bushes which had curved stems； things easily found in such
a place； and by cutting them some distance beneath the
bend； and permitting the latter to touch the water； the
artificial little thicket had not the appearance of growing
in the stream； which might have excited suspicion； but
one passing it would have thought that the bushes shot
out horizontally from the bank before they inclined up…
wards towards the light。 In short； none but an unusually
distrustful eye would have been turned for an instant
towards the spot in quest of a hiding…place。
〃This is the best cover I ever yet got into；〃 said the
Pathfinder； with his quiet laugh； after having been on the
outside to reconnoitre； 〃the leaves of our new trees fairly
touch those of the bushes over our heads。 Hist！ yonder
comes Eau…douce； wading； like a sensible boy； as he is； to
leave his trail in the water； and we shall soon see whether
our cover is good for anything or not。〃
Jasper had indeed returned from his duty above； and
missing the canoes； he at once inferred that they had
dropped round the next bend in the river； in order to get
out of sight of the fire。 His habits of caution immediately
suggested the expediency of stepping into the water； in
order that there might exist no visible communication
between the marks left on the shore by the party and the
place where he believed them to have taken refuge below。
Should the Canadian Indians return on their own trail；
and discover that made by the Pathfinder and the Serpent
in their ascent from and descent to the river； the clue to
their movements would cease at the shore； water leaving
no prints of footsteps。 The young man had therefore
waded； knee…deep； as far as the point； and was now seen
making his way slowly down the margin of the stream；
searching curiously for the spot in which the canoes were
hid。
It was in the power of those behind the bushes； by plac…
ing their eyes near the leaves； to find many places to look
through while one at a little distance lost this advantage。
To those who watched his motions from behind their
cover； and they were all in the canoes； it was evident that
Jasper was totally at a loss to imagine where the Pathfinder
had secreted himself。 When fairly round the curvature in
the shore； and out of sight of the fire he had lighted above；
the young man stopped and began examining the bank de…
liberately and with great care。 Occasionally he advanced
eight or ten paces； and then halted again； to renew the
search。 The water being much shallower than common；
he stepped aside； in order to walk with greater ease to
himself and came so near the artificial plantation that he
might have touched it with his hand。 Still he detected
nothing； and was actually passing the spot when Path…
finder made an opening beneath the branches； and called
to him in a low voice to enter。
〃This is pretty well；〃 said the Pathfinder； laughing；
〃though pale…face eyes and red…skin eyes are as different
as human spy…glasses。 I would wager； with the Sergeant's
daughter here； a horn of powder against a wampum…belt
for her girdle； that her father's rijiment should march by
this embankment of ours and never find out the fraud！
But if the Mingoes actually get down into the bed of the
river where Jasper passed； I should tremble for the planta…
tion。 It will do for their eyes； even across the stream；
however； and will not be without its use。〃
〃Don't you think； Master Pathfinder； that it would be
wisest； after all；〃 said Cap； 〃to get under way at once； and
carry sail hard down stream； as soon as we are satisfied
that these rascals are fairly astern of us？ We seamen call
a stern chase a long chase。〃
〃I wouldn't move from this spot until we hear from the
Sarpent with the Sergeant's pretty daughter here in our
company； for all the powder in the magazine of the fort
below。 Sartain captivity or sartain death would follow。
If a tender fa'n； such as the maiden we have in charge；
could thread the forest like old deer； it might； indeed； do
to quit the canoes； for by making a circuit we could reach
the garrison before morning。〃
〃Then let it be done；〃 said Mabel； springing to her feet
under the sudden impulse of awakened energy。 〃I am
young； active； used to exercise； and could easily out…walk
my dear uncle。 Let no one think me a hindrance。 I
cannot bear that all your lives should be exposed on my
account。〃
〃No； no； pretty one； we think you anything but a hin…
drance or anything that is unbecoming； and would will…
ingly run twice this risk to do you and the honest Ser…
