nderstood the sharp pinch which his master gave him on the
side of his neck, followed by a brisk slap with his hand. The stallion
reached his head around and nipped at the leg of Deerfoot, who drew it
back and flipped the nose of the animal.

Then Whirlwind flung his head around his other shoulder and snapped at
the leg on that side, which was hardly snatched out of the way in time
to escape. Deerfoot gently smote the nose to remind the steed that with
all his strength and wisdom the youth was still his master. Thus they
parried and played and plagued each other until Deerfoot, with that
curious refinement of cruelty which we often show to those we love
most, pretended to be offended.

"If Whirlwind wishes to bite Deerfoot he may do so."

And to show he meant what he said he reached forward and placed his
hand between the lips of the horse. The latter instantly opened his
jaws, so as to inclose the hand with his teeth. A slight effort would
have crushed the fingers out of all semblance of symmetry and beauty.
Whirlwind did bring his jaws nearly together, but took good care that
the pressure was not sufficient to harm a fly.

Deerfoot's heart smoke him. He could not stand this cruelty to as true
a friend as ever lived. Resting his rifle across his thighs, so as to
leave his hands free, he leaned forward, and, inclosing the satin neck
in his grasp, gave the noble creature as fervent an embrace as wooer
ever gave to sweetheart.

"Deerfoot loves Whirlwind, and his heart would have been sad all his
life if he had not found him. None shall take him away from Deerfoot
again. Deerfoot knows that we shall meet in that land that our Father
is saving for those who do His will, and then Deerfoot and Whirlwind
shall hunt and roam the forests and prairies forever."

If the meaning of the words was vague to the stallion, he could not
mistake the meaning of the embrace and the reposing of the side of the
Shawanoe's face in the luxuriant mane. He was fully repaid for the
indignities he had suffered and the grief that had come to him because
of the separation of the two. Had Whirlwind been able to put his ideas
in words it is conceivable that he would have reproached the Shawanoe
for deserting and leaving him among strangers. Had he not done so, no
search with its attendant dangers would have been forced upon the
youth.

And had this rebuke been given to Deerfoot, surely he would have
admitted the justice of the charge, for we kn