Billings was at a loss what course to take, but he had made up his mind not to return to the city, until he had learned something definite in relation to the fate of his intended bride. In all probability, she was at some one of the Indian villages belonging to some of the tribes occupying that part of the country. For this purpose he embarked again in the small vessel in which he had come up the river, intending to proceed a short distance further up, for the purpose of consulting an old chief who, with his family, occupied a small island situated there. He had proceeded but a short distance when he saw a large fleet of canoes approaching. Supposing them to belong to friendly Indians, Billings made no attempt to avoid them, and his boat was in a few moments surrounded by the savages. At first the Indians appeared to be perfectly friendly, offering to trade and, seeming particularly anxious to purchase fire-arms. This aroused the suspicions of the white men, and they commenced endeavoring to get rid of their troublesome visitors, when to their astonishment, they were informed that they were prisoners! Billings was surprised to find that the Indians, after securing their prisoners, instead of starting up the river again, continued their course down the stream. But what he learned shortly after from one of the Indians, who spoke English tolerably well, astonished him still more. And that was, that he was taken for the notorious pirate Captain Flint, of whose escape they had heard from some of their friends recently from the city, and they thought that nothing would please their white brethren so much as to bring him back captive. It was to no purpose that Billings endeavored to convince them of their mistake. They only shook their heads, as much as to say it was of no use, they were not to be so easily imposed upon. And so Billings saw there was no help for it but to await patiently his arrival at New York, when all would be set right again. But in the meantime Hellena might be removed far beyond his reach. CHAPTER XVII. Great was the mortification in the city upon learning the mistake they had made. Where they had expected to receive praise and a handsome reward for having performed a meritorious action, they obtained only censure and reproaches for meddling in matters that did not concern them. It was only a mistake however, and there was no help for it. And Billings, although greatly vexed and disappointed, saw no course left for him but to set off again, although he feared that the chances of success were greatly against him this time, on account of the time that had been lost. The Indians, whose unfortunate blunder had been the cause of this delay, in order to make some amends for the wrong they had done him, now came forward, and offered to aid him in his search for the missing maiden.