It was not until late in the evening that the Shawanoe spoke of the theme that had troubled the brothers so long. Mul-tal-la had told him of the conversation with Taggarak, and he asked the boys to give their recollection, not omitting a word they could recall. Their friend listened gravely, and was silent when they had finished, his dark eyes fixed upon the fire in the middle of the lodge, as if his meditations had drifted beyond the time and place. After waiting for several minutes, Victor said: "Deerfoot, you can't know how much we are worried. We understand how you feel and that no danger can scare you into denying the true religion, any more than it can scare George and me, but you may as well be careful and avoid rousing the anger of Taggarak, so long as there is no need of provoking him." "What would my brothers have Deerfoot do?" gently asked, the Shawanoe. "We don't know," replied George. "Vic and I have talked about this a hundred times since our call on the chief, and we are puzzled as well as worried." "Are my brothers ready to die for the religion?" "We are, and will prove it if it ever becomes necessary; but," added Victor, "we don't see the need of dying when there isn't any need of it." This original bit of philosophy caused Deerfoot to turn and look with a half-serious expression into the face of Victor. "How great is the wisdom of my brother! Who taught him such things?" Then assuming a graver countenance, but gazing steadily at his friend, he added: "There was One who died on the cross for you and Deerfoot." There was a world of meaning in these words, and they fitly closed the conversation for the night. All lay down soon after and slept until morning. The snow ceased falling, and only a thin coating lay on the ground at daylight. An unusual moderation in the temperature carried this away before nightfall, and the weather became almost spring-like, or rather resembled the lingering days of Indian summer, which are the expiring gasp of the mild season, soon to be followed by the biting rigors of winter.