a double virtue on a trail。 Go； Jasper； and do justice to
your own character for prudence。〃
Ten anxious minutes succeeded the disappearance of
the canoe of Jasper； which glided away from that of the
Pathfinder so noiselessly； that it had been swallowed up in
the gloom before Mabel allowed herself to believe the
young man would really venture alone on a service which
struck her imagination as singularly dangerous。 During
this time； the party continued to float with the current；
no one speaking； and； it might almost be said； no one
breathing； so strong was the general desire to catch the
minutest sound that should come from the shore。 But
the same solemn； we might； indeed； say sublime； quiet
reigned as before； the washing of the water； as it piled up
against some slight obstruction； and the sighing of the
trees； alone interrupting the slumbers of the forest。 At
the end of the period mentioned； the snapping of dried
branches was again faintly heard； and the Pathfinder fan…
cied that the sound of smothered voices reached him。
〃I may be mistaken；〃 he said； 〃for the thoughts often
fancy what the heart wishes； but these were notes like
the low tones of the Delaware。〃
〃Do the dead of the savages ever walk？〃 demanded Cap。
〃Ay； and run too； in their happy hunting…grounds； but
nowhere else。 A red…skin finishes with the 'arth； after
the breath quits the body。 It is not one of his gifts to
linger around his wigwam when his hour has passed。〃
〃I see some object on the water；〃 whispered Mabel；
whose eye had not ceased to dwell on the body of gloom；
with close intensity； since the disappearance of Jasper。
〃It is the canoe；〃 returned the guide； greatly relieved。
〃All must be safe； or we should have heard from the lad。〃
In another minute the two canoes； which became visible
to those they carried only as they drew near each other；
again floated side by side； and the form of Jasper was
recognized at the stern of his own boat。 The figure of a
second man was seated in the bow； and； as the young
sailor so wielded his paddle as to bring the face of his
companion near the eyes of the Pathfinder and Mabel；
they both recognized the person of the Delaware。
〃Chingachgook my brother！〃 said the guide in the
dialect of the other's people； a tremor shaking his voice
that betrayed the strength of his feelings。 〃Chief of the
Mohicans！ my heart is very glad。 Often have we passed
through blood and strife together； but I was afraid it was
never to be so again。〃
〃Hugh！ The Mingos are squaws！ Three of their scalps
hang at my girdle。 They do not know how to strike the
Great Serpent of the Delawares。 Their hearts have no
blood； and their thoughts are on their return path； across
the waters of the Great Lake。〃
〃Have you been among them； chief？ and what has be…
come of the warrior who was in the river？〃
〃He has turned into a fish； and lies at the bottom with
the eels！ Let his brothers bait their hooks for him。
Pathfinder； I have counted the enemy； and have touched
their rifles。〃
〃Ah； I thought he would be venturesome！〃 exclaimed
the guide in English。 〃The risky fellow has been in the
midst of them； and has brought us back their whole his…
tory。 Speak； Chingachgook； and I will make our friends
as knowing as ourselves。〃
The Delaware now related in a low earnest manner the
substance of all his discoveries； since he was last seen
struggling with his foe in the river。 Of the fate of his
antagonist he said no more； it not being usual for a warrior
to boast in his more direct and useful narratives。 As soon
as he had conquered in that fearful strife； however； he
swam to the eastern shore； landed with caution； and wound
his way in amongst the Iroquois； concealed by the dark…
ness； undetected； and； in the main； even unsuspected。
Once； indeed； he had been questioned； but answering that
he was Arrowhead； no further inquiries were made。 By
the passing remarks； he soon ascertained that the party was
out expressly to intercept Mabel and her uncle； concerning
whose rank； however； they had evidently been deceived。
He also ascertained enough to justify the suspicion that
Arrowhead had betrayed them to their enemies； for some
motive that it was not now easy to reach； as he had not
yet received the reward of his services。
Pathfinder communicated no more of this intelligence
to his companions than he thought might relieve their ap…
prehensions； intimating； at the same time； that now was
the moment for exertion； the Iroquois not having yet en…
tirely recovered from the confusion created by their
losses。
