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 the warriors now gazing at it were evidently animated
only by a respectful curiosity. As Christie also looked at the magic
emblem, he saw the outline of an animal, that might be meant for a
bear, encircled by an oval formed of two serpents. Above the whole was
a tiny triangle, enclosing the rude semblance of an eye.
Several of the Indians surrounding Donald pointed to figures on their
own arms, similar to that of the animal on his, but without the
remainder of the device. These gravely shook hands with him, and then
walked away. Then came the one who had acted as Bullen's interpreter,
and proudly displayed on his arm a tattooed mark identical with that
borne by Donald, save that the surmounting eye was not enclosed. This
man did not offer to shake hands; but, folding his arms in a peculiar
manner, as though to indicate the oval of serpents, bowed and asked, in
broken French: "What will my brother of the magic circle have? It is
his to command, and mine to obey."
"I will have," replied the young man, quickly adapting his tone to the
occasion, "food for myself and my friend. Then I would be left for a
season, that I may question this white man, who, painted like a son of
the forest, yet seeks my protection. Also, if my brother of the Metai
is so inclined, I would learn something of the charge against him."
"It shall be done as my brother desires," answered the other. "As to
the charge against this white man, it must also be told, for all things
may be learned by the Metai. Know, then, that he came to us as a great
medicine man, who wished to become Indian. He performed marvellous
deeds, and won our confidence. He offered to show us how we might
safely capture the fort of the log house. He placed powder so as to
destroy it. Then, in the night, when all was ready, he moved the
powder by his magic. Without going near the place where it was he made
it to explode, so that it killed many of our young men, and turned to
water the hearts of others. For this wickedness the Great Spirit took
from him his medicine, so that he can no longer do the things he once
did, as was shown in the tests but now. Therefore is he become a dog,
and must die as a dog when my brother shall be finished with him."
"It is well," replied Donald, gravely, "and later I will speak further
concerning this matter with my brother of the Metai, and with the
chiefs."
With another profound bow the interpreter retired, while the squaws
brought an abundance of cooked meat and parched corn, which they set
before the famished white men. One of them also brought bandages, and
a healing salve for the dressing of Donald's wound; but by signs he
intimated that she must first attend to Christie's hurts, which she did.
Then they were left to themselves, and fell ravenously upon the food;
but when Christie saw that Bullen was about to eat with them, he drew
back, and said sternly: "Hester, I doubt if it is becoming for officers
loyal to His Majesty's service to break bread with one who is, to say
the least, under a grave suspicion of treachery."
"Do you mean that I am thus suspected?" demanded the paymaster.
"I do, Mr. Bullen," replied Christie.
"But I can easily explain everything. You see--"
"Were you not with the enemy during the attack on Fort Presque Isle?"
"Yes; but--"
"Did you not teach him to throw up breastworks and open a mine?"
"I did; but--"
"Was it not you who demanded the surrender of the post?"
"It was; but as--"
"That will do, sir. Your admissions are sufficient to debar you from
our company. Hester, if this man insists upon eating now, we must let
him eat alone."
"For Heaven's sake, gentlemen!" cried the little man, with an agonized
expression on his painted face. "Do not condemn me without a hearing.
I can explain everything to your satisfaction, indeed I can."
"It seems to me that you are a little hasty in your conclusions,
Christie," said Donald. "It is certainly unfair to condemn a man
without hearing what he has to say, and I for one am too hungry to
listen to Mr. Bullen's explanations before eating. So let us fall to
and dispose of the more pressing matter before we consider the more
important."
Although Christie accepted this advice, he did so with a bad grace, for
he was feeling very keenly the loss of his post; and the meal was eaten
in an embarrassing silence. When it was finished, they rid themselves
of its débris by simply removing to another place, where, though many
eyes watched them curiously from all parts of the camp, they were
allowed to converse unmolested.
"Now, Mr. Bullen," said Donald, who was forced to take the lead by
Christie's stiff silence, "we shall be pleased to listen to your story,
and especially glad to have you explain away the suspicions which, you
must confess, we have grounds for entertaining."
"Yes," replied the little paymaster, whose present humbleness was in
striking contrast to his former pomposity, "I can understand how, from
your point of view, my recent course of action may be open to
misconception. I hope, however, to prove to you very quickly that,
while I may have made mistakes and played the part of a fool, I have
acted with the most honorable intentions, as well as with a sincere
desire to advance the cause to which I am pledged. You need not fear
that I shall omit any detail, nor fail to state the exact facts of the
case, for I realize only too clearly how absolutely my reputation rests
in the hands of you two. I also believe that my very life depends on
Hester's influence with yonder savages, and the extent to which he is
willing to exert it. Therefore, with your permission, I will begin my
story at the moment when, as I was taking my accustomed evening bath on
Pelee Point some ten days ago, there came a sound of distant firing
that caused you, Hester, to seize your gun and disappear without a
word. I must say that at the time I felt rather sore over your
desertion, nor can I understand now how it is that I meet you so far
from those whom I thought you were most anxious to discover and
protect."
