t to escort him and
Manita to the canoe. Setting off, they safely reached it, and anxious
to arrive at the village before night, at once paddled briskly down the
stream. It was dark, however, before they neared their destination, and
Manita proposed that they should land at the English village. As they
approached they were hailed by Ben Tarbox from the bank, to whom Oliver
replied.

"Thankful to hear your voice, Master Dane," said Ben, as he helped them
out of the canoe, which he drew up on the bank. "We thought you were
lost, and the old chief has been in a great taking about his
granddaughter, accusing us of spiriting her away, and well-nigh creating
a breach of the peace."

"We have not been on a fool's errand, Ben," answered Oliver. "I want to
speak to our commander without delay, wherever he is."

"He and Master Audley are on foot, for we don't know at what moment the
natives may take it into their fickle heads to attack us," answered Ben.
"Here they come."

Oliver, followed by Manita, hastened to meet Vaughan and Roger, and as
fast he could pour out his words, he told them of his adventure.
Vaughan, prompted by filial affection, was eager to set off to meet his
father, but Oliver reminded him of the advice he had brought that the
party should remain at their present post, and Roger also giving his
opinion to the same effect, he agreed to wait further tidings. They
might, however, be compelled to move for want of provisions, though
their present stock would enable them to remain some days longer, but a
small portion having been exhausted. They had hopes, too, that when
Oncagua should discover that Manita was safe, his confidence would be
restored, and that he would be as ready as at first to supply them with
food. Both Vaughan and Roger agreed that the likeness between Manita
and Oliver was very great, and they had little doubt that she was really
Captain White's grandchild. Oliver declared that he had no doubt about
the matter, and already felt towards her as a brother for a sister. She
by this time fully comprehended that she was of the white man's race,
and when Vaughan asked her if she would go back to Oncagua, she burst
into tears.

No, she replied; she would remain with her new brother. The chief was
generally kind, but he might keep her prisoner or send her off further
away, when she could not return to her brother.

There might be truth in what the maiden said; and though they hoped, by
h