"Land! land!" was shouted from the masthead just before the sun rose
above the horizon, and Vaughan and Gilbert, with many others who hurried
on deck, soon saw, just emerging from the ocean to the westward, two
blue hummocks. In a short time the land was discerned, stretching away
to the northward. The captain at once recognised the hummocks as
landmarks to the southward of Chesapeake Bay, towards the mouth of which
magnificent estuary the ship was now steered. The day was far advanced
when they entered between two capes, since known as Cape Charles on the
north 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 nearly
two days more had passed that, early in the morning a small fort was
seen about two miles south of Cape Comfort, at the entrance of James
River. A gun was fired, and the English flag flying from the fort
showed them that it was garrisoned by their friends. Captain Newport
therefore sent a boat on shore to inform the commandant who they were.
While the vessels came to an anchor those on board eagerly looked out
for the return of the boat, when they hoped that their many doubts and
fears would be brought to an end. At length she came, bringing a
stranger seated in the stern-sheets. The eyes of all on board were
directed towards him. As the boat approached, he stood up and waved his
hat, gazing eagerly at the ship.
"It is Roger Layton," shouted Gilbert, whose vision was one of the
keenest of all on board.
"Yes, yes! it is he! it is he!" echoed Lettice, forgetting the presence
of bystanders. The _boat came alongside_, and Roger sprang on deck; he,
too, at first seemed not to recollect that there were others besides
Lettice lookers-on, and, advancing towards her, he took her hand and
pressed it to his lips, afterwards greeting Mistress Audley in the same
manner.
"My father and sister are well," he answered to Audley's eager queries,
as they warmly shook hands. He was quickly, however, plied with eager
questions by many others, to which he could but briefly reply. The
fleet had arrived safely, the ketch _Susan_ excepted, which had
foundered during the gale. The smaller vessels had gone up the river as
far as James Town, where a settlement had been formed, and the larger,
including the _Rainbow_, lay at anchor in Hampton Roads, whence he had
come over to visit the commander of the fort. No great progress had
been made in the settlement, for the commanders had disputed among
themselves; the only true man among them being Captain Smith, who was
the 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 have
had a hard matter to hold our own, surrounded as we have been by
savages, whose friendship is doubtful. Notwithstanding this, our brave
friend Captain Smith, Rolfe, and I, have made excursions in all
directions, and, whenever we could, have communicated with the Indians,
making inquiries for a white man residing among them. Even now, Captain
Smith is away up the country, and he promised me that he would continue
his inquiries. I, indeed, should have accompanied him, but my father is
disheartened with the way affairs have been carried on, and poor Cicely
is so much out of health that we were on the point of sailing for
England. 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 to
do so."
"Of course you must," exclaimed Gilbert, "why, I have been looking
forward to all sorts of adventures with you, and Vaughan there will
greatly object to your going."
"Indeed shall I," said Vaughan, "and I propose, with your leave, going
on shore with you, and proceeding overland to where the _Rainbow_ is
lying, concluding, as I do, that we shall get there sooner than the
ship."
"You are right, and I shall be glad of your company," said Roger; "it
will be the best proof to Cicely that you are not fathoms deep below the
ocean, 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 that
all on board have perished."
After much more information had been exchanged, Roger, with Vaughan
Audley, returned on shore. Others would have done so, but the captain
hoped to sail in the evening, and it was the object of all to reach
James Town as soon as possible. Lettice was unwilling so soon again to
part 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 under
way, and proceeded round to Cape Comfort, where they came to an anchor
in the roads, not far from where the _Rainbow_ and two other ships lay
moored. Scarcely had their sails been furled than the wind, which had
for some time been increasing, began to blow a perfect hurricane; the
thunder roared, the lightning flashed, and the rain came down in
torrents. Truly, they had reason to be thankful that they were in a
safe harbour instead of being out on the stormy ocean. So fiercely did
the hurricane rage that no boats could venture to pass between the
ships. It was hoped that Vaughan and Roger had already safely reached
the ship, but even of that they were uncertain. Hour after hour the
storm raged on; the surface of the harbour was broken into foaming
waves, which rolled hissing by. The tall trees on shore bent before the
blast; huge boughs were seen torn off and whirled far away through the
air.
