around you at mankind； and tell me why you see a red
warrior here； a black one there； and white armies in an…
other place？ All this； and a great deal more of the same
kind that I could point out； has been ordered for some
special purpose； and it is not for us to fly in the face of
facts and deny their truth。 No； no； each color has its
gifts； and its laws； and its traditions； and one is not to
condemn another because he does not exactly comprehend
it。〃
〃You must have read a great deal； Pathfinder； to see
things so clear as this；〃 returned Cap； not a little mystified
by his companion's simple creed。 〃It's all as plain as day
to me now； though I must say I never fell in with these
opinions before。 What denomination do you belong to；
my friend？〃
〃Anan？〃
〃What sect do you hold out for？ What particular
church do you fetch up in？〃
〃Look about you； and judge for yourself。 I'm in church
now； I eat in church； drink in church； sleep in church。
The 'arth is the temple of the Lord； and I wait on Him
hourly； daily； without ceasing； I humbly hope。 No； no；
I'll not deny my blood and color； but am Christian born；
and shall die in the same faith。 The Moravians tried me
hard； and one of the King's chaplains has had his say too；
though that's a class no ways strenuous on such matters；
and a missionary sent from Rome talked much with me；
as I guided him through the forest； during the last peace；
but I've had one answer for them all I'm a Christian al…
ready； and want to be neither Moravian； nor Churchman；
nor Papist。 No； no； I'll not deny my birth and blood。〃
〃I think a word from you might lighten the Sergeant
over the shoals of death； Master Pathfinder。 He has no
one with him but poor Mabel； and she； you know； besides
being his daughter； is but a girl and a child after all。〃
〃Mabel is feeble in body； friend Cap； but in matters of
this natur' I dou bt if she may not be stronger than most
men。 But Sergeant Dunham is my friend； and he is your
brother…in…law； so； now the press of fighting and main…
taining our rights is over； it is fitting we should both go
and witness his departure。 I've stood by many a dying
man； Master Cap；〃 continued Pathfinder； who had a be…
setting propensity to enlarge on his experience； stopping
and holding his companion by a button； 〃I've stood by
many a dying man's side； and seen his last gasp； and heard
his last breath； for； when the hurry and tumult of the
battle is over； it is good to bethink us of the misfortunate；
and it is remarkable to witness how differently human
natur' feels at such solemn moments。 Some go their way
as stupid and ignorant as if God had never given them
reason and an accountable state； while others quit us re…
joicing； like men who leave heavy burthens behind them。
I think that the mind sees clearly at such moments； my
friend； and that past deeds stand thick before the recollec…
tion。〃
〃I'll engage they do； Pathfinder。 I have witnessed
something of this myself； and hope I'm the better man
for it。 I remember once that I thought my own time had
come； and the log was overhauled with a diligence I did
not think myself capable of until that moment。 I've not
been a very great sinner； friend Pathfinder； that is to say；
never on a large scale； though I daresay； if the truth were
spoken； a considerable amount of small matters might be
raked up against me； as well as against another man； but
then； I've never committed piracy； nor high treason； nor
arson； nor any of them sort of things。 As to smuggling；
and the like of that； why； I'm a seafaring man； and I sup…
pose all callings have their weak spots。 I daresay your
trade is not altogether without blemish； honorable and use…
ful as it seems to be？〃
〃Many of the scouts and guides are desperate knaves；
and； like the Quartermaster here； some of them take pay
of both sides。 I hope I'm not one of them； though all oc…
cupations lead to temptations。 Thrice have I been sorely
tried in my life； and once I yielded a little； though I hope
it was not in a matter to disturb a man's conscience in his
last moments。 The first time was when I found in the
woods a pack of skins that I knowed belonged to a Frencher
who was hunting on our side of the lines； where he had
no business to be； twenty…six as handsome beavers as ever
gladdened human eyes。 Well； that was a sore tempta…
tion； for I thought the law would have been almost with
me； although it was in peace times。 But then； I remem…
bered that such laws wasn't made for us hunters； and be…
thought me that the poor man might have built great
