ttooed with the Magic
Circle.]

The great chief started, drew his own knife, and knelt beside the
unconscious form. The other Indians imagined he was about to slay the
youth with his own hand, and thus avenge the grievous injury inflicted
upon their cause. Instead of so doing, Pontiac merely slit open the
sleeve of Donald's hunting-shirt, and gazed intently for a moment at
the mark thus disclosed. His stern face grew almost tender with the
remembrance of the laughing child who had saved his own life so many
years before. Then rising, and turning to his warriors, he said:--

"He is of the Totem of the Bear, and is sealed with the symbol of the
magic circle. We may not kill him, for he is favored of the Great
Spirit. Lift him within the lodge, and keep to yourselves the secret
of his presence in this place.

"As for this other,"--here he gazed sternly at poor Bullen, who, while
rejoicing that the mystical marking on his friend's arm seemed about to
do him good service once more, wished he knew what was to be his own
fate. "As for this other," repeated Pontiac, "this hairless dog of an
Englishman, take him to the Ottawa village, and deliver him to the
tormentors, nor ever let me set eyes on him again."

Thus saying, the chieftain, whose commands none dared disobey, entered
the lodge whither Donald had been tenderly conveyed, and where the
chief's daughter was already bathing his wounds.

Then the others seized the little paymaster, hurried him to the canoe
in which he had been brought, and departed with all speed for the
Ottawa village, which was located near the river bank some two miles
above the fort. Here the arrival of the prisoner, and the announcement
of the sentence passed upon him, was received with yells of approval
and every manifestation of savage joy. But there were some who shook
their heads dubiously. They were of the war-party recently returned
from Presque Isle; and, recalling the marvellous things done by this
white medicine man, they were still fearful of his power. The
majority, however, paid slight attention to these croakers, and the
work of preparation for the forthcoming spectacle was pushed with eager
haste.

CHAPTER XXXII

LAST CRUISE OF THE PAYMASTER'S TUB

While the preparations for Paymaster Bullen's martyrdom were in
progress, his bonds were removed, and he was supplied with food that he
might gain strength the longer to endure the proposed torture. He was
allowed