All night long the hurricane continued. Towards morning it broke. When
daylight returned, the clouds disappearing, the sun shone forth,
brightly sparkling on the tiny wavelets, which now danced merrily on the
bosom of the harbour. Early in the morning Gilbert, accompanied by
Fenton, pulled on board the _Rainbow_. As he stepped on deck, Captain
Layton, who was standing near the gangway, started on seeing him; for a
minute or more it seemed that he could not believe his senses.
"Who are you, young man?" he exclaimed, scanning his features. Gilbert
briefly told him who he was, and what had occurred.
"Heaven be praised!" exclaimed the captain; "I fully believed that you
and all on board the _Sea Venture_ had perished, or I should long ere
this have gone in search of you. The news that your brother has escaped
will restore life to my daughter Cicely, who has been mourning him as
lost. I will at once go below and break the intelligence to her, or it
may reach her too suddenly. Can I tell her that your brother is well?"
"I believe so," answered Gilbert. "He but yesterday landed with your
son, and I expected to have found them on board the _Rainbow_. Why they
have not arrived I cannot tell, as they were to have set off immediately
from Fort Algernon."
"Possibly they may have been detained by the storm, but I would rather
they had been here," observed the captain. "The state of the whole
country is unsatisfactory, for the natives are often hostile, and it is
dangerous for a small party to move far from the settlement, although it
was 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 the
non-appearance of Vaughan and Roger, and agreed, should they not soon
arrive, to set off in search of them with as many men as they could
obtain. After some time the captain summoned them into the cabin.
Cecily had been weeping tears of joy; she was anxious to make inquiries
about Mistress Audley and Lettice. After they had replied to her many
questions, the captain proposed visiting the _Deliverance_. Lettice and
Cicely were delighted to meet each other, but their happiness would have
been greater had Vaughan and Roger been present. They had already begun
to feel anxious at their not having arrived on board. Captain Layton
tried to conceal from them his own apprehensions, but he expressed them
to the admiral and governor, who, at his request, agreed to furnish him
with a party of men to go in search of them should they not soon appear.
Gilbert, Fenton, and Oliver Dane obtained permission to join the
expedition.
The party amounted to nearly a score, and with their firearms, provided
they acted with due caution, had no need to fear any number of hostile
Indians. Captain Layton's intention was to proceed to the fort, and
should Roger and Vaughan have left it, follow their trail with the aid
of 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 by
a narrow path cut through the dense forest, where hostile natives might
have attacked them to great advantage, as they could not have been seen
till close upon them, and thus their firearms would avail them but
little. Oliver Dane kept near the captain, who remained at the head of
the main body, while Gilbert and Fenton went on some little way ahead
with Ben Tarbox and another man, peering into the forest at every step
to discover whether it harboured a foe. They had got within nearly a
mile of the fort when Gilbert, who was looking through some bushes on
the right, beyond which the forest opened out somewhat, caught sight of
a figure moving rapidly in the direction of the fort. He signed to his
companions to remain concealed while he more carefully surveyed the
stranger, whom he soon knew, by his dress of skins and the feathers
which adorned his head, to be an Indian. Gilbert watched, supposing
that others would follow, but the Indian was apparently alone. He was
doubting whether he should advance or allow the Indian to proceed on his
way, when the keen eye of the latter caught sight of his face amid the
foliage. Gilbert now observed that, instead of a bow and quiver of
arrows, he carried a musket in his hand. He knew, therefore, that he
must have intercourse with the English, and was probably a friend.
Signing to his companions to remain quiet, he advanced beyond the
shelter of the bushes, and made a sign that he wished to speak with him.
