"Yeah, I've read your paragraphs in the _Visitor_," said Raoul, one side
of his mouth twisted up in a contemptuous smile. "Seems you'd just love
to give Illinois back to the Indians."

"Nothing of the kind," Frank said gruffly.

How unfair, Nicole thought. Frank had written only that if the 1804 land
agreement had been obtained through fraud, it would be better to
negotiate a new treaty with the Sauk and Fox rather than meet them with
armed force.

Raoul's tanned face reddened and his nostrils flared. "Give back
Illinois," he persisted, "just like you wanted to give Victoire to
Pierre's mongrel bastard."

Nicole saw not a trace of guilt on that broad, hard face over what he
had done to Auguste. She clenched her fists. She must try to contain her
anger.

Frank spoke. "Don't bring up Auguste now, Raoul. He's what divides us,
and we oughtn't to be divided now. We want to talk to you about
protecting Victor."

Heat lightning flickered in Raoul's eyes, shifting quickly to a derisive
gleam. "Well, that should be easy, Frank, with your attitude. You can
make a white flag out of any bedsheet."

Nicole thought, _He's just using our coming here as an opportunity to
rub our faces in the dirt_.

"Don't make this so hard for us, Raoul," she said. "We need each other."

"Really? What do I need you for?" His eyes were cold.

Many answers crowded Nicole's mind, but she thought for a moment before
speaking.

"You need the people of this town to make a success of the estate, now
you've taken it over, your orchards and farms, your shipping line, your
trading ventures. Most of the people who live in Victor work for you,
directly or indirectly. And you're leaving them unprotected."

Before Raoul could answer, Frank joined in. "From what I've seen, you
plan to march every man who knows how to shoot a rifle away from here to
fight the Indians down by the Rock River. If you take all the fighting
men away, who's going to defend Victor and Victoire?"

Raoul threw back his head and roared with laughter. "God, I can't
believe I'm hearing you right. Ever since last fall you've wished I
would disappear from the face of the earth. Now you come to me begging
for protection."

"It's not for ourselves that we're asking," said Nicole. "We just want
you to leave enough men behind to defend the women and children and
noncombatants who stay here."

Raoul's eyes narrowed and fixed on Frank. "Noncombatants like you,
Frank? You won't pick