if I ever shall love any other as I love you and Mabel。〃
〃Thank'e； boy； I thank you with all my heart； but
what you call love for Mabel is only friendship like； and a
very different thing from what I feel。 Now； instead of
sleeping as sound as natur' at midnight； as I used to could；
I dream nightly of Mabel Dunham。 The young does sport
before me； and when I raise Killdeer； in order to take a
little venison； the animals look back； and it seems as if
they all had Mabel's sweet countenance； laughing in my
face； and looking as if they said； 'Shoot me if you dare！'
Then I hear her soft voice calling out among the birds as
they sing； and no later than the last nap I took； I be…
thought me； in fancy； of going over the Niagara； holding
Mabel in my arms； rather than part from her。 The bit…
terest moments I've ever known were them in which the
devil； or some Mingo conjuror； perhaps； has just put into
my head to fancy in dreams that Mabel is lost to me by
some unaccountable calamity either by changefulness or
by violence。〃
〃Oh； Pathfinder！ if you think this so bitter in a dream；
what must it be to one who feels its reality； and knows it
all to be true； true； true？ So true as to leave no hope； to
leave nothing but despair！〃
These words burst from Jasper as a fluid pours from the
vessel that has been suddenly broken。 They were uttered
involuntarily； almost unconsciously； but with a truth and
feeling that carried with them the instant conviction of
their deep sincerity。 Pathfinder started； gazed at his friend
for full a minute like one bewildered； and then it was that；
in despite of all his simplicity； the truth gleamed upon
him。 All know how corroborating proofs crowd upon the
mind as soon as it catches a direct clue to any hitherto
unsuspected fact； how rapidly the thoughts flow and pre…
mises tend to their just conclusions under such circum…
stances。 Our hero was so confiding by nature； so just； and
so much disposed to imagine that all his friends wished
him the same happiness as he wished them； that； until this
unfortunate moment； a suspicion of Jasper's attachment
for Mabel had never been awakened in his bosom。 He
was； however； now too experienced in the emotions which
characterize the passion； and the burst of feeling in his
companion was too violent and too natural to leave any
further doubt on the subject。 The feeling that first fol…
lowed this change of opinion was one of deep humility and
exquisite pain。 He bethought him of Jasper's youth； his
higher claims to personal appearance； and all the general
probabilities that such a suitor would be more agreeable to
Mabel than he could possibly be himself。 Then the noble
rectitude of mind； for which the man was so distinguished；
asserted its power； it was sustained by his rebuked man…
ner of thinking of himself； and all that habitual deference
for the rights and feelings of others which appeared to be
inbred in his very nature。 Taking the arm of Jasper； he
led him to a log； where he compelled the young man to
seat himself by a sort of irresistible exercise of his iron
muscles； and where he placed himself at his side。
The instant his feelings had found vent； Eau…douce was
both alarmed at； and ashamed of； their violence。 He
would have given all he possessed on earth could the last
three minutes be recalled； but he was too frank by dispo…
sition and too much accustomed to deal ingenuously by
his friend to think a moment of attempting further con…
cealment； or of any evasion of the explanation that he
knew was about to be demanded。 Even while he trembled
in anticipation of what was about to follow； he never con…
templated equivocation。
〃Jasper；〃 Pathfinder commenced； in a tone so solemn
as to thrill on every nerve in his listener's body； 〃this _has_
surprised me！ You have kinder feelings towards Mabel
than I had thought； and； unless my own mistaken vanity
and consait have cruelly deceived me； I pity you； boy； from
my soul I do！ Yes； I think I know how to pity any one who
has set his heart on a creature like Mabel； unless he sees
a prospect of her regarding him as he regards her。 This
matter must be cleared up； Eau…douce； as the Delawares
say； until there shall not be a cloud 'atween us。〃
〃What clearing up can it want； Pathfinder？ I love
Mabel Dunham； and Mabel Dunham does not love me；
she prefers you for a husband； and the wisest thing I can
do is to go off at once to the salt water； and try to forget
you both。〃
〃Forget me； Jasper！ that would be a punishment I
don't desarve。 But how do you know that Mabel prefars
