e, by speaking out that time, she had turned people
away from the path she wanted them to take. She would not make that
mistake again.

Owl Carver said, "Black Hawk has always been my chief. I follow where he
leads."

Redbird groaned. Now she wished she had spoken out.

Eagle Feather stirred beside her. Heart frozen, she looked down at him.
But he was motionless again.

Wave turned next to Wolf Paw, who closed his eyes, bowed his head and
made no move to accept the pipe. Redbird saw that the red crest on his
head was faded and limp.

She could only watch as the two Winnebago went from man to man in the
circle of firelight, holding out the pipe, each man refusing.

"Please," Wave pleaded, "is there not a man here wise and strong enough
to smoke the calumet and save the lives of his people? Please--more pain
and death is needless."

In a day or two a war band of Winnebago would come after Black Hawk's
party. They would greatly outnumber these fifty people. They would have
rifles with plenty of powder and shot, given to them by the long knives.
They would slaughter the men and take the women and children into
captivity.

_Earthmaker, I beg you, do not let your children die._

She heard a rustling beside her. She gasped in fright and her hands went
cold.

Eagle Feather was up on his hands and knees.

The boy crawled out from under the lean-to, climbed to his feet and
stood straight.

A half-moon hung over the little lake, and she could see Eagle Feather's
set face, one side red with firelight and the other pale white in
moonlight. His bright blue eyes fixed on Wave, he strode forward, a
small, determined figure.

Astonished, Redbird could only stand and watch. How could this be
happening?

He stood before Wave and held up his hands. For a moment there was
silence in the camp, disturbed only by the crackling of the fire and the
rustling of the birch leaves around them.

"No!" Black Hawk cried, his rasping voice full of anguish. "Do not do
it!"

"Stop!" The Winnebago Prophet reached for Eagle Feather. Owl Carver
quickly blocked his way.

"You must not touch him. He returns from a spirit walk."

Solemnly Wave handed the pipe down to Eagle Feather.

Others took up the cry. "No! No!" But no one laid a hand on Eagle
Feather.

And many were silent, and Redbird knew that she was not the only one in
the camp who wanted Eagle Feather to smoke the pipe.

Awed, Redbird realized that the spirits hovered ove