raighter than another? No credit belongs to _him_, for it is
God who gives him the power. Deerfoot would sin if he shrank from any
task laid upon him; but a victory like that just won does no one any
good. Deerfoot would be happier if he could turn the thoughts of all
those people to the true God."

In the warmth of his feelings the Shawanoe had wandered from the
question just asked him, but in doing so he revealed the nobility of
his nature. He was oppressed by the belief that the strife in which he
had been the victor not only accomplished no real good, but actually
retarded the work he had in mind. He came back to the question his
friend had just asked.

"Why does my brother think Deerfoot is afraid of any man?"

Mul-tal-la could not hide a certain nervousness, but with all the
calmness he could summon he parried the direct question by the remark:

"The most terrible warrior of all the Blackfeet is Taggarak the
chieftain; he has slain many men in battle and has never been
conquered."

The inference from this remark was obvious even to the boys. It was
Victor who asked in surprise:

"Is Deerfoot to fight with Taggarak? If he does, I'll bet on Deerfoot."

To any others except those present the words of the Shawanoe would have
sounded like boasting, but there was no such thought in his heart.

"Deerfoot has no more fear of Taggarak than he has of a pappoose. He
may be a great warrior, but Deerfoot has conquered as great warriors as
he."

Determined that Mul-tal-la should parry no longer, the Shawanoe forced
him to a direct answer.

"Why does my brother think Taggarak wishes to fight him?"

The reply was astonishing:

"The squaw of Taggarak is seeking to learn of the God that she has been
told is known to the Shawanoe. She has asked me, she has asked
Kepkapkolakak and Borabtrik (the messengers known as 'Spink' and
'Jiggers'). She does not sleep because of her heaviness of mind."

"Does Taggarak know of this?" asked the surprised Deerfoot.

"Not yet; but it must soon come to his knowledge."

"Will he harm his wife?"

"Mul-tal-la cannot say; he may put her to death. There is no doubt that
he will slay Deerfoot--_if he can_," added the Blackfoot significantly,
"or he will make him walk around the Spirit Circle till he drops dead."

Deerfoot stared in astonishment. He was mystified.

"The Spirit Circle," he repeated. "Does Deerfoot hear aright? If so,
what does his brother mean? Deerfoot is listening."