_me_？ how do you know it； lad？ To me it seems impossible
like！〃
〃Is she not to marry you； and would Mabel marry a
man she does not love？〃
〃She has been hard urged by the Sergeant； she has；
and a dutiful child may have found it difficult to with…
stand the wishes of a dying parent。 Have you ever told
Mabel that you prefarred her； Jasper that you bore her
these feelings？〃
〃Never； Pathfinder。 I would not do you that wrong。〃
〃I believe you； lad； I do believe you； and I think you
would now go off to the salt water； and let the scent die
with you。 But this must not be。 Mabel shall hear all；
and she shall have her own way； if my heart breaks in
the trial； she shall。 No words have ever passed 'atween
you； then； Jasper？〃
〃Nothing of account； nothing direct。 Still； I will own
all my foolishness； Pathfinder； for I ought to own it to a
generous friend like you； and there will be an end of it。
You know how young people understand each other； or
think they understand each other； without always speak…
ing out in plain speech； and get to know each other's
thoughts； or to think they know them； by means of a hun…
dred little ways。〃
〃Not I； Jasper； not I；〃 truly answered the guide； for；
sooth to say； his advances had never been met with any of
that sweet and precious encouragement which silently
marks the course of sympathy united to passion。 〃Not
I； Jasper； I know nothing of all this。 Mabel has always
treated me fairly； and said what she has had to say in
speech as plain as tongue could tell it。〃
〃You have had the pleasure of hearing her say that she
loved you； Pathfinder？〃
〃Why； no； Jasper； not just that in words。 She has told
me that we never could； never ought to be married； that
_she_ was not good enough for _me_； though she _did_ say that
she honored me and respected me。 But then the Sergeant
said it was always so with the youthful and timid； that
her mother did so and said so afore her； and that I ought
to be satisfied if she would consent on any terms to marry
me； and therefore I have concluded that all was right； I
have。〃
In spite of all his friendship for the successful wooer； in
spite of all his honest； sincere wished for his happiness；
we should be unfaithful chroniclers did we not own that
Jasper felt his heart bound with an uncontrollable feeling
of delight at this admission。 It was not that he saw or
felt any hope connected with the circumstance； but it was
grateful to the jealous covetousness of unlimited love thus
to learn that no other ears had heard the sweet confessions
that were denied its own。
〃Tell me more of this manner of talking without the
use of the tongue；〃 continued Pathfinder； whose counte…
nance was becoming grave； and who now questioned his
companion like one who seemed to anticipate evil in the
reply。 〃I can and have conversed with Chingachgook；
and with his son Uncas too； in that mode； afore the latter
fell； but I didn't know that young girls practysed this
art； and； least of all； Mabel Dunham。〃
〃'Tis nothing； Pathfinder。 I mean only a look； or a
smile； or a glance of the eye； or the trembling of an arm
or a hand when the young woman has had occasion to
touch me； and because I have been weak enough to trem…
ble even at Mabel's breath； or her brushing me with her
clothes； my vain thoughts have misled me。 I never spoke
plainly to Mabel myself； and now there is no use for it；
since there is clearly no hope。〃
〃Jasper；〃 returned Pathfinder simply； but with a dig…
nity that precluded further remarks at the moment； 〃we
will talk of the Sergeant's funeral and of our own depar…
ture from this island。 After these things are disposed of；
it will be time enough to say more of the Sergeant's
daughter。 This matter must be looked into； for the father
left me the care of his child。〃
Jasper was glad enough to change the subject； and the
friends separated； each charged with the duty most pecu…
liar to his own station and habits。
That afternoon all the dead were interred； the grave of
Sergeant Dunham being dug in the centre of the glade；
beneath the shade of a huge elm。 Mabel wept bitterly at
the ceremony； and she found relief in thus disburthening
her sorrow。 The night passed tranquilly； as did the whole
of the following day； Jasper declaring that the gale was
too severe to venture on the lake。 This circumstance de…
tained Captain Sanglier also； who did not quit the island
until the morning of the third day after the death of Dun…
ham； when the weather had moderated； and the wind had
become fair。 Then； indeed； he departed； after taking
leave of t