“I returned towards the town; on my arrival at home, I found Manon half dead with fright and anxiety:  my presence restored her.  I could not conceal from her the terrible accident that had happened.  On my mentioning the death of Synnelet and my own wound, she fell in a state of insensibility into my arms.  It was a quarter of an hour before I could bring her again to her senses.

“I was myself in a most deplorable state of mind; I could not discern the slightest prospect of safety for either of us. `Manon,’ said I to her, when she had recovered a little, `what shall we do?  Alas, what hope remains to us?  I must necessarily fly.  Will you remain in the town?  Yes dearest Manon, do remain; you may possibly still be happy here; while I, far away from you, may seek death and find it amongst the savages, or the wild beasts.’

“She raised herself in spite of her weakness, and taking hold of my hand to lead me towards the door:  `Let us,’ said she, `fly together, we have not a moment to lose; Synnelet’s body may be found by chance, and we shall then have no time to escape.’ `But, dear Manon,’ replied I, `to what place can we fly?  Do you perceive any resource?  Would it not be better that you should endeavour to live on without me; and that I should go and voluntarily place my life in the governor’s hands?’

“This proposal had only the effect of making her more impatient for our departure.  I had presence of mind enough, on going out, to take with me some strong liquors which I had in my chamber, and as much food as I could carry in my pockets.  We told our servants, who were in the adjoining room, that we were going to take our evening walk, as was our invariable habit; and we left the town behind us more rapidly than I had thought possible from Manon’s delicate state of health.

“Although I had not formed any resolve as to our future destination, I still cherished a hope, without which I should have infinitely preferred death to my suspense about Manon’s safety.  I had acquired a sufficient knowledge of the country, during nearly ten months which I had now passed in America, to know in what manner the natives should be approached.  Death was not the necessary consequence of falling into their hands.  I had learned a few words of their language, and some of their customs, having had many opportunities of seeing them.

“Besides this sad resource, I derived some hopes from the fact, that the English had, like ourselves, established colonies in this part of the New World.  But the distance was terrific.  In order to reach them, we should have to traverse deserts of many days’ journey, and more than one range of mountains so steep and vast as to seem almost impassable to the strongest man.  I nevertheless flattered myself that we might derive partial relief from one or other of these sources:  the savages might serve us as guides, and the English receive us in their settlements.