there was first a
yell of delight and then a great hush of expectancy, while all watched
eagerly to see how he would bear the first touch of flame.

At this moment, there came a commotion in the crowd. A single figure,
with face hideously painted in narrow stripes, broke from it, sprang
forward, and dashing aside the blazing wood, shouted a few words in a
tongue that was strange to most of them, though some understood. These
translated what was said to the others, and in a few seconds every
warrior was repeating in awed tones to his neighbor:--

"He is of the Metai! He is of the Totem of the Bear! The mark is on
his arm! If he dies at our hands, then shall we feel the wrath of the
magic circle!"

In a moment Donald's hunting-shirt was stripped from him, his left arm
was bared, and at sight of the indelible signet thus exposed a great
fear fell upon the savages. At once those who had been most eager for
the death of the prisoner, became foremost in friendly offices that
they hoped might banish their offence from his mind, and Donald
breathed a prayer of thankfulness for his wonderful deliverance.

CHAPTER XX

BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT AT FORT DETROIT

The month elapsed since Donald left Detroit had been to the imprisoned
garrison of that important post a period of gloom and incessant
anxiety. Although, after the first outbreak, no general attack had
been made on the place, the rigor of its siege had not for a moment
been relaxed. It was seldom that an Indian was to be seen; but if a
soldier exposed himself above the walls or at a loop-hole, the venomous
hiss of a bullet instantly warned him of his peril, and of the tireless
vigilance of the unseen foe. Provisions became so scarce that every
ounce of food was carefully collected in one place, kept under guard,
and sparingly doled out each morning. The faces of men and women grew
wan and pinched with hunger, while the children clamored incessantly
for food. If it had not been for the brave aid of a French farmer,
dwelling across the river, who occasionally, on dark nights, smuggled
scanty supplies to the beleaguered garrison, they would have been
forced by starvation to a surrender.

In all this time no man slept, save in his clothes, and with a gun by
his side. Night alarms were frequent, and only incessant watchfulness
averted the destruction of the place by fire, from arrows tipped with
blazing tow, that fell at all hours, with greater or less freq