"BEHOLD HE PRAYETH."
Mul-tal-la the Blackfoot obeyed the command of Taggarak, his chief. But
though he kept away from the meeting place of the duelists, he hovered
not far off, in order to learn at the earliest possible moment the
result of the most important personal encounter that had ever taken
place in the history of the Blackfoot nation. Because of the circuitous
course taken by George and Victor Shelton, Mul-tal-la saw nothing of
them and never learned of the humorous appendix to the tragedy.
The sight of the Shawanoe returning told who was victor, and a few
brief words between the two, as they met, made known that he had spared
the life of the chief, who slunk silently off in the solitude, no one
but himself knew whither. It was this flight that was on the mind of
Deerfoot and Mul-tal-la, for each felt that momentous consequences were
to flow therefrom.
The four friends were once more gathered in the home of the guests of
the Blackfoot tribe. Each knew a crisis was at hand that might compel
them, on the edge of the severe northern winter, to depart for other
quarters, and the flight, perhaps, would become impossible because of
the ferocious rage of the humiliated chieftain.
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."
"No," modestly replied the Shawanoe, "there was no miracle. It was
easier to defeat him without a weapon than with one. Deerfoot wrenched
the knife from his hand and then threw him to the ground; that was
all."
"That was all!" repeated the Blackfoot, as if to himself. Then he
looked at the boys and the three laughed.
"Yes, that was all. George or I could have done the same, but we
thought it better to turn the job over to Deerfoot. He's fond of doing
such trifles," said Victor, airily.
The result of the conference was the decision that naught could be done
except to await the issue of events. All feared the worst, and strove
to prepare for it. The belief was that the rage in the breast of Chief
Taggarak would lead him to merciless measures, not only against his
visitors, but against all of his own people who had showed an
inclination to embrace the new religion.
Three days passed and nothing was heard of the chief. He was still
absent, and the general belief of his people that he was among the
other villages averted misgiving. Only those in the secret were in
dread. But the seed planted by Deerfoot began to bear fruit. Inquiries
came to him, and the excitement over the religion he brought, even
though subdued, spread among the warriors and women of the tribe.
Finally Mul-tal-la came to him with the surprising request that he
would address the Indians in the Big Lodge on the all-important
subject. In making the request, Mul-tal-la the Blackfoot spoke for
others. Without hesitation the Shawanoe replied that he would do as
desired. He felt it was his duty, and he was the last one to shrink.
Near the middle of the primitive settlement was a structure known as
the "Big Lodge." It was of the simplest build, being some forty feet in
length by about half that width. It consisted of upright poles at the
corners, with other supports along the sides, and a roof of boughs
similar to that of the royal lodge. All the sides were open; there were
no seats and no provisions for fire. Consequently the temperature was
always the same as that outdoors.
It was the custom of the Blackfeet to hold their councils in this
place, Taggarak being fond of summoning his chiefs and leading warriors
thither, while they smoked their pipes and settled questions of state.
Most of the time the barren structure was deserted.
On a bleak afternoon late in autumn, when a few inches of snow lay on
the ground and the wind moaned among the leafless branches, Deerfoot
the Shawanoe and the Shelton brothers wended their way to the Big
Lodge. The boys paused at the edge of the assemblage and silently took
their place among the listeners. They, as well as their friend, were
astonished to see the crowd that had gathered. Warriors and women, with
here and there a child, were seated everywhere on the bare ground, till
it was hard to find room for another person. No one could fail to be
impressed by the air of solemnity that shadowed each dusky face. Nearly
every male and female sat with a shawl wrapped around the shoulders,
for the air was biting, and no one had any protection from it except
clothing. Victor whispered to his brother:
"I never expected to see anything like this. Who would have thought
that the few words Deerfoot has spoken about our religion could have
stirred up such deep feeling?"
An Indian scorns to betray curiosity or excitement, and only a few of
the warriors and squaws looked up as the young Shawanoe picked his way
through and among the multitude, who numbered several hundred, to the
farther end of the space, where he turned to face the expectant
listeners. He had left his rifle at the tepee, but his knife was in his
girdle. To those who had slight knowledge of him he looked his simple,
natural self; but George and Victor, when they scanned their friend
observed a deeper flush in his face and a brighter gleam in the eyes,
which revealed to them the profound emotion that stirred his soul.
Deerfoot stood for a minute, looking over the swarthy faces turned
expectantly toward him. He had prayed many times for strength to meet
this ordeal, and he knew he would do so.
Then he began speaking in his low, musical voice, which was clearly
heard by those farthest removed. He used the Blackfoot tongue, so that
only a part of his words were understood by George and Victor, and
never halted or hesitated until the interruption came.
