nd whinneyed his welcome. Then when the blizzards raged
Deerfoot never forgot to call and assure himself that nothing was
neglected that could shield the faithful creatures. Thus they were
saved from harm until the weather moderated upon the approach of
spring.

With the snow lying several feet deep on the level and piled ten times
higher among the mountains, Deerfoot and the boys hunted with their
friends on snow-shoes. It was exhilarating, but the resistless cold
took away much of the pleasure that otherwise would have come to the
lads. As for the Shawanoe, summer and winter seemed alike to him.

When the village was helpless in the grasp of old Boreas, the
inhabitants did little except cower in their lodges around their fires
and eat and sleep. This sort of existence grew almost intolerable to
the brothers. With every muscle and nerve yearning for action, they
became impatient and sometimes fretful. When they spoke of themselves
as prisoners it was the truth.

Taggarak acted kindly toward George and Victor, but never showed any
special friendship for them. It may have been because they belonged to
another race. Toward Deerfoot he displayed a profound gratitude, a deep
affection and reverence, amounting at times almost to worship. He was
the messenger who brought the glad tidings of the one and only true
God, and the chief in some way or other associated him with the divine
message itself, as if he were a part of it.

The snow and cold shut off communication almost entirely between the
Blackfoot villages. Early in the winter and toward spring several
warriors came down from the most northern settlement, but they did not
remain long. It was known, however, among them all that Taggarak, the
leading chief, had accepted the new religion, and his authority
naturally weakened, but nothing in the nature of a revolt took place
against his supremacy.

Deerfoot frequently visited the chief, where none was so welcome as he.
Taggarak never went to the tepee of the Shawanoe, for he preferred
always to see Deerfoot alone. Mul-tal-la, Spink, Jiggers and seven
other warriors openly confessed the Christian religion. Nearly double
that number of squaws--among them the wife of the chief--did the same.
Slowly and surely the leaven worked, and when the time drew near for
the departure of the visitors it is probable that the number of
converts was doubled, with the promise of further increase.

Deerfoot and the boys made the parting