prayer； the mind of our heroine had naturally fallen into
its train of lofty thought； her task had become improved
by its study； and her language elevated and enriched by
its phrases。 When she kneeled at the bedside of her
father； the very reverence of her attitude and manner pre…
pared the spectators for what was to come； and as her
affectionate heart prompted her tongue； and memory came
in aid of both； the petition and praises that she offered up
were of a character which might have worthily led the
spirits of angels。 Although the words were not slavishly
borrowed； the expressions partook of the simple dignity of
the liturgy to which she had been accustomed； and was
probably as worthy of the Being to whom they were ad…
dressed as they could well be made by human powers。
They produced their full impression on the hearers； for it
is worthy of remark； that； notwithstanding the pernicious
effects of a false taste when long submitted to； real sub…
limity and beauty are so closely allied to nature that they
generally find an echo in every heart。
But when our heroine came to touch upon the situation
of the dying man； she became the most truly persuasive；
for then she was the most truly zealous and natural。 The
beauty of the language was preserved； but it was sustained
by the simple power of love； and her words were warmed
by a holy zeal； that approached to the grandeur of true elo…
quence。 We might record some of her expressions； but
doubt the propriety of subjecting such sacred themes to a
too familiar analysis； and refrain。
The effect of this singular but solemn scene was differ…
ent on the different individuals present。 Dunham himself
was soon lost in the subject of the prayer； and he felt
some such relief as one who finds himself staggering on
the edge of a precipice； under a burthen difficult to be
borne； might be supposed to experience when he unex…
pectedly feels the weight removed； in order to be placed on
the shoulders of another better able to sustain it。 Cap
was surprised； as well as awed； though the effects on his
mind were not very deep or very lasting。 He wondered a
little at his own sensations； and had his doubts whether
they were so manly and heroic as they ought to be； but he
was far too sensible of the influence of truth； humility； re…
ligious submission； and human dependency； to think of
interposing with any of his crude objections。 Jasper
knelt opposite to Mabel； covered his face； and followed her
words； with an earnest wish to aid her prayers with his
own； though it may be questioned if his thoughts did not
dwell quite as much on the soft； gentle accents of the pe…
titioner as on the subject of her petition。
The effect on Pathfinder was striking and visible： visi…
ble； because he stood erect； also opposite to Mabel； and
the workings of his countenance； as usual； betrayed the
workings of the spirit within。 He leaned on his rifle； and
at moments the sinewy fingers grasped the barrel with a
force that seemed to compress the weapon； while； once or
twice； as Mabel's language rose in intimate association
with her thoughts； he lifted his eyes to the floor above
him； as if he expected to find some visible evidence of the
presence of the dread Being to whom the words were ad…
dressed。 Then again his feelings reverted to the fair crea…
ture who was thus pouring out her spirit； in fervent but
calm petitions； in behalf of a dying parent； for Mabel's
cheek was no longer pallid； but was flushed with a holy
enthusiasm； while her blue eyes were upturned in the
light； in a way to resemble a picture by Guido。 At these
moments all the honest and manly attachment of Path…
finder glowed in his ingenuous features； and his gaze at
our heroine was such as the fondest parent might fasten
on the child of his love。
Sergeant Dunham laid his hand feebly on the head of
Mabel as she ceased praying； and buried her face in his
blanket。
〃Bless you； my beloved child！ bless you！〃 he rather
whispered than uttered aloud； 〃this is truly consolation：
would that I too could pray！〃
〃Father； you know the Lord's Prayer； you taught it to
me yourself while I was yet an infant。〃
The Sergeant's face gleamed with a smile； for he _did_
remember to have discharged that portion at least of the
paternal duty； and the consciousness of it gave him incon…
ceivable gratification at that solemn moment。 He was
then silent for several minutes； and all present believed
that he was communing with God。
〃Mabel； my child！〃 he at length uttered； in a voice
which seemed to be reviving； 〃Mabel； I'm quitting you。〃
