s have already put many innocent
persons to death, and will not scruple to destroy all those who oppose
them."

"They must not be allowed to suffer," exclaimed Tecumah, when he heard
what had occurred. "I will away to my people before they can stop me;
and we will one and all perish before we allow a hair of their heads to
be injured."

"I would seek to avoid bloodshed, and must urge you, my friend, to try
peaceable measures _first_," said Monsieur Laporte.

"We will endeavour, at all events, to rescue the innocent. You, my
friend, come 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