the varieties of our religious creeds； let us depend on the
mediation of Christ； the dogmas of Mahomet； or the elab…
orated allegories of the East； there is a conviction； common
to all men； that death is but the stepping…stone between
this and a more elevated state of being。 Sergeant Dun…
ham was a brave man； but he was departing for a country
in which resolution could avail him nothing； and as he
felt himself gradually loosened from the grasp of the world；
his thoughts and feelings took the natural direction； for
if it be true that death is the great leveller； in nothing is
it more true than that it reduces all to the same views of
the vanity of life。
Pathfinder； though a man of peculiar habits and opin…
ions； was always thoughtful； and disposed to view the
things around him with a shade of philosophy； as well as
with seriousness。 In him； therefore； the scene in the
blockhouse awakened no very novel feelings。 But the
case was different with Cap： rude； opinionated； dogmati…
cal； and boisterous； the old sailor was little accustomed to
view even death with any approach to the gravity which
its importance demands； and notwithstanding all that had
passed； and his real regard for his brother…in…law； he now
entered the room of the dying man with much of that
callous unconcern which was the fruit of long training in
a school that； while it gives so many lessons in the sublim…
est truths； generally wastes its admonitions on scholars
who are little disposed to profit by them。
The first proof that Cap gave of his not entering so fully
as those around him into the solemnity of the moment；
was by commencing a narration of the events which had
just led to the deaths of Muir and Arrowhead。 〃Both
tripped their anchors in a hurry； brother Dunham；〃 he
concluded； 〃and you have the consolation of knowing
that others have gone before you in the great journey； and
they； too； men whom you've no particular reason to love；
which to me； were I placed in your situation； would be a
source of very great satisfaction。 My mother always said；
Master Pathfinder； that dying people's spirits should not
be damped； but that they ought to be encouraged by all
proper and prudent means； and this news will give the
poor fellow a great lift； if he feels towards them savages
any way as I feel myself。〃
June arose at this intelligence； and stole from the block…
house with a noiseless step。 Dunham listened with a va…
cant stare； for life had already lost so many of its ties that
he had really forgotten Arrowhead； and cared nothing for
Muir； but he inquired； in a feeble voice； for Eau…douce。
The young man was immediately summoned； and soon
made his appearance。 The Sergeant gazed at him kindly；
and the expression of his eyes was that of regret for the
injury he had done him in thought。 The party in the
blockhouse now consisted of Pathfinder； Cap； Mabel； Jas…
por； and the dying man。 With the exception of the daugh…
ter； all stood around the Sergeant's pallet； in attendance
in his last moments。 Mabel kneeled at his side； now press…
ing a clammy hand to her head； now applying moisture to
the parched lips of her father。
〃Your case will shortly be ourn； Sergeant；〃 said Path…
finder； who could hardly be said to be awestruck by the
scene； for he had witnessed the approach and victories of
death too often for that； but who felt the full difference
between his triumphs in the excitement of battle and in
the quiet of the domestic circle； 〃and I make no question
we shall meet ag'in hereafter。 Arrowhead has gone his
way； 'tis true； but it can never be the way of a just In…
dian。 You've seen the last of him； for his path cannot be
the path of the just。 Reason is ag'in the thought in his
case； as it is also； in my judgment； ag'in it too in the case
of Lieutenant Muir。 You have done your duty in life；
and when a man does that； he may start on the longest
journey with a light heart and an actyve foot。〃
〃I hope so； my friend： I've tried to do my duty。〃
〃Ay； ay；〃 put in Cap； 〃intention is half the battle； and
though you would have done better had you hove…to in
the offing and sent a craft in to feel how the land lay； things
might have turned out differently： no one here doubts
that you meant all for the best； and no one anywhere else；
I should think； from what I've seen of this world and read
of t'other。〃
〃I did； yes。 I meant all for the best。〃
〃Father！ Oh； my beloved father！〃
〃Magnet is taken aback by this blow； Master Pathfinder；
and can say or do but little to carry her father over the
