have covered a hundred acres； but with it every sign of
civilization ceased。 All beyond was forest； that dense；
interminable forest which Mabel could now picture to
herself； through her recollections； with its hidden glassy
lakes； its dark rolling stream； and its world of nature。
Turning from this view； our heroine felt her cheek
fanned by a fresh and grateful breeze； such as she had not
experienced since quitting the far distant coast。 Here a
new scene presented itself： although expected； it was not
without a start； and a low exclamation indicative of pleas…
ure； that the eager eyes of the girl drank in its beauties。 To
the north； and east； and west； in every direction； in short；
over one entire half of the novel panorama； lay a field of
rolling waters。 The element was neither of that glassy
green which distinguishes the American waters in general；
nor yet of the deep blue of the ocean； the color being of a
slightly amber hue； which scarcely affected its limpidity。
No land was to be seen； with the exception of the adjacent
coast； which stretched to the right and left in an unbroken
outline of forest with wide bays and low headlands or
points； still； much of the shore was rocky； and into its
caverns the sluggish waters occasionally rolled； producing
a hollow sound； which resembled the concussions of a dis…
tant gun。 No sail whitened the surface； no whale or other
fish gambolled on its bosom； no sign of use or service re…
warded the longest and most minute gaze at its boundless
expanse。 It was a scene； on one side； of apparently end…
less forests； while a waste of seemingly interminable water
spread itself on the other。 Nature appeared to have de…
lighted in producing grand effects； by setting two of her
principal agents in bold relief to each other； neglecting de…
tails； the eye turning from the broad carpet of leaves to
the still broader field of fluid； from the endless but
gentle heavings of the lake to the holy calm and poetical
solitude of the forest； with wonder and delight。
Mabel Dunham； though unsophisticated； like most of
her countrywomen of that period； and ingenuous and
frank as any warm…hearted and sincere…minded girl well
could be； was not altogether without a feeling for the
poetry of this beautiful earth of ours。 Although she could
scarcely be said to be educated at all； for few of her sex
at that day and in this country received much more than
the rudiments of plain English instruction； still she had
been taught much more than was usual for young women
in her own station in life； and； in one sense certainly； she
did credit to her teaching。 The widow of a field…officer；
who formerly belonged to the same regiment as her father；
had taken the child in charge at the death of its mother；
and under the care of this lady Mabel had acquired some
tastes and many ideas which otherwise might always have
remained strangers to her。 Her situation in the family
had been less that of a domestic than of a humble com…
panion； and the results were quite apparent in her attire；
her language； her sentiments； and even in her feelings；
though neither； perhaps； rose to the level of those which
would properly characterize a lady。 She had lost the less
refined habits and manners of one in her original position；
without having quite reached a point that disqualified her
for the situation in life that the accidents of birth and
fortune would probably compel her to fill。 All else that
was distinctive and peculiar in her belonged to natural
character。
With such antecedents it will occasion the reader no
wonder if he learns that Mabel viewed the novel scene
before her with a pleasure far superior to that produced
by vulgar surprise。 She felt its ordinary beauties as most
would have felt them； but she had also a feeling for its
sublimity for that softened solitude； that calm grandeur；
and eloquent repose； which ever pervades broad views of
natural objects yet undisturbed by the labors and strug…
gles of man。
〃How beautiful！〃 she exclaimed； unconscious of speak…
ing； as she stood on the solitary bastion； facing the air
from the lake； and experiencing the genial influence of
its freshness pervading both her body and her mind。
〃How very beautiful！ and yet how singular！〃
The words； and the train of her ideas； were interrupted
by a touch of a finger on her shoulder； and turning； in the
expectation of seeing her father； Mabel found Pathfinder
at her side。 He was leaning quietly on his long rifle； and
laughing in his quiet manner； while； with an outstretched
arm； he swept over the whole panorama of land and water。
〃Here you have both our domains；〃 said he； 〃Jasper's
and mine。 The lake is for him； and the woods are for
me。 The lad sometimes boasts of the breadth of his
dominions； but I tell him my trees make as broad a
plain on the face of this 'arth as all his water。 Well；
Mabel； you are fit for either； for I do not see that fear of
the Mingos； or night…marches； can destroy your pretty
looks。〃
〃It is a new character for the Pathfinder to appear in；
to compliment a silly girl。〃
〃Not silly； Mabel； no； not in the least silly。 The Ser…
geant's daughter would do discredit to her worthy father；
were she to do or say anything that could be called silly。〃
〃Then she must take care and not put too much faith in
treacherous； flattering words。 But； Pathfinder； I rejoice to
see you among us again； for； though Jasper did