ear the shore; and if you, Monsieur Lieutenant,
will supply me with food, I will undertake to keep a bright look-out as
long as my eyes last me. We will have a flagstaff and flag, and it will
not be my fault if we don't manage to communicate with any ship which
appears off the coast."

Nigel gladly entered into honest Jacques's plan, and assisted him in
building his hut, and putting up a flagstaff. Still week after week
passed by, and Jacques had always the same answer to give when Nigel
visited him. Nigel himself had ample occupation in cultivating his
garden, varied by hunting expeditions with the Indians. He was
returning home one evening, when, as he approached his cottage,
Constance came running out to meet him. Her agitation would scarcely
allow her to speak.

"Come, Nigel, come! I have been longing for your arrival," she
exclaimed, taking his hand. "An old friend has arrived, and is waiting
to see you."

She led him on, when great was his joy and surprise to see standing in
the porch, with outstretched hands, his former commander, Captain
Beauport. They entered the cottage, when, sitting down, the captain
briefly narrated his history, and the circumstances which had brought
him again to the coast of South America. He little expected to find
Nigel and Constance alive. The crew and passengers of the ship which
was conveying him as a prisoner to France, who were all Protestants, had
insisted on his liberation; and the commander, who was well-disposed
towards him, had, without much difficulty, yielded to their wishes. By
great exertions the ships had been kept afloat; and, after enduring
severe hardships, had reached Hennebonne, in France. Here the
commander, as directed, delivered his despatches to the chief
magistrate, who, providentially for the passengers, was a staunch
Protestant. On opening them, he found that the traitor, Villegagnon,
had denounced them as arch-heretics, worthy of the stake, and advised
that they should be immediately delivered up to punishment. The worthy
magistrate, indignant at the treachery with which they had been treated,
assisted them by every means in his power; while Captain Beauport,
knowing that his life would not be safe should he remain in France,
immediately embarked on board a vessel bound for England. He there
found many Protestant friends, who had fled to escape the fearful
persecutions to which they were subjected in France. By their means he
obtained the