock George Rogers Clark sent a flag of truce into the fort with a message to Hamilton asking him to surrender immediately. This Hamilton refused to do and the firing began anew. But three hours later Hamilton sent out a flag asking for a three-days’ truce. Clark refused, but offered to have a conference with Hamilton in the church at once. While Clark waited for his answer, everyone outside the fort, French and Americans alike, watched the fort gate to see what would happen. Willie and Jim were in the front row, waiting as impatiently as the rest. “Jim!” Willie cried. “Look! The gate is opening.” And indeed it was. Out came a dignified man in the striking red uniform of a British colonel of regulars, a handsome Indian and a grinning American. “That man in red must be Hamilton himself,” Willie whispered. “And there’s Captain Helm!” exclaimed Jim. “You know he’s been Hamilton’s prisoner since last December.” The three men walked on to the church. There they were met by George Rogers Clark and Captain Bowman. All of them went into the church to hold their conference. The villagers all began talking at once, wondering what would happen next. The American soldiers relaxed a little, but still held their rifles. As Willie and Jim started to walk up the street, a woman ran out from the crowd calling to them. “Boys! Jim Hudson.” Jim turned and recognized Jeanne Duval. She was calling and beckoning to him. “Come with me, Jim. To my house.” She nodded toward Willie. “You may come too, lad.” “I can only stay a minute, ma’am,” Jim replied, glancing back at the church. “Colonel Clark might want me.” “All right. Just come on.” She hurried on ahead and rushed into her house. When the boys appeared she said, “Sit down a minute. I’ll be right back.” Then she disappeared out the back door. Willie shook his head. “What kind of business is this, Jim? Do you suppose it’s a trap?” Jim laughed. “I don’t think so, Willie. After all we aren’t such important people in Clark’s army. She’s probably going to feed us again.” In a few moments she returned with a thin, tired-looking blond woman. Jim stared at her for an instant, then rushed over and swept her into his arms. “Ma! Ma!” he cried. “At last! I’d almost given up hope of finding you.”