life--for its luxuries I care but little.
We can live without them.'

"Her words produced a strange effect upon me. Up to that moment the
idea of _remaining_ in the oasis had never entered my mind. I had only
occupied myself with speculating on the means by which we could escape
from it. Now, however, a sudden change came over my thoughts; and I
began to think seriously of following the counsel of my self-sacrificing
companion. The harsh treatment we had received at the hands of
civilised man--buffeted about by ill fortune--continually deceived, and
at every step becoming poorer and more dependent, all had their effect
in blunting that desire I should otherwise have felt to get back to the
world. I was not averse then to the idea, but rather ready to fall at
once into the plan.

"I remained silent for a length of time, casting over in my mind the
possibility of our carrying out such a scheme--the chances of our being
able to procure subsistence. It was evident there was plenty of game in
the valley. We had occasionally seen deer of different species, and we
had also discovered the tracks of other animals. There were pheasants
and turkeys, too, in abundance. We had our rifles, and by good fortune
a large stock of ammunition--for, besides my own, Harry and Frank had
powder-horns containing nearly a pound each. But this in time would be
expended--what then? Oh, what then? Before that I should find out some
other mode of capturing our game. Besides, the valley might contain
many other things intended to sustain life--roots and fruits. We had
already found some indications of this; and Mary, who was an
accomplished botanist, could tell the uses of them all. We should find
both food and water. What more could we ask from the hand of Nature?

"As I ran these thoughts through my mind, the project became every
moment more feasible. In fact, I grew quite as enthusiastic about it as
my wife.

"Cudjo, Frank, and Harry, were brought into our council; and they, too,
received the idea with delight. The faithful Cudjo was contented, as he
alleged, with any lot, so long as he might share it with us. As for the
boys they were in raptures with the thought of such a free wild life.

"We did not fully resolve upon anything for that day. We were
determined not to act rashly, but to reflect seriously upon it, and to
renew our deliberations on the following morning.

"During that night, however, a circumstance occurre