s were lies, but they do not say so now."

"I didn't see anything of Taggarak," added Victor. "I looked around for
him after the battle was won. Why did he stay away?"

Deerfoot for the first time noted what was said. He lifted his head
from his elbow and sat upright.

"Taggarak was there; Deerfoot saw him," he quietly remarked.

"Yes; Mul-tal-la passed near him. The chief kept by himself and spoke
to no one. He was on the side nearest the wood. Just before the last
race was won he turned away and went back to his lodge."

"What was the meaning of _that_?" asked the Shawanoe. "Is he displeased
with the defeat of his young men?"

"It is the other way; he is glad their conceit has been checked. The
Blackfeet are great boasters, and he has reproved them many times.
Mul-tal-la saw him smile when Deerfoot came home many paces in front of
that tall warrior, who is the greatest boaster of them all. Taggarak
was glad when he was defeated."

"It pleases us more than we can tell to know that Deerfoot has won the
good-will of the war chief," observed George Shelton, who could not
forget that ominous conversation they had had some time before with
Taggarak. "It will make our stay more pleasant than I believed it would
be."

The observant Victor noticed that Mul-tal-la gave no reply to this
remark, which had been made in the hope of being confirmed by the
Blackfoot. The latter glanced at the Shawanoe, whose eyes again rested
upon the fire. George threw a couple of sticks in the blaze and then
resumed his seat beside his brother. When the stillness was becoming
oppressive, Mul-tal-la startled all three of his listeners by what was
certainly a remarkable question:

"Is Deerfoot afraid of any man?"

Even the Shawanoe flashed a surprised look upon the Blackfoot.

"Why does my brother ask Deerfoot that?"

"He shall soon know. Will Deerfoot answer Mul-tal-la?"

The question seemed to rouse the Shawanoe, who spoke with more
animation than he had shown since the group had come together for the
evening.

"No; Deerfoot fears no man that lives! God has given him more power and
skill than he deserves. He has never denied protection to Deerfoot. He
has told him to do right, and Deerfoot tries to obey His will. When He
thinks the time has come for Deerfoot to go to Him, Deerfoot will be
ready and will be glad. Deerfoot knows He is not pleased with such
things as took place to-day. What is it for one man to run faster or
shoot st