CHAPTER XVII
METIPOM TAKES THE WAR-PATH
He awoke to find John tugging at him. The wigwam was barely alight, but sounds told him that the village was well astir. The Indian had brought instructions from the sachem and the wherewithal to carry them out. David was to take the trail with them and to that end must look to be one of the tribe. First his body must be stained, and then he must put on the scanty garments that lay in a small heap beside the couch. With small enthusiasm David yielded to John’s ministrations. A brown liquid from a small kettle, still warm, was rubbed over him from head to feet, and where it touched him the whiteness of his skin disappeared and a coppery-red took its place. David viewed the result with misgivings.
“Shall I ever come clean again?” he asked. “Will water remove it, John?”
“Nay, it will not wash off, brother, but in time it will go.” John stood back and viewed his work proudly. “None would know that
