Lettice likewise wrote to her, giving many messages to Roger,
to whom she would fain herself have written, had the so-doing been
allowable. What she said need not be repeated. It may be supposed that
the long separation the young people were doomed to endure was trying in
the extreme. Mistress Audley also felt great disappointment at being
thus prevented from instituting the search for her husband, though she
confided in Captain Layton that he would use all the means in his power
to discover his friend, had he, as she prayed, escaped shipwreck; and as
she, with others, looked out day by day for the arrival of the expected
ship from Virginia, she could not help believing that her husband would
be on board. She, like the rest, was doomed to disappointment. Two
moons went by and no ship appeared. Had Master Raven arrived, he would
surely have returned by this time, and fears were entertained that he
and his companions must have been lost.

The keel of a pinnace had already been laid in Gates's Bay, the name
bestowed on the harbour on the shore of which the settlement was
situated. Some progress had been made with her, when Sir George Summers
proposed going over to the chief island, where there was an abundance of
timber, and taking with him two carpenters and a party of men in order
to build another vessel, it being evident that the first would not
contain the whole of the shipwrecked company. The governor willingly
agreed to the proposal, and Sir George and his followers set off. The
settlement was thus deprived of many of the most trustworthy men.

Of many events which, occurred on the island after this period we omit
the account. Evil-disposed persons among the passengers and crew,
forgetful of their merciful deliverance and of the supply of provisions
afforded by their bountiful God to them, disregarding the exhortations
of the chaplain, Master Hunt, to live peaceable lives, formed
conspiracies against the governor and admiral with the intent of
compassing their deaths. Happily, from want of union, these plots were
discovered, but order was not restored until their ringleader had been
seized and shot--a warning to the rest.

This state of things caused much alarm and anxiety to Mistress Audley
and Lettice. Months passed by, the long-boat did not return. Had she
arrived at the colony, they felt sure that, should the _Rainbow_ have
escaped, Captain Layton would have forthwith sailed in quest of them.
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