embers of the little party.
Victor suffered less from his bruises, and with his blanket wrapped
about his shoulders showed no effects from his terrifying adventure.
The horses were left to themselves, Jack Halloway saying that no
attention need be given to his, despite the possibility of some
thieving Indian making off with him. The trapper expressed unbounded
admiration of Whirlwind, and could not understand how Deerfoot had ever
gained such a piece of property. George and Victor did not dare to
explain in the presence of the Shawanoe, but each determined to do so
on the first opportunity, despite the risk of another "disciplining" at
the hands of the modest youth.

After Jack had smoked awhile and the chat had gone on without any
special point, he turned to the Shawanoe and said:

"I've seen you stealing a look at me now and then and I know what you
done it for."

"Yes, Deerfoot did so; but my brother cannot tell the reason."

"You've been trying to find out from my looks whether I've stuck to the
pledge I made you a year ago to give up drinking whiskey."

"That was the reason; Deerfoot was almost but not quite certain."

"Have you any doubts left?"

The Shawanoe smiled.

"Only a shadow."

"Wal, you can kick that shadow out of sight! I haven't drank a drop of
the stuff since that night, a year ago, when I flung my flask into the
creek, after hearing your sermon, that shook me down to my toes."

Deerfoot leaned over and offered his hand again to happy Jack Halloway,
who turned to the boys.

"Being as he never told you, I might as well give you the story."

Thereupon the trapper related in his characteristic fashion the
incident of which you heard long ago. The eyes of the boys kindled and
Victor said:

"That is only one of a hundred things Deerfoot has done."

Catching a warning look from the Shawanoe, Victor said in desperation:

"I'm not going to try to give a list, Deerfoot, but won't you let me
tell Jack how you whipped the greatest war chief of the Blackfeet and
how he became a Christian?"

"There is no need of that, but my brothers may tell what happened to
them when they disobeyed Deerfoot."

"I'll do that if you don't shut down on the other story."

The Shawanoe would have refused, but the trapper's curiosity had been
stirred and he insisted upon hearing of the incident. As a compromise
the Indian youth rose to his feet and sauntered out to where Whirlwind
was still cropping the juicy her