s, when they ceased as abruptly
as they began.

The Shawanoe could not form the first idea of what the man was trying
to say, nor did he ever learn.

The dwarf perceived that he could not make himself understood, gave up
the effort, and with an awkward good-bye resumed his tramp southward.
Uncertain of what whim might suddenly take possession of him, Deerfoot,
while also moving in the opposite direction, kept a furtive watch to
the rear. He did not see the dwarf look behind him and it is not
probable that he meditated any wrong.

The Shawanoe was not satisfied with what had occurred. Glancing down at
the trail and as far ahead as it could be traced, he saw that its
course was due north. He believed that it led for a long way toward
that point of the compass. If such proved the fact the hunchback had
tried to deceive the inquirer by making him believe that Whirlwind was
to be sought to the northeast. The Shawanoe could no longer doubt that
the nature of his inquiry had been understood, and the reply of the
dwarf was clear. Deerfoot was inclined to believe the strange creature
really belonged to the Assiniboine tribe and was trying to shield his
countrymen.

Moreover, the Shawanoe knew little of this people. He understood in a
vague way that their homes were well to the northward, and partly in
another country than the United States. The true direction, however,
was to the northeast. Thus the Indian of abbreviated stature had
indicated the right course after all.

Adhering to his policy, Deerfoot wasted no time. While these thoughts
were passing through his mind, he was loping forward with the trail
still as his guide, and had not gone two miles when he came upon the
scene of the fight between the Assiniboines and the Nez Perces.

CHAPTER V.

A WELCOME SIGHT.

The first sign that caught the eye of the Shawanoe was the mute forms
of the five Nez Perces, stretched here and there over a space of an
eighth of a mile. All had been scalped and mutilated. But he had seen
such shocking sights before, and he did not go near the bodies nor give
them further attention. It was no great task for him to transfer his
interest from the trail of one party to that of another, and he was
speedily loping forward as rapidly as before.

To his astonishment he had gone only a little way when he discovered a
marked change of course. The Assiniboine footprints pointed to the
northeast. The information gained from the dwarf was