speedily turned to anger. The wantonness of the act roiled his
feelings and stirred up the "old Indian" in his nature.

He surveyed the destruction for a minute or two, and then made a
careful examination of the signs the perpetrators could not avoid
leaving behind them.

There had been three Indiana engaged in the mischief, and the first
supposition of Deerfoot was that they were the Shawanoes whom Jack
Carleton saw the day previous; but a few minutes' study of the
footprints betrayed a certain peculiarity (a slight turning outward
of the left foot so slight, indeed, as almost to be imperceptible),
which identified them as Miamis. Deerfoot had noticed the "sign
manual" years before, so there was no room for mistake on his part.

The party had come down from the northward, most likely with other
warriors, and had stumbled by mere chance upon the partially hidden
canoe. They probably investigated matters enough to learn that it
was in charge of two white persons and one red one--enough to
satisfy them that the single Indian was friendly to the settlers,
and therefore one to be despised and harried in every way possible.

It was that discovery which undoubtedly caused them to destroy the
property and steal the blanket. They were not enough interested to
seek the lives of the others, though it may be they were restrained
by fear from doing so.

When Deerfoot came back to the boys, he purposely displayed some
excitement in order to amuse them. He quickly explained what he had
learned, and then, in the most indifferent voice and manner, said