The Settlers: A Tale of Virginia

  CHAPTER FIVE.

  "Land! land!" was shouted from the masthead just before the sun roseabove the horizon, and Vaughan and Gilbert, with many others who hurriedon deck, soon saw, just emerging from the ocean to the westward, twoblue hummocks. In a short time the land was discerned, stretching awayto the northward. The captain at once recognised the hummocks aslandmarks to the southward of Chesapeake Bay, towards the mouth of whichmagnificent estuary the ship was now steered. The day was far advancedwhen they entered between two capes, since known as Cape Charles on thenorth and Cape Henry on the south of the bay, about twelve miles apart.Their destined harbour was still far away, and it was not till nearlytwo days more had passed that, early in the morning a small fort wasseen about two miles south of Cape Comfort, at the entrance of JamesRiver. A gun was fired, and the English flag flying from the fortshowed them that it was garrisoned by their friends. Captain Newporttherefore sent a boat on shore to inform the commandant who they were.

  While the vessels came to an anchor those on board eagerly looked outfor the return of the boat, when they hoped that their many doubts andfears would be brought to an end. At length she came, bringing astranger seated in the stern-sheets. The eyes of all on board weredirected towards him. As the boat approached, he stood up and waved hishat, gazing eagerly at the ship.

  "It is Roger Layton," shouted Gilbert, whose vision was one of thekeenest of all on board.

  "Yes, yes! it is he! it is he!" echoed Lettice, forgetting the presenceof bystanders. The _boat came alongside_, and Roger sprang on deck; he,too, at first seemed not to recollect that there were others besidesLettice lookers-on, and, advancing towards her, he took her hand andpressed it to his lips, afterwards greeting Mistress Audley in the samemanner.

  "My father and sister are well," he answered to Audley's eager queries,as they warmly shook hands. He was quickly, however, plied with eagerquestions by many others, to which he could but briefly reply. Thefleet had arrived safely, the ketch _Susan_ excepted, which hadfoundered during the gale. The smaller vessels had gone up the river asfar as James Town, where a settlement had been formed, and the larger,including the _Rainbow_, lay at anchor in Hampton Roads, whence he hadcome over to visit the commander of the fort. No great progress hadbeen made in the settlement, for the commanders had disputed amongthemselves; the only true man among them being Captain Smith, who wasthe life and soul of the enterprise.

  "And my husband, Captain Audley, have you gained any tidings of him?"asked Mistress Audley, in a trembling voice.

  "Alas! Mistress Audley, we have not," answered Roger; "as yet we havehad a hard matter to hold our own, surrounded as we have been bysavages, whose friendship is doubtful. Notwithstanding this, our bravefriend Captain Smith, Rolfe, and I, have made excursions in alldirections, and, whenever we could, have communicated with the Indians,making inquiries for a white man residing among them. Even now, CaptainSmith is away up the country, and he promised me that he would continuehis inquiries. I, indeed, should have accompanied him, but my father isdisheartened with the way affairs have been carried on, and poor Cicelyis so much out of health that we were on the point of sailing forEngland. I trust that your arrival will cause him to change his plan,and you may depend on it that I will use my influence to induce him todo so."

  "Of course you must," exclaimed Gilbert, "why, I have been lookingforward to all sorts of adventures with you, and Vaughan there willgreatly object to your going."

  "Indeed shall I," said Vaughan, "and I propose, with your leave, goingon shore with you, and proceeding overland to where the _Rainbow_ islying, concluding, as I do, that we shall get there sooner than theship."

  "You are right, and I shall be glad of your company," said Roger; "itwill be the best proof to Cicely that you are not fathoms deep below theocean, as she has been inclined of late to believe."

  "What, has the long-boat with Master Raven not arrived?" asked Vaughan.

  "We have had no tidings of her," answered Roger; "it is too likely thatall on board have perished."

  After much more information had been exchanged, Roger, with VaughanAudley, returned on shore. Others would have done so, but the captainhoped to sail in the evening, and it was the object of all to reachJames Town as soon as possible. Lettice was unwilling so soon again topart with Roger, but now, knowing that he was safe, her spirits revived,and the colour once more returned to her cheeks.

