Marion."

"El-izay," Auguste said, and his grandfather clapped his hands and
grinned.

"But you should call him Grandpapa," Pierre concluded.

"Grandpapa." That was another word Pere Isaac had taught him.

Grandpapa gave a cackling old man's laugh, threw his arms wide and
hugged Auguste. Auguste hugged him back, rather gingerly, fearing his
bones might crack. A thought came to Auguste, and he let go of his
grandfather. He hurried back to his horse and took out of the saddlebag
the tobacco pouch he had packed along with his small medicine bundle.

He went back to Elysee and held the pouch out with both hands.

In his best English he said, "Please, I give Grandpapa tobacco."

Elysee took the pouch and opened it, sniffed and grinned appreciatively.
He and Pierre exchanged words.

Pierre said, "I have told him that among the Sauk, tobacco is offered to
honored friends, to men of high rank and to great spirits. This pleases
him."

"Thank you, Auguste," Grandpapa said. "I will smoke it in my pipe after
we eat together." This time he spoke slowly enough for Auguste to
understand him.

Grandpapa now took the stout woman by the arm and pulled her forward.

"This is your aunt, my sister, Nicole Hopkins," said Pierre.

Never among the Sauk had he seen a woman with such broad hips and such a
vast bosom. She stepped forward and placed her lips, to Auguste's
surprise, on his cheek, making a little smacking sound. Not sure what to
do, Auguste put his arms around the woman as he had around his
grandfather. She felt soft and comfortable and not at all fragile, and
he hugged her hard. He felt powerful muscles under her ample flesh. His
aunt returned the embrace with strong arms. She smelled of flowers.

All at once, Auguste sensed that there was a baby growing inside the
woman holding him. Not because she was so big; it had nothing to do with
the way she looked. It was a sensing, and he was pleased to know that,
along with the White Bear, he had not left his powers behind at
Saukenuk.

Pierre said, "Now meet Frank Hopkins, your uncle by marriage."

At Pierre's gesture the sandy-haired man approached Auguste. Auguste
opened his arms to hug him, but the man stuck his right hand out. The
man's fingers were black. That was odd; he had never seen painted
fingers before. Was this another pale eyes custom? Auguste decided he
was expected to hold out his own right hand. Frank seized his hand in a
strong grip and shook it up an