mly awaited his
coming.

Every eye was fixed upon the terrible chieftain, and hardly one of his
people doubted that he meant to assail the Shawanoe. The hearts of
George and Victor Shelton stood still, for they felt that a tragedy was
about to open.

Instead of drawing his knife, Deerfoot placed both hands behind his
back, after the idle manner of one who feels little interest in what is
going on before him.

Within a couple of paces of Deerfoot, Taggarak wheeled around, and, in
a voice of thunder addressed his people:

"The Shawanoe speaks with a single tongue! His words are true! The
Great Spirit he tells you about is the true and only Great Spirit!
Taggarak did not think so; he scorned him, but his eyes have been
opened and he now sees. He has been wandering in the woods for days and
nights, trying to flee from the anger of that Great Spirit. His eyes
were filled with tears; he lay on his face and cried to Him; he did not
eat nor drink nor sleep; but the Great Spirit, the true Great Spirit,
spoke loving words to Taggarak. He raised him to his feet; He showed
him that all the briars had been taken from his path. Taggarak looked
around and all the darkness was gone and the sun was shining in the
sky. The Great Spirit was pleased. He told Taggarak he was now His son
and all shall be well with him.

"Heed the words of the Shawanoe, for they are true. Taggarak is a
Christian and wishes all the Blackfeet to become Christians."

CHAPTER XX.

LIGHT IN DARKNESS.

It must not be thought that the large assemblage which had gathered in
the Big Lodge were of one mind, or even that a majority were ready to
accept the new religion that was explained to them by its model
exemplar, Deerfoot the Shawanoe. A few yearned for the light, and had
already learned enough of the elemental truths to be drawn toward them;
but the majority were attracted by that potent cause--curiosity. They
listened closely. The simple words of the preacher showed clearly that
the new faith was the opposite of the old; that, if accepted by them,
it meant a revolution in their beliefs and practices.

Most of the men and a few of the women revolted at the thought. To them
the most powerful of motives in human conduct were those of revenge, of
prowess in battle, and of mercilessness toward an enemy. To be told
that they must root out this passion and be governed by the Golden Rule
was turning themselves into squaws, and spurning that nobility w