"My friends," said he, "the heart of Deerfoot is glad to tell you about
the Great Spirit who is the Father of the red men as well as of the
palefaces. Many, many moons ago that Father made this world; the sun
that shines by day and the moon and stars that rule at night; the
mountains, the woods, the rivers, the prairies, the rocks, the clouds
and all that you see about you. He gave His children game to hunt, and
He caused the fish to grow in the streams and the corn and fruit to
spring from the ground. There was nothing that His children needed that
He did not give to them.
"Was not that Father kind? Could any father be as good to his children
as God was to those He put on the earth to live together? Should not
those children love Him and try to live as He wished them to live? But
they were wicked and did not care for Him. They fought and killed one
another and did all they could to offend their Heavenly Father. They
were so bad that bye and bye He turned away His face in anger. He would
have slain them as they deserved, but He had a Son, good and pure like
Himself. This Son took the load of all the sins of the world on his
heart. He came to the earth and told the people how sad God was because
they did evil. Some heeded His words, but bad men took the Son, whom we
call our Saviour, because He saved us all--you and me and
everybody--and they drove nails through his hands and feet, and let Him
hang on two crosspieces of wood till He died the most painful of
deaths. He could have killed those who treated Him so cruelly, but He
chose to die so that the way would be opened for all men and women and
children to come to God, who was angry no longer, because the Son had
taken their place and suffered in their stead.
"The Great Spirit, whom we call God or our Heavenly Father, has made
the path so straight and so free from briars that the smallest child
can walk therein without harm. He wants you to become Christians and to
believe in Him. A Christian is one who does all he can to make others
happy. You must not go to war, and only fight when others attack you or
those whom you love. You must be merciful and forgiving. Never cause
anyone to suffer. Give food to the hungry, help those who have fallen
to climb to their feet, take them by the hand and lead them if they are
weak. Think all the time of new ways of making other persons smile. You
must pray to God every morning and night and, when you have the chance,
through the day. If you do this, a sweet peace, such as you have never
known before, will come into your heart. You will not care for pain or
hunger or thirst or suffering, for the happiness of pleasing your
Heavenly Father will make you forget all these. When you die He will
carry you to those blessed hunting grounds, where you shall meet all
the friends who have gone on before and where you and they shall be
happy forevermore."
During the utterance of this simple plea the Big Lodge was as still as
the tomb. It is safe to believe that not a man or woman present failed
to be impressed, for every person, savage or civilized, pagan or
Christian, is profoundly interested in the most transcendant theme that
can engage the human mind--the saving of man's soul and the preparation
for the life to come. None other can compare with it. It is the one
supreme question of the ages.
Those who looked at Deerfoot thought he had finished his address, but
it was not so. George and Victor Shelton were the first to understand
from his manner that something outside of the lodge had checked him. He
was looking beyond the boys at some object that had made him cease
speaking. The boys turned their heads to learn the meaning of the
interruption. As they did so they heard some one approaching with a
rapid step.
It was Taggarak, the chief, his face aflame, his stride long and rapid
and his intense gaze centered on the young Shawanoe. Paying no heed to
those in his way, he brushed past, overturning several and plowed
straight through the crowd toward Deerfoot, who calmly awaited his
coming.
Every eye was fixed upon the terrible chieftain, and hardly one of his
people doubted that he meant to assail the Shawanoe. The hearts of
George and Victor Shelton stood still, for they felt that a tragedy was
about to open.
Instead of drawing his knife, Deerfoot placed both hands behind his
back, after the idle manner of one who feels little interest in what is
going on before him.
Within a couple of paces of Deerfoot, Taggarak wheeled around, and, in
a voice of thunder addressed his people:
"The Shawanoe speaks with a single tongue! His words are true! The
Great Spirit he tells you about is the true and only Great Spirit!
Taggarak did not think so; he scorned him, but his eyes have been
opened and he now sees. He has been wandering in the woods for days and
nights, trying to flee from the anger of that Great Spirit. His eyes
were filled with tears; he lay on his face and cried to Him; he did not
eat nor drink nor sleep; but the Great Spirit, the true Great Spirit,
spoke loving words to Taggarak. He raised him to his feet; He showed
him that all the briars had been taken from his path. Taggarak looked
around and all the darkness was gone and the sun was shining in the
sky. The Great Spirit was pleased. He told Taggarak he was now His son
and all shall be well with him.
"Heed the words of the Shawanoe, for they are true. Taggarak is a
Christian and wishes all the Blackfeet to become Christians."