  The wind proving favourable, the _Deliverance_ and _Patience_ got underway, and proceeded round to Cape Comfort, where they came to an anchorin the roads, not far from where the _Rainbow_ and two other ships laymoored. Scarcely had their sails been furled than the wind, which hadfor some time been increasing, began to blow a perfect hurricane; thethunder roared, the lightning flashed, and the rain came down intorrents. Truly, they had reason to be thankful that they were in asafe harbour instead of being out on the stormy ocean. So fiercely didthe hurricane rage that no boats could venture to pass between theships. It was hoped that Vaughan and Roger had already safely reachedthe ship, but even of that they were uncertain. Hour after hour thestorm raged on; the surface of the harbour was broken into foamingwaves, which rolled hissing by. The tall trees on shore bent before theblast; huge boughs were seen torn off and whirled far away through theair.

  All night long the hurricane continued. Towards morning it broke. Whendaylight returned, the clouds disappearing, the sun shone forth,brightly sparkling on the tiny wavelets, which now danced merrily on thebosom of the harbour. Early in the morning Gilbert, accompanied byFenton, pulled on board the _Rainbow_. As he stepped on deck, CaptainLayton, who was standing near the gangway, started on seeing him; for aminute or more it seemed that he could not believe his senses.

  "Who are you, young man?" he exclaimed, scanning his features. Gilbertbriefly told him who he was, and what had occurred.

  "Heaven be praised!" exclaimed the captain; "I fully believed that youand all on board the _Sea Venture_ had perished, or I should long erethis have gone in search of you. The news that your brother has escapedwill restore life to my daughter Cicely, who has been mourning him aslost. I will at once go below and break the intelligence to her, or itmay reach her too suddenly. Can I tell her that your brother is well?"

  "I believe so," answered Gilbert. "He but yesterday landed with yourson, and I expected to have found them on board the _Rainbow_. Why theyhave not arrived I cannot tell, as they were to have set off immediatelyfrom Fort Algernon."

  "Possibly they may have been detained by the storm, but I would ratherthey had been here," observed the captain. "The state of the wholecountry is unsatisfactory, for the natives are often hostile, and it isdangerous for a small party to move far from the settlement, although itwas understood that the Indians in this neighbourhood were friendly.However, we will not anticipate evil, but hope for the best."

  While the captain was below, Gilbert and Fenton talked over thenon-appearance of Vaughan and Roger, and agreed, should they not soonarrive, to set off in search of them with as many men as they couldobtain. After some time the captain summoned them into the cabin.Cecily had been weeping tears of joy; she was anxious to make inquiriesabout Mistress Audley and Lettice. After they had replied to her manyquestions, the captain proposed visiting the _Deliverance_. Lettice andCicely were delighted to meet each other, but their happiness would havebeen greater had Vaughan and Roger been present. They had already begunto feel anxious at their not having arrived on board. Captain Laytontried to conceal from them his own apprehensions, but he expressed themto the admiral and governor, who, at his request, agreed to furnish himwith a party of men to go in search of them should they not soon appear.Gilbert, Fenton, and Oliver Dane obtained permission to join theexpedition.

  The party amounted to nearly a score, and with their firearms, providedthey acted with due caution, had no need to fear any number of hostileIndians. Captain Layton's intention was to proceed to the fort, andshould Roger and Vaughan have left it, follow their trail wi
th the aidof a friendly Indian who was, he said, living there with the white men.

  The country was in most parts open, but at times they had to proceed bya narrow path cut through the dense forest, where hostile natives mighthave attacked them to great advantage, as they could not have been seentill close upon them, and thus their firearms would avail them butlittle. Oliver Dane kept near the captain, who remained at the head ofthe main body, while Gilbert and Fenton went on some little way aheadwith Ben Tarbox and another man, peering into the forest at every stepto discover whether it harboured a foe. They had got within nearly amile of the fort when Gilbert, who was looking through some bushes onthe right, beyond which the forest opened out somewhat, caught sight ofa figure moving rapidly in the direction of the fort. He signed to hiscompanions to remain concealed while he more carefully surveyed thestranger, whom he soon knew, by his dress of skins and the featherswhich adorned his head, to be an Indian. Gilbert watched, supposingthat others would follow, but the Indian was apparently alone. He wasdoubting whether he should advance or allow the Indian to proceed on hisway, when the keen eye of the latter caught sight of his face amid thefoliage. Gilbert now observed that, instead of a bow and quiver ofarrows, he carried a musket in his hand. He knew, therefore, that hemust have intercourse with the English, and was probably a friend.Signing to his companions to remain quiet, he advanced beyond theshelter of the bushes, and made a sign that he wished to speak with him.The stranger, showing no signs of fear, immediately came forward andinquired who he was and whither he was bound. Gilbert at once replied,that he and his companions were searching for two Englishmen who hadcome from the fort and were on their way to the ships in the roads.