expectations for the next winter on the sale of his skins；
and I left them where they lay。 Most of our people said
I did wrong； but the manner in which I slept that night
convinced me that I had done right。 The next trial was
when I found the rifle that is sartainly the only one in this
part of the world that can be calculated on as surely as
Killdeer； and knowed that by taking it； or even hiding it；
I might at once rise to be the first shot in all these parts。
I was then young； and by no means so expart as I have
since got to be； and youth is ambitious and striving； but；
God be praised！ I mastered that feeling； and； friend Cap；
what is almost as good； I mastered my rival in as fair a
shooting…match as was ever witnessed in a garrison； he
with his piece； and I with Killdeer； and before the Gene…
ral in person too！〃 Here Pathfinder stopped to laugh； his
triumph still glittering in his eyes and glowing on his sun…
burnt and browned cheek。 〃Well； the next conflict with
the devil was the hardest of them all； and that was when
I came suddenly upon a camp of six Mingos asleep in the
woods； with their guns and horns piled in away that en…
abled me to get possession of them without waking a mis…
creant of them all。 What an opportunity that would have
been for the Sarpent； who would have despatched them；
one after another； with his knife； and had their six scalps
at his girdle； in about the time it takes me to tell you the
story。 Oh； he's a valiant warrior； that Chingachgook； and
as honest as he's brave； and as good as he's honest！〃
〃And what may _you_ have done in this matter； Master
Pathfinder？〃 demanded Cap； who began to be interested
in the result； 〃it seems to me you had made either a very
lucky； or a very unlucky landfall。〃
〃'Twas lucky； and 'twas unlucky； if you can understand
that。 'Twas unlucky； for it proved a desperate trial； and
yet 'twas lucky； all things considered； in the ind。 I did
not touch a hair of their heads； for a white man has no
nat'ral gifts to take scalps； nor did I even make sure of
one of their rifles。 I distrusted myself； knowing that a
Mingo is no favorite in my own eyes。〃
〃As for the scalps； I think you were right enough； my
worthy friend； but as for the armament and the stores；
they would have been condemned by any prize…court in
Christendom。〃
〃That they would； that they would； but then the Mingos
would have gone clear； seeing that a white man can no
more attack an unarmed than a sleeping inimy。 No； no；
I did myself； and my color； and my religion too； greater
justice。 I waited till their nap was over； and they well on
their war…path again； and； by ambushing them here and
flanking them there； I peppered the blackguards intrinsi…
cally like〃 （Pathfinder occasionally caught a fine word
from his associates； and used it a little vaguely）； 〃that only
one ever got back to his village； and he came into his wig…
wam limping。 Luckily； as it turned out； the great Dela…
ware had only halted to jerk some venison； and was follow…
ing on my trail； and when he got up he had five of the
scoundrels' scalps hanging where they ought to be； so； you
see； nothing was lost by doing right； either in the way of
honor or in that of profit。〃
Cap grunted an assent； though the distinctions in his
companion's morality； it must be owned； were not exactly
clear to his understanding。 The two had occasionally
moved towards the block as they conversed； and then
stopped again as some matter of more interest than com…
mon brought them to a halt。 They were now so near the
building； however； that neither thought of pursuing the
subject any further； but each prepared himself for the final
scene with Sergeant Dunham。
CHAPTER XXVIII。
Thou barraine ground； whom winter's wrath hath wasted；
Art made a mirror to behold my plight：
Whilome thy fresh spring flower'd： and after hasted
Thy summer proude； with daffodillies dight；
And now is come thy winter's stormy state；
Thy mantle mar'd wherein thou maskedst late。
SPENSER。
Although the soldier may regard danger and even
death with indifference in the tumult of battle； when the
passage of the soul is delayed to moments of tranquillity
and reflection the change commonly brings with it the
usual train of solemn reflections； of regrets for the past；
and of doubts and anticipations for the future。 Many a
man has died with a heroic expression on his lips； but with
heaviness and distrust at his heart； for； whatever may be
the varieties of our religious creeds； let us depend on the
mediation of Christ； the dogmas of Mahomet； or the elab…