Otto Relstaub prisoner, and then sold him to
strangers, should now offer to do what he could to bring back the lad to
his friends. He could not fail to be a valuable ally, for, though
vanquished by Deerfoot, he ranked among the best warriors of his people.

"I wonder what led him to volunteer?" said Jack.

"Deerfoot asked him, and he was kind enough to do so."

"That's because you overcame him."

The young Shawanoe had given a short account of his extraordinary
meeting with Hay-uta, when the older warrior tried to take his life, but
Jack knew nothing more than the main incident. He had not been told of
the aboriginal sermon which Deerfoot delivered on that "auspicious
occasion".

It was only natural that the Sauk should feel a strong admiration for
the remarkable youth, but the Word which Deerfoot expounded to him had
far more to do with his seeking the companionship of the Shawanoe.

The latter made no answer to the remark of Jack, but turning toward
Hay-uta continued the conversation which had been broken several times.
Young Carleton, believing there was nothing for him to do, spread his
blanket near the fire, and, lying down, so as to infold himself from
head to feet, was not long in sinking into slumber.

Ordinarily his rest would not have been broken, for his confidence in
Deerfoot was so strong, that he felt fully as safe as if lying at home
in his own bed, but, from some slight cause, he gradually regained his
senses, until he recalled where he was. He was lying with his back to
the blaze, but the reflection on the leaves in front, showed the fire
was burning briskly. He heard too, the low murmur of a voice, which he
knew belonged to Deerfoot.

"What mischief can be going on?" he asked himself, silently turning his
head, so that he could look across to his friend.

The scene was one which could never be forgotten. Deerfoot was lying or
rather reclining on one side, the upper part of his body resting on his
elbow, so that his shoulders and head were several inches above the
ground. In the hand of the arm which thus supported him, was held his
little Bible, the light from the camp-fire falling on the page, from
which he was reading in his low, musical voice that is he was
translating the English into the Sauk tongue, seeking to put the words
in such shape that the listener could understand them. It would be hard
to imagine a more difficult task.

Between Deerfoot and Jack was stretched the Sauk, his po