ooked.
Neither among the Blackfeet nor any of their neighboring tribes had so
comely a youth been seen. And this being the fact, many were more
unwilling than before to believe he was so powerful, so active, so
fleet of foot and so athletic as had been claimed. This doubt was not
lessened by the conduct of Deerfoot himself. He soon became acquainted
with nearly everyone in the village, and went upon hunting expeditions
with them, but displayed no more skill than most of his companions. He
avoided all trials of speed, though often invited to take part by the
doubters. In crossing the river in a canoe with two of his new
acquaintances, he swung a paddle, while each of them did the same. The
Blackfeet saw no evidence of skill superior to theirs, because in truth
none was displayed. He was urged to take part in their games, but made
excuse to act only as spectator. He did not wish to become a competitor
and deceive the others by not doing his best. His modesty led him to
shrink from exhibiting his abilities. Moreover, he had a feeling that
it savored of ingratitude or lack of appreciation of the hospitality he
was receiving to place himself at the fore, as he knew he could readily
do.

But it had to come. Too many boasts had been made by the friends of
Deerfoot for the envious Blackfeet to allow the Shawanoe to rest upon
such laurels. Neither Mul-tal-la nor the brothers would abate one bit
of their claims. Deerfoot would have stopped them had not the mischief,
as he viewed it, been done before his coming. He could only remain mute
and hope the matter would die out of itself. But that was impossible.

The most noted test of athletic skill that ever occurred in the history
of the Blackfeet tribe took place one bright, keen, sunshiny afternoon
on the bleak plain at the rear of the village. A week had been spent in
making the preparations as thorough as they could be made. Runners came
from three of the other villages, and they were the flower of the
tribe--lithe, sinewy, swift and splendid specimens of manly beauty,
symmetry and grace. Each was worthy of being called a champion, and all
were confident of lowering the colors of the dusky stranger from the
land of the rising sun, who had been presumptuous enough to be
persuaded to enter a trial that must disgrace him. More than one
believed that in his chagrin the Shawanoe would hasten from the village
and never more be seen in that part of the world.

Now, it would be intere