etter."

"To bring trouble upon them for their hospitality; to cause them to be
hunted on our account, like wild beasts. Thy generosity would disdain
safety purchased by another's suffering."

"We will go to some distant tribe. Anything is better than to remain
in the hands of these pitiless fanatics."

"I dread them not," answered Sister Celestina, loftily. "The talisman
of the true faith will preserve me."

"Is, then, thy resolution fixed beyond change? Will no prayers, no
entreaties change thee?"

"It is better thus: the poor Sister Celestina knows how to suffer and
to die, but not how to desert the post entrusted to her by her
superiors."

At this moment Joy and Sassacus entered, and the former, approaching
the Knight, informed him that all was ready for a start.

"I am ready," said the Knight. "Yet, once again, before I hasten away,
O, Celestina, come! I cannot bear to leave thee with these men with
natures rougher than the savage."

"If I were to tell thee all," she said, moved by his importunities,
"thou thyself wouldst bid me remain. Noble gentleman! unfortunate and
slandered Knight, save thyself from thine enemies. Hasten away; there
is danger in every moment's delay. Whatever may become of me, no fault
is thine."

She took his hand in hers, and as she pressed it to her lips, the
Knight felt a tear trickling over its surface.

"Farewell, then," he said, "since it must be so; but I will hover near
to assist thee, shouldst thou change thy resolution."

He turned away, greeted the Sagamore, and, with his followers, began
to leave the cabin. As he passed the jailer, he stooped, and, removing
the gag from his mouth, looked at him steadily an instant, and then
placed two broad gold pieces on the floor before him.

The lady pursued with her eyes the retreating figures till swallowed
up by the darkness. "I will bear my cross as I may," she said to
herself, "for I deserve it for all my unhappy suspicions of his
generous nature. But I will do nothing which may give further color to
the malignant charge devised by the justly-slain Spikeman, and taken
up by his associates. An escape with him were sure to do that. The
tongue of calumny would wag, and the finger of scorn be universally
pointed at me, and all would cry, 'aha! we said it.' Such triumph
shall not mine enemies have over me."

Her meditations were interrupted by Bars, who now begged her to
release him from bondage, or call his wife to do the frie