eir other beloved friend.

Besides the account brought by the Indian who escaped from the fort,
they could gain no further tidings of their fate. Nigel would, had he
had himself only to consider, have set out to try and ascertain what had
become of the colony, but he could not bring himself to leave Constance,
even though he had full confidence in the fidelity of their Indian
friends. Cora, to whom Constance expressed Nigel's wishes, at length
promised to send out a scout, who would endeavour to find out what had
happened. Nigel gladly accepted Cora's offer.

Nearly a month had passed since the scout set out, and fears were
entertained that he had perished. At last, however, one evening, he was
seen descending the side of the hill, along the steep and difficult path
by which, as has been said, the valley could alone be reached from the
southward; he was accompanied by a white man, whose tottering steps he
supported in the difficult descent. As they approached the village, the
gaunt form and haggard features of the latter prevented Nigel, who went
out to meet them, from recognising him.

"You don't know me, Monsieur Lieutenant; I am Jacques Baville, whom you
knew well as a true Protestant. I assisted the escape of our good
minister, Laporte, who was committed to the care of some of the brave
Indians by the young chief Tecumah. We fought our way to the water's
side, and embarked in a canoe; but before we had got far, we were chased
by two of the enemy's boats, and captured. We expected instant death,
but were reserved for a more cruel fate. We were conveyed to the south
shore, where we heard that the forts on the island had all been
destroyed, and our countrymen, with the traitor Villegagnon, had sailed
away, leaving most of the Protestants to the cruel vengeance of our
foes. To commemorate their victory, the Portuguese had resolved, we
found, on building a city. One of the first edifices erected was a
prison, into which the good minister and several other persons were
thrown; while the Tamoyos, who had been taken prisoners, with two other
artisans, like myself, were employed, with many people of other tribes,
who had been reduced to slavery by the Portuguese, in labouring at the
work going forward. A church was next built, and filled full of idols
for the people to worship. As soon as it was finished, the minister and
other captives were led from the prison, and dragged into it, when they
were ordered to w