The stranger, showing no signs of fear, immediately came forward and
inquired who he was and whither he was bound. Gilbert at once replied,
that he and his companions were searching for two Englishmen who had
come 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 as
Miantomah, a friend of the pale-faces. I was in the fort when the ships
arrived, and a young stranger came on shore. He and another officer
immediately set off to the harbour. They had gone some few hours when
one of my people, who had been out scouting, brought word that the
Monacans, 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 pursue
and scalp them. I at once offered to follow and warn them of their
danger, and to lead them by a path round by the shore which the Monacans
were not likely to approach. I hoped to have come upon them at their
encampment, but they travelled more rapidly than I had expected; and
while still on their track, night overtook me. Next day, at dawn, I
pushed forward; but when I reached the spot where I calculated they must
have encamped, to my dismay, I came upon the trail of the Monacans, who
must, knew, have espied them. I went on, however, desirous of learning
what had happened. I soon afterwards came upon the Monacan camp, and
beyond it I found the trail of the two pale-faces. Could they by rapid
travelling still have kept ahead? I feared not.
"Going on, I reached their camp; and now I learnt what had befallen
them. They were still asleep on the beds they had formed of leaves,
with their camp fire at their feet, when the Monacans had pounced on
them before they could rise to defend themselves. There were no signs
even of a struggle,--no blood was spilt; thus I hoped that their lives
had been spared. I immediately followed the trail of the Monacans and
their captives, which turned away to the west. I had not gone far when
a fearful storm began to rage, and I knew well that those I was
following would seek for some place where they might obtain shelter from
the rain, which came down in torrents, and from the boughs of the trees
falling around, torn off by the wind. I, nevertheless, pushed on; but
the rain and wind had obliterated their trail, and I could only guess
the direction they had taken. Before me, at some distance, was a rocky
region in which several caverns existed, where the Monacans, should they
be acquainted with them, would, I knew, fly for shelter. It was now
necessary for me to advance with the greatest caution, lest I should be
discovered by my foes, from whom I guessed that I could be at no great
distance. I was compelled, for the sake of concealing myself, to travel
through the forest; but I kept to those parts where the trees were of
less height and the branches smaller, thus not being so likely to be
torn 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 of
the caverns I have spoken of. I watched them till they took shelter
within it, and then, crouching down under the trunk of a fallen tree
which afforded me some slight protection from the tempest, I remained
till nightfall. I knew that they would kindle a fire at the mouth of
the cavern, the light from which would guide me to it; I was not
disappointed, and, creeping cautiously along under shelter of the rocks,
I got near enough to hear their voices. Close to the mouth of the
cavern was another, with a small entrance, penetrating deeply into the
hill, and communicating with the large cavern. I did not hesitate to
enter, hoping to have an opportunity of speaking to the two palefaces,
and, perhaps, even of rescuing them. I waited till I supposed that all
the Monacans were asleep; then, groping my way, reached the end of the
cavern, and found myself, as I expected, at the inner end of the large
one.
"The Monacans had, I suspected, placed their prisoners at the inner end
for greater security. The cavern was in perfect darkness, for the light
of the fire at the entrance did not extend thus far, though it enabled
me to see the people sleeping round it. The noise of the tempest, the
crashing of rocks as they rolled down the hillside, the huge boughs torn
off from the trees, and the ceaseless rattling of the thunder, drowned
all other sounds, and I had no fear of being heard. Cautiously I crept
forward, with my head bent to the ground, till I found myself close to a
man, as I knew by his loud breathing. I felt his dress, and I thus knew
that he was one of the prisoners. I put my mouth to his ear and
whispered 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 he
could not go without his friend, whose foot was hurt so that he could
not escape by flight. That mattered not, I replied, as I could conceal
him till the Monacans had got tired of looking for him.
