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Prologue

Spring 1827

The sun was low in the sky, casting orange reflections upon two fifty-foot keelboatstheir way up the Mississippi River They were filled with settlers bound for the untamed territory of Minnesota The teek journey from Saint Louis had been tedious and uncomfortable for the h the journey were nearing an end The Land of Many Lakes had finally been reached

Four-year-old Shane Brennan sat on hishis neck to see the lead boat as it disappeared round a sharp bend in the river He wanted to get another glimpse of his father, Jared, and his twin brother, Josh, before the boat was lost froht It had

been his father's decision to separate the fa that in the event of an Indian attack, at least some of the family would complete the journey safely

No longer able to see the boat, Shane looked up at his mother, Amy, as cloaked in a dark, hooded cape "Are all Indians bad, Mama?" he asked "If they come, will they take our hair?"

"Hush, Shane," A tall tales They only tell you such things to frighten you"

"Then if I see an Indian, I don't have to be afraid?" Shane asked, his blue eyes wide

"I believe there is soood in everyone," Amy said "Even Indians"

Shane fell silent, satisfied with his ainst her, but was thrown from her lap when the boat jolted suddenly As his mother lifted him back up, he looked over the side of the boat and saw that the craft had run aground on a sand bar

A everyone froht of the vessel had to be lessened so that it could be freed from the sandbar

Shane looked over his shoulder at his mother as a man carried him from the boat Amy followed When Shane was set down on the sand, his round

"Will we see Indians, Maly up at his mother "Will we?"

"Oh, Shane," A heavily "Why

are you so full of questions today? I' So weary!''

Shane hung his head, sad, then raised his eyes and began to look around while the led to free the boat The air was fresh and cool, s of the Norway pines that lined the sandy shore of the river Chipmunks scolded and bluejays squawked from somewhere close by

Shane's attention was drawn to a covey of partridges that were just within the darker shadows of the forest They were feeding on the bright red clusters of pigeon berries that were thrusting through the carpet of brown pine needles beneath the trees Shane slipped his hand free of his mother's and moved slowly toward the birds

There was a great whirring of wings as the partridges took off, fast and low, disappearing into the lengthening shadows of the tall pines Then everything around Shane becaely quiet The chiper squawked