Nathaniel had already formed his plan of action.

From Marion's words and the voice in which she had uttered them he knew that it would be useless for him as it had been for Neil to urge her to flee from the island.

There remained but one thing for him to do, so he fell back upon the scheme which he had proposed to Marion's brother.

He realized now that he might be compelled to play the game single-handed unless he could secure assistance from Obadiah.

His ship and men were in the hands of the Mormons; Neil, in his search for the captured vessel, stood a large chance, of missing him that night, and in that event Marion's fate would depend on him alone.