shoals； so we must try all the harder to serve him a
friendly turn ourselves。〃
〃Did you speak； Mabel？〃 Dunham asked； turning his
eyes in the direction of his daughter； for he was already
too feeble to turn his body。
〃Yes； father； rely on nothing you have done yourself
for mercy and salvation； trust altogether in the blessed
mediation of the Son of God！〃
〃The chaplain has told us something like this； brother。
The dear child may be right。〃
〃Ay； ay； that's doctrine； out of question。 He will be
our Judge； and keeps the log…book of our acts； and will
foot them all up at the last day； and then say who has
done well and who has done ill。 I do believe Mabel is
right； but then you need not be concerned； as no doubt
the account has been fairly kept。〃
〃Uncle！ dearest father！ this is a vain illusion！ Oh； place
all your trust in the mediation of our Holy Redeemer！
Have you not often felt your own insufficiency to effect
your own wishes in the commonest things？ and how can
you imagine yourself； by your own acts； equal to raise up
a frail and sinful nature sufficiently to be received into the
presence of perfect purity？ There is no hope for any but
in the mediation of Christ！〃
〃This is what the Moravians used to tell us；〃 said Path…
finder to Cap in a low voice； 〃rely on it； Mabel is right。〃
〃Right enough； friend Pathfinder； in the distances； but
wrong in the course。 I'm afraid the child will get the
Sergeant adrift； at the very moment when we had him in
the best of the water and in the plainest part of the chan…
nel。〃
〃Leave it to Mabel； leave it to Mabel； she knows better
than any of us； and can do no harm。〃
〃I have heard this before；〃 Dunham at length replied。
〃Ah； Mabel！ it is strange for the parent to lean on the
child at a moment like this！〃
〃Put your trust in God； father； lean on His holy and
compassionate Son。 Pray； dearest； dearest father； pray
for His omnipotent support。〃
〃I am not used to prayer。 Brother； Pathfinder Jasper；
can you help me to words？〃
Cap scarcely knew what prayer meant； and he had no
answer to give。 Pathfinder prayed often； daily； if not
hourly； but it was mentally； in his own simple modes of
thinking； and without the aid of words at all。 In this
strait； therefore； he was as useless as the mariner； and had
no reply to make。 As for Jasper Eau…douce； though he
would gladly have endeavored to move a mountain to re…
lieve Mabel； this was asking assistance it exceeded his
power to give； and he shrank back with the shame that is
only too apt to overcome the young and vigorous； when
called on to perform an act that tacitly confesses their
real weakness and dependence on a superior power。
〃Father；〃 said Mabel； wiping her eyes； and endeavoring
to compose features that were pallid； and actually quiver…
ing with emotion； 〃I will pray with you； for you； for _my…
self_； for us _all_。 The petition of the feeblest and humblest
is never unheeded。〃
There was something sublime； as well as much that was
supremely touching； in this act of filial piety。 The quiet
but earnest manner in which this young creature prepared
herself to perform the duty； the self…abandonment with
which she forgot her sex's timidity and sex's shame； in
order to sustain her parent at that trying moment； the
loftiness of purpose with which she directed all her powers
to the immense object before her； with a woman's devotion
and a woman's superiority to trifles； when her affections
make the appeal； and the holy calm into which her grief
was compressed； rendered her； for the moment； an object
of something very like awe and veneration to her compan…
ions。
Mabel had been religiously educated； equally without
exaggeration and without self…sufficiency。 Her reliance on
God was cheerful and full of hope； while it was of the
humblest and most dependent nature。 She had been ac…
customed from childhood to address herself to the Deity
in prayer； taking example from the Divine mandate of
Christ Himself； who commanded His followers to abstain
from vain repetitions； and who has left behind Him a pe…
tition which is unequalled for sublimity； as if expressly to
rebuke the disposition of man to set up his own loose and
random thoughts as the most acceptable sacrifice。 The
sect in which she had been reared has furnished to its fol…
lowers some of the most beautiful compositions in the lan…
guage； as a suitable vehicle for its devotion and solicitations。
Accustomed to this mode of public and even private
prayer； the mind of our heroine had naturally fallen into
its train of lofty thought； her task had become improved
by its