"Without loss of time, I released my friend, and we quickly set his
companion at liberty. Helping him along between us, we crawled up to
the hole by which I had entered. The Monacans, not suspecting what was
going on, slept soundly. We crawled through the hole into the further
end of the small cavern; here I believed that we were safe, as the
darkness would prevent the Monacans from discovering our trail; and not
aware, as I concluded, of the existence of the hole, they would be
unable to guess by what means their prisoners had escaped."
Miantomah had got thus far in his narrative when Captain Layton and the
rest of the party came up, and the Indian had to repeat what he had
said, which, as he spoke in broken English, took some time. Gilbert,
meantime, was very impatient to hear what farther had happened to his
brother and Roger.
"And when you got into the end of the cavern, what did you do?" he asked
at last. "Are they there still?"
"I found that the young stranger, though unable to walk, could limp
along with the assistance of his friend and me," continued Miantomah; "I
knew of another cavern a short distance off, higher up the hill; if we
could reach it, while the rain continued to pour down as it was still
doing, we should be safe. I persuaded him to make the attempt. By
remaining where we were we should too probably be caught, like burrowing
animals in a hole, as the Monacans were not likely to go away without
thoroughly searching both the caverns. The young man resting on our
arms, we set out; the influence of the tempest, as before, prevented the
sound of our footsteps reaching our enemies. At length we reached the
mouth of the cavern, the position of which I well knew. Thick bushes
grew in front of it, so that no strangers were likely to find us, but in
case any of the enemy might pass by, I led my companions higher up the
hill and then down close to the rock inside of the shrubs. Here we
might 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 adopt
it. I would get to a distance and let them see me, when they would to a
certainty 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 they
would 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 soon
seen as I knew by their gestures, and uttering a loud shout and waving
my gun over my head, I darted off. Being fast of foot, I knew that they
could not overtake me; and they probably thought that my object was to
lead them into an ambush of the palefaces, for in a short time their
cries no longer resounded through the forest, and I felt confident that
they had turned back. I was even now on my way to the fort to obtain
assistance, but if you will accompany me much time will be saved and we
may the sooner reach your friends."
The meaning of this address being fully understood, Captain Layton at
once agreed to Miantomah's proposal. Notwithstanding the long run he
had had, he did not beg for a moment's rest, but led the way at a speed
which taxed the strength of all the party. Gilbert especially was
anxious to go to the rescue of his brother and Roger, for
notwithstanding the assurances of the Indian, he could not help fearing
that they were in the most perilous position. Should the Monacans
discover them, they would in all probability instantly put them to
death.
"They know what they are about," observed Fenton, "and depend upon it
they 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 both
their weapons as well as their powder-flasks, and should their
ammunition last, they would be able, from the mouth of the cavern, to
keep 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 of
hours more they might arrive at the caverns. Their leader's intention
was accordingly to set off before daybreak, so as to reach the
neighbourhood of the caverns soon after dawn, when the Indians, if still
there, would be taking their morning meal. There was still much cause
for anxiety, for should they suspect the trick that had been played
them, and cunning as they were they were very likely to do so, they
would certainly search every place in the neighbourhood in which the
escaped captives were likely to have taken refuge; for they well knew
that Vaughan Audley was unable to walk, and that his companions could
not have carried him far on their backs. A strict watch was kept by
Captain Layton during the night, lest the natives might discover them
and attempt an attack. The night however passed over quietly, and at
the hour proposed, Miantomah, rousing up the party, led the way towards
the hills. The birds were saluting the early dawn with their tuneful
notes, when, just as the hills came in sight amid the trees, a shot was
heard, followed by another.
