“True, Martin, true.  I wonder what they intind to do with us.  They don’t mean to kill us, anyhow; for if they did they would niver take the trouble to bring us here.  Ochone! me heart’s beginnin’ to go down altogether; for we are miles and miles away from anywrhere now, and I don’t know the direction o’ no place whatsumdiver.”

“Never mind, Barney, cheer up,” said Martin with a smile; “if they don’t kill us that’s all we need care about.  I’m sure we shall manage to escape somehow or other in the long-run.”

While they thus conversed the old trader spread his poncho over himself and was soon sound asleep; while the Indians, after finishing supper, held an animated conversation.  At times they seemed to be disputing, and spoke angrily and with violent gesticulations, glancing now and then at the corner where their prisoners lay.

“It’s my belafe,” whispered Barney, “that they’re spakin’ about us.  I’m afeard they don’t mean us any good.  Och, but if I wance had my pistol and the ould cutlass.  Well, well, it’s of no manner o’ use frettin’.  Good-night, Martin, good-night!”

The Irishman knocked the ashes out of his pipe, turned his face to the wall, and, heaving a deep sigh, speedily forgot his cares in sleep.  The Indians also lay down, the camp-fires died slowly out; and the deep breathing of the savages alone betokened the presence of man in that lone wilderness.

Barney’s forebodings proved to be only too well founded; for next morning, instead of pursuing their way together, as usual, the savages divided their forces into two separate bands, placing the Irishman and the old trader in the midst of one, and Martin Rattler with the other.

“Surely they’re niver goin’ to part us, Martin,” said Barney with a care-worn expression on his honest countenance that indicated the anxious suspicions in his heart.

“I fear it much,” replied Martin with a startled look, as he watched the proceedings of the Indians.  “We must fight now, Barney, if we should die for it.  We must not be separated.”

Martin spoke with intense fervour and gazed anxiously in the face of his friend.  A dark frown had gathered there.  The sudden prospect of being forcibly torn from his young companion, whom he regarded with almost a mother’s tenderness, stirred his enthusiastic and fiery temperament to its centre, and he gazed wildly about, as if for some weapon.  But the savages anticipated his intention; ere he could grasp any offensive weapon two of their number leaped upon him, and at the same moment Martin’s arms were pinioned in a powerful grasp.

“Och, ye murderin’ blackguards!” cried Barney, hitting out right and left and knocking down a savage at each blow.  “Now or niver! come on, ye kangaroos!”