ilroad. Auguste must find a way for the Sauk to live in
a world where the pale eyes ruled absolutely. He was the only one who
understood both Sauk and pale eyes. It was up to him.

"Do you want to say again the words you will speak to Sharp Knife?"
Auguste asked.

"Yes," said Black Hawk. "Will he be surprised to hear me speak to him in
his own language?"

"Very surprised. He will know you are a very smart man."

Haltingly Black Hawk repeated his speech in English, which Auguste had,
at the chief's request, been teaching him. Black Hawk had told Auguste
what he wanted to say. Auguste had translated it, and the old leader had
learned it word by word.

Smiling, Owl Carver said, "This is just what your vision foretold, White
Bear, that Black Hawk would speak to Sharp Knife in Sharp Knife's own
lodge."

_Yes, and I told you then that it did not mean Black Hawk would conquer
Sharp Knife._

But Auguste did not have the heart to remind Owl Carver of the unhappy
reality. Silently he helped the reluctant Black Hawk dress.

He wished now that he might have another vision of the future beyond
this moment.

* * * * *

It took Black Hawk and his companions two days to travel by steamboat
from Fort Monroe to Washington City. As the meeting with Sharp Knife
drew closer, Auguste grew more and more fearful. If Jackson and Black
Hawk quarreled, the President might decide to throw all of them into
prison for life. He might even have them quietly killed. He was the most
powerful man between the two oceans.

They slept overnight in the ship's cabin. Auguste dreamed that he stood
empty-handed and helpless while Raoul came at him with a huge dagger.

The next day, at about nine in the morning, Black Hawk and his three
advisors were riding in an open carriage down Pennsylvania Avenue, with
columns of long knives four abreast on horseback before and behind.
Auguste felt bewildered listening to the rattle of hooves. Only a few
moons ago the long knives were hunting Black Hawk and his band. Now they
escorted Black Hawk with honor. The change was dizzying.

Auguste looked about him curiously at the capital of the United States.
It was a sprawl of large brick and frame houses, and Pennsylvania Avenue
was a muddy, deeply rutted thoroughfare as wide as a cornfield. Behind
them on its hill was the Capitol Building, an immense square stone
structure topped by three low domes. The air was thick and damp and