"When it was all over, Frank rode to Galena, though I begged him not to, for fear there were Indians yet lurking about. But he must needs publish his paper. He arranged to have an edition of the _Visitor_ printed on the press of the Galena _Miners Gazette_, and brought the copies back here on a wagon. I am sending you a copy of the paper under this cover. Frank's account will tell you everything there is to know about the raid, and more perhaps than you would wish to know. "Our father is well. He and Guichard fought bravely in our defense. "I do not reproach you. My heart goes out to you, Brother, for I know you must be suffering. Remember that all happens as God ordains. May He grant you peace." _What the hell does she mean, "All happens as God ordains?" God wanted my woman and my kids murdered by Indians?_ "Oh, Christ Jesus," Eli said. He shook his head, then resting his elbows on his knees, pressed his hands to the top of his head. _Even Papa had to fight._ Raoul's heart felt bruised, as if beaten with a hammer. _I do not reproach you._ That was reproach enough. He had taken every man who would sign up for the militia. He had promised them their wives and children would be safe. He'd led them away in pursuit of Black Hawk, vengeance and glory. Eli looked up. "What does it say in the newspaper?" Raoul started to hand it to him. "You read it to me." Raoul had forgotten that Eli couldn't read. Clarissa couldn't either. Now she'd never learn. Nor would the boys. He shook his head and brushed his hand across his forehead. "I _can't_ read this out loud." Greenglove's eyes were hard as bullets. "You wipe your damned eyes and read that damned newspaper." Raoul rubbed his eyes and took another pull from the jug. Greenglove held out his hand and Raoul passed him the jug. Raoul picked up the newspaper, hating the sight of it, and began to read the column headed with the single word, MASSACRE! Frank's story told how the people in the trading post held the Indians off all day and finally drove them away by firing the cannon. Then came the grievous task of finding and burying those who had not had time to reach safety. Then, for Raoul, the most dreadful lines of all: In the ashes of Victoire, it appeared from examination of the charred remains that the skulls of the men and women had been cloven by tomahawk blows. Parts of the children's bodies were scattered about the ruins, as if they had been chopped to bits before the Indians set fire to the great house. Why hadn't Clarissa gotten away? She'd taken to drinking heavily in the last year, so much so that he'd had to hit her more than once for letting the boys run loose without keeping an eye on them. She had probably been lying abed in a drunken stupor while everyone was fleeing the chateau, the boys sleeping in the room with her. Hadn't anyone tried to wake them?