t the maple tree under which Pierre had
died.

As Auguste got closer, Raoul threw open his jacket, showing his
gilt-handled pistol holstered on one hip, his huge knife, the one that
had scarred Auguste, sheathed on the other. His eyes were shadowed by
his broad-brimmed black hat, and the black mustache hid his mouth. His
face was a mask.

When they were about ten feet apart, Raoul spoke. "Now that my brother
is in the ground I can speak plain to you. It's over for you here.
You're Pierre's natural son, and this is his burying day, so I won't
kill you unless you force me to it. I want you off de Marion land right
now. I want you out of Smith County by sundown. Get back to the woods
where you came from."

_You cannot know how happy it would make me to do just that, Raoul._
Auguste stood with his feet planted firmly on the stubble. He did not
try to think. He would rely on the spirits for help. He waited for the
knowledge of what to do to come to him.

He felt people coming to stand beside him. He heard the creaking of
wagon wheels and the soft clip-clop of horses' hooves as the cart
carrying Guichard and Elysee rolled past the funeral procession and drew
up alongside him. He glanced at the people standing beside him, to his
right Frank and Nicole, their children behind them, to his left Nancy
Hale and Pere Isaac.

Auguste went colder still as he saw Eli Greenglove, who had been
standing by the gate in the fence around the chateau, walk across the
open space, the tail of his coonskin cap bobbing. Greenglove carried a
long Kentucky rifle. Auguste had heard many a tale about Greenglove's
deadly accuracy. The Missourian took a position to one side, between
Raoul and Auguste.

_He won't even need to be a good shot to kill me from that distance._

Words came suddenly to Auguste's mind. He spoke loudly, so everyone
could hear, and he felt good that his voice was strong. He looked Raoul
in the eye as he spoke.

"I am proud to be a son of the Sauk people. But my father told me I was
his heir. It is in his will. He gave me this house and all this land.
You have no right to force me to leave."

Raoul laughed and slapped the pistol and the knife. "These give me the
right." He waved a hand at the men standing in a line along the fence.
"And them."

Frank Hopkins cleared his throat and spoke. "Raoul, maybe there's no
law around right here and now to make you honor Pierre's will, but there
are courts in Illinois, there's a