been arranged during their hour of
debating the situation, only that they must escape if possible. She was
well aware of her husband's sterling loyalty. She caught his eye and
nodded to him to assent to the proposition of the rebels.

He did so. The rebels left, promising the pass the next day, and that in
twenty-four hours after receiving it, a guard would be ready to escort
them on their way to New England. It being late in the afternoon the
rebels then left. At noon the following day a messenger arrived with the
passport, and also an order to be ready to proceed toward New England on
the following day. The permit or passport read as follows:

Permit the bearer, Charles * * * Godfrey, * * * Esqr.,
to pass from river St John in Nova Scotia with his family
to any part of New England.

Maugerville, } By order of the Committee,
ye 8 July, 1776. } JACOB BARKERLY, _Chairman_.

After a few words of conversation with the Captain and his wife, the
messenger took his departure. No time was lost in preparing to escape.
Mrs. Godfrey was determined to have everything in the canoe before
daylight next morning. The night fortunately was fine, and if all went
well they would be well on their way to Fort Frederick before Jacob
Barkerly or any of the rebels were aware of their departure. Accordingly
the night was a busy one getting ready and transferring bundles of stuff
to the canoe, which was some distance off. At early dawn all were in
readiness, and the last to leave the homestead at Grimross were Margaret
and Paul, who had returned from the shore for a box containing the
Captain's private papers, which had been overlooked in the hurry. A few
minutes before four o'clock the Indian and Mrs. Godfrey arrived at the
canoe with the box.[4]

[Footnote 4: Many of the events related in this story are founded on
facts gathered from papers contained in the box.]

The morning was a lovely one, and Margaret Godfrey was the most hopeful
and cheerful of the little band of fugitives who were preparing to step
into the canoe. Her every act and word seemed void of fear. Defeat and
disaster with her were but spurs to further effort. She possessed that
fortitude of soul that bears the severest trials without complaint. A
few minutes after four o'clock they pushed off from the shore, the water
was quite calm, but the progress was slow as the canoe was deeply laden,
and Paul Guidon had to be very cautious in its managemen