"And my brothers promised to obey him in all things?"
"It seems to me I remember something of that kind."
"Has Deerfoot been a hard master?"
"We couldn't have had a kinder one. I tell you, Deerfoot, you know more in five minutes than George and I know in a month, or ever will know. We couldn't get along without you. We have been pretty obedient, as a rule, haven't we?"
"Was not the agreement between Taggarak and Deerfoot that no person should look upon the fight between them?"
"Yes; but I don't believe Taggarak kept his promise."
Deerfoot flashed a look of inquiry at Victor.
"What does my brother mean by his words? Did he see any other Blackfoot near?"
"Well, not exactly; but there were marks in the bushes which looked as if made by moccasins. I shouldn't wonder if some were hiding there and ran away when they saw us coming and knew we meant to see you had fair play."
The appeal was wasted. Deerfoot took his station between the brothers, moving them apart so they were separated by a space of five or six feet. He then deliberately, vigorously and impartially laid the switch over the shoulders of George and Victor. You would not suspect the vim with which this disciplining was carried out. Only the brothers themselves could testify feelingly as to that.