fire to the building nearest the
blockhouse, which they hoped thus to destroy.

"When that plan failed, they continued the mine in the direction
indicated by their new bearings and you would have been blown sky-high
the moment it was completed, had I not persuaded them to first demand a
surrender, and then wait until morning for your answer. Then I hoped,
after getting you safely out of the place, with your arms and
ammunition, under the pretence of surrendering, to harmlessly explode
the mine, thus destroying all the enemy's powder, and leaving you
masters of the situation. How that plan was frustrated, you know as
well as I, though how the powder ever got moved and prematurely
exploded, I never expect to discover unless you had a hand in it,
Christie."

"No," replied the ensign, who had just received an expressive glance
from Donald. "Neither I nor those with me had any definite knowledge
of your mine before the explosion occurred."

"Well, however it was caused, my plans were completely defeated," said
Bullen, "and not only that, but my reputation as a medicine man was
ruined. As soon as we got to this place, a council was called, and I
was charged with exploding the mine so as to destroy the Indians
instead of the blockhouse. When I protested my innocence, they argued
that I must, then, have lost my power over the fire-demon, and ordered
me to repeat the magic tricks by which I had gained their confidence.
You witnessed my humiliating failure, and its results; even my
effervescing powders had become damp and failed to act.

"That is my story, gentlemen, and, if after hearing it, you still doubt
my loyalty to the service to which we are all pledged, I can have no
hope that others will believe me. In that case I have no desire to
live and should make no struggle against the fate these savages
contemplate for me. If, however, you can believe my story, wildly
improbable as I know it must sound, then am I once more restored to
life and hope."

As he thus concluded, the poor little man, grotesquely painted,
battered, and bruised, turned a face of such intense pleading toward
the comrades who had become his judges, that they both were moved by an
overwhelming impulse to spring forward at the same moment and grasp his
hands.

"We do believe you!" they cried.

"I am convinced," added Christie, "that you have acted as becomes an
officer and a gentleman, Bullen, bravely and according to your best
judgment for