anoes, nor
Wyandots, nor Chippewas, nor Nez Perces, nor Shoshones, nor
Assiniboines, nor any tribe are as great as the Blackfeet. Had Deerfoot
been a member of any of them, he would have been the greatest among
them all, with the exception of the mighty Taggarak, whom no one can
equal."

Ah, but this youth from the Buckeye State was sly. He looked at the
rigid coppery countenance of the chieftain as these words were
interpreted to him. The youth thought he detected a sparkle of the
small black eyes, but I fear it was only fancy.

"Why is he called Deerfoot?"

"The palefaces gave him that name because no deer can run as fast as
he."

"My sons speak with a double tongue," said the chief, frowning.

"They might in the presence of anyone but Taggarak, but to him they use
only a single tongue. Let the great chieftain wait and see Deerfoot for
himself."

Unquestionably Victor was advancing fast along the path of diplomacy.

"When will the Shawanoe be with the Blackfeet, who wait to welcome
him?"

"We hope not many suns will set before he comes; but he has had a long
way to journey, and may have to slay other warriors that are not
willing to let Deerfoot have his steed."

"The Shawanoe may fall and never see his paleface brothers again."

"We have no fear of that," airily replied George. The next question of
Taggarak was as startling as unexpected:

"Does the Shawanoe teach the religion of the red men or that of the
palefaces?"

The brothers looked significantly at each other as Mul-tal-la
translated these words, but Victor scarcely hesitated in his reply.

"Deerfoot teaches the religion that he believes is true. It is of a
Great Spirit, who wishes his children to live in friendship with one
another; not to make war; to show mercy to all; to be forgiving and do
what they can to make other people happy. Such is the wish of the Great
Spirit. Deerfoot lives according to that faith, and we believe in it,
and try to do as he does."

The chief looked steadily in the face of the youth while he was
speaking, though he did not understand a syllable until it was properly
rendered by Mul-tal-la. Victor gazed as unflinchingly into the fierce
countenance before him, while uttering the noble sentiments. His
self-respect forbade any shrinking on his part when such a question was
put to him. As the interpreter waited for him to finish, Victor added:

"Tell him exactly what I said."

"And that the answer is from both of u