Nor can we hope to gain passage by surprise.

That man-of-war boat will spread far the rumor of your escape, so every Spaniard between here and the Ohio will be on the lookout for our coming." I imagine the same thought stole into the mind of both, how easily we two, travelling light, might press our way through that scattered line of guard, and attain the upper Ohio; how easily, only for the danger and distress to which so desperate an attempt would expose her.

She alone ventured to give the idea utterance.
"Messieurs," she said earnestly, her calm brown eyes uplifted to our faces, "I have been considering this for an hour past.

I know you would experience small trouble eluding the Spaniards, or even cutting your way through them, were I not with you.

Yet this is not beyond remedy.