A few minutes before four o'clock the Indian and Mrs.Godfrey arrived at the canoe with the box.[4] [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.