. They left many moons
ago, but parted company with me in the land of the Nez Perces. I am
trying to join them. They are two pale-faced lads who have as their
guide a good Blackfoot, Mul-tal-la, that has made the long journey to
the home of the Shawanoes."

Upon hearing these words the latter turned his head and spoke for
several minutes to his companions, but his words were so low that
Deerfoot could not overhear them.

"Is Mul-tal-la in the home of my brothers?"

"No," was the response. "He does not live there."

"Where does he live?"

Instead of directly answering this question the Blackfoot leader said:

"He lives in another village. What is the name of his chief?"

"He told me it was Taggarak."

"He is the great war chief of the Blackfeet. There is no sachem or
chief like him. His arm is powerful and has slain many Assiniboines and
Nez Perces and Shoshones."

"The words of my brothers were told to me long ago by Mul-tal-la. I am
sure they are true. Where shall I seek Taggarak?"

The Blackfoot pointed to the northwest.

"Ride that way till night comes and the sun is again overhead, and he
will look upon the village of Taggarak and the home of Mul-tal-la."

This was acceptable information, but a vague fear caused Deerfoot to
inquire further.

"Have my brothers seen Mul-tal-la since he came home from his long
journey?"

"No; we have heard that he has come back, but he did not bring his
comrade with him."

"Have my brothers met the pale-faced youths who went to the village of
Taggarak?"

"No; we have not seen them, nor have we heard of them."

This was discomforting news, for it would seem that if tidings had come
of the return of Mul-tal-la, something also would have been said of his
companions, who belonged to another race. Deerfoot asked only a few
more questions, when he bade the Blackfeet good-bye and set out to hunt
the village of the war chief Taggarak, where, if all had gone well, he
would meet Mul-tal-la and the brothers, George and Victor Shelton.

CHAPTER XI.

IN WINTER QUARTERS.

The time has come for us to turn our attention to George and Victor
Shelton, who, after parting with Deerfoot, set out for the principal
Blackfoot village under the guidance of their old friend Mul-tal-la, a
member of that powerful organization of the Northwest.

You will recall that when the little party of explorers were
approaching the home of the tribe they met two warriors, who were old
fri