The spirit at its great and final passage appears ever to
consider the body as nothing。 〃I'm quitting you； my
child； where is your hand？〃
〃Here； dearest father here are both oh； take both！〃
〃Pathfinder；〃 added the Sergeant； feeling on the oppo…
site side of the bed； where Jasper still knelt； and getting
one of the hands of the young man by mistake； 〃take it
… I leave you as her father as you and she may please
bless you bless you both！〃
At that awful instant； no one would rudely apprise the
Sergeant of his mistake； and he died a minute or two
later； holding Jasper's and Mabel's hands covered by both
his own。 Our heroine was ignorant of the fact until an
exclamation of Cap's announced the death of her father；
when； raising her face； she saw the eyes of Jasper riveted
on her own； and felt the warm pressure of his hand。 But
a single feeling was predominant at that instant； and
Mabel withdrew to weep； scarcely conscious of what had
occurred。 The Pathfinder took the arm of Eau…douce； and
he left the block。
The two friends walked in silence past the fire； along
the glade； and nearly reached the opposite shore of the
island in profound silence。 Here they stopped； and Path…
finder spoke。
〃'Tis all over； Jasper；〃 said he； 〃'tis all over。 Ah's me！
Poor Sergeant Dunham has finished his march； and that；
too； by the hand of a venomous Mingo。 Well； we never
know what is to happen； and his luck may be yourn or
mine to…morrow or next day！〃
〃And Mabel？ What is to become of Mabel； Pathfinder？〃
〃You heard the Sergeant's dying words； he has left his
child in my care； Jasper； and it is a most solemn trust； it
is； yes； it is a most solemn trust。〃
〃It's a trust； Pathfinder； of which any man would be
glad to relieve you；〃 returned the youth； with a bitter smile。
〃I've often thought it has fallen into wrong hands。
I'm not consaited； Jasper； I'm not consaited； I do think
I'm not； but if Mabel Dunham is willing to overlook all
my imperfections and ignorances like； I should be wrong
to gainsay it； on account of any sartainty I may have my…
self about my own want of merit。〃
〃No one will blame you； Pathfinder； for marrying Mabel
Dunham； any more than they will blame you for wearing
a precious jewel in your bosom that a friend had freely
given you。〃
〃Do you think they'll blame Mabel； lad？ I've had my
misgivings about that； too； for all persons may not be so
disposed to look at me with the same eyes as you and the
Sergeant's daughter。〃
Jasper Eau…douce started as a man flinches at sudden
bodily pain； but he otherwise maintained his self…com…
mand。 〃And mankind is envious and ill…natured； more
particularly in and about the garrisons。 I sometimes wish；
Jasper； that Mabel could have taken a fancy to you； I
do； and that you had taken a fancy to her； for it often
seems to me that one like you； after all； might make her
happier than I ever can。〃
〃We will not talk about this； Pathfinder；〃 interrupted
Jasper hoarsely and impatiently； 〃you will be Mabel's
husband； and it is not right to speak of any one else in
that character。 As for me； I shall take Master Cap's advice；
and try and make a man of myself by seeing what is to be
done on the salt water。〃
〃You； Jasper Western！ you quit the lakes； the forests；
and the lines； and this； too； for the towns and wasty ways
of the settlements； and a little difference in the taste of
the water。 Haven't we the salt…licks； if salt is necessary
to you？ and oughtn't man to be satisfied with what con…
tents the other creaturs of God？ I counted on you； Jas…
per； I counted on you； I did； and thought； now that Mabel
and I intend to dwell in a cabin of our own； that some day
you might be tempted to choose a companion too； and
come and settle in our neighborhood。 There is a beauti…
ful spot； about fifty miles west of the garrison； that I had
chosen in my mind for my own place of abode； and there
is an excellent harbor about ten leagues this side of it
where you could run in and out with the cutter at any
leisure minute； and I'd even fancied you and your wife in
possession of the one place； and Mabel and I in possession
of t'other。 We should be just a healthy hunt apart； and
if the Lord ever intends any of His creaturs to be happy
on 'arth； none could be happier than we four。〃
〃You forget； my friend；〃 answered Jasper； taking the
guide's hand and forcing a friendly smile； 〃that I have
no fourth person to love and cherish； and I much doubt
if I ever shall love any other as I love you and Mabel。〃
〃Thank'e； boy； I thank you with all my heart； but