  "Then we are engaged on the same errand," said the Indian. "Know me asMiantomah, a friend of the pale-faces. I was in the fort when the shipsarrived, and a young stranger came on shore. He and another officerimmediately set off to the harbour. They had gone some few hours whenone of my people, who had been out scouting, brought word that theMonacans, who are at enmity with the pale-faces, were out on a war-path,and would too probably fall in with the trail of our friends and pursueand scalp them. I at once offered to follow and warn them of theirdanger, and to lead them by a path round by the shore which the Monacanswere not likely to approach. I hoped to have come upon them at theirencampment, but they travelled more rapidly than I had expected; andwhile still on their track, night overtook me. Next day, at dawn, Ipushed forward; but when I reached the spot where I calculated they musthave encamped, to my dismay, I came upon the trail of the Monacans, whomust, knew, have espied them. I went on, however, desirous of learningwhat had happened. I soon afterwards came upon the Monacan camp, andbeyond it I found the trail of the two pale-faces. Could they by rapidtravelling still have kept ahead? I feared not.

  "Going on, I reached their camp; and now I learnt what had befallenthem. They were still asleep on the beds they had formed of leaves,with their camp fire at their feet, when the Monacans had pounced onthem before they could rise to defend themselves. There were no signseven of a struggle,--no blood was spilt; thus I hoped that their liveshad been spared. I immediately followed the trail of the Monacans andtheir captives, which turned away to the west. I had not gone far whena fearful storm began to rage, and I knew well that those I wasfollowing would seek for some place where they might obtain shelter fromthe rain, which came down in torrents, and from the boughs of the treesfalling around, torn off by the wind. I, nevertheless, pushed on; butthe rain and wind had obliterated their trail, and I could only guessthe direction they had taken. Before me, at some distance, was a rockyregion in which several caverns existed, where the Monacans, should theybe acquainted with them, would, I knew, fly for shelter. It was nownecessary for me to advance with the greatest caution, lest I should bediscovered by my foes, from whom I guessed that I could be at no greatdistance. I was compelled, for the sake of concealing myself, to travelthrough the forest; but I kept to those parts where the trees were ofless height and the branches smaller, thus not being so likely to betorn off by the wind. The Monacans had, as I expected they would,escaped from the forest, and continued through the more open country,and I at length caught sight of them as they were making towards one ofthe caverns I have spoken of. I watched them till they took shelterwithin it, and then, crouching down under the trunk of a fallen treewhich afforded me some slight protection from the tempest, I remainedtill nightfall. I knew that they would kindle a fire at the mouth ofthe cavern, the light from which would guide me to it; I was notdisappointed, and, creeping cautiously along under shelter of the rocks,I got near enough to hear their voices. Close to the mouth of thecavern was another, with a small entrance, penetrating deeply into thehill, and communicating with the large cavern. I did not hesitate toenter, hoping to have an opportunity of speaking to the two palefaces,and, perhaps, even of rescuing them. I waited till I supposed that allthe Monacans were asleep; then, groping my way, reached the end of thecavern, and found myself, as I expected, at the inner end of the largeone.

  "The Monacans had, I suspected, placed their prisoners at the inner endfor greater security. The cavern was in perfect darkness, for the lightof the fire at the entrance did not extend thus far, though it enabledme to see the people sleeping round it. The noise of the tempest, thecrashing of rocks as they rolled down the hillside, the huge boughs tornoff from the trees, and the ceaseless rattling of the thunder, drownedall other sounds, and I had no fear of being heard. Cautiously I creptforward, with my head bent to the ground, till I found myself close to aman, as I knew by his loud breathing. I felt his dress, and I thus knewthat he was one of the prisoners. I put my mouth to his ear andwhispered till I awoke him. He was the young sea-captain whom I knew.I told him that I had come to set him at liberty. He replied that hecould not go without his friend, whose foot was hurt so that he couldnot escape by flight. That mattered not, I replied, as I could concealhim till the Monacans had got tired of looking for him.

