ll
the way back to the Great River."

White Bear wanted to answer the Winnebago Prophet with angry words, but
he felt light-headed and nauseated. He decided to wait and see what the
others would say.

"The Prophet of the Winnebago speaks well," said Wolf Paw. "My blade is
hungry for more long knives' scalps."

_Of course_, thought White Bear.

Owl Carver said drily, "We routed some drunk pale eyes who hardly
deserve to be called long knives. Let us not waste any more of our young
men's lives. Let us follow the northward curve of the Rock River to its
very headwaters, far beyond any pale eyes' settlements, then travel
westward toward the Great River. If we can cross the Great River safely,
I do not think the long knives will chase us farther."

The five men sat in silence. A sudden thought struck White Bear. _This_
was why Earthmaker had ordained that he be educated among the pale
eyes--so that he could help his band understand how pale eyes thought.
If they kept going north along the Rock River they would soon cross the
northern border of the state of Illinois. That might seem to them to
mean very little, but it could mean much to their pursuers. The country
where they were headed did not belong to any state; it was part of a
large land of many waters that was called the Michigan Territory.

Eagerly he said, "We may be able to escape the long knives by going
north. Most of the long knives who are pursuing us were called out by
the Great Father of the Illinois country. Once we are out of Illinois,
maybe they will not follow."

Wolf Paw grunted, clearly insulted at the thought of their not being
pursued.

The Prophet bestirred himself. "Many of my Winnebago brothers dwell in
that country to the north. They will join us in fighting the long
knives."

_Like your people from Prophet's Town, who've been deserting us?_ White
Bear thought.

A warrior set a long knives' saddlebag before Black Hawk, who opened it.
The war chief pulled out an expensive-looking black wool suit and some
white silk shirts with ruffles. Finally he took out two books bound in
red and white leather. White Bear leaned over for a closer look.

"Bundles of the pale eyes' talking paper," said Black Hawk.

Wolf Paw said, "They are worthless, Father. Keep the clothing and put
the talking paper on the fire."

But Black Hawk handed one of the books to White Bear. "What do the
talking papers say to you, White Bear?"

White Bear picked up a boo