even moved； though both at that moment fancied they
could part with their new…found happiness in order to re…
store their friend to his peace of mind。 Jasper was pale
as death； but； in Mabel； maiden modesty had caused the
blood to mantle on her cheeks； until their bloom was
heightened to a richness that was scarcely equalled in her
hours of light…hearted buoyancy and joy。 As the feeling
which； in her sex； always accompanies the security of love
returned； threw its softness and tenderness over her coun…
tenance； she was singularly beautiful。 Pathfinder gazed
at her with an intentness he did not endeavor to conceal；
and then he fairly laughed in his own way； and with a sort
of wild exultation； as men that are untutored are wont to
express their delight。 This momentary indulgence； how…
ever； was expiated by the pang which followed the sudden
consciousness that this glorious young creature was lost to
him for ever。 It required a full minute for this simple…
minded being to recover from the shock of this conviction；
and then he recovered his dignity of manner； speaking
with gravity； almost with solemnity。
〃I have always known； Mabel Dunham； that men have
their gifts；〃 said he； 〃but I'd forgotten that it did not
belong to mine to please the young； the beautiful； and
l'arned。 I hope the mistake has been no very heavy sin；
and if it was； I've been heavily punished for it； I have。
Nay； Mabel； I know what you'd say； but it's unnecessary；
I _feel_ it all； and that is as good as if I _heard_ it all。 I've
had a bitter hour； Mabel。 I've had a very bitter hour；
lad。〃
〃Hour！〃 echoed Mabel； as the other first used the
word； the tell…tale blood； which had begun to ebb towards
her heart； rushing again tumultuously to her very tem…
ples； 〃surely not an hour； Pathfinder？〃
〃Hour！〃 exclaimed Jasper at the same instant； 〃no；
no； my worthy friend； it is not ten minutes since you left
us！〃
〃Well； it may be so； though to me it has seemed to be
day。 I begin to think； however； that the happy count
time by minutes； and the miserable count it by months。
But we will talk no more of this； it is all over now； and
many words about it will make you no happier； while they
will only tell me what I've lost； and quite likely how much
I desarved to lose her。 No； no； Mabel； 'tis useless to in…
terrupt me； I admit it all； and your gainsaying it； though
it be so well meant； cannot change my mind。 Well； Jas…
per； she is yours； and； though it's hard to think it； I do
believe you'll make her happier than I could； for your gifts
are better suited to do so； though I would have strived
hard to do as much； if I know myself； I would。 I ought
to have known better than to believe the Sergeant； and I
ought to have put faith in what Mabel told me at the head
of the lake； for reason and judgment might have shown
me its truth； but it is so pleasant to think what we wish；
and mankind so easily over…persuade us； when we over…per…
suade ourselves。 But what's the use in talking of it； as I
said afore？ It's true； Mabel seemed to be consenting；
though it all came from a wish to please her father； and
from being skeary about the savages 〃
〃Pathfinder！〃
〃I understand you； Mabel； and have no hard feelings； I
haven't。 I sometimes think I should like to live in your
neighborhood； that I might look at your happiness； but；
on the whole； it's better I should quit the 55th altogether；
and go back to the 60th； which is my natyve rigiment； as
it might be。 It would have been better； perhaps； had I
never left it； though my sarvices were much wanted in
this quarter； and I'd been with some of the 55th years
agone； Sergeant Dunham； for instance； when he was in
another corps。 Still； Jasper； I do not regret that I've
known you 〃
〃And me； Pathfinder！〃 impetuously interrupted Mabel；
〃do you regret having known _me_？ Could I think so； I
should never be at peace with myself。〃
〃You； Mabel！〃 returned the guide； taking the hand of
our heroine and looking up into her countenance with
guileless simplicity； but earnest affection； 〃how could I
be sorry that a ray of the sun came across the gloom of a
cheerless day that light has broken in upon darkness；
though it remained so short a time？ I do not flatter
myself with being able to march quite so light…hearted
as I once used to could； or to sleep as sound； for some time
to come； but I shall always remember how near I was to
being undeservedly happy； I shall。 So far from blaming
you； Mabel； I only blame myself for being so vain as to
think it possible I could please such a creatur'； for sar…
