ing have tempted them to pass a night on shore in company with the
caged Fire Demon. They are now confident that he is to be thrown into
the thunder waters to-morrow, and so I want them started back toward
Oswego before that illusion is dispelled. Otherwise my influence over
future crews may be weakened. Now, gentlemen, you have my simple
receipt for rapid travelling in the wilderness."

"But, Bullen! How about the explosion of that bit of rock?" inquired
several voices at once.

"Simplicity itself. It was replaced in my hand, as I picked it up, by
a ball of clay, previously prepared for the occasion. It contained a
pinch of fulminate and a few bits of gravel."

"Well, paymaster, I must confess that your ingenuity is most
creditable!" commented Major Wilkins. "I foresee that we must hasten
your departure in the morning; for if your fame as Fire King and that
of the demon caged in your tub should precede you to the head of the
river, I should never be able to secure a crew to take you to Detroit.
Therefore, gentlemen, in anticipation of early rising, I give you a
farewell toast: Our guest the Fire King; may he long continue a bright
and shining ornament to His Majesty's service."

This toast was drunk with a hearty cheer; the little paymaster bowed
his acknowledgments, and with much laughter the merry party broke up
for the night.

CHAPTER XV

DONALD AND CHRISTIE CEMENT A FRIENDSHIP

The ready wit and fertility of resource, shown by Paymaster Bullen on
the speedy journey he had just accomplished, gave Donald such a
different impression of the man, from that conceived at their first
meeting, that he was now quite willing to accept him as a travelling
companion. This he was the more ready to do, as from the upper end of
the Niagara river he must part company with Christie, whose course
would be along the south shore of the lake, while, to follow Cuyler's
expedition, Donald and the paymaster must skirt the northern shore.
Consequently it was arranged that while Christie should continue his
journey in a bateau that was about to carry several recruits to Presque
Isle, the others, including "Tummas," should be provided with a large
canoe and a crew of four Seneca Indians. Donald's belief that the
Senecas were about to go on the war-path, if indeed they had not
already done so, was not shared by Major Wilkins, who declared it could
not possibly be, as he was in constant communication with prominent
membe