  "Without loss of time, I released my friend, and we quickly set hiscompanion at liberty. Helping him along between us, we crawled up tothe hole by which I had entered. The Monacans, not suspecting what wasgoing on, slept soundly. We crawled through the hole into the furtherend of the small cavern; here I believed that we were safe, as thedarkness would prevent the Monacans from discovering our trail; and notaware, as I concluded, of the existence of the hole, they would beunable to guess by what means their prisoners had escaped."

  Miantomah had got thus far in his narrative when Captain Layton and therest of the party came up, and the Indian had to repeat what he hadsaid, which, as he spoke in broken English, took some time. Gilbert,meantime, was very impatient to hear what farther had happened to hisbrother and Roger.

  "And when you got into the end of the cavern, what did you do?" he askedat last. "Are they there still?"

  "I found that the young stranger, though unable to walk, could limpalong with the assistance of his friend and me," continued Miantomah; "Iknew of another cavern a short distance off, higher up the hill; if wecould reach it, while the rain continued to pour down as it was stilldoing, we should be safe. I persuaded him to make the attempt. Byremaining where we were we should too probably be caught, like burrowinganimals in a hole, as the Monacans were not likely to go away withoutthoroughly searching both the caverns. The young man resting on ourarms, we set out; the influence of the tempest, as before, prevented thesound of our footsteps reaching our enemies. At length we reached themouth of the cavern, the position of which I well knew. Thick bushesgrew in front of it, so that no strangers were likely to find us, but incase any of the enemy might pass by, I led my companions higher up thehill and then down close to the rock inside of the shrubs. Here wemight be secure, though our enemies would not fail to search for us.There was but one way to draw them off the scent; I undertook to adoptit. I would get to a distance and let them see me, when they would to acertainty follow in my trail. Being fleet of foot, I knew that I could
keep ahead of them. I waited till nearly daylight, when I knew theywould discover the escape of their prisoners.

  "Then descending the hill, I took my post at a distance from the cavern,where I could be seen by the Monacans as they issued forth. I was soonseen as I knew by their gestures, and uttering a loud shout and wavingmy gun over my head, I darted off. Being fast of foot, I knew that theycould not overtake me; and they probably thought that my object was tolead them into an ambush of the palefaces, for in a short time theircries no longer resounded through the forest, and I felt confident thatthey had turned back. I was even now on my way to the fort to obtainassistance, but if you will accompany me much time will be saved and wemay the sooner reach your friends."

  The meaning of this address being fully understood, Captain Layton atonce agreed to Miantomah's proposal. Notwithstanding the long run hehad had, he did not beg for a moment's rest, but led the way at a speedwhich taxed the strength of all the party. Gilbert especially wasanxious to go to the rescue of his brother and Roger, fornotwithstanding the assurances of the Indian, he could not help fearingthat they were in the most perilous position. Should the Monacansdiscover them, they would in all probability instantly put them todeath.

  "They know what they are about," observed Fenton, "and depend upon itthey will not allow themselves to be taken."

  "Had they their arms they might defend themselves," observed Gilbert,"but of those the Indians are sure to have deprived them."

  They asked Miantomah: he laughed. "I forgot to say that I secured boththeir weapons as well as their powder-flasks, and should theirammunition last, they would be able, from the mouth of the cavern, tokeep at bay any number of assailants."

  The party pushed on, stopping but a brief time to refresh themselves,till at the close of the day their guide told them that in a couple ofhours more they might arrive at the caverns. Their leader's intentionwas accordingly to set off before daybreak, so as to reach theneighbourhood of the caverns soon after dawn, when the Indians, if stillthere, would be taking their morning meal. There was still much causefor anxiety, for should they suspect the trick that had been playedthem, and cunning as they were they were very likely to do so, theywould certainly search every place in the neighbourhood in which theescaped captives were likely to have taken refuge; for they well knewthat Vaughan Audley was unable to walk, and that his companions couldnot have carried him far on their backs. A strict watch was kept byCaptain Layton during the night, lest the natives might discover themand attempt an attack. The night however passed over quietly, and atthe hour proposed, Miantomah, rousing up the party, led the way towardsthe hills. The birds were saluting the early dawn with their tunefulnotes, when, just as the hills came in sight amid the trees, a shot washeard, followed by another.

  "On! on!" cried the Indian guide. "Our friends have been discovered, asI feared, and are defending themselves; but, though they may hold outfor some time, their ammunition must soon be expended, when the Monacanswill, to a certainty, not spare their lives."

