ons from Miss Hale and the boy Woodrow
Prewitt stating that Auguste and his squaw protected them and cared for
them while they were captives of the Sauk and that Auguste eventually
led them to safety."

Raoul clenched his jaw and his breath steamed out of his nostrils. He
wished he could give Nancy Hale the back of his hand across her stuck-up
face. The redskins had murdered her father. They'd kidnapped her.
Probably they'd raped her, though she'd never admit it. How in hell
could she defend this mongrel?

Scott said, "It seems to me we have no evidence that this man did any
harm to the United States or to any of our citizens. However, there are
serious accusations against him, such as the charge that he instigated
the Sauk raid on Victor. If he is not legally an Indian, which this
board of inquiry is not competent to determine, then any acts of war he
participated in were crimes against the people of Illinois. His guilt or
innocence must then be a matter for a civilian court to decide. And the
appropriate place would be the county where he lived with his father,
where there would be records and witnesses."

Raoul could hardly hold himself back from jumping up and shouting in
triumph. He forced himself to look anywhere but at Auguste, knowing that
what he felt would be all too easy for the others to read.

"You may as well hang me yourself, General," Auguste said quietly,
pointing at Raoul. "_He_ runs that whole county. No witnesses will dare
to come forward for me, and he's had all my records destroyed."

"Without records, nothing can be proved _against_ you," said Scott.

Raoul felt a hollow open in his stomach. What the hell had Burke Russell
done with Auguste's adoption records and Pierre's will? The damned
Indians had killed Russell. And that pretty wife of his just refused to
speak to Raoul.

Auguste said, "But, sir, I don't believe there's even a court in Smith
County to try me."

Zachary Taylor shuffled some papers. "Yes, there is. Smith County had a
special election a month after that bad Indian raid. Elected county
commissioners, and a man named Cooper is judge of the circuit court. I
think we can guarantee White Bear, or Auguste de Marion, a proper
trial."

Raoul clenched his fists. Things had gone sour in Smith County while he
was off fighting the Sauk.

General Atkinson said, "I don't know about that. Seventeen men, women
and children were killed in that raid. Sending this man to stand trial
th