as my opinion that they travel such different roads that
they will never meet。〃
〃Explain yourself； my friend；〃 said the bewildered sea…
man； looking around him in search of Muir； whose absence
began to excite his distrust。 〃I see nothing of the Quar…
termaster； but I think him too much of a man to run
away； now that the victory is gained。 If the fight were
ahead instead of in our wake； the case would be altered。〃
〃There lies all that is left of him； beneath that great…
coat；〃 returned the guide； who then briefly related the
manner of the Lieutenant's death。 〃The Tuscarora was
as venemous in his blow as a rattler； though he failed to
give the warning；〃 continued Pathfinder。 〃I've seen
many a desperate fight； and several of these sudden out…
breaks of savage temper； but never before did I see a hu…
man soul quit the body more unexpectedly； or at a worse
moment for the hopes of the dying man。 His breath was
stopped with the lie on his lips； and the spirit might be
said to have passed away in the very ardor of wickedness。〃
Cap listened with a gaping mouth； and he gave two or
three violent hems； as the other concluded； like one who
distrusted his own respiration。
〃This is an uncertain and uncomfortable life of yours；
Master Pathfinder； what between the fresh water and the
savages；〃 said he； 〃and the sooner I get quit of it； the
higher will be my opinion of myself。 Now you mention
it； I will say that the man ran for that berth in the rocks；
when the enemy first bore down upon us； with a sort of
instinct that I thought surprising in an officer； but I was
in too great a hurry to follow； to log the whole matter ac…
curately。 God bless me！ God bless me！ a traitor； do you
say； and ready to sell his country； and to a rascally French…
man too？〃
〃To sell anything； country； soul； body； Mabel； and all
our scalps； and no ways particular； I'll engage； as to the
purchaser。 The countrymen of Captain Flinty…heart here
were the paymasters this time。〃
〃Just like 'em； ever ready to buy when they can't
thrash； and to run when they can do neither。〃
Monsieur Sanglier lifted his cap with ironical gravity；
and acknowledged the compliment with an expression of
polite contempt that was altogether lost on its insensible
subject。 But Pathfinder had too much native courtesy；
and was far too just…minded； to allow the attack to go un…
noticed。
〃Well； well；〃 he interposed； 〃to my mind there is no
great difference 'atween an Englishman and a Frenchman；
after all。 They talk different tongues； and live under
different kings； I will allow； but both are human； and
feel like human beings； when there is occasion for it。〃
Captain Flinty…heart； as Pathfinder called him； made
another obeisance； but this time the smile was friendly；
and not ironical； for he felt that the intention was good；
whatever might have been the mode of expressing it。 Too
philosophical； however； to heed what a man like Cap
might say or think； he finished his breakfast； without al…
lowing his attention to be again diverted from that im…
portant pursuit。
〃My business here was principally with the Quarter…
master；〃 Cap continued； as soon as he had done regarding
the prisoner's pantomime。 〃The Sergeant must be near
his end； and I have thought he might wish to say some…
thing to his successor in authority before he finally de…
parted。 It is too late； it would seem； and； as you say；
Pathfinder； the Lieutenant has truly gone before。〃
〃That he has； though on a different path。 As for au…
thority； I suppose the Corporal has now a right to com…
mand what's left of the 55th； though a small and worried；
not to say frightened； party it is。 But； if anything needs
to be done； the chances are greatly in favor of my being
called on to do it。 I suppose； however； we have only to
bury our dead； set fire to the block and the huts； for they
stand in the inimy's territory by position； if not by law；
and must not be left for their convenience。 Our using
them again is out of the question； for； now the Frenchers
know where the island is to be found； it would be like
thrusting the hand into a wolf…trap with our eyes wide
open。 This part of the work the Sarpent and I will see
to； for we are as practysed in retreats as in advances。〃
〃All that is very well； my good friend。 And now for
my poor brother…in…law： though he is a soldier； we cannot
let him slip without a word of consolation and a leave…
taking； in my judgment。 This has been an unlucky affair
on every tack； though I suppose it is what one had a right
to expect； considering the state of the times and the na…
