bage. He would not stay and listen to
what he knew was about to be said. The boys were glad to have him
absent, for it left them free to speak what they pleased, and you may
be sure that Victor and George did not mince matters. Their account of
that remarkable combat and its results was told with graphic eloquence.
Then George added the story of Deerfoot's encounter with the grizzly
bear and his defeat of the Assiniboine, whose life he spared. Inasmuch
as the boys had never been able to draw the particulars of that combat
from Deerfoot, Victor had to embellish it with his own imagination, and
he did it to perfection. He was in the midst of a description of how
the Shawanoe beat the best marksmen, runners and leapers of the
Blackfeet when Deerfoot came back to the camp fire.

"Now let my brothers tell of what happened to them when Deerfoot was
through with Taggarak."

"You needn't worry; I didn't forget that. Well, Jack, you see Deerfoot
forbade me and George to come anywhere near, but we couldn't stay away.
He found it out, cut a big gad and splintered it over our shoulders and
we couldn't help ourselves."

And then Jack Halloway threw back his head and roared with laughter,
declaring that he had never heard so good a story.

CHAPTER XXVI.

A TEMPERANCE AGITATOR.

"I'll never forget that ride home last year," said Jack Halloway,
"after I pulled out in the night and left Deerfoot with you younkers
asleep by the camp fire. It took me a week to reach St. Louis, and
there wasn't a drop of whiskey to be had on the road. For two or three
days I was the most miserable critter that ever limped on two legs. I'd
have give my whole load of peltries to get that flask back agin, but
there was no help for it. Twice I rode up to the camp fires of Injins,
hoping to buy some fire water from them, but neither party had a drop.
Then I buckled down to it.

"On the fourth night when I camped I was almost crazy. As I rolled
about in my blanket, not able to sleep a wink, I remembered what
Deerfoot had said to me about praying. Strange I'd never thought of it
before. Wal, I got on my knees, and if ever a poor wretch prayed it was
Jack Halloway, and I kept it up for two or three hours. I was about
ready to let go when _the thing which I was praying for came to me!_

"Just as plain as I have heard your voices, I catched the words, 'It's
all right; you've conquered your temptation; you're boss now.' Some
folks may laugh, but it