nd it
caused no uneasiness to Deerfoot, who had faced it many times among his
own race as well as on the part of white people.

But the Shawanoe took little or no pleasure in his victory. He had
entered into the contest because he could not help it. Had he reached
the village at the same time with his friends, he would have sternly
forbidden any reference to his brilliant physical powers, and thus
prevented the tournament that was so distasteful to him; but, as I have
shown, the mischief was done before he came upon the scene. His
reputation had been proclaimed, and naught remained but to prove that
only the simple truth had been told of him.

That evening the four friends who had spent so many days and nights
together were gathered in the lodge at the northern end of the village.
Time had been given for the excitement to die out. Three of the
defeated champions were well on their way to their own village, when,
had the result been different, they would have staid for several days
in what may be considered the Blackfoot capital. The hum and murmur of
voices and the restless moving to and fro were audible outside, but the
old companions were left to themselves. Mul-tal-la had succeeded in
impressing upon his countrymen that when their guests retired to their
tepee they were not to be intruded upon.

The fire was burning in the middle of the primitive home, and George
and Victor Shelton and Mul-tal-la were seated on the furs that were
spread along three sides of the apartment. Deerfoot sat by himself,
removed from all. He was partly reclining on one elbow and gazing into
the fire, as if sunk in meditation. The boys knew the meaning of his
attitude and air; he was dissatisfied with what had occurred that day.

"By gracious!" said Victor; "if I could do what you did, Deerfoot, I'd
be so proud I wouldn't speak to George or Mul-tal-la or you; and yet
you don't seem to feel a bit stuck up. You ought to be ashamed of
yourself."

The Shawanoe made no reply, but continued gazing into the fire, as if
he did not hear the words. George added:

"Your victory will be talked about among all the Blackfoot villages,
and the children of to-day will tell their children about it long after
we are gone."

Mul-tal-la kept glancing at Deerfoot with an admiring, affectionate
expression, and, noting his continued silence, he said in a gentle
voice:

"The Blackfeet did not think Mul-tal-la spoke with a single tongue;
they said his word