ad nothing to do with them, even in thought. But my mind
misgives me at her story. The hellish witch might have power from Satan
to infect her mind, she being yet a child, with the deadly sin. Instead
of vain talking, I call upon you all to join with me in prayer for this
stranger in our land, that her heart may be purged from all iniquity.
Let us pray.'

'Come, there's no harm in that,' said the captain; 'but, Elder Hawkins,
when you are at work, just pray for us all, for I am afeard there be
some of us need purging from iniquity a good deal more than Lois
Barclay, and a prayer for a man never does mischief.'

Captain Holdernesse had business in Boston which detained him there for
a couple of days, and during that time Lois remained with the Widow
Smith, seeing what was to be seen of the new land that contained her
future home. The letter of her dying mother was sent off to Salem,
meanwhile, by a lad going thither, in order to prepare her Uncle Ralph
Hickson for his niece's coming, as soon as Captain Holdernesse could
find leisure to take her; for he considered her given into his own
personal charge, until he could consign her to her uncle's care. When
the time came for going to Salem, Lois felt very sad at leaving the
kindly woman under whose roof she had been staying, and looked back as
long as she could see anything of Widow Smith's dwelling. She was
packed into a rough kind of country cart, which just held her and
Captain Holdernesse, beside the driver. There was a basket of
provisions under their feet, and behind them hung a bag of provender
for the horse; for it was a good day's journey to Salem, and the road
was reputed so dangerous that it was ill tarrying a minute longer than
necessary for refreshment. English roads were bad enough at that period
and for long after, but in America the way was simply the cleared
ground of the forest; the stumps of the felled trees still remaining in
the direct line, forming obstacles, which it required the most careful
driving to avoid; and in the hollows, where the ground was swampy, the
pulpy nature of it was obviated by logs of wood laid across the boggy
part. The deep green forest, tangled into heavy darkness even thus
early in the year, came within a few yards of the road all the way,
though efforts were regularly made by the inhabitants of the
neighbouring settlements to keep a certain space clear on each side,
for fear of the lurking Indians, who might otherwise come up