After a lengthened discussion between the Captain and his wife upon the question of keeping watch during the night, Margaret carried her point, and soon after stood alone on the deck.

The reader, doubtless, will wonder why Margaret expressed so strong a desire to keep watch through the long, lonely hours of darkness.  Before the conclusion of the story is reached, he will have found out the reason.

Soon all was hushed, gross darkness had gathered over the face of nature, and the eyes of the beloved on board were closed in sleep.  At about midnight Margaret was slightly startled at hearing a footstep on deck.  “Paul,” she whispered, “is that you.”  “Me,” he answered in a low, soft tone.  “Most Indians away, far up country after game, and not come back few days.”

Paul Guidon was a sub-chief, and one of the bravest of the tribe over which he exercised some authority.  He was feared and respected by all the tribes of the St. John.  He had used all his cunning and power to pilot the sloop safely to her destination.  He had for several days spread the report that large herds of caribou and moose had appeared in a part of the country forty miles west of the St. John River.  The Indians took the bait and had suddenly left in pursuit of the game.

Before leaving the deck Paul advised Margaret to get the vessel under way at daylight next morning, in order that the journey might be completed before the next setting of the sun.  He then took Mrs. Godfrey by the hand and raising it to his broad breast passed it firmly over his quickly throbbing heart, and almost instantly turned and shot from her presence like an arrow in the darkness.  Very early in the morning the sloop was made ready to proceed on her voyage.  The wind was blowing stiffly and fair, the little vessel reached along and arrived at her destination at five o’clock in the afternoon.  The anchor was let go between an island and the river’s bank.  Thanksgiving and praise were offered on board for past mercies and supplication for continued guidance.  Neither was Paul Guidon forgotten, for Margaret breathed a silent supplication to Him who can soften and subdue the savage breast, to guide, control and direct the life and steps of her benefactor.

CHAPTER II.

Trading,—­trouble,—­
retreat.

After landing at Grimross, Captain Godfrey looked about to find his lot of land.  Lot No. 14 he found belonged to a Captain Spry, lot No. 15 to a Reverend Smith, and his own lot he found to be No. 16.  These lots were all facing the St. John river, and extending back parallel with each other.  In looking over the plan of the lots, it appears that Captain Godfrey settled on No. 14, Spry’s lot, and on this lot he commenced trading operations in an old house situated not far from a stream leading from a lake on his own lot to the St. John.  On Captain Godfrey’s lot were two small log houses,