The glow of the fire, added to the moonlight, made everything more or less visible. The arrival of the visitors naturally caused a stir. The Cas-ta-ba-nas who were seated rose to their feet, and immediately an earnest conversation began. Hosts and guests could be seen gesticulating vigorously, and across the intervening space came the odd sounds made by their peculiar manner of speaking. Speculating and wondering, the boys watched and awaited the issue of the curious incident. They looked for a sudden outbreak, though hopeful it would be averted. If the Shoshones meant to play false, their treachery would speedily appear. The conclusion could not be delayed longer than a few minutes. While the brothers were intently studying the picture the Blackfoot was seen to withdraw from the group and walk hurriedly back to where he had left his friends. Shoshones and Cas-ta-ba-nas stayed where they were, but gazed after him and at the forms of the boys and horses not far off. “We shall now know what’s up,” said George Shelton. “Whatever it is, the decision has been made.” Mul-tal-la came up, cool and collected, but clearly agitated. “It is as my brothers hoped,” were his words. “Black Elk did as his warriors said; the Cas-ta-ba-nas have been told that he will slay anyone of them that dares hurt Mul-tal-la or the palefaces with him. They dare not disobey the words of the great Black Elk. No harm shall come from them to us. Let us go on.” And so it proved that chivalry is not dead even among the American Indians. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XIX A CALAMITY. IT seemed too good to be true, and yet all doubt vanished with the words spoken by the Blackfoot. “I can’t say I liked the way Black Elk acted when we first met,” said Victor, “but he has proved himself more of a man than I supposed. I hope now he won’t punish Young Elk for running away from me.” “Why not?” “Because _I_ gave him enough. Anyway, whatever the father did to his boys has been already done, so we needn’t worry over it.” “Mul-tal-la,” said George, “you haven’t any doubts left?” “It is wrong to doubt; the words of Black Elk were true; he spoke with a single tongue. My brothers need not fear.” “Why don’t those Shoshones of his come back and see us through the mountains? It strikes me that that is the right thing to do.” “No; they will stay with the Cas-ta-ba-nas and hold them back if they try to do us harm. They will be with them till we are far away; then they can go back to Black Elk and tell him that all has been done as he ordered.” “It is better than I thought,” said the pleased George. “I don’t suppose we are likely to run against any more of those people; if we do, we can fall back on these reserves.”