When Marguerite reveals herself, the fishermen cross themselves in fear, and the man in a red cap draws a knife. Speaking French, she identifies herself as a Christian noblewoman. A burly Basque named Mikel comes ashore to translate haltingly. Noticing the cloth on her head, the men assume she is a nun; Marguerite kneels and leads them in the Hail Mary, which they recite together in Latin. She shows Mikel the signet ring engraved with M, a gift from Marguerite, Queen of Navarre, and learns the men are Basques fishing for cod.

To win their favor, Marguerite gathers gulls' eggs from the rookery, builds a fire, and feeds them. She offers to shoot birds, alarming them given her supposed religious status, but persuades the captain to let Mikel and Ion accompany her to her cave. She retrieves three arquebuses, powder, and her picture of the Virgin, which she sets up to reinforce her piety. The three hunt birds together, and Marguerite slits a wounded bird's throat without hesitation, revealing how the wilderness has changed her.

The captain, Aznar, shares wine and biscuit, and Marguerite feasts with the crew. Mikel tells her they leave for France in three days. On the third day, Marguerite dresses in her best clothes, packs coins, pearls, her gold necklace, holy books, the Virgin's picture, her knife, and the bear's claw, leaving most possessions behind. She visits the graves of Auguste, Damienne, and her infant son, vowing to honor them.

At the shore, she asks to bring the Virgin's picture aboard so Our Lady might bless their voyage. Aznar refuses to take a woman, but Marguerite argues that she hunts, fishes, and has survived two winters. When refusal continues, she offers a gold écu now and another upon arrival. Aznar accepts. Marguerite climbs aboard, and as the boats sail away, she watches her island recede and weeps both for joy at escape and sorrow at leaving her dead behind.