. To remain was to die.

Accordingly, having provisioned the ships as best they could, they
prepared to depart. For the last time they gathered in the rude
church, while the sole surviving minister prayed for the Divine
blessing and protection. It was a sad congregation, and Donalblane,
whose loyal heart had sympathised to the full with Mr. Paterson's
endeavour to stay the retreat, felt heavier of heart than he had ever
done in his life before. Right willingly would he have remained behind
with Mr. Paterson if any good could have been gained thereby. But if
all the others departed, they must needs go too; and after the mournful
service ended, the boats bore them to the ships, Mr. Paterson being the
very last to leave the shore, which none of them would ever set foot
upon again.

CHAPTER XII.

NEW YORK AND HOME.

The ships were in no condition to cross the Atlantic, and by the royal
decree the British West Indies were closed against them, while, of
course, they dare not trust the mercy of the Spaniards. Their only
alternative, therefore, was to make their way up to New York in the
hope of finding their way back to Scotland from there later on.

Donalblane quite approved of this plan. He had had quite enough of
South America to last him for the rest of his life, and, now that he
had left, it was quite clear in his mind as to never returning.

But of North America he knew nothing, and he was eager to learn.

"Nae doot there'll be Indians there like those at Darien," he said to
Mr. Paterson, "and we'll be going to see them. Have they kings, too?"

An amused look lightened Mr. Paterson's face for the moment as he
replied--

"There are Indians, of course, in the country, very many tribes of
them, and we may see some of them at New York, but we will not have
anything to do with them. We are of no account now," he went on sadly.
"We shall be little better than beggars when we reach New York, and
shall have to trust to the kindness of our countrymen there to afford
us the help we need. Ah, Donald, Donald! it is a sore thing to fail--a
sore, sore thing!" and he turned away to hide the emotion that mastered
him.

Donalblane was touched to the heart, and in his passion of loyal love
would not have hesitated to give his very life if thereby the fortunes
of his hero could have been retrieved. But no sacrifice could save
them now. The great scheme that was to have been a blessing to the
world and to make