Every muscle in his body quivered. He jerked his hands. The rope was still tight around his wrists. Running would be awkward. But Three Horses had shown that it could be done.
Run!
White Bear heard the voice in his mind. His own voice or the Bear spirit's? It did not matter.
He ran.
He threw all the strength in his legs into a sudden spring, away from the distracted long knives. He dove into the grass, running away from the river; opposite the way Three Horses had gone. With his arms behind him, he ran with his head and shoulders thrust forward. The grasses and tall plants slapped his face. His feet pounded the earth. His legs pumped furiously. His breath roared in his chest. His heart thundered.
"Hey, the other Injun's gettin' away!"
"Goddamn it, get him!" Raoul's voice, shrill with wild rage.
White Bear's moccasined feet seemed to be flying over the ground. He felt the Bear spirit giving him strength. A curtain of prairie grass fell away ahead of him and swished shut behind him. Even the grass was helping. It was almost high enough to hide him as he ran in a crouch, as his bound wrists forced him to do.
He was already deep into the prairie when he heard the calm voice of Eli Greenglove cutting through the cool, clear air.
"Hold your fire, everybody. He's mine. Got a bead on him."