  These remarks were not required to hasten the steps of the party.Gilbert, incited by love for his brother, dashed on at the top of hisspeed, followed by Fenton, Oliver Dane, and Ben Tarbox; even the Indiancould scarcely keep up with them. The sound of shots continued to reachtheir ears; it encouraged them, showing that their friends were stillholding out. In a short time they could hear even the shouts and criesof the Indians, as they climbed the hill, endeavouring to reach themouth of the cavern; but, as yet, their approach had not beendiscovered. Miantomah now signed to them to keep to the left, and tocrouch down as he was doing, following one after the other so that theymight get close to their enemies before they were seen. His advice wasfollowed, and the whole party were within gunshot before the Monacanswere aware of their approach. For some seconds no shots were heard fromthe cavern, towards the mouth of which the Indians were seen shootingclouds of arrows, and then making their way up the hill as if they nolonger expected resistance. On this, Miantomah, raising a loudwar-whoop, signed to the English to fire. He was obeyed: as the smokecleared off, several Indians were seen stretched on the ground, whilethe rest went rushing down the hill. Gilbert and several others wereabout to follow them, when Captain Layton shouted--"Keep together, mymen, and reload, for the savages are more numerous than we are; andshould they get among us with their tomahawks our firearms will be of noavail."

  It was fortunate that this order was given, for the natives, incited onby one who appeared to be their chief, quickly rallied, and observingthe small number opposed to them, drew their bows and sent a flight ofarrows among them, which slightly wounded two men. They were then aboutto dash forward to meet the pale faces, uttering loud war-whoops, andflourishing their tomahawks, when Captain Layton ordered his men to fireand quickly to reload, directing several to aim at the chief. A loudshout reached their ears; the Indians were still rushing on, when histomahawk was seen to fall from their leader's hand, and the nextinstant, while still in advance of his men, he came heavily to theground. His followers were still advancing, when another volley wasfired into their midst, which brought several down and put the resthastily to flight, at a rate which would have rendered pursuitfruitless. Miantomah was about to rush on, Indian-like, to take thescalp of the fallen chief, when Captain Layton shouted to him to desist,and dashed forward in time to stop his uplifted knife.

  "Let us show mercy to our enemies," he exclaimed, as he stooped over thechief, who, resting on his arm, looked defiantly at those who surroundedhim. In the mean time Gilbert, who was looking towards the cavern,caught sight of Roger Layton, who trampling aside the bushes, appearedat the entrance. Roger beckoned to him eagerly, and with several othershe hurried up the hill.

  "You have arrived opportunely," he exclaimed, "for Vaughan is sorelywounded, and I am but in little better plight."

  Gilbert, making his way through the bushes, saw his brother lying at themouth of the cavern with his musket by his side, the blood flowing froma wound caused by an arrow in his side, but which he had with muchcourage extracted, while Roger showed the places in his dress where twoothers had passed, one through his arm and another in his leg; a largenumber also sticking in the ground around them. Gilbert, with theassistance of Ben Tarbox, quickly bound up his brother's wound, Fentonand Oliver attending to Roger. More men being summoned to theirassistance, their two wounded friends were borne down the hill.

  Captain Layton had attended to the wounds of the Indian chief, which hisexperience told him were not likely to prove mortal. He deemed itimportant, however, to get at once surgical assistance; and as Rogerinformed him that that could not be obtained at the fort, he determined,though the distance was greater, to return forthwith to the ships.Litters were accordingly formed for the conveyance of the wounded men,and the party immediately set off, under the guidance of the friendlyIndian. As they advanced, a vigilant watch was kept in case thedefeated Indians should venture to follow and attempt the recovery oftheir chief. No natives, however, were seen; yet it was possible thatthey might be near at hand, keeping themselves carefully concealed.

  "This country may be a very fine one, and supply a fellow with as muchtobacco as he can want to smoke," observed Ben Tarbox; "but to my mindit isn't the pleasantest to travel in, when a man doesn't know when hegoes to sleep whether he will get up again, not to say without hisnightcap, but without the scalp on the top of his head."

