from the other's embrace.

"We've got him in the boat with a buckskin glove jammed into his
gullet!"

"Who then?"

"The man whose cloak Captain Ephraim there has put round him. He came
on us when you were away rousing your lady, but we got him to be quiet
between us. Is the lady there?"

"Here she is."

"As quick as you can, then, for some one may come along."

Adele was helped over the side, and seated in the stern of a birch-bark
canoe. The three men unhooked the ladder, and swung themselves down by
a rope, while two Indians, who held the paddles, pushed silently off
from the ship's side, and shot swiftly up the stream. A minute later a
dim loom behind them, and the glimmer of two yellow lights, was all that
they could see of the _St. Christophe_.

"Take a paddle, Amos, and I'll take one," said Captain Savage, stripping
off his monk's gown. "I felt safer in this on the deck of yon ship, but
it don't help in a boat. I believe we might have fastened the hatches
and taken her, brass guns and all, had we been so minded."

"And been hanged as pirates at the yard-arm next morning," said Amos.
"I think we have done better to take the honey and leave the tree.
I hope, madame, that all is well with you."

"Nay, I can hardly understand what has happened, or where we are."

"Nor can I, Amos."

"Did you not expect us to come back for you, then?"

"I did not know what to expect."

"Well, now, but surely you could not think that we would leave you
without a word."

"I confess that I was cut to the heart by it."

"I feared that you were when I looked at you with the tail of my eye,
and saw you staring so blackly over the bulwarks at us. But if we had
been seen talking or planning they would have been upon our trail at
once. As it was they had not a thought of suspicion, save only this
fellow whom we have in the bottom of the boat here."

"And what did you do?"

"We left the brig last night, got ashore on the Beaupre side, arranged
for this canoe, and lay dark all day. Then to-night we got alongside
and I roused you easily, for I knew where you slept. The friar nearly
spoiled all when you were below, but we gagged him and passed him over
the side. Ephraim popped on his gown so that he might go forward to
help you without danger, for we were scared at the delay."

"Ah! it is glorious to be free once more. What do I not owe you, Amos?"

"Well, you looked after me when I was in your country, and I am