er the sun had sunk
beneath the horizon, Captain Godfrey, by the persuasion of his wife,
anchored the sloop in a small recess in the shore. From the time the
Indian had reached the bank the Captain's wife scarcely ever lifted her
eyes from gazing on the right bank of the river. Was she watching for a
place to safely anchor at night? Or was she watching for the Indian's
return? These questions were agitating the Captain's thoughts.

Captain Godfrey had never fully recovered from a weakness to his nervous
system, caused by the severe hardships he had endured in the Gulf of St
Lawrence. He was strongly opposed to anchoring the sloop so near the
shore. He felt fearful that during the long watches of the night all on
board might be murdered. The armament of the vessel consisted of two
muskets, two pistols, and a sword. Her cargo was valued at over two
thousand pounds sterling. She was deeply laden, and it was with great
difficulty that all the goods and chattels had been stowed on board;
several boxes and bundles being closely packed and lashed on deck.

After everything had been made snug on board, sails furled, &c., the
Captain and his wife asked the blessing of the all-seeing One during the
hours of the night. The Captain was very tired, and the events of the
day had not added to his comfort. His wife persuaded him to go into the
small cabin and rest. She promised to call him if the least danger
appeared. She said that she was only too willing to stand as sentinel
until the sun-rise. It was only through a knowledge of the determined
spirit, good judgment, quick eye, and self possession of his wife that
he was induced to retire to rest.

The children unconscious of the dangers surrounding them, were nestled
together in the small cabin like young birds in a nest. During four long
hours nothing unusual occurred to break the stillness of the night. The
rustling of the leaves on the trees not many yards distant, and the
rippling of the water were all that could be heard, a dense darkness, a
blackness doubly deep appeared to settle over and around the little
vessel. The sentinel placed her soft white hand close to her face but
could not even distinguish its outlines.

At this moment there flashed through her mind the words, "Watchman,
what of the night." The words were accompanied by a hand gently laid
upon her shoulder. She remained as motionless as a statue in the gloom.
A gentle breath whispered in her ear, "me Paul;" "co