be the person Maud had soon, we knew that
it would be very unwise to venture out of our concealment.

"Still I should like to try and look out through the brushwood, and then
should we see him approaching, and be sure that it is him, we might make
ourselves known," said Maud.

As Maud was sure that she could do as she proposed without being
discovered, I did not forbid her, though I felt that it might be wiser
to remain as closely concealed as we had been hitherto. Still no one
approached.

"After all, I may have been mistaken," said Maud, coming back and
sitting down by my side.

We were employed as usual in reading, when the sound of voices at a
distance reached our ears, coming apparently up the ravine. "Can they
be the savages returning to look for us," whispered Maud.

"I think that their voices would sound very differently to those we
hear," I answered. "They would be wildly shrieking and shouting, unless
they intended to attack an enemy unprepared for them. Still, as the
persons may possibly be strangers, we will keep concealed."

We remained seated on the ground, hoping that should enemies be
approaching, they would pass by without discovering us. The footsteps
grew nearer. We could hear them climbing up the precipice to the ledge
on which the cavern opened. Maud, notwithstanding her usual courage,
trembled violently.

The boughs were drawn aside, when several natives appeared in front of
us. A second glance showed us that they were entirely clothed according
to the custom of the converts, and then, to our joy, we saw that Abela
was among them. We sprang up and threw ourselves into her arms.

"My children," she said, "we have left you long; but we have had many
difficulties to encounter, and, alas! disasters have overtaken our
friends. But come, we have no time to lose, we will tell you more as we
go along."

We were thankful to find that besides Abela, those who had accompanied
us to our hiding-place had likewise escaped. Our friends having taken
the baskets, and the remainder of our provisions, we set off down the
ravine, which led, as we supposed, towards the sea-shore. I immediately
inquired of Abela if she had heard of my father.

"Alas! no, my child," she answered, "Our good pastor's canoe has not
returned; we have anxiously kept watch for him, and he could scarcely
have reached the shore without having been observed." I then inquired
for Nanari, who might, I hoped, have escaped.