d they desire to murder one of
their captives, to convey the body secretly away. He, indeed, knew that
such arrangements were common throughout Europe, and that numberless
impostures had thus been carried out.

They quickly reached the shore, which had of late been entirely deserted
by the Tamoyos, who had, influenced by what had been told them by
Tecumah, moved some distance further inland. Cora, who feared that the
direction they had taken would be suspected by the French, when Nigel's
escape was discovered, advised that they should go forward till he was
safe among her tribe.

Dark as the night was, she knew her way, and, light and active, she led
him forward at a rapid rate. They had gone some distance, when she
exclaimed, "Here come my brother and his people. They will indeed
rejoice to find you free."

Nigel was welcomed by Tecumah and his party. They were on their way to
the shore, intending immediately to cross, and hoping before daylight to
reach the prison. Tecumah, in his anxiety to save Nigel, had induced
his followers to swear that they would rescue him by force if they could
succeed in no other way. Their intention was to attack the guards and
break open the prison, expecting to get off again before the governor
and his people had time to pursue them. Nigel assured them how thankful
he was that they had not been compelled to resort to such a proceeding.
Too probably the governor and priests would wreak their vengeance on his
wife and father-in-law. As it was, he felt very anxious as to what
would happen when his escape was discovered. It would certainly baffle
the sagacity of the priests to ascertain how it had been accomplished,
and would undoubtedly make them more savage, as they might naturally
suspect that some of their own followers had proved treacherous, and yet
not know whom to accuse.

"They shall not injure the count or any of our friends," exclaimed
Tecumah. "We can distinguish between the true men and the bad. The
last, as God's Word tells us, are always the most numerous, and it shall
be our care to defend the innocent and weaker ones. My people shall
remain ready with their canoes to cross over at a moment's notice, while
I go to the island and learn what has taken place."

Nigel expressed his wish to accompany the Tamoyos, but both Tecumah and
Cora urged him to proceed to a further distance, as, should the governor
suspect where he had gone, he would in all probability send