towards
the nearest. We thought, also, that we might catch some unwary ducks,
if they were not accustomed to the sight of human beings.

On getting close to the borders, we fancied we heard some sounds from a
brood of ducklings. We therefore crept cautiously along the shore,
when, to our infinite satisfaction, we caught sight of a couple of
ducks, and not one, but two broods. We had got almost near enough to
catch hold of the hindermost, when the cries of the mother-ducks warned
their young ones to make the best of their way from us. Eager to seize
our prey, we dashed into the water after them; when, to escape us, they
endeavoured to make their way through the high grass.

We had each of us caught a couple, when what was our astonishment, on
pressing aside the grass, to see directly before us a canoe with three
girls in it! Two of them were busily employed in beating out the rice
into their canoe, while the one who sat in the bow, on hearing the noise
we made, turned her head with an inquiring but somewhat alarmed glance
towards us. Yes! I could not be mistaken; it was Lily! Just before
her sat Dora, while Ashatea occupied the stern.

"Lily, Lily!" I exclaimed. "Don't you know me?"

"Yes, yes! I do. O Dora, Dora! there is Roger and Mike Laffan. They
were not drowned, or killed by the Indians! I always said so," she
cried.

In a moment their paddles were out, and, guided by Ashatea, they were
making their way towards us.

"Come into the canoe!" they exclaimed in chorus. "There is room for
you; and we will take you to our friends. They will be so glad to know
that you are alive, though you both look sadly tired and thin."

"No wonder, Misthress Lily," observed Mike; and he gave an account of my
illness.

They were all eager to hear how we had escaped; and as the canoe skimmed
lightly over the smooth surface of the lake, urged by their paddles, I
told them all that had happened to us, from the time we left the camp of
our Indian friends. I then asked if Reuben and his companion had ever
been heard of.

"Yes; it was they who told us that you had either been drowned or made
prisoners by the Indians," said Lily. "They escaped by running through
the rapids at a place where no canoe had ever before ventured. And
Reuben has undertaken to come up here and escort us back to the
settlement. We have been paying our long-promised visit to Ashatea; and
I can assure you she received us in the most hospit