Wolf Paw's wives pulled Nancy through the band's collection of hastily built wickiups and lean-tos. They brought her to a tall elm tree growing up in the center of the camp. The tree was dying. Its bark had been stripped to cover a wickiup.
By the time White Bear caught up with the crowd around Nancy, her eyes were wide open, but unfocused. Running Deer pushed her against the trunk of the elm tree and drew a knife. With swift, angry slashes, Wolf Paw's senior wife stripped away Nancy's dress and the chemise under it. Nancy stood naked before the tribe. Her eyes were still open and unseeing. She made no attempt to cover herself. She did not seem to know what was happening to her. White Bear's skin crawled with shame at the sight of her degradation.
Women laughed. "Her skin is like a frog's belly!"
Men stared greedily.
Running Deer took a coil of rawhide rope and lashed Nancy to the tree, and White Bear felt the muscles of his neck and shoulders knotting till they ached. He could scarcely bear to look at Nancy, who hung in her bonds, her eyes closed again.
He did not care if they killed him. He would not let them do this. He would not allow it to go on a moment longer.
He put his hand over the five claw scars on his chest and spoke to his spirit self. O Bear spirit, give me the power to move the people to mercy.
He felt strength surge into his chest and arms, and raising his medicine stick, he strode forward.
When he was only a foot away from Nancy, her eyes opened suddenly, huge and turquoise, staring into his.
"Auguste!" Her voice and face were full of terror.