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 time to
the count and his daughter.

Some hours had passed when, as Tecumah was eagerly waiting on the beach
for the moment fixed for the expedition to set out, he saw a canoe
paddling down the harbour. He recognised it as one of those sent up the
estuary to keep watch and to give timely notice of the approach of an
enemy. As the occupant leapt on shore, he exclaimed--

"Haste! haste! The Portuguese and Tuparas, and several other tribes in
alliance with them, are on the war-path. They have hundreds of canoes,
and they will soon after nightfall attack the island unless they first
land and try to destroy us."

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

CAPTURE OF THE FORT.

Constance and her father, rudely dragged from their home, were hurried
off to the fort. No allowance was made for the weakness of her sex, and
no pity was shown her by the savage priests, who, supposing that she was
not aware of her husband's escape, endeavoured still more to wound her
feelings by telling her that he was condemned to death, and that, unless
she and her father recanted, they would meet with the same fate.

"Silence, priest, silence! It is cowardly and unmanly to speak thus to
my daughter," exclaimed the count. "Add not insult to the injury you
have already inflicted. We have broken no laws; we have done harm to no
one; and we find ourselves treated as if we were the vilest of
malefactors."

The count's address had no effect upon the priest, who took a cruel
pleasure in annoying them. Such is ever the character of the emissaries
of Rome when they are in the ascendency and are opposed; when in the
minority, they are humble and meek, plausible and silver-tongued; and
when there are none to oppose them, haughty, indolent, sensual, and
self-indulgent. Such they have been in all ages and in every country,
with the exception of the devoted Jesuit slaves, who have gone forth to
carry their spurious gospel into