〃We shall find them at the rift； I make no manner of
doubt；〃 continued he； 〃and there it will be our fate to
pass them； or to fall into their hands。 The distance to
the garrison will then be so short； that I have been think…
ing of a plan of landing with Mabel myself； that I may
take her in； by some of the by…ways； and leave the canoes
to their chances in the rapids。〃
〃It will never succeed； Pathfinder；〃 eagerly interrupted
Jasper。 〃Mabel is not strong enough to tramp the woods
in a night like this。 Put her in my skiff； and I will lose
my life； or carry her through the rift safely； dark as it is。〃
〃No doubt you will； lad； no one doubts your willingness
to do anything to serve the Sergeant's daughter； but it
must be the eye of Providence； and not your own； that
will take you safely through the Oswego rift in a night
like this。〃
〃And who will lead her safely to the garrison if she
land？ Is not the night as dark on shore as on the water？
or do you think I know less of my calling than you know
of yours？〃
〃Spiritedly said； lad； but if I should lose my way in
the dark and I believe no man can say truly that such a
thing ever yet happened to me but； if I _should_ lose my
way； no other harm would come of it than to pass a night
in the forest； whereas a false turn of the paddle； or a
broad sheer of the canoe； would put you and the young
woman into the river； out of which it is more than proba…
ble the Sergeant's daughter would never come alive。〃
〃I will leave it to Mabel herself； I am certain that she
will feel more secure in the canoe。〃
〃I have great confidence in you both；〃 answered the
girl； 〃and have no doubts that either will do all he can
to prove to my father how much he values him； but I
confess I should not like to quit the canoe； with the cer…
tainty we have of there being enemies like those we have
seen in the forest。 But my uncle can decide for me in
this matter。〃
〃I have no liking for the woods；〃 said Cap； 〃while one
has a clear drift like this on the river。 Besides； Master
Pathfinder； to say nothing of the savages； you overlook
the sharks。〃
〃Sharks！ who ever heard of sharks in the wilderness？〃
〃Ay！ sharks； or bears； or wolves no matter what you
call a thing； so it has the mind and power to bite。〃
〃Lord； lord； man！ do you dread any creatur' that is to
be found in the American forest？ A catamount is a
skeary animal； I will allow； but then it is nothing in the
hands of a practysed hunter。 Talk of the Mingos and
their devilries if you will； but do not raise a false alarm
about bears and wolves。〃
〃Ay； ay； Master Pathfinder； this is all well enough for
you； who probably know the name of every creature you
would meet。 Use is everything； and it makes a man bold
when he might otherwise be bashful。 I have known sea…
men in the low latitudes swim for hours at a time among
sharks fifteen or twenty feet long。〃
〃This is extraordinary！〃 exclaimed Jasper； who had
not yet acquired that material part of his trade； the ability
to spin a yarn。 〃I have always heard that it was certain
death to venture in the water among sharks。〃
〃I forgot to say； that the lads always took capstan…bars；
or gunners' handspikes； or crows with them； to rap the
beasts over the noses if they got to be troublesome。 No；
no； I have no liking for bears and wolves； though a whale；
in my eye； is very much the same sort of fish as a red
herring after it is dried and salted。 Mabel and I had
better stick to the canoe。〃
〃Mabel would do well to change canoes；〃 added Jasper。
〃This of mine is empty； and even Pathfinder will allow
that my eye is surer than his own on the water。〃
〃That I will； cheerfully； boy。 The water belongs to
your gifts； and no one will deny that you have improved
them to the utmost。 You are right enough in believing
that the Sergeant's daughter will be safer in your canoe
than in this； and though I would gladly keep her near
myself； I have her welfare too much at heart not to give
her honest advice。 Bring your canoe close alongside； Jas…
per； and I will give you what you must consider as a
precious treasure。〃
〃I do so consider it；〃 returned the youth； not losing a
moment in complying with the request； when Mabel
passed from one canoe to the other taking her seat on the
effects which had hitherto composed its sole cargo。
As soon as this arrangement was made； the canoes sepa…
rated a short distance； and the paddles were used； though
with great care to avoid making any noise。 The conversa…
tion gradually ceased； and as the dreaded rift was ap…
proached； all became impr