ad at us. He went off without speaking, and it may be
days before he gets over his anger."

Bye and bye the smarts so subsided that the boys felt comparatively
comfortable. As they picked their way homeward their resentment cooled,
and they were able to see things in their proper light. They profoundly
loved and admired the young Shawanoe, and required no one to remind
them of his affection for them. The punishment he had administered was
like that of a father to a wayward child. Moreover, it was well
deserved, and they were willing to confess the fact before they reached
their tepee.

"There's no getting out of it," said the more impulsive Victor. "He
forbade us to follow him, and it was breaking the agreement between him
and Taggarak. The only thing for us to do when we meet him again is to
say we are sorry and ask his forgiveness. I'm ready to do so. Are you,
George?"

"Why didn't we try that on him before he gave us the whipping?"

"It wouldn't have worked. When I saw him cutting and trimming that
switch I knew what was coming, and there was no way for us to dodge
it."

"It seems pretty hard, after a fellow has had his life almost whaled
out of him, to say he is sorry. It seems to me it's the other chap who
ought to feel sorry."

"No, we were in the wrong and must apologize. You know how
tender-hearted Deerfoot is. I believe he felt pity for Taggarak, even
though he knew the chief meant to kill him. The Blackfoot isn't the
first enemy Deerfoot has had at his mercy and then spared him."

When the boys reached their lodge, after meeting and greeting a number
of their dusky friends, they were disappointed not to find Deerfoot
there. He did not come in until late in the afternoon. He raised the
robe at the door, glanced at the brothers, but kept his lips closed.
Victor walked up to him without a moment's hesitation and extended his
hand:

"Deerfoot, you served us right. We are both sorry. Will you forgive
us?"

The two saw the moisture creep into the handsome dark eyes and noted
the tremor of the Shawanoe's voice as he took each hand in turn and
said:

"Yes, Deerfoot forgives you. We are brothers again."

CHAPTER XIX.

"BEHOLD HE PRAYETH."

Mul-tal-la the Blackfoot obeyed the command of Taggarak, his chief. But
though he kept away from the meeting place of the duelists, he hovered
not far off, in order to learn at the earliest possible moment the
result of the most important personal encounter