202 MARTIN RATTLER.

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!”

A general rush was made upon the Irishman, who
was fairly overturned by the mass of men. Martin
struggled fiercely to free himself, and would have
succeeded had not two powerful Indians hastened to
the help of the one who had first seized him. Despite
his frantie efforts, he was dragged forcibly up the
mountain gorge, the echoes of which rang with his
cries as he shouted despairingly the name of his
friend. Barney fought like a tiger, but he could
make no impression on such numbers. Although at
least a dozen Indians lay around him bleeding and
stunned by the savage blows of his fists—a species
of warfare which was entirely new to them—fresh

savages crowded round. But they did not wish to