ue them, they immediately set out on
their sad journey to the north.

Surrounding Nigel and Constance, they vowed fidelity, promising to obey
the last behests of their beloved young chief Tecumah, and to afford
them all the support in their power. A small band only of the bravest
and most active remained behind to collect any stragglers who might
arrive, and to cover the retreat of the main body. Nigel, communicating
with the old chief, found that he proposed proceeding northward to a
region bordering the sea, inhabited by a scanty tribe, with whom the
Tamoyos were on friendly terms, the former having been driven from their
own hunting-grounds by a more powerful tribe. This intelligence was
satisfactory to Nigel and Constance, as they thus had hopes of being
able to communicate with some English or French ship which might appear
off the shore.

The spot to which the Tamoyos were directing their course was at length
gained. It was a deep wide valley, surrounded by rugged hills, and
could not be approached towards the sea except by a narrow gorge, which
could be defended by a few brave men, who could lie concealed among the
rocks, and hurl down stones on the heads of invaders. The Indians
carried with them, as was their custom, cuttings and roots of fruit
trees and plants, which they had cultivated in their native district.
Without loss of time, they began erecting huts and laying out
plantations, the old men and women being generally employed in such
occupations, while the young men went out hunting, they having at
present to depend on the produce of the chase for their subsistence.
The tribe showed the greatest attention to Nigel and Constance, whom
they considered committed to their care by their beloved young chief,
doing their utmost to secure their comfort and convenience. Indeed,
they treated them with the same respect they bestowed on Cora, who was
now the acknowledged chieftainess of the tribe. They built a cottage
after the model of those they had seen on the island, and laid out a
garden, which they planted with fruit trees and vegetables. Nigel and
his wife in return, aided by Cora, instructed them in Gospel truth.
They also taught them, as far as they had the means, the arts of
civilised life. Thus the days went rapidly by. Still, though the young
couple enjoyed much happiness, they could not help wishing to return to
Europe, while they often thought, with grief, of the loss of the count
and of th