"I thought they killed you," she said.

"It would have been good if they had."

"No," she said, "do not wish that."

Redbird sensed a silence and realized that Yellow Hair was no longer
crying. She and Wolf Paw were staring at each other.

Now, thought Redbird, Yellow Hair could have her revenge for her
father's death, for her own suffering. All she had to do was tell the
villagers who Wolf Paw was, the leader of the war band that had attacked
Victor. The brave who had kidnapped her. The long knives could
not--would not--stop the people from killing him on the spot.

Yellow Hair sighed and put her arm around Redbird's shoulders. Perhaps
she didn't want revenge. Redbird was too sick with grief to wonder much
about it.

Wolf Paw said, "Four others are dead, and many more are hurt. We will
carry our dead away from this place. I think the long knives will let us
bury them farther along this trail."

Holding Floating Lily's body tightly, Redbird let Wolf Paw take her by
the elbows and lift her to her feet. She felt Yellow Hair's arm still
around her shoulders. She began to cry quietly.

Wolf Paw said, "Even though you grieve for your baby, the people who are
wounded need your help. Sun Woman taught you, and you were White Bear's
wife and Owl Carver's daughter. You are the only one who knows what to
do."

"I have hardly any medicines left," she said.

"You can pray for those who are hurt," Wolf Paw said. "And when we bury
the dead, you can speak to their spirits for us."

_You must be the spirit walker for the British Band._

A long knife rode over and spoke to Yellow Hair. Redbird understood that
he was telling her that she could not stay with the Sauk prisoners.

In the way they had learned to talk to each other Yellow Hair told
Redbird that she would have gladly died to save Floating Lily. She
promised to do what she could for the remaining people.

"You, me, sisters," Redbird said.

Yellow Hair put her arms around Redbird, pressing Floating Lily between
them. She bent and kissed Redbird on the cheek, her tears wetting
Redbird's face.

Redbird glanced up at the long knife who had spoken to Yellow Hair. His
mouth under his yellow mustache twisted in scorn.

Yellow Hair began to sob again, and her arms tightened around Redbird.
Redbird felt White Bear's aunt and uncle gently trying to pull Yellow
Hair away from her.

The mounted long knife shouted angrily. Would they shoot Yellow Hair if
she didn't