  From the judicious precautions taken by their leader, the party escapedattack, and arrived safely at the harbour. Vaughan and Roger werecarried on board the _Rainbow_, which afforded more accommodation thanthe other ships, and here, by Captain Layton's invitation, MistressAudley and Lettice removed, that they might assist Cicely in taking careof the wounded men. The captured chief was also carried on board the_Rainbow_, for want of room in the other ships. He was here carefullytended by the surgeon and by Mistress Audley, Lettice and Cicely alsopaid him frequent visits; he thus quickly recovered, and seemed gratefulfor the care bestowed on
him. His name, he said, was Canochet, chief ofthe Monacans; he had formed a wrong opinion of the pale-faces, believingthat they were cruel tyrants, instead of kind and humane people, as hehad found them. To Mistress Audley especially he seemed greatlyattached, and he declared that he would willingly give up his life forsake of doing her a service.

  Miantomah having performed his duty, returned to Port Algernon,promising ere long to visit his new friends at James Town. The arrivalof Mistress Audley induced Captain Layton to change his intention ofreturning to England, and the _Rainbow_, accompanied by the_Perseverance_ and _Patience_, proceeded up to James Town, situatedabout fifty miles from the mouth of the river.

  The settlers had expected to see a well laid-out town, with broadstreets and good-sized houses, instead of which rows of huts alone werevisible, with here and there a cottage of somewhat larger size; thewhole surrounded by stockades. It was situated on the borders of theriver, which here made a sharp angle, another stream running in on oneside. Thus the land on which it stood was almost an island, andconsequently protected from any sudden attack by foes not possessed ofboats or canoes.

  The owner of one of the larger cottages was willing to dispose of it toMistress Audley; and Captain Layton having concluded the arrangement forher, she and her family took up their abode there. It faced the river,with a garden reaching to the water in front. On each side there was abroad verandah, affording shelter from the hot rays of the sun.Mistress Audley, as might be expected, invited Cicely to reside at thecottage, while Captain Layton and Roger were engaged in building a housenear at hand; they, in the mean time, living on board the ship. Theunfriendly disposition of the natives compelled the settlers thus toconcentrate themselves in a town, instead of forming farms scatteredover the country some distance from each other, by which means corn andother productions might, in that fertile region, have quickly beenobtained. As it was, they had to depend on the chase, and on suchprovisions as they could purchase from the natives, who, though at firstwilling enough to part with food in exchange for the articles brought bythe English, had of late brought in but a scanty supply. The state ofthe settlement also was in other respects unsatisfactory; the chiefpersons in authority had quarrelled with each other, and Captain Smith,the only man who had exhibited wisdom and energy, had lately started onan exploring expedition up the country, in the hopes of forming friendlyrelations with the chiefs and some of the more powerful tribes to thenorthward. It was hoped, however, that Sir Thomas Gates, aided by theenergetic admiral, would bring things into better order.

  The spirits of those who left England with bright hopes of soon becomingpossessors of magnificent estates in the New World were thus at a lowebb, and had they not either embarked all their property in theenterprise or come out because they possessed none in England, thegreater number of the settlers would ere this have returned. Vaughanand Roger had completely recovered from their hurts, and even the chiefCanochet, though so severely wounded, was almost well again. He hadbeen offered his liberty, but he replied that after having been somercifully treated by the English he would not leave them till he hadlearned more of their language and religion. In this he was especiallyinstructed by good Master Hunt, the chaplain, who had ever provedhimself a friend to the Indians, and to his own countrymen, whoseunseemly disputes he had been instrumental in settling.

  Vaughan and Gilbert, having seen their mother established in her newhome, were eager to set out in search of their father. She, however,knowing the dangers to which they would be exposed, was very unwillingto let them go until they had become somewhat acquainted with thelanguage of the natives and the nature of the country. The two seamen,Tarbox and Flowers declared their belief that the spot where they hadtaken Batten on board was less than fifty miles to the north of theentrance to James River, and that consequently the place where he hadmet Captain Audley could not be much farther off than that distance fromJames Town. Captain Layton, however, who examined the men, was somewhatdoubtful of the accuracy of their statements; still, although thedistance might really be very much greater, he hoped in time by means offriendly Indians to hear if a white man was living with any of thetribes in that direction. At present no one in the settlement possesseda sufficient knowledge of the interior of the country to lead a party,especially among savages who would probably prove hostile. Roger andGilbert wished to set out by themselves, but Captain Layton positivelyforbade his son going, and Mistress Audley, by his advice, put the sameprohibition on Gilbert. They had therefore to restrain theirimpatience; Mistress Audley praying that God in His good providencewould in time point out the way by which their object might be attained.