row said, "No, I cannot stay among you. Nothing, I think, would
make me happier, but I have many things to do among my own people. I own
much land."

Owl Carver said, "If your land keeps you from doing what you want, then
it owns _you_."

Star Arrow smiled ruefully. "Owl Carver speaks truly, but I cannot
change this. I must care for my land myself, because there is no one who
can do it for me."

Star Arrow turned to look at White Bear, who sensed a question: _Could
you be one who helps me care for my land?_

Again White Bear felt the presence of a death-with-claws that had its
grip on Star Arrow's body. He must speak to Owl Carver. Perhaps Owl
Carver could tell him how to help his father.

Owl Carver said, "We know about your land, Star Arrow. You traded
honorably with us, and gave us many valuable goods, so that you and your
family could live on that land to the north and farm it and graze your
animals on it."

"That is so," said Chief Jumping Fish. "Star Arrow gave me a fine rifle,
and he made our tribe rich with what he paid us."

White Bear felt a chill of fear when he heard that Star Arrow lived to
the north. There was danger, it seemed, in the north. Three Fox men,
including Sun Fish, a youth his own age who had been a playmate of his,
had gone north two moons ago to work a lead mine and had not been heard
from.

Star Arrow said, "I have come to ask Sun Woman and White Bear to live
with me in my home."

White Bear heard an amazed murmur from the crowd, and he himself felt
his heart drop as if he plummeted unaware into a deep pit.

Leave the tribe? He could not picture it. It made no sense. Being
without the tribe would be like trying to live without his arms or legs.

White Bear's eyes met Redbird's. Her slanting eyes were big with fear,
and he tried to tell her with a look that he did not want this. Now he
understood why she looked so unhappy. She must have guessed what Star
Arrow would ask.

To leave Redbird. No longer to learn from Owl Carver. Give up hope of
being a shaman. Leave the forest. Leave Saukenuk. He had heard that no
spirits lived among the pale eyes. In the land of the pale eyes the tall
prairie grass was burned away and the trees were cut down.

Black Hawk and Owl Carver looked at each other. In the glances that
passed between them White Bear saw surprise, questioning, but no
disapproval. He felt his hopes sink. Would he have to fight this fight
alone?

No--his mother would say