t in the commissariat department
was going forward, had begun to whimper in a very civilized manner, and
doubtless it was this trivial noise that deterred the young Scotchman
from hearing sounds of more moment, calculated to rouse his suspicions.
He had already added to the portions of the elder women and was
bestowing his donations upon the young mother, when suddenly the shadow
materialized and whisked past him.

It fell like a thunderbolt from above.

Bewildered, agitated, before he could turn, his gun was seized and
presented at his breast by a warrior who seemed to have fallen from the
sky. The soldier, nevertheless, instantly laid his hand on the great
basket-hilt of his claymore. Before he could draw the blade, the warrior
and the three women flung themselves upon him, their arms so closely
wound about him that his own arms were effectually pinioned to his
sides. With a violent effort he shook himself free from their grasp for
one moment; yet as the blade came glittering forth from the scabbard, a
sharp blow scientifically administered upon the wrist by the ada-wehi
almost broke the bone and sent the weapon flying from his hand and
clattering to the floor of the niche. The women had taken advantage of
the opportunity afforded by the struggle between the two men to
substitute the coils of a heavy hempen rope for the clasp of their arms,
and Attusah had only to give a final twist to the knots of their skilled
contriving, when the captive was disarmed and bound.

He had instantly bethought himself of his comrades and an appeal for
rescue, and sent forth a wild, hoarse yell, which, had it been heard,
must have apprised them of his plight. But as he had not at once given
the signal of danger agreed upon, they had naturally supposed the coast
clear, and while he rested presumably at the top of the precipice they
gave their attention to other details of their mission, firing several
houses at a little distance down the river. Therefore they would have
heard naught, even if Attusah had not precluded further efforts of his
captive to communicate with his comrades by swiftly fashioning a gag out
of the Highlander's bonnet and gloves.

Perhaps never was a brave man more dismayed and daunted. Not death
alone, but fire and torture menaced him. The shining liquid delight in
the eyes of the women reminded him of the strange fact that they were
ever the most forward in these cruel pleasures, for the ingenuity of
which the Ch