to show the truth of his words, Deerfoot drew his knife from his
girdle and grasped it in his good left hand.

Taggarak now found his voice. There was a tremulousness in the words,
but it was due to his tumultuous wrath and not to fear.

"Dog of a Shawanoe! Do you choose to die by the hand of Taggarak, or
shall he send you to the Spirit Circle? Let him choose!"

"Squaw of a Blackfoot! It shall be _neither_. The Shawanoe cares naught
for the Spirit Circle, and will not go there. He has no fear of the
Blackfoot who knows how to fight women but trembles when he stands
before the Shawanoe! Has the Blackfoot brought some of his warriors to
save him from the anger of the Shawanoe?"

And Deerfoot glanced around, as if looking for the help which he knew
was not near. He did not see it, but he saw something else, which
caused him almost as much displeasure. As he turned toward a large
boulder, half hidden by bushes, the upper part of a head dropped down
out of sight. Seen only for an instant, the Shawanoe recognized the
owner as Victor Shelton, and knew his brother was with him. Despite
Deerfoot's orders the boys had managed to steal their way from place to
place and were spectators of this meeting. It was too late now to
correct the wrong, and he acted as if he knew it not. All the same, he
resolved to "discipline" the youths for disregarding his orders.

[Illustration: A Memorable Duel.]

In this game of abuse the chief was no match for the Shawanoe, who saw
that the tempestuous rage of Taggarak threatened to master him.
Accustomed throughout his life to be feared and obeyed, it was
unbearable thus to be flouted to his face by a stripling, whom he felt
able to crush like a bird's egg. He drew his knife, whose blade was
several inches longer than the weapon of the Shawanoe.

With the weapon clinched as if in a vise, the chief thrust his left
foot forward for a single pace, but did not advance farther. He was
debating with himself how best to dispose of this intolerable youth. A
quick death would be too merciful; he would first wound and then
prolong his suffering for an hour or more.

"The trembling Blackfoot fears to come to the Shawanoe, so the Shawanoe
will go to him."

These words were accompanied with an exquisite sneer, and Deerfoot
advanced three paces, taking care to stop before he was within reach of
the enraged chief.

"Does the Shawanoe think the God he worships can save him from the
vengeance of Taggara