the two rebel leaders was hard for him to endure. He longed to be away
in his search for the missing girl. At times he was like a caged lion
just from the jungle, and threatened bodily harm to a number of
soldiers of the garrison. When at last free, he and Pete lost no time
in heading up the river, straight for the little settlement below Oak
Point. Here he was joyfully received by the Loyalists, and the scraps
of news he was enabled to impart were eagerly received and discussed
for days. He told them of the trial and conviction of Flazeet and
Rauchad, and that their punishment would undoubtedly be very severe.
He related the hardships of the Loyalists who had come to Portland
Point with the fall fleet. Some had gone up river, but others, chiefly
disbanded soldiers, were having a serious time. They had pitched their
tents in a most exposed place, thatched them with spruce boughs, and
banked them with snow. But the suffering was so terrible that numbers
had already died. This was sad news to the settlers, and they
considered themselves fortunate in their comfortable abodes, with
sufficient food and fuel to last them through the hard winter.

Colonel Sterling had aged greatly since Dane last saw him. He was much
stooped, and his hair and beard whiter than ever. His eyes expressed
the agony of his soul. They, more than anything else, revealed to Dane
what he had undergone since the loss of his daughter. He uttered no
complaint, and when the young man entered his house he had asked no
questions. He knew all too well that Dane's search had been in vain.
He said little that evening, but listened with bowed head as the
courier related his experiences during the past few weeks. But Old
Mammy was not so reticent, and asked Dane no end of questions, and
begged him to bring back her lost darling.

"De Lo'd will not let dem Injuns keep my lil'l lamb," she declared.