"Do you mean," demanded Donald, excitedly, "that you know what became
of my sister Edith and her companion?"
"I do, for I not only spent two days in their company about a week ago,
but it is owing to Miss Hester, your sister, that I find myself in this
present predicament."
"How? Where? Are they safe?" demanded both listeners.
"I believe them to be comparatively safe," replied Bullen, "but if you
will permit me to continue my story in my own way, you can judge for
yourselves."
"Very well! only get on quickly," urged Christie, who was now as
eagerly interested as he had been indifferent but a moment before.
"As I was saying," continued the paymaster, "Hester had hardly
disappeared when both myself and my man were seized by the Indians of
our crew, and for a moment I thought they were about to put us to
death. Then they hit on another plan with regard to me, which was to
set me adrift, naked as I was, in my tub. What they did with poor
Tummas I have no knowledge."
"Set you adrift in your tub?" repeated Donald, incredulously.
"Yes. You know I always claimed that it was a capital life preserver,
though I must admit that I would have chosen to test its sea-going
qualities on a body of water somewhat smaller than Lake Erie. However,
as I had no choice in the matter, I was set adrift, as I say.
Fortunately for me the sea was smooth, for an off-shore breeze soon
carried me beyond reach and sight of land, where I must quickly have
been swamped had there been any waves moving. After awhile I became so
thoroughly chilled and benumbed that I thought I should perish with the
cold, as indeed I should, had I not bethought me of the canvas hood on
the back of my tub. This, after infinite labor, and the most careful
balancing to prevent an upset, I finally managed to obtain. Wrapped in
it, I made out to exist through that fearful night, which seemed as
though it would never end.
"In the morning I was out of sight of land, though soon after sunrise I
detected a speck lying in the direction I was taking, that afterwards
proved to be a small island. A breeze sprang up with the sun, and
though it drove me along more rapidly, it also sent little waves
slopping over the sides of my tub, so that I was obliged to bail pretty
constantly with a sponge. At the same time I was broiled and frizzled
by the blaze of the sun on my bare body. To remedy this, I bit away
some of the stitches in the bottom of my canvas bag, until I made an
opening through which I could thrust my head. I completed the garment
thus formed by opening holes in the sides for my arms. Upon my
unprotected head, which, as you see, is inclined to be bald, the sun
beat with such fury that I feared my brain would be affected, until I
conceived the happy thought of tying on a wet sponge.
"By the time I was thus equipped, it was nearly noon, and the island I
had been approaching all the morning was close at hand. I saw,
however, that I was in danger of drifting past without touching it, and
to avert this evil I began to paddle with my hands. In order to
preserve the equilibrium of the tub under these efforts I was obliged
to paddle it back foremost. Thus I was completely hidden from the
shore, nor could I see it save at a distance on either side.
"At length, when I was about used up by this unaccustomed exertion, my
craft touched bottom, and I joyfully stepped out in water not over my
knees. To my dismay, I was immediately seized by a couple of savages,
who had evidently been waiting for me, and found that I had escaped
from one enemy only to fall into the hands of another. The feeling
thus experienced was, however, as nothing compared with what I
underwent when I saw standing but a short distance away three ladies,
who were regarding me with curiosity and amazement. Imagine, if you
can, my mingled horror and pleasure at recognizing in two of them the
very persons whom you and I, Hester, had been so anxious to overtake."
"Not my sister!" cried Donald.
"Yes, your sister, Miss Edith, and Madam Rothsay. I don't think they
recognized me at first, for when I tried to make the best of the
situation by speaking and expressing my happiness at thus meeting them,
Miss Edith gave a sort of a gasp and cried: 'Why, aunty! I do believe
it is Mr. Bullen!' She seemed so distressed, that I hastened not only
to assure her of my identity, but that with the exception of a few
blisters I was quite well. I also attempted to divert her mind by
praising the wonderful sea-going qualities of my tub; but all at once
she--"
"Oh, Bullen! Bullen! oh Lord! I imagine the tableau!" roared Donald,
shouting with uncontrollable laughter at the scene thus presented to
his imagination. Even Christie smiled. The startled Indians regarded
the white men with wonder, and the little paymaster gazed at Donald
with mute indignation.