"No, massa, no fear ob dat," answered Rose, stuffing the handkerchief back into the Indian's mouth, "if he try to move, I soon make him keep quiet." As the white man might be returning, we hastened back to be ready for him. I suggested that we should haul up the canoe, and knock a hole in her, to prevent the stranger, should he escape us, from getting off; but Mr Tidey thought that she might be of use to us, and advised instead that we should hide the paddles, which would answer the purpose equally well. We listened as we drew near the spot where the canoe lay, but we could hear no one approaching. Without hesitation, therefore, drawing her to the bank, I stepped into her, and searched about to ascertain what she contained. I soon discovered several pieces of rope, a basket of provisions, and a bottle of rum. It was possible that the Indian's apparent stupidity had arisen from his having drunk a portion of the latter. The rope confirmed us in our belief that the men in the canoe had come for the purpose of making a prisoner of some one or other. Bringing the rope and paddles, I returned on shore. Scarcely had we hidden them in the bushes than, hearing footsteps approaching, we hurriedly concealed ourselves. Presently the white man we had before seen emerged from the gloom of the trees. We saw him looking towards the canoe. "What can have become of the rascals?" he exclaimed with an oath, speaking to himself. He was advancing towards the canoe, expecting probably to find the Indian asleep within her, when Mr Tidey and I sprang so rapidly on him, that before he had even time to turn round, we had him stretched on the ground, the Dominie holding him tightly with one hand on his throat and the other on his right arm, while I held down his left arm and presented one of his own pistols, which I drew from his belt, at his head. "You know best if this is loaded; and, if it is, should you make the slightest resistance, I will shoot you," I said in a firm tone. "Who are you, villains, who dare thus attack a free and independent citizen?" exclaimed the stranger, following the inquiry with a volley of abuse. "Keep a civil tongue in your head and answer the questions we put, or you may have to repent it," said the Dominie. "Why did you come here?" "I came to look after a rascally black who escaped from his owner, and you will be sorry for having interfered with me in my lawful business." "We are ready to take the consequences," answered Mr Tidey. "Before we set you free, we intend to learn whether your story is true; so submit quietly, or we shall be obliged to resort to more violence than we wish."