rly marked, but before resuming his pursuit Deerfoot
climbed to the highest elevation near at hand and spent a few minutes
in studying the surrounding country. The main features were similar to
those already described, except perhaps in the increase of the
ruggedness of the scenery. He was within the Rocky Mountain district,
but kept mainly to the foothills, where journeying was easier than
among the mountains themselves.

Noting that the general course of the trail he was following up was
from the northeast, he scanned with special interest the country in
that direction. He picked out a point some twenty miles distant as the
place where the Nez Perces were most likely to have made one of their
camps. While he might have shortened the time by keeping a direct line
to it, he stuck to his resolution not to turn aside from the trail.

Though he did not catch sight of any horseman, he saw that which roused
his curiosity. Hardly a mile away he observed a single Indian coming
toward him on foot. It may be said the stranger leaped into view, for
Deerfoot was looking over a certain spot at the country beyond when a
peculiar, flitting movement caused him to depress his glass to learn
the cause.

The Indian seemed to have been following a roughly marked path, when he
came to a huge boulder, which, instead of passing around, he climbed,
walked across the top, and then dropped to the ground again. It was
this action which caused Deerfoot to turn his gaze upon him.

Under the glass the stranger was seen with as much distinctness as if
he were only a few rods distant. When looking at him the Shawanoe, for
the first time in his life, saw a dwarf belonging to his own race. The
man had broad shoulders and body and sturdy legs, but his height could
not have been more than four and a half feet. Moreover he was very
bow-legged, was a hunchback, had a broad mouth, a flat nose and small
twinkling eyes. His long black hair dangled loosely about his
shoulders, he was clad in a hunting dress similar to that worn by the
Shawanoe, except that he was without a blanket, and his clothing was
much shabbier. He carried a bow fully double his own length, and
advanced with a curious sidelong, wabbling gait, which accented more
strikingly his difference from those of his own people.

When the astonished Deerfoot had noted these peculiarities, he scanned
the vicinity of the dwarf for his companions. None was seen, and our
friend decided that the fell