ture of the navigation。 We must make the best of it； and
try to help the worthy man to unmoor； without straining
his messengers。 Death is a circumstance； after all； Master
Pathfinder； and one of a very general character too； seeing
that we must all submit to it； sooner or later。〃
〃You say truth； you say truth； and for that reason I
hold it to be wise to be always ready。 I've often thought；
Saltwater； that he is the happiest who has the least to leave
behind him when the summons comes。 Now； here am I；
a hunter and a scout and a guide； although I do not own a
foot of land on 'arth； yet do I enjoy and possess more than
the great Albany Patroon。 With the heavens over my head
to keep me in mind of the last great hunt； and the dried
leaves beneath my feet； I tramp over the ground as freely
as if I was its lord and owner； and what more need heart
desire？ I do not say that I love nothing that belongs to
'arth； for I do； though not much； unless it might be Mabel
Dunham； that I can't carry with me。 I have some pups
at the higher fort that I vally considerable； though they
are too noisy for warfare； and so we are compelled to live
separate for awhile； and then I think it would grieve me
to part with Killdeer； but I see no reason why we should
not be buried in the same grave； for we are as near as can
be of the same length six feet to a hair's breadth； but；
bating these； and a pipe that the Sarpent gave me； and a
few tokens received from travellers； all of which might be
put in a pouch and laid under my head； when the order
comes to march I shall be ready at a minute's warning；
and； let me tell you； Master Cap； that's what I call a cir…
cumstance too。〃
〃'Tis just so with me；〃 answered the sailor； as the two
walked towards the block； too much occupied with their
respective morality to remember at the moment the mel…
ancholy errand they were on； 〃that's just my way of feel…
ing and reasoning。 How often have I felt； when near
shipwreck； the relief of not owning the craft！ 'If she
goes；' I have said to myself； 'why； my life goes with her；
but not my property； and there's great comfort in that。'
I've discovered； in the course of boxing about the world
from the Horn to Cape North； not to speak of this run on
a bit of fresh water； that if a man has a few dollars； and
puts them in a chest under lock and key； he is pretty cer…
tain to fasten up his heart in the same till； and so I carry
pretty much all I own in a belt round my body； in order；
as I say； to keep the vitals in the right place。 D… me；
Pathfinder； if I think a man without a heart any better
than a fish with a hole in his air…bag。〃
〃I don't know how that may be； Master Cap； but a man
without a conscience is but a poor creatur'； take my word
for it； as any one will discover who has to do with a Mingo。
I trouble myself but little with dollars or half…joes； for
these are the favoryte coin in this part of the world； but
I can easily believe； by what I've seen of mankind； that if
a man _has_ a chest filled with either； he may be said to lock
up his heart in the same box。 I once hunted for two sum…
mers； during the last peace； and I collected so much peltry
that I found my right feelings giving way to a craving
after property； and if I have consarn in marrying Mabel；
it is that I may get to love such things too well； in order
to make her comfortable。〃
〃You're a philosopher； that's clear； Pathfinder； and I
don't know but you're a Christian。〃
〃I should be out of humor with the man that gainsayed
the last； Master Cap。 I have not been Christianized by
the Moravians； like so many of the Delawares； it is true；
but I hold to Christianity and white gifts。 With me； it is
as on…creditable for a white man not to be a Christian as
it is for a red…skin not to believe in his happy hunting…
grounds； indeed； after allowing for difference in traditions；
and in some variations about the manner in which the
spirit will be occupied after death； I hold that a good Dela…
ware is a good Christian； though he never saw a Moravian；
and a good Christian a good Delaware； so far as natur 'is
consarned。 The Sarpent and I talk these matters over
often； for he has a hankerin' after Christianity 〃
〃The d…l he has！〃 interrupted Cap。 〃And what does
he intend to do in a church with all the scalps he takes？〃
〃Don't run away with a false idee； friend Cap； don't run
away with a false idee。 These things are only skin…deep；
and all depend on edication and nat'ral gifts。 Look
around you at mankind； and tell me why you see a red
warrior here； a bla