geant a service。 Do I not speak your mind； Eau…
donce？〃
〃To do _her_ a service！〃 said Jasper with emphasis。
〃Nothing shall tempt me to desert Mabel Dunham until
she is safe in her father's arms。〃
〃Well said； lad； bravely and honestly said； too； and I
join in it； heart and hand。 No； no！ you are not the first
of your sex I have led through the wilderness； and never
but once did any harm befall any of them： that was a sad
day； certainly but its like may never come again。〃
Mabel looked from one of her protectors to the other；
and her fine eyes swam in tears。 Frankly placing a hand
in that of each； she answered them； though at first her
voice was choked； 〃I have no right to expose you on my
account。 My dear father will thank you； I thank you； God
will reward you； but let there be no unnecessary risk。 I
can walk far； and have often gone miles on some girlish
fancy； why not now exert myself for my life？ nay； for
your precious lives？〃
〃She is a true dove； Jasper〃 said the Pathfinder； neither
relinquishing the hand he held until the girl herself； in
native modesty； saw fit to withdraw it； 〃and wonderfully
winning！ We get to be rough； and sometimes even hard…
hearted； in the woods； Mabel； but the sight of one like
you brings us back again to our young feelings； and does
us good for the remainder of our days。 I daresay Jasper
here will tell you the same； for； like me in the forest； the
lad sees but few such as yourself on Ontario； to soften his
heart and remind him of love for his kind。 Speak out
now； Jasper； and say if it is not so？〃
〃I question if many like Mabel Dunham are to be found
anywhere；〃 returned the young man gallantly； an honest
sincerity glowing in his face that spoke more eloquently
than his tongue； 〃you need not mention the woods and lakes
to challenge her equals； but I would go into settle…
ments and towns。〃
〃We had better leave the canoes；〃 Mabel hurriedly re…
joined； 〃for I feel it is no longer safe to be here。〃
〃You can never do it； you can never do it。 It would
be a march of more than twenty miles； and that； too； of
tramping over brush and roots； and through swamps； in
the dark； the trail of such a party would be wide； and we
might have to fight our way into the garrison after all。
We will wait for the Mohican。〃
Such appearing to be the decision of him to whom all；
in their present strait； looked up for counsel； no more was
said on tbe subject。 The whole party now broke up into
groups： Arrowhead and his wife sitting apart under the
bushes； conversing in a low tone； though the man spoke
sternly； and the woman answered with the subdued mild…
ness that marks the degraded condition of a savage's wife。
Pathfinder and Cap occupied one canoe； chatting of their
different adventures by sea and land； while Jasper and
Mabel sat in the other； making greater progress in in…
timacy in a single hour than might have been effected
under other circumstances in a twelvemonth。 Notwith…
standing their situation as regards the enemy； the time
flew by swiftly； and the young people； in particular； were
astonished when Cap informed them how long they had
been thus occupied。
〃If one could smoke； Master Pathfinder；〃 observed the
old sailor； 〃this berth would be snug enough； for； to give
the devil his due； you have got the canoes handsomely land…
locked； and into moorings that would defy a monsoon。
The only hardship is the denial of the pipe。〃
〃The scent of the tobacco would betray us； and where
is the use of taking all these precautions against the
Mingo's eyes； if we are to tell him where the cover is to be
found through the nose？ No； no； deny your appetites；
and learn one virtue from a red…skin； who will pass a week
without eating even； to get a single scalp。 Did you hear
nothing； Jasper？〃
〃The Serpent is coming。〃
〃Then let us see if Mohican eyes are better than them
of a lad who follows the water。〃
The Mohican had indeed made his appearance in the
same direction as that by which Jasper had rejoined his
friends。 Instead of coming directly on； however； no sooner
did he pass the bend； where he was concealed from any
who might be higher up stream； than he moved close
under the bank； and； using the utmost caution； got a
position where he could look back； with his person suffi…
ciently concealed by the bushes to prevent its being seen
by any in that quarter。
〃The Sarpent sees the knaves！〃 whispered Pathfinder。
〃As I'm a Christian white man； they have bit at the bait；
and have ambushed the smoke！〃
Here a hearty but silent laugh interrupted his words；
and nudging Cap with his