to be clearly understood. The unfortunate dandy took the bark
and held it irresolutely for a moment, while his gaze roved wildly over
the assembly. All at once it rested on the two white men, whose
presence he seemed to note for the first time. With a loud cry he
dropped the bark and started to run in their direction.

In an instant he was seized, and with yells of rage the throng of
savages rushed toward him. Eager hands tore away the nodding plume of
feathers, the embroidered robe, and whatever else they could clutch,
until only his coat of paint remained. Then, as the warriors stepped
aside, the squaws, armed with sticks and clubs, fell upon him like so
many furies, beating him unmercifully. He howled, danced, fought, ran
this way and that, and, finally, breaking from his tormentors, fled to
where the two young men were standing.

"Save me!" he cried. "Christie! Hester! save me!"

"By Heavens! It is Bullen!" gasped Christie.

"So I thought some time ago," said Donald.

As the fugitive reached them, he sprang behind Donald, crying,--

"The mark on your arm, Hester! Show it to them! Nothing else will
save us!"

With these words he clutched at the sleeve of Donald's hunting-shirt
with such energy it was torn from the shoulder, and the tattooed token
was fully displayed. At sight of it the foremost of the mob, which had
been intent on capturing the trembling figure, now crouched behind
Donald, halted as though in obedience to an imperious order. Then they
crowded forward for a closer examination of the talismanic mark,
staring at it with expressions of awe and wonder.

CHAPTER XXVII

HOW THE PAYMASTER NAVIGATED LAKE ERIE IN A TUB

As already stated, Donald was ignorant of the meaning of the mark
tattooed on his arm, but with this manifestation of its power he could
not longer doubt that, to Indian eyes at least, its significance was of
great importance. This was the third time that it had afforded him
material aid in times of critical danger, though Bullen had witnessed
its effect but once, and Christie never until the present moment.
Moreover, as the latter had not learned until now that his friend bore
such a mark, his amazement at the paymaster's appearance was divided
with curiosity concerning it. That it was a powerful talisman was
proved by the evidence; for not only had the furious squaws who were
belaboring poor Bullen slunk away when it was extended protectingly
above him, but th