er, and Oliver
and Ben paddled on right merrily. Though the river was so broad, there
still might be shoals and rocks or sunken trees; and Virginia kept her
gaze ahead, to be ready to avoid them or any other dangers. The current
having less strength than in the smaller stream, the canoe did not make
as rapid way as at first; still, as they looked at the trees on the
right, they saw that they were going at a speed with which no ordinary
boat could compete.

As midday drew on, Oliver proposed landing to take their meal, but to
this Virginia objected, as there might be inhabitants on the shore, who
might come suddenly upon them before they had time to embark. They
therefore took such food as they required, allowing the canoe meantime
to float down. Virginia had not failed to look out for any canoe which
might dart out upon them, for, taught by experience, she knew that they
were more likely to contain foes than friends. None, however, appeared.

The sun was already sinking astern when Ben announced that he recognised
the mouth of the river, and as they rounded a point, he shouted,
"Hurrah! there's the ship all right--we shall soon be aboard and
astonish them not a little."

They were hailed as they approached by the sentry on the forecastle, who
seeing the maiden in her Indian dress, knew not what to expect. Ben's
reply assured him who they were, and Captain Layton and the rest of the
crew quickly gathered at the side to help Virginia upon deck. She
hesitated for a moment; the huge ship astonished her, surpassing all her
imaginings. On hearing from Oliver who she was, the captain endeavoured
by every sign he could make to show his satisfaction. "Tell her," he
said to Oliver, "that I knew her father, a brave Christian man, and she
shall be to me as a daughter, so that she shall never regret the Indian
friends she has left."

He kissed her brow as he spoke, and she seemed at once to understand
him. He then led her down into the cabin, round which she looked with a
gaze of astonishment at the numberless articles, so strange to her eyes.
"Tell her we cannot yet turn her into an English girl, for Cicely has
left none of her clothes on board, and they would not fit her slim
figure if she had," said Captain Layton, "but in the mean time she must
learn English, and when we get back to James Town we will rig her out
properly, and she will soon be able to talk her native tongue--though I
don't suppose she ever spoke mu