"On! on!" cried the Indian guide. "Our friends have been discovered, as
I feared, and are defending themselves; but, though they may hold out
for some time, their ammunition must soon be expended, when the Monacans
will, 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 his
speed, followed by Fenton, Oliver Dane, and Ben Tarbox; even the Indian
could scarcely keep up with them. The sound of shots continued to reach
their ears; it encouraged them, showing that their friends were still
holding out. In a short time they could hear even the shouts and cries
of the Indians, as they climbed the hill, endeavouring to reach the
mouth of the cavern; but, as yet, their approach had not been
discovered. Miantomah now signed to them to keep to the left, and to
crouch down as he was doing, following one after the other so that they
might get close to their enemies before they were seen. His advice was
followed, and the whole party were within gunshot before the Monacans
were aware of their approach. For some seconds no shots were heard from
the cavern, towards the mouth of which the Indians were seen shooting
clouds of arrows, and then making their way up the hill as if they no
longer expected resistance. On this, Miantomah, raising a loud
war-whoop, signed to the English to fire. He was obeyed: as the smoke
cleared off, several Indians were seen stretched on the ground, while
the rest went rushing down the hill. Gilbert and several others were
about to follow them, when Captain Layton shouted--"Keep together, my
men, and reload, for the savages are more numerous than we are; and
should they get among us with their tomahawks our firearms will be of no
avail."
It was fortunate that this order was given, for the natives, incited on
by one who appeared to be their chief, quickly rallied, and observing
the small number opposed to them, drew their bows and sent a flight of
arrows among them, which slightly wounded two men. They were then about
to dash forward to meet the pale faces, uttering loud war-whoops, and
flourishing their tomahawks, when Captain Layton ordered his men to fire
and quickly to reload, directing several to aim at the chief. A loud
shout reached their ears; the Indians were still rushing on, when his
tomahawk was seen to fall from their leader's hand, and the next
instant, while still in advance of his men, he came heavily to the
ground. His followers were still advancing, when another volley was
fired into their midst, which brought several down and put the rest
hastily to flight, at a rate which would have rendered pursuit
fruitless. Miantomah was about to rush on, Indian-like, to take the
scalp 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 the
chief, who, resting on his arm, looked defiantly at those who surrounded
him. In the mean time Gilbert, who was looking towards the cavern,
caught sight of Roger Layton, who trampling aside the bushes, appeared
at the entrance. Roger beckoned to him eagerly, and with several others
he hurried up the hill.
"You have arrived opportunely," he exclaimed, "for Vaughan is sorely
wounded, and I am but in little better plight."
Gilbert, making his way through the bushes, saw his brother lying at the
mouth of the cavern with his musket by his side, the blood flowing from
a wound caused by an arrow in his side, but which he had with much
courage extracted, while Roger showed the places in his dress where two
others had passed, one through his arm and another in his leg; a large
number also sticking in the ground around them. Gilbert, with the
assistance of Ben Tarbox, quickly bound up his brother's wound, Fenton
and Oliver attending to Roger. More men being summoned to their
assistance, their two wounded friends were borne down the hill.
Captain Layton had attended to the wounds of the Indian chief, which his
experience told him were not likely to prove mortal. He deemed it
important, however, to get at once surgical assistance; and as Roger
informed 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 friendly
Indian. As they advanced, a vigilant watch was kept in case the
defeated Indians should venture to follow and attempt the recovery of
their chief. No natives, however, were seen; yet it was possible that
they might be near at hand, keeping themselves carefully concealed.
"This country may be a very fine one, and supply a fellow with as much
tobacco as he can want to smoke," observed Ben Tarbox; "but to my mind
it isn't the pleasantest to travel in, when a man doesn't know when he
goes to sleep whether he will get up again, not to say without his
nightcap, but without the scalp on the top of his head."
From the judicious precautions taken by their leader, the party escaped
attack, and arrived safely at the harbour. Vaughan and Roger were
carried on board the _Rainbow_, which afforded more accommodation than
the other ships, and here, by Captain Layton's invitation, Mistress
Audley and Lettice removed, that they might assist Cicely in taking care
of the wounded men. The captured chief was also carried on board the
_Rainbow_, for want of room in the other ships. He was here carefully
tended by the surgeon and by Mistress Audley, Lettice and Cicely also
paid him frequent visits; he thus quickly recovered, and seemed grateful
for the care bestowed on him. His name, he said, was Canochet, chief of
the Monacans; he had formed a wrong opinion of the pale-faces, believing
that they were cruel tyrants, instead of kind and humane people, as he
had found them. To Mistress Audley especially he seemed greatly
attached, and he declared that he would willingly give up his life for
sake 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 arrival
of Mistress Audley induced Captain Layton to change his intention of
returning to England, and the _Rainbow_, accompanied by the
_Perseverance_ and _Patience_, proceeded up to James Town, situated
about fifty miles from the mouth of the river.
