, for the sake of imposing on the minds of the
people, and compelling them to do their will; and that, if he wished to
serve Christ, he must leave his false church, as thousands of my
countrymen had done, and tens of thousands in Germany and England, or
that he himself would perish eternally. Without saying another word, he
left the cell, and I felt pretty sure would not come back again.

"I had a sheath knife, which I had managed to conceal inside my
trousers, and immediately set to work, and wrenched up a stool fixed
against the wall. There were several nails in it, which I cut out; and
then, making a couple of deep notches in one of the angles of the wall,
I fixed the bench a certain height below the roof, which enabled me, by
standing on it, to force up one of the slabs with my back. Knowing
where the nails were driven in, I carefully cut around them, making as
little noise as possible. It was, I calculated, about midnight when I
had finished my preparations. The slab lifted even more easily than I
had expected. I listened for some minutes, expecting to hear the tread
of a sentry, but not a sound reached my ears. I had great hopes that he
had fallen asleep. Creeping through, I replaced the slab, and dropped
without noise to the ground. There were numerous Indians in the camp,
many of whom had canoes, for the purpose of fishing. Without loss of
time, I crept away, stooping low down, so that, had I been seen, I might
be mistaken, in the darkness, for a large dog, or some wild animal
prowling about in search of food. I thus, without interruption, made my
way down to the shore. There were several canoes hauled up, as I had
expected, with paddles left in them. To launch one and to shove off did
not occupy much time. The night was dark, but I could make out the
opposite shore. With all my might I paddled towards it. On landing, I
shoved off the canoe, in the hopes that it would float away, and thus
not betray the direction I had taken. Scarcely had I got a hundred
yards from the beach, when I encountered this my friend, who conducted
me here. I am grieved to bring such tidings, and I fear much that those
who remain will be put to death, if they refuse to abandon their faith;
and I pray that they may have grace and spirit to continue in it. But I
myself must not boast, as I know not what torture and starvation would
have led me to do."

Nigel and Constance heard, with deep sorrow, this account of the
ma