ttlement Mary Percival was now quite
recovered, and found her journey or voyage delightful; the country was
in full beauty; the trees waved their boughs down to the river side, and
they did not fall in with any Indians, or perceive any lodges on the
bank. Sometimes they started the deer which had come down to drink in
the stream, and on one occasion, as they rounded a point, they fell in
with a herd which were in the water swimming across, and in this
position they destroyed as many as they required for their food, till
they hoped to arrive at the settlement.

Percival was now quite reconciled to his removal from an Indian life,
and appeared most anxious to rejoin his father and mother, of whom he
talked incessantly; for he had again recovered his English, which,
strange to say, although he perfectly understood it when spoken to, he
had almost forgotten to pronounce, and at first spoke with difficulty.
The weather was remarkably fine, and the waters of the lake were so
smooth, that they made rapid progress, although they invariably
disembarked at night. The only annoyance they had was from the
mosquitoes which rose in clouds as soon as they landed, and were not to
be dispersed until they had lighted a very large fire, accompanied with
thick smoke: but this was a trifle compared with their joy at the happy
deliverance of the prisoners, and success of their expedition. Most
grateful, indeed, were they to God for His mercies, and none more so
than Mary Percival and Captain Sinclair, who never left her side till it
was time to retire to rest.

On the sixth day, in the forenoon, they were delighted to perceive Fort
Frontignac in the distance, and although the house at the settlement was
hid from their sight by the point covered with wood which intervened,
they knew that they were not above four or five miles distant. In less
than another hour, they were abreast of the prairie, and landed at the
spot where their own punt was moored. Mr and Mrs Campbell had not
perceived the canoes, for, although anxiously looking out every day for
the return of the party, their eyes and attention were directed on land,
not having any idea of their return by water.

"My dear Alfred," said Mary, "I do not think it will be prudent to let
my aunt see Percival at once; we must prepare her a little for his
appearance. She has so long considered him as dead, that the shock may
be too great."

"You say true, my dear Mary. Then we will go f