him live
among us. We even let him share the bed of Sun Woman.

"After the war, when Star Arrow went back to his own people, he left
with us this boy, White Bear." Black Hawk turned to White Bear, and when
their eyes met, White Bear trembled under Black Hawk's gaze. The chief's
eyes were infinitely black, like a night without stars.

"He left us another gift," Black Hawk said.

He reached into a beaded bag hanging at his belt. He took out a shining
metal disk on a thin silvery chain and held it up so that the people
could see it.

"Inside this disk of metal there is an arrow that points always to the
north. Even on a day when I cannot see the sun, on a night when I cannot
see the stars, I know where the sun should be and I know where the
Council Fire Star is, the star that does not move all night long. He
gave us this magical gift. And so we give him his name among the
Sauk--Star Arrow. His heart is as constant as the Council Fire Star and
as true as the arrow."

There was a murmur of assent among the people.

Black Hawk raised his hand. "Let Star Arrow now tell us why he comes
back." Black Hawk folded his arms.

White Bear, his heart beating as hard as a drum in a dance, turned to
the pale eyes. Star Arrow turned his own head to look long and gravely
at Sun Woman, then at White Bear.

Star Arrow said, "Chief Black Hawk, I lived with Sun Woman as her
husband, and then I left her with a son, this young man, White Bear. I
wronged Sun Woman and White Bear. He should have had a father as well as
a mother. I went back to my people and married a pale eyes woman.
Earthmaker has punished me by giving me no children by my second wife
and at last taking her from me. Because of this my heart is like the
ashes of an old fire."

He held out his arms toward Sun Woman. "Now I want to make it right."

Owl Carver leaned forward into the circle of speakers. "You want to come
and live with us again, Star Arrow?"

At the thought of Star Arrow returning to the band, White Bear's heart
leaped with happiness. All his life he had been hoping to meet his
father, waiting for his father's return, but never believing it
possible. So that his father, returning, might be pleased with him, he
had even let Pere Isaac teach him things he could never use.

To have this strange new man who was so respected by the Sauk living
with him and Sun Woman--this was almost as thrilling a prospect as his
dream of becoming a great shaman.

Star Ar