were
scared. To Victor only one possible escape presented itself--that was
to conciliate the Shawanoe. The lad made a brave attempt to do so.

Coming out from behind the rock, he strode rapidly down the gentle
slope, as if he had just recognized the youth. Victor's face was aglow,
and he certainly meant all he said:

"I tell you, Deerfoot, that was the greatest victory you ever won! I
don't believe the man ever lived that downed Taggarak, and yet you did
it without any weapon. People won't believe the story, but you can
refer them to us. Ain't it lucky, now, that we happened to be where we
could see you lay out that boasting chief?"

George caught at the straw thus held out by his brother.

"I tell you that's so, Deerfoot. The news of this fight is bound to get
out sooner or later. Some who don't know you won't believe anything of
the kind, till we tell them we saw the whole business and it was just
as you say. Ain't you glad, Deerfoot, we happened by chance to be where
we could see it all?"

The Shawanoe had thrust his knife into his girdle and held the switch
firmly by its larger end. He looked gravely into the face of each lad
while he was speaking. When they ceased he had something to say:

"When Deerfoot and his brothers left Woodvale was it not said that the
Shawanoe should rule and guide them?"

"There can't be any question of _that_," Victor promptly replied.

"And my brothers promised to obey him in all things?"

"It seems to me I remember something of that kind."

"Has Deerfoot been a hard master?"

"We couldn't have had a kinder one. I tell you, Deerfoot, you know more
in five minutes than George and I know in a month, or ever will know.
We couldn't get along without you. We have been pretty obedient, as a
rule, haven't we?"

"Was not the agreement between Taggarak and Deerfoot that no person
should look upon the fight between them?"

"Yes; but I don't believe Taggarak kept his promise."

Deerfoot flashed a look of inquiry at Victor.

"What does my brother mean by his words? Did he see any other Blackfoot
near?"

"Well, not exactly; but there were marks in the bushes which looked as
if made by moccasins. I shouldn't wonder if some were hiding there and
ran away when they saw us coming and knew we meant to see you had fair
play."

The appeal was wasted. Deerfoot took his station between the brothers,
moving them apart so they were separated by a space of five or six
feet. He then deliber