tainly you told me how it was； when we talked it over on
the mountain； and I ought to have believed you then； for
I do suppose it's nat'ral that young women should know
their own minds better than their fathers。 Ah's me！ It's
settled now； and nothing remains but for me to take leave
of you； that you may depart； I feel that Master Cap must
be impatient； and there is danger of his coming on shore
to look for us all。〃
〃To take leave！〃 exclaimed Mabel。
〃Leave！〃 echoed Jasper； 〃you do not mean to quit us；
my friend？〃
〃'Tis best； Mabel； 'tis altogether best； Eau…douce； and
it's wisest。 I could live and die in your company； if I only
followed feeling； but； if I follow reason； I shall quit you
here。 You will go back to Oswego； and become man and
wife as soon as you arrive； for all that is determined with
Master Cap； who hankers after the sea again； and who
knows what is to happen； while I shall return to the wil…
derness and my Maker。 Come； Mabel；〃 continued Path…
finder； rising and drawing nearer to our heroine； with grave
decorum； 〃kiss me； Jasper will not grudge me one kiss；
then we'll part。〃
〃Oh； Pathfinder！〃 exclaimed Mabel； falling into the
arms of the guide； and kissing his cheeks again and again；
with a freedom and warmth she had been far from mani…
festing while held to the bosom of Jasper； 〃God bless you；
dearest Pathfinder！ You'll come to us hereafter。 We
shall see you again。 When old； you will come to our
dwelling； and let me be a daughter to you？〃
〃Yes； that's it；〃 returned the guide； almost gasping for
breath； 〃I'll try to think of it in that way。 You're more
befitting to be my daughter than to be my wife； you are。
Farewell； Jasper。 Now we'll go to the canoe； it's time
you were on board。〃
The manner in which Pathfinder led the way to the
shore was solemn and calm。 As soon as he reached the
canoe； he again took Mabel by the hands； held her at the
length of his own arms； and gazed wistfully into her face；
until the unbidden tears rolled out of the fountains of
feeling and trickled down his rugged cheeks in streams。
〃Bless me； Pathfinder；〃 said Mabel； kneeling reverently
at his feet。 〃Oh； at least bless me before we part！〃
That untutored but noble…minded being did as she de…
sired； and； aiding her to enter the canoe； seemed to tear
himself away as one snaps a strong and obstinate cord。
Before he retired； however； he took Jasper by the arm and
led him a little aside； when he spoke as follows：
〃You're kind of heart and gentle by natur'； Jasper； but
we are both rough and wild in comparison with that dear
creatur'。 Be careful of her； and never show the roughness
of man's natur' to her soft disposition。 You'll get to un…
derstand her in time； and the Lord； who governs the lake
and the forest alike； who looks upon virtue with a smile
and upon vice with a frown； keep you happy and worthy
to be so！〃
Pathfinder made a sign for his friend to depart； and he
stood leaning on his rifle until the canoe had reached the
side of the _Scud_。 Mabel wept as if her heart would break；
nor did her eyes once turn from the open spot in the glade；
where the form of the Pathfinder was to be seen； until the
cutter had passed a point that completely shut out the
island。 When last in view； the sinewy frame of this extra…
ordinary man was as motionless as if it were a statue set
up in that solitary place to commemorate the scenes of
which it had so lately been the witness。
CHAPTER XXX。
Oh！ let me only breathe the air；
The blessed air that's breath'd by thee；
And； whether on its wings it bear
Healing or death； 'tis sweet to me！
MOORE。
Pathfinder was accustomed to solitude； but； when
the _Scud_ had actually disappeared； he was almost overcome
with a sense of his loneliness。 Never before had he been
conscious of his isolated condition in the world； for his
feelings had gradually been accustoming themselves to the
blandishments and wants of social life； particularly as the
last were connected with the domestic affections。 Now； all
had vanished； as it might be； in one moment； and he was
left equally without companions and without hope。 Even
Chingachgook had left him； though it was but temporarily；
still his presence was missed at the precise instant which
might be termed the most critical in our hero's life。
Pathfinder stood leaning on his rifle； in the attitude
described in the last chapter； a long time after the _Scud_
had disappeared。 The rigidity of his limbs seemed per…
manent； and none but a man accustomed to put his mus…
cles to the severest proof coul