United States or Andorra ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
But Deerfoot was handicapped from the first by the fact that he was known to more than one of the party. It may be said that at that day there was scarcely a Shawanoe east of the Mississippi who had not heard of the execrated friend of the white men.
The Shawanoe had satisfied himself by examination that it was ready for the palate, and he so expressed himself. "That is good; there is just enough to make as a good dinner. Otto doesn't look as though he cared about any, and he can wait till tomorrow." This statement of the situation quickly loosened the tongue of the sturdy German, whose hunger had reached a ravenous point.
Sometimes they were warriors riding their ponies, and again they were on foot. The Indian seems to be migratory by nature, and many of these families were shifting their homes, apparently in obedience to the yearning for change which is not confined to uncivilized people alone. It is worthy of note that the Shawanoe not once had any trouble with these strangers.
Deerfoot assured him there was no danger and as was his custom, the young Shawanoe brought forth his Bible to spend an hour or so in studying its pages. Before he had fixed upon the portion, Jack Carleton came to the sitting position and, with some excitement in his manner, said: "Deerfoot, I forgot to tell you something: I don't know how it came to slip my mind."
"I'll do that if you don't shut down on the other story." The Shawanoe would have refused, but the trapper's curiosity had been stirred and he insisted upon hearing of the incident. As a compromise the Indian youth rose to his feet and sauntered out to where Whirlwind was still cropping the juicy herbage. He would not stay and listen to what he knew was about to be said.
He had, in fact, made the same guess as the pale-face youth, but with a more profound belief in the prodigious capacity of the Shawanoe, he fixed upon a point further down stream and closer to the other bank for his reappearance; but the seconds lengthened into minutes and nothing was seen.
When the stillness was becoming oppressive, Mul-tal-la startled all three of his listeners by what was certainly a remarkable question: "Is Deerfoot afraid of any man?" Even the Shawanoe flashed a surprised look upon the Blackfoot. "Why does my brother ask Deerfoot that?" "He shall soon know. Will Deerfoot answer Mul-tal-la?"
"We might as well," said Jack, "for we shall only hinder you." "Dot ish de same as I doesn't dinks." A few strokes sent the canoe well out from the land, and the Shawanoe still plied the paddle with extraordinary skill; but, as he left the shore, he knew that in one respect the danger of himself and companions was increased.
Now, it would be interesting to tell all about this memorable tournament, but you have no more doubt of the result than did the victor from the moment he consented to enter into it. Mul-tal-la and the Shelton brothers, including Spink and Jiggers, impressed upon the Shawanoe the necessity of his doing his best, no matter what the nature of the struggle might be.
The Shawanoe, therefore, directed the boys to make for the ridge which he pointed out in the south-east. He told them to use all haste and reach it at the earliest possible moment. It was probable they could not do so before dark, but he impressed upon them the duty of making no halt until their arrival there. If darkness overtook them while several miles away in the woods, they must push on.
Word Of The Day