addles, to make it easier for you to ride. They belonged to men who
died at the Ouisconsin River battle."

White Bear had been carrying the rifle and powder horn Frank had given
him. He thrust them at Iron Knife.

"I want you to have this rifle. A pale eyes uncle of mine--a good
uncle--gave it to me. If I meet the long knives now, a rifle will not
help me."

Iron Knife took the rifle and slung the horn over his shoulder. "May the
spirit of the Great River watch over you."

His heart aching, White Bear opened his mouth, wanting to tell Iron
Knife again to go with Black Hawk, not to stay here at the mouth of the
Bad Axe. But he knew Iron Knife's mind was made up. Redbird's brother
was strong, not only in body, but in doing what he had decided.

Instead of speaking, White Bear reached up and grasped Iron Knife's
broad shoulders and squeezed hard.

* * * * *

White Bear, Nancy and Woodrow led their horses quietly along the
riverbank, finding places where the shrubbery was thin enough to allow
passage. White Bear kept glancing over his shoulder, and when he could
no longer see the band's fires to the north he whispered to Nancy and
Woodrow to mount.

He let his horse find its own path beside the rippling water. Many
times as they rode southward he caught himself dozing off, fatigued not
only by exertion and lack of sleep but by hunger. He watched the
thumbnail-shaped moon slide across the sky over the river. As it sank in
the west he called a halt and told Nancy and Woodrow they could rest
till sunup.

They tied their horses to saplings and crawled in under the boughs of a
big spruce tree. Woodrow fell asleep at once, but Nancy crept into White
Bear's arms.

By her movements she told him that she wanted him.

"Forgive me," he said. "I am so tired." She stroked his cheek
reassuringly. But her face against his was tear-wet.

She fell asleep with her head on his chest.

Daylight and a loud chorus of birdsong woke them. Soon after they
started riding, they passed through an empty village of bark-covered
lodges, Winnebago he was sure, beside the river. Winnebago friends of
Black Hawk had said that the long knives had ordered all Winnebago to
camp within sight of the forts to show that they were not helping Black
Hawk.

A clear trail led south from the village along the riverbank, and White
Bear, Nancy and Woodrow rode along it. By the end of the day they should
be near the settlem