while to the left, people could easily have made their way
either close to the shore, or a short distance from it.

We accordingly advanced in that direction, moving with the greatest
possible caution, so that we might have a chance of discovering the
marauders before they would be aware of our approach. The Dominie went
first, I followed, and Rose brought up the rear, for nothing would
induce her to return.

"If you fight, I fight too, so dat we get back de young ladies!" she
exclaimed in a determined tone, and possessing herself of a thick stick
which lay on the shore of the lake, she trudged on after us.

We trod as carefully as we could, keeping ourselves as much as possible
concealed by the trunks of the trees and brushwood. Sometimes we had to
get down close to the lake when we could discover no other way through
the wood. The Dominie was trying to find a path between the trees when
I heard Rose exclaim--

"Hist! Massa Mike, dare come canoe ober de water!"

I called to Mr Tidey, who stopped, and, sheltering ourselves under the
shadow of the trees, we looked in the direction Rose pointed. There,
sure enough, was a canoe skimming lightly over the moonlit waters. She
appeared to be of large size, though I could only see two paddles going.
We watched eagerly to know to what part of the bank she was directing
her course. Twice it was altered, as if the people in the canoe were
uncertain where to land. At length they paddled on towards the very
spot where we had first struck the lake.

"There are only two of them, and we shall be able to tackle the fellows,
whoever they are," whispered the Dominie to me; "they are connected with
those who carried off the little girls, and have probably come to meet
them; there is no time to be lost, follow me," and he led the way back
by the path we had come.

We could occasionally get a glimpse of the canoe, which came slowly on.
She was of large size, and there were to a certainty but two paddlers.
I could hear poor Rose behind me panting and puffing as we hurried
along; still she persevered, prompted by her desire to help us.

We reached a thick clump of bushes, close by the spot towards which the
canoe was directing course, and, crouching down, we remained concealed,
waiting until the Dominie should give the signal for action. What he
intended to do I could only guess, as it would have been imprudent to
have spoken, lest our voices should be heard, though the splash