"You would like to make your escape, then?" continued the woman.
Seth laughed bitterly as he answered:
"Why do you ask me that? You know as well as I do that I would give anything on earth to escape, and be with my men again."
The woman smiled at his earnestness.
"If I were to show you how you might escape, what would you do?"
Seth's face lit up, and his eyes dilated. He was about to say that he would do anything in the world for her, and then he checked himself, for the humiliating thought came that he, a poor penniless prisoner—did not have it in his power to reward her at all.
She quite understood how it was, and went on to say: "Do not mind about that. I meant nothing. If I do help you to escape it will be because you come from my own country, and I shall not want anything from you."
She then proceeded to explain herself, and Seth listened with every nerve a-quiver.
It seemed that preparations were being made to send more soldiers down to Quebec by the river, and that a number of canoes duly supplied with stores were ready for the start in the morning. If Seth could contrive to get off with one of these canoes he might make his way down the river to where the English were encamped on the shore opposite Quebec.
Seth heard her with indescribable delight. The dangers and difficulties of the undertaking were as naught in his eyes, and he poured out his gratitude in the strongest words he could command.