Upon one occasion, when the messenger arrived at the school he found all things in commotion.

Johnny Kinzie was missing! Search was made in all directions; every place was ransacked.
It was all in vain; no Johnny Kinzie could be found.
The heavy tidings were carried home to his mother.

By some it was supposed the lad was drowned; by others that he had strayed away, and would return.

Weeks passed by, and months, and he was at length given up and mourned as lost.

In the mean time the boy was fulfilling a determination he had long formed, to visit his native city of Quebec, and make his way in life for himself.
He had by some means succeeded in crossing from Williamsburg to the city of New York, and finding at one of the docks on the North River a sloop bound for Albany, he took passage on board of her.