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!" 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.