eclaration of their greatest war chief that he had
become a Christian. It almost rent the tribe in twain. We had a number
of villages and different chiefs, but Taggarak was the greatest of them
all.

"It was clear to everyone that he looked upon Deerfoot the Shawanoe as
more than an ordinary human being. In truth I thought and still think
the same, and I believe you will agree with me when you hear the rest
of my story. Taggarak asked Deerfoot whether he should give up his
chieftaincy, and was ready to do whatever the Shawanoe advised.
Deerfoot told him to remain chief as long as he lived, but to be
merciful to his enemies, never to fight except in defence of his home
and people, and to pray to God morning and night and to do all he could
to please Him in his actions, his words and his thoughts. Deerfoot did
much in the way of teaching him, and Taggarak became a Christian, as
did my mother and myself and others of our tribe, though I never
understood all the height and depth and breadth of God's love and plans
until I had grown to manhood and talked with the missionaries.

"Christianity would have been firmly planted among my people but for
the acts of the white men themselves. When the expedition of Lewis and
Clark came through our country one of them killed a Blackfoot. No doubt
there was some justification for the act, but it made our tribe the
enemies of the white men, and many who professed to love the God of the
palefaces now cast away such love and would have none of it. Taggarak
was much grieved and indignant over the action of the white men, but
nothing could weaken or shake his faith in Christianity."

(The incident alluded to occurred July 27, 1806. A party of Blackfeet
stole a number of horses belonging to Lewis and Clark's party, were
pursued, and one of the Indians killed and another wounded. The tribe
was so embittered toward the whites that they were treacherous enemies
to them for many years afterward.)

"From the year following this sad event, however, the authority of
Taggarak waned. He did not care for power, and was content to let it
slip gradually from him and pass to others. I could have become chief
had I wished it, but I knew I was distrusted because I professed
Christianity, and the Blackfeet and I thought so differently about
everything that I remained a simple warrior, content to serve my father
and mother, as an obedient son.

"I did not know for years of the encounter between Taggarak