[Footnote 4:  Many of the events related in this story are founded on facts gathered from papers contained in the box.]

The morning was a lovely one, and Margaret Godfrey was the most hopeful and cheerful of the little band of fugitives who were preparing to step into the canoe.  Her every act and word seemed void of fear.  Defeat and disaster with her were but spurs to further effort.  She possessed that fortitude of soul that bears the severest trials without complaint.  A few minutes after four o’clock they pushed off from the shore, the water was quite calm, but the progress was slow as the canoe was deeply laden, and Paul Guidon had to be very cautious in its management.  Not an Indian was seen on the shore.  The next day they arrived at Paul’s old camping ground, and after resting there a few hours they started for Fort Frederick, a short distance below.  Here fortune seemed to smile upon them.  A small schooner lay at anchor immediately below the fort.  Margaret and her husband lost no time in going on board.  The Captain of the schooner said that his vessel would sail for Port Royal, if there were sufficient wind, early the next day.  He agreed to take the whole Godfrey family over with them.  Paul seemed bound to accompany them, and it pleased Margaret, when she found out that he was anxious to go with them, as she feared he would be murdered if caught by the rebels.  Toward evening they all embarked on board the schooner, Paul having got permission from the Captain of the vessel to take his canoe on board, he, assisted by Charlie, embarked it also.

In the morning there being a fair wind sail was set, and next day all on board were safely landed at Annapolis.  Fortune once more favoured the Godfrey family, at Annapolis Royal there they found a British sloop of war.  Margaret got Paul to take her and her husband in his canoe to the ship.  They were received on board by the Captain in the most cordial manner, who said they had arrived in good time, as he intended to sail in a day or two.  In a short time Captain Godfrey and his wife returned to the shore, having completed arrangements with the Captain of the ship for a passage to Halifax.

In a day or two the Godfrey family, accompanied by the Indian, sailed in the British sloop-of-war Viper, commanded by Captain Greaves.

Four days later the Viper arrived in Halifax harbour, and previous to the Godfreys disembarking, Mrs. Godfrey requested permission of Captain Greaves to address a few words of farewell to the ship’s company.  Her request being granted and all hands ordered on deck, Mrs. G., in appropriate terms and in a modest, yet dignified manner, spoke words of counsel to the company, concluding her short exhortation in these words:  “And to the Captain of my salvation I commend you all.”

CHAPTER VIII.

REBEL PLANS—­PRAYING THE LORDS.

Before Captain Godfrey sailed with his family from Halifax for England, he waited on Governor Arbuthnot and General Massie[5] and informed them of the rebels intentions, and gave them a history of his sad experience on the St. John.