ong letter about you. I want to have a talk
with you later. Now, tell the chief I am happy to greet him as a friend.
Tell him there will be peace between me and my red children as long as
the grass shall grow and the rivers shall run."

A talk later? What did Jackson have in mind for him? Auguste wondered as
he translated for Black Hawk.

"Now shall I speak to him in his tongue?" Black Hawk asked.

"This would be a good time," said Auguste.

Black Hawk took a step forward, leaving Owl Carver, Flying Cloud and
Auguste standing behind him. Auguste saw that Black Hawk was shorter
than Jackson, but broader in chest and shoulders. And, Auguste believed,
stronger and healthier though they were about the same age.

Black Hawk raised his right hand in greeting and said in English, "I am
a man. And you are a man like me."

Jackson looked startled, then stood very straight and stared intently at
Black Hawk's bronze face as the war leader spoke the memorized words
slowly, one at a time.

"We did not expect to conquer your people. I took up the tomahawk to
avenge great wrongs that we could no longer bear. If I had not been
willing to fight, the young men would have said Black Hawk is too old to
be chief. They would have said Black Hawk is a woman. They would have
said he is no Sauk. So I raised the war whoop. You are a war leader, and
you understand me. I need say no more. I ask you to give me your hand in
friendship and to let us return to our people."

"A very fine speech," said Jackson. "I was not told that you spoke
English, Chief."

Auguste repeated the President's comment in Sauk.

Black Hawk said, "Tell him that you taught me how to say what I wanted
to say in the pale eyes' tongue."

Jackson grunted. "I see. Yes, White Bear, you and I will have to talk.
Well, tell him that we will send him back to his people when we are
certain we'll have no more trouble from them."

Auguste wanted to say, _Almost all the people who caused you trouble are
dead_. But he merely translated Jackson's words for Black Hawk.

_Why does Jackson want to talk to me?_ Auguste did not like the sound of
it. Did Sharp Knife have in mind some treachery against Black Hawk?

Black Hawk said, "Tell the Great Father that the Sauk will be quiet as
long as the pale eyes do no more harm to them." Auguste had a sinking
feeling, as he translated this, that he might well be reopening
hostilities right here in the President's House.

Jackson answer