with me; you are in danger here, for they will assuredly
seize you," said the Indian, taking the minister's hand.

"I must remain at the post where duty calls me," answered Monsieur
Laporte. "I may be the means of leading some perishing soul to turn to
God, and should I be imprisoned with my friends I may be a comfort to
them. But bear my love and blessing to Nigel, should I be destined
never again to see him."

At length Tecumah, finding that the minister was firm, set off, keeping
himself concealed as much as possible among the trees, and made his way
to his canoe. He had scarcely pushed off from the shore, when he saw
several people rushing down to the beach. They had, he guessed rightly,
been sent to capture him. There was no boat near at hand or they would
have pursued him, though had they done so, his light canoe would quickly
have left them astern.

On landing, he found his father and several other chiefs. He narrated
to them what had occurred, but, greatly to his disappointment, he found
that they objected to do anything which might put an end to the
peaceable terms on which they had hitherto lived with the French. They
had seen how the Portuguese treated the Indians who opposed them, and
they dreaded, they said, the vengeance of the white men.

Tecumah was indignant. The white men who now were in the ascendency
were no longer deserving of their friendship, he argued. By treachery
and deceit they had overcome those who were their proper leaders, and
they were even now about to put them to a cruel death. Tuscarora was
grieved that his son's friends should suffer; but he could not for their
sakes risk the safety of his tribe. Again Tecumah addressed them with
all the eloquence of which he was master. "If," he observed, "they were
treacherous towards their own people, they would surely be more likely
to ill-treat their dark-skinned allies should it at any time be to their
interest to do so, and it would be better to strike a blow at once and
prevent them from doing harm, rather than allow them, after they had cut
off all those who were worthy of confidence, to destroy us." Tecumah
saw that he was winning many to his side, and persevered. At length one
of the chiefs proposed that he should be allowed to go over with a
select body of men, and rescue the prisoners.

To this Tuscarora agreed, and Tecumah was obliged to content himself
with this plan, trusting that no harm would be done in the mean tim