This had the sound of a hint for an invitation. Being such, however, it failed of its purpose, for the chieftain ignored it. Perhaps he did not think it worth the trouble to tell the youths they were welcome; that was to be assumed from the hospitality already shown them. "Taggarak has heard of a wonderful warrior who came from the land of the rising sun. Where is he?" "He has a horse that he loved, which was lost, and he is searching for him." "There are many horses among the Blackfeet; he could have one of them." "But there is none like the black stallion of Deerfoot." "Where did the warrior get him!" "The stallion was the leader of a drove of wild horses. Deerfoot sought him out and conquered him without saddle or bridle or the help of anyone." This statement seemed so incredible that Mul-tal-la felt it necessary to add his own statement that the words of the pale-faced lad were true, for he had seen the exploit of the Shawanoe with his own eyes. Even then it is to be feared the chieftain refused to believe the story. "Are all the Shawanoes like this warrior!" "There is none like him," was the reply of Victor Shelton, whose full answer was faithfully translated to Chief Taggarak. "The Shawanoes, nor Wyandots, nor Chippewas, nor Nez Perces, nor Shoshones, nor Assiniboines, nor any tribe are as great as the Blackfeet. Had Deerfoot been a member of any of them, he would have been the greatest among them all, with the exception of the mighty Taggarak, whom no one can equal." Ah, but this youth from the Buckeye State was sly. He looked at the rigid coppery countenance of the chieftain as these words were interpreted to him. The youth thought he detected a sparkle of the small black eyes, but I fear it was only fancy. "Why is he called Deerfoot?" "The palefaces gave him that name because no deer can run as fast as he." "My sons speak with a double tongue," said the chief, frowning. "They might in the presence of anyone but Taggarak, but to him they use only a single tongue. Let the great chieftain wait and see Deerfoot for himself." Unquestionably Victor was advancing fast along the path of diplomacy. "When will the Shawanoe be with the Blackfeet, who wait to welcome him?" "We hope not many suns will set before he comes; but he has had a long way to journey, and may have to slay other warriors that are not willing to let Deerfoot have his steed." "The Shawanoe may fall and never see his paleface brothers again." "We have no fear of that," airily replied George. The next question of Taggarak was as startling as unexpected: "Does the Shawanoe teach the religion of the red men or that of the palefaces?" The brothers looked significantly at each other as Mul-tal-la translated these words, but Victor scarcely hesitated in his reply.