e day of our betrothal. We were now
alone--for the faithful black stood sentinel below by the hawser of his
pirogue.

The reaction, consequent upon my late jealousy, had kindled my love to a
renewed and fiercer life--for such is the law of nature. In the very
ardour of my affection, I almost forgot our desperate situation.

Over and over again we vowed eternal troth--over and over plighted our
mutual faith, in fond, burning words--the eloquence of our heartfelt
passion. Oh! it was a happy hour!

Alas! it came to an end. It ended with a painful regret, but not with
surprise. I was not surprised to hear horns sounding through the woods,
and signal shouts answering each other in different directions. I was
not surprised when voices came pealing across the water--loud oaths and
ejaculations--mingled with the plashing of paddles and the plunging of
oars; and, when the negro announced that several boats filled with armed
men were in the open water and approaching the tree, it did not take me
by surprise. I had foreseen all this.

I descended to the base of the cypress, and, stooping down, looked out
under the hanging moss. I could see the surface of the lake. I could
see the men in their canoes and skiffs, rowing and gesticulating.

When near the middle of the open water, they lay upon their oars, and
held a short consultation. After a moment they separated, and rowed in
circles around, evidently with the design of encompassing the tree.

In a few minutes they had executed this manoeuvre, and now closed in,
until their vessels floated among the drooping branches of the cypress.
A shout of triumph told that they had discovered our retreat; and I now
saw their faces peering through the curtain of straggling _tillandsia_.

They could see the pirogue, and both the negro and myself standing by
the bow.

"Surrender!" shouted a voice in a loud, firm tone. "If you resist, your
lives be on your own heads!"

Notwithstanding this summons, the boats did not advance any nearer.
They knew that I carried pistols, and that I knew how to handle them--
the proofs, were fresh. They approached, therefore, with caution--
thinking I might still use my weapons.

They had no need to be apprehensive. I had not the slightest intention
of doing so. Resistance against twenty men--for there were that number
in the boats, twenty men well armed--would have been a piece of
desperate folly. I never thought of such a thing; though, i