The settlers had expected to see a well laid-out town, with broad
streets and good-sized houses, instead of which rows of huts alone were
visible, with here and there a cottage of somewhat larger size; the
whole surrounded by stockades. It was situated on the borders of the
river, which here made a sharp angle, another stream running in on one
side. Thus the land on which it stood was almost an island, and
consequently protected from any sudden attack by foes not possessed of
boats or canoes.
The owner of one of the larger cottages was willing to dispose of it to
Mistress Audley; and Captain Layton having concluded the arrangement for
her, 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 a
broad verandah, affording shelter from the hot rays of the sun.
Mistress Audley, as might be expected, invited Cicely to reside at the
cottage, while Captain Layton and Roger were engaged in building a house
near at hand; they, in the mean time, living on board the ship. The
unfriendly disposition of the natives compelled the settlers thus to
concentrate themselves in a town, instead of forming farms scattered
over the country some distance from each other, by which means corn and
other productions might, in that fertile region, have quickly been
obtained. As it was, they had to depend on the chase, and on such
provisions as they could purchase from the natives, who, though at first
willing enough to part with food in exchange for the articles brought by
the English, had of late brought in but a scanty supply. The state of
the settlement also was in other respects unsatisfactory; the chief
persons in authority had quarrelled with each other, and Captain Smith,
the only man who had exhibited wisdom and energy, had lately started on
an exploring expedition up the country, in the hopes of forming friendly
relations with the chiefs and some of the more powerful tribes to the
northward. It was hoped, however, that Sir Thomas Gates, aided by the
energetic admiral, would bring things into better order.
The spirits of those who left England with bright hopes of soon becoming
possessors of magnificent estates in the New World were thus at a low
ebb, and had they not either embarked all their property in the
enterprise or come out because they possessed none in England, the
greater number of the settlers would ere this have returned. Vaughan
and Roger had completely recovered from their hurts, and even the chief
Canochet, though so severely wounded, was almost well again. He had
been offered his liberty, but he replied that after having been so
mercifully treated by the English he would not leave them till he had
learned more of their language and religion. In this he was especially
instructed by good Master Hunt, the chaplain, who had ever proved
himself a friend to the Indians, and to his own countrymen, whose
unseemly disputes he had been instrumental in settling.
Vaughan and Gilbert, having seen their mother established in her new
home, were eager to set out in search of their father. She, however,
knowing the dangers to which they would be exposed, was very unwilling
to let them go until they had become somewhat acquainted with the
language of the natives and the nature of the country. The two seamen,
Tarbox and Flowers declared their belief that the spot where they had
taken Batten on board was less than fifty miles to the north of the
entrance to James River, and that consequently the place where he had
met Captain Audley could not be much farther off than that distance from
James Town. Captain Layton, however, who examined the men, was somewhat
doubtful of the accuracy of their statements; still, although the
distance might really be very much greater, he hoped in time by means of
friendly Indians to hear if a white man was living with any of the
tribes in that direction. At present no one in the settlement possessed
a sufficient knowledge of the interior of the country to lead a party,
especially among savages who would probably prove hostile. Roger and
Gilbert wished to set out by themselves, but Captain Layton positively
forbade his son going, and Mistress Audley, by his advice, put the same
prohibition on Gilbert. They had therefore to restrain their
impatience; Mistress Audley praying that God in His good providence
would in time point out the way by which their object might be attained.