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〃Mr。 Palmer here spoke out of turn；〃 said Harrison。 〃No matter what you savages do to our people torturing the men； raping the women； carrying off the children to be slaves we don't make war on the helpless。 We are civilized； and so we behave in a civilized manner。〃
〃This man will sell his whisky to Red men。 Make them lie in dirt like worms。 He will give his whisky to Red women。 Make them weak like bleeding deer； do all things he says。〃
〃If he does； we will arrest him；〃 said Harrison。 〃We will try him and punish him for breaking the law。〃
〃If he does； you not will arrest him；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。 〃You will share pelts with him。 You will keep him safe。 〃
〃Don't call me a liar；〃 said Harrison。
〃Don't lie；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。
〃If you go around talking to White men like this； Ta…Kumsaw； old boy； one of them's going to get real mad at you and blast your head off。〃
〃Then I know you will arrest him。 I know you will try him and punish him for breaking the law。〃 Ta…Kumsaw said it without cracking a smile； but Hooch had traded with the Reds enough to know their kind of joke。
Harrison nodded gravely。 It occurred to Hooch that Harrison might not realize it was a joke。 He might think Ta…Kumsaw actually believed it。 But no； Harrison knew he and Ta…Kumsaw was lying to each other； and it came into Hooch's mind that when both parties are lying and they both know the other party's lying； it es powerful close to being the same as telling the truth。
What was really hilarious was that Jackson actually did believe all this stuff。 〃That's right；〃 said the Tennizy lawyer。 〃Rule of law is what separates civilized men from savages。 Red men just aren't advanced enough yet； and if you aren't willing to be subject to White man's law； you'll just have to make way。〃
For the first time； Ta…Kumsaw looked one of them in the eye。 He stared coldly at Jackson and said； 〃These men are liars。 They know what is true； but they say it is not true。 You are not a liar。 You believe what you say。〃
Jackson nodded gravely。 He looked so vain and upright and godly that Hooch couldn't resist it； he hottened up the chair under Jackson just a little； just enough that Jackson had to wiggle his butt。 That took off a few layers of dignity。 But Jackson still kept his airs。 〃I believe what I say because I tell the truth。〃
〃You say what you believe。 But still it is not true。 What is your name？〃
〃Andrew Jackson。〃
Ta…Kumsaw nodded。 〃Hickory。〃
Jackson looked downright surprised and pleased that Ta…Kumsaw had heard of him。 〃Some folks call me that。〃 Hooch hottened up his chair a little more。
〃Blue Jacket says； Hickory is a good man。〃
Jackson still had no idea why his chair was so unfortable； but it was too much for him。 He popped right up； stepped away from the chair； kind of shaking his legs with each step to cool himself off。 But still he kept talking with all the dignity in the world。 〃I'm glad Blue Jacket feels that way。 He's chief of the Shaw…Nee down in Tennizy country； isn't he？〃
〃Sometimes；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。
〃What do you mean sometimes？〃 said Harrison。 〃Either he's a chief or he isn't。〃
〃When he talks straight； he is chief；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。
〃Well； I'm glad to know he trusts me；〃 said Jackson。 But his smile was a little wan； because Hooch was busy hotting up the floor under his feet； and unless old Hickory could fly； he wasn't going to be able to get away from that。 Hooch didn't plan to torment him long。 Just until he saw Jackson take a couple of little hops； and then try to explain why he was dancing right there in front of a young Shaw…Nee warrior and Governor William Henry Harrison。
Hooch's little game got spoiled； though； cause at that very moment； Lolla…Wossiky toppled forward and rolled out from under the table。 He had an idiotic grin on his face； and his eyes were closed。 〃Blue Jacket！〃 he cried。 Hooch took note that drink had finally slurred his speech。 〃Hickory！〃 shouted the one…eyed Red。
〃You are my enemy；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw； ignoring his brother。
〃You're wrong；〃 said Harrison。 〃I'm your friend。 Your enemy is up north of here； in the town of Vigor Church。 Your enemy is that renegade Armor…of…God Weaver。〃
〃Armor…of…God Weaver sells no whisky to Reds。〃
〃Neither do I；〃 said Harrison。 〃But he's the one making maps of all the country west of the Wobbish。 So he can parcel it up and sell it after he's killed all the Reds。 〃
Ta…Kumsaw paid no attention to Harrison's attempt to turn him against his rival to the north。 〃I e to warn you；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。
〃Warn me？〃 said Harrison。 〃You； a Shaw…Nee who doesn't speak for anybody； you warn me； right here in my stockade； with a hundred soldiers ready to shoot you down if I say the word？〃
〃Keep the treaty；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。
〃We do keep the treaty！ It's you who always break the treaties！〃
〃Keep the treaty；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。
〃Or what？〃 asked Jackson。
〃Or every Red west of the mountains will e together and cut you to pieces。〃
Harrison leaned back his head and laughed and laughed。 Ta…Kumsaw showed no expression。
〃Every Red； Ta…Kumsaw？〃 asked Harrison。 〃You mean； even Lolly here？ Even my pet Shaw…Nee； my tame Red； even him？〃
For the first time Ta…Kumsaw looked at his brother； who lay snoring on the floor。 〃The sun es up every day； White man。 But is it tame？ Rain falls down every time。 But is it tame？〃
〃Excuse me； Ta…Kumsaw； but this one…eyed drunk here is as tame as my horse。〃
〃Oh yes；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。 〃Put on the on the bridle。 Get on and ride。 See where this tame Red goes。 Not where you want。〃
〃Exactly where I want；〃 said Harrison。 〃Keep that in mind。 Your brother is always within my reach。 And if you ever get out of line； boy； I'll arrest him as your conspirator and hang him high。〃
Ta…Kumsaw smiled thinly。 〃You think so。 Lolla…Wossiky thinks so。 But he will learn to see with his other eye before you ever lay a hand on him。〃
Then Ta…Kumsaw turned around and left the room。 Quietly； smoothly； not stalking； not angry； not even closing the door behind him。 He moved with grace； like an animal； like a very dangerous animal。 Hooch saw a cougar once； years ago； when he was alone in the mountains。 That's what Ta…Kumsaw was。 A killer cat。
Harrison's aide closed the door。
Harrison turned to。Jackson and smiled。 〃You see？〃 he said。
〃What am I supposed to see； Mr。 Harrison？〃
〃Do I have to spell it out for you； Mr。 Jackson？〃
〃I'm a lawyer。 I like things spelled out。 If you can spell。〃
〃I can't even read；〃 said Hooch cheerfully。
〃You also can't keep your mouth shut；〃 said Harrison。 〃I'll spell it out for you； Jackson。 You and your Tennizy boys； you talk about moving the Reds west of the Mizzipy。 Now let's say we do that。 What are you going to do； keep soldiers all the way up and down the river； watching all day and all night？ They'll be back across this river whenever they want； raiding； robbing； torturing； killing〃
〃I'm not a fool；〃 said Jackson。 〃It will take a great bloody war； but when we get them across the river； they'll be broken。 And men like that Ta…Kumsaw they'll be dead or discredited。〃
〃You think so？ Well； dur