where Mul-tal-la says the shelter sometimes
permits the grass to keep green all winter. There the horses will soon
be taken, and shelter has been made for them. Whirlwind, after Deerfoot
had talked with him, consented to go among the horses, as Zigzag,
Prince and the others have done. He does not like to mingle with common
animals, and is as proud as ever."

"We have enough left of our buffalo meat to furnish you a meal,
Deerfoot, but you told us you had eaten only a little while ago."

"Deerfoot thanks his brothers, and will not eat until to-morrow."

"I suppose Mul-tal-la told you all about us?"

"He has left little for you to tell. Deerfoot is glad to hear his
brothers have been so well, but they have much to say that he would
like to hear."

"O Deerfoot!" exclaimed Victor; "tell us how you got Whirlwind back.
You must have had a pretty hard time, for you were gone a month."

The three seated themselves on the soft furs, George first throwing
additional wood on the blaze, and the Shawanoe, knowing how interested
his friends were, modestly related the story with which you became
familiar long ago. The boys were so absorbed in the narration that they
did not speak nor move until it was ended. He made light of the dangers
and difficulties which he overcame, and it was plain to his listeners
that he slurred over more than one of his most remarkable exploits.

The brothers found it almost amusing to hear that the young Shawanoe
had so wrenched one of his ankles that he could not use it for a time.
It was so remarkable to learn that he had suffered from anything of
that nature that they found it hard to associate the two. The manner in
which Deerfoot stepped into the tent proved that he did not feel the
slightest effects of the hurt. The Shawanoe told his friends that he
and Mul-tal-la had purposely tarried outside the village until dark,
because the newcomer did not care to have his arrival become known
until the morrow. He wished to enjoy the first evening undisturbed with
his old friends. Being on foot, with a blanket about his shoulders like
Mul-tal-la and many other Blackfeet, he looked so much like one of them
in the night that he attracted no notice, and Mul-tal-la promised to
tell no one of the presence of the youth whom all were eager to see.

It was not until late in the evening that the Shawanoe spoke of the
theme that had troubled the brothers so long. Mul-tal-la had told him
of the conversation with T