Jackson frowned. "Why do you say that?"
"Up to now you've been assuring the red men that they could live in peace on the west side of the Mississippi. But now you can't promise them that anymore."
"You are a medicine man, de Marion. How have you divined that?"
Auguste felt as if he were walking on bad ice and might at any moment break through and drown. He should not be so bold with this all-powerful man.
"I know that General Scott has signed a treaty with He Who Moves Alertly whereby the Sauk give up a strip of land fifty miles wide running down the west side of the Mississippi."
Jackson clenched his fist until the knuckles showed white. "You were not supposed to learn about that treaty till you returned to Sauk country."
"We traveled over a thousand miles, Mr. President. We talked to many people, and they talked to us."
"And with someone who speaks English as well as you do in the party, you were bound to learn. Does Black Hawk know about this?"
"No, sir."
Jackson's smile was knowing. He thinks I'm willing to betray Black Hawk.