s none
among them like Deerfoot, nor can his equal be found in all the world."

Among those who doubted the truth of the words of the messengers were
several aspiring bucks, who secretly resolved never to admit the
superiority of the Shawanoe youth in any of the respects named until
such superiority had been proved before their eyes.

The curiosity and spirit of hospitality were general among the
Blackfeet. Expecting the visitors to spend several months with them,
they made preparations for their convenience and comfort. One of the
first things undertaken by the two who had met the little party was the
building of a tepee or home for them. Mul-tal-la had his own father and
mother and would go to their lodge, but it would not have been seemly
to place the three guests with anyone else.

It has already been said that the Blackfoot village, which was the main
one of the tribe and the dwelling-place of the leading chief, was
stretched along the bank of a running stream which was a remote
tributary of the Missouri. This river had a rapid current and ran
almost due south in front of the village, which lay wholly on the
eastern bank. The tepees were more than a hundred in number, and, when
Taggarak went on the war path, he had taken more than two hundred
warriors from his own town--and they were the flower of the tribe.

To the rear of the settlement was an open space covering several acres.
This was not only the children's playground, but was often used by the
warriors for their games and athletic exercises. The space was so
extensive that at certain seasons of the year the outer portions were
covered with rich nourishing grass, which was also abundant in the
neighborhood. Nearly every warrior was the owner of a horse, which,
when not in use, was allowed to wander and graze at will.

These Indians lived after the manner of their race when removed from
civilization, which, as a rule, has proved a greater curse than boon to
them. Fortunately they knew nothing of the ruinous "fire water" that
was to await the coming of professing Christians and the claimants of a
higher culture and civilization. They spent their time mainly in
hunting and fishing, sometimes engaging in raids upon other tribes,
several of whose grounds lay to the north of the boundary line. When
not thus employed they lolled about, like true lords of creation,
smoking, drowsing or indifferently watching their squaws, who did all
the tilling of the ground and