slave's life.

Memories crowded his mind. The words of the Turtle: _You will be
guardian of that land that has been placed in your keeping._ Sun Woman's
lifeless brown eyes staring up at him at the Bad Axe. The charred ribs
of Victoire under a three-quarter moon.

He thought of the endless acres of farm and grazing land stretching
around Victoire. He remembered the verdict Not Guilty. The eyes of David
Cooper, hard but honest.

If he could take Victoire away from Raoul ...

Then he would have something to offer Redbird and Eagle Feather. If he
won his rightful place in the world the whites were building, he could
bring his wife and son to share it with him.

"What's the matter?" said Davis, breaking in on his thoughts. "Doesn't
the idea of going back to your people make you happy?"

Auguste shook his head. "No."

"What other choice do you have?"

"I could do more for my people by staying in the white world. Not as
Jackson's Judas goat, but as master of Victoire."

Davis took a step backward, astonished. "Master of Victoire! Have you
lost your senses, man? We barely got you out of Smith County alive."

"Will you take me back there instead of to the Sauk in Ioway?"

Davis shook his head. "I'm not authorized to do that."

"Am I still a prisoner?"

"You're a guest of Uncle Sam. But that doesn't mean I can spend Uncle
Sam's money taking you anywhere you want to go." Davis frowned in
thought. "But I could turn you loose in Galena instead of taking you all
the way over to Ioway. That wouldn't make any difference, monetarily.
Not that I'm ready to go along with this, but could you manage to make
it to Victor from there?"

"I'll write to my grandfather and ask him to send a horse to Galena for
me."

"If your grandfather has any sense he'll tell you to get the hell across
the Mississippi to the Sauk reservation."

"My grandfather has a power of sense. But he also loves me and will want
to see me again."

"If you show your face in Victor you'll be swinging from a tree limb
before the sun sets."

"Not if I can take Raoul by surprise."

Davis shook his head. "This is wrong. I'm letting you go to your death."

Frightened, seeing his plan through Davis's eyes, Auguste was tempted
to change his mind. Yes, go back to Ioway, live safely in the warm heart
of the tribe. Why face a mob of rifle-toting bullies led by Raoul? It
was hopeless. He would surely die.

But he saw again those rolling acres, the great hous