anything more
than guess, nor was the leader clear as to the nature of the business
on which he ventured. Perhaps he himself did not know.

Still the task that Deerfoot had set himself seemed possible of
accomplishment. Knowing the point at which the party left the village
and the course taken by them, he could strike the trail, and to keep to
it would not be more difficult than many feats he had performed amid
the forests and canebrakes of Kentucky and Ohio. He made sure that
there was no mistake at the beginning. Then he bade his friends
good-bye.

Before doing so he talked for some minutes with Mul-tal-la. The
Blackfoot favored the course Deerfoot had laid out for himself, though
it was not unlikely that the fact that opposition was useless may have
had its weight in the conclusion reached by Mul-tal-la. He told the
Shawanoe that he would proceed straight to the Blackfoot country, and
there await the coming of his friend, who expected like the boys to
spend the winter in that northern region.

Deerfoot disliked "scenes" as much as did George and Victor Shelton.
The only ceremony between him and the three was the shaking of hands
and the expression of good wishes. Thus they parted. The dusky youth
made his way directly to the point where he had been informed Amokeat
and his party had left on their northward excursion, and, without
looking behind him, found the trail and began his long journey.

Mul-tal-la waited for some minutes after his departure and then gave
the word for the brothers to make ready. Accordingly, the horses were
brought to the village, the saddles and bridles taken from the lodge of
the chieftain, where they had been stored, together with the
superfluous articles left behind when the explorers started on their
canoe voyage down the Columbia. To this property was added that which
had gone on the voyage. Everything was carefully packed on the back of
Zigzag, saddles and bridles were put in place, all three mounted, waved
good-bye and thanks to the Nez Perces, most of those that remained
behind having gathered to see the visitors off. Then these in turn
began the journey which was to take them through a pass in the Rocky
Mountains and into the extensive Blackfoot country. For a time we will
leave them to themselves and give our attention to Deerfoot, who was
never more resolute of purpose than when he determined not to rejoin
his friends until he had recovered Whirlwind, or at least gained
tidings