And yet, he thought, as he breathed deeply to calm himself, it was Nancy
who was concealing the truth and Bennett and Raoul who sensed what had
really happened. But their very words for it--"shameful," "lewd
intent"--turned the truth into a lie.

He and Nancy had proclaimed their love in honor before the British Band.
Now he felt as if he were tied down on a forest floor and weasels and
crows were biting and pecking at him. Why must he and Nancy hide their
love from these hate-filled people?

He heard indignant murmurs provoked by Raoul's outburst.

"Shocking!" someone said.

"No gentleman would talk that way."

Auguste heard Lieutenant Davis sitting behind him, say to one of his
men, "If I weren't on duty, I'd teach that scoundrel a lesson."

Someone with the accent of Victoire called out, "Raoul, your father is
right! Tu es un sauvage!"

Cooper pounded on his table with his wooden mallet until there was
silence.

Thomas Ford called, "Master Woodrow Prewitt, will you take the stand,
please?"

Woodrow walked past Auguste, who felt a warmth for him and, again, a
pang of longing for Eagle Feather.

Under Ford's questions, Woodrow told how White Bear and Redbird had
treated him like a foster son, and how White Bear had helped them
escape.

When it was Bennett's turn, he stood threateningly over Woodrow. "Have
you forgotten, young man, that you had a real, white, Christian father
and mother? Have you forgotten what the Indians did to them?"

"No, sir," said Woodrow in a small voice.

"Well, then, how can you make it out that this half-Indian and his squaw
were such fine people? They held you prisoner!"

"Sir, my pa used to whip me before breakfast and after supper. My ma
laid in bed most days, drunk. White Bear--Mr. Auguste--he was kind to
me. So was his missus. Living with them was shinin'."

"Shining!" Bennett looked disgusted.

Woodrow shrugged. "Well, would'a been, if the soldiers hadn't always
been chasing us."

Auguste heard the thump of boots. He turned to see Raoul storming up
from the back of the room.

"That boy's lying!" Raoul roared. "Indians took me prisoner when I was
his age--I know firsthand how kind they are, I got the scars to prove
it. The half-breed's white squaw has made it worthwhile for the kid to
lie. If I get my hands on him, I'll beat the truth out of him."

"Sit down, sir!" Lieutenant Davis jumped up from his seat behind Auguste
and blocked Raoul's way. Auguste turned to