on-limbed chieftain climbed to his feet. He was not
looking at the Shawanoe, who had folded his arms and was calmly
watching him. Taggarak stood upright, turned his face away, took three
steps and then paused. His head flirted about like a bird's and he
fixed his burning eyes upon the dusky youth, still posed like a statue,
with arms folded and on the alert for any treachery.

The Blackfoot gazed steadily into the eyes that met his own without
flinching. He did not speak, but, looking away again, strode solemnly
across the open space, not pausing to pick up his weapon, and
disappeared in the rocky wood.

Deerfoot remained motionless for several moments, gazing at the point
where the other had passed from sight. Then he reverently turned his
eyes upward and murmured:

"I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father. Thou art kinder to Deerfoot than he
deserves."

His next act was most peculiar. He paid no heed to the knife of
Taggarak, but picked up his own. It had a keen edge, and instead of
thrusting the weapon into his girdle he walked to the nearest
undergrowth and began cutting a stick several feet in length and of
nearly an inch's thickness at the butt.

About this time George and Victor Shelton, from their hiding place,
where they had stealthily watched everything, began to feel disturbed
in mind.

"What do you suppose he is doing that for?" whispered Victor, peeping
around the corner of the rock.

"I'm blessed if I know. He is trimming off the twigs, so as to make the
stick smooth."

"Do you suppose he saw us?"

"He couldn't. He has mighty sharp eyes, but he had no chance to look
anywhere except in the face of Taggarak, and we haven't shown ourselves
since he left."

"It's a queer performance anyway, and I don't feel--"

"Sh! He's looking this way."

The next moment both boys shivered, for, facing the rock which until
then they were certain had hid them from view, the Shawanoe called:

"Let my brothers come here. Deerfoot wishes to speak to them."

"He saw us after all!" gasped Victor. "Let's run!"

"What good will that do? There's no getting away from him."

"He looks savage, George; he means business. Can't we combine and lick
him if he tries to play smart with us?"

"If we could get Mul-tal-la and three or four other Blackfeet we might
have a show; but it would take more than you and me to down him. Come,
it won't do to wait any longer."

The brothers were pretty well convinced of what was coming and