The Shelton brothers acted the part of listeners, sensibly feeling that they could contribute nothing to the discussion between Mul-tal-la and Deerfoot; but no speakers could have asked for more deeply interested auditors than they. "Taggarak has not come back," said the Blackfoot. "Mul-tal-la stopped at his lodge, and his squaw said she had seen naught of him since this morning." "She does not know what took place?" was the inquiring remark of Deerfoot. "She could not, for he kept his word and told no one before, and," grimly added the Blackfoot, "he would not tell anyone afterward." "What does she think?" "That he has gone to one of the other villages. Taggarak is a silent man, and he sometimes departs in the middle of the night, without saying a word to anyone. He may be gone for weeks, and no one here will know anything of it until he returns." "What does Mul-tal-la think?" "He knows not what to think. If Taggarak is not here to-morrow, then he will believe the chief is visiting his other warriors." "Does he not summon his other chiefs to come to him?" "Often; they meet at the Big Lodge. They talk together, when they are making ready to go on raids among other tribes, and Taggarak gives them his commands; but he likes to appear in their villages when they do not look for his coming. What does my brother believe the chief will do when he comes back?" The Shawanoe waited for a minute or two before replying: "There is a mist in the eyes of Deerfoot and he cannot see clearly. Taggarak is brave but cruel. He will not rest under his overthrow. Deerfoot thinks they will have to fight again." "And will Deerfoot spare him once more?" "He cannot answer. He will do as God tells him to do." Victor Shelton felt that this was a good time for him to add to the discussion. "Mul-tal-la, do you think it is possible Taggarak wants to fight Deerfoot, after he has been beaten by him? Why should he want to try it again?" "Because he has hope of winning the fight." "He can't have any such hope. Why, Deerfoot whipped him without a weapon in his hand, while Taggarak had his big, ugly knife most of the time." Mul-tal-la had not heard anything of this, and he looked inquiringly at Deerfoot and then at the boy who had made the amazing statement. Victor flushed and stammeringly added: "That is--it would have been easy for Deerfoot to whip him without any weapon and with one hand tied behind his back--that is, it looks so to me and George--and I'm sure he could do it if he wished--confound it, Deerfoot, _didn't_ you whip him as I said?" The visitor turned to the Shawanoe, who gravely nodded his head. "Deerfoot has told me things from the good book which he carries with him, and he said there was One who used to do some things so strange that they were called miracles." "Yes, He did many of them." "Then Deerfoot did a miracle if he overthrew Taggarak without the help of any weapon."