ent that had just transpired
had given rise to a host of new ideas--one, above all, that promised to
aid me in facilitating the execution of my design. The capture of the
savage, which had at first given me uneasiness, I now regarded in a very
different light--as a fortunate circumstance. I could not help thinking
that I recognised in it the finger of Providence, and the thought
inspired me with hope. I felt that I was not forsaken.

The plan I had proposed to myself was simple enough; it would require
more of courage than stratagem; but to the former I was sufficiently
nerved by the desperate circumstances in which we had become involved.
I proposed to enter the Indian camp in the night--of course, by stealth
and under cover of the darkness--to find the captive, if possible--set
her limbs free--and then trust to chance for the escape of both of us.

If once inside the encampment, and within reach of her, a sudden _coup_
might accomplish all this: success was not beyond possibility, nor
probability neither; and the circumstances admitted of no plan that
promised so fairly.

To have attempted fight with my few followers against such a host--to
have attacked the Indian camp, even under the advantage of an alarm--
would have been sheer madness. It must have resulted not only in our
immediate defeat, but would have destroyed our last chance of rescuing
the captive. The savages, once alarmed and warned, could never be
approached again. Isolina would be lost for ever.

My followers agreed with me upon the imprudence of an attack. Folly
they termed it--and not from any motives of fear: they were willing to
risk all; and had I so ordered, would have charged with me, rifle in
hand, into the very midst of the enemy's lines. I knew they would,
every man of them. Even the voyageur--the least brave of the party--
would not have flinched; for, in the midst of brave men, cowards cease
to be.

But such a course would indeed have been folly--madness. We thought not
of adopting it; all approved of the plan I had formed, and which I had
already laid before them as we tarried by the noon halting-place.

Several had volunteered to be my companions--to venture along with me
into the camp of the savage; to share with me the extreme of the danger;
but for several reasons I was determined to go alone. Should even one
of them be along with me, I saw it would double the risk of detection.
In this matter, stratagem, not strength,