It was on Ducal stationery, with the familiar heraldic watermark that he had seen on so many tax vouchers in his farming days. The inscription, in large, dark, slightly smudged type, was a simple one:
WANTED
For High Treason
Against His Highness,
Duke Winslow of North America
Dale Kesley, farmer, of Iowa Province, also
known under the false name of Ramon, Ambassador
from Duke Miguel of South America.
The said Kesley, having entered His Highness' court on the pretext of an embassy from the Court of Buenos Aires, did make an attempt on our Duke's life. Kesley is sought urgently. A reward of fifty thousand dollars is offered for his corpse.
The said Kesley is six-feet-two in height, with closely-trimmed blond hair, full lips, nose set somewhat unevenly on his face. He will probably be wearing stolen clothing and riding a stolen horse.
That was all. Kesley whistled; fifty thousand dollars was a staggering sum of cash to offer. And they wanted his corpse; Winslow had no interest in anything but a dead Kesley, then.
He would have to look sharp. With fifty thousand riding on his head, every loyal subject from Texas to Maine Province would be ready to sell him to the Duke.
He lived a hazardous existence on the way north, eating off the forest and staying out of the way of anyone official-looking. He travelled mostly by night, creeping along cautiously during the day and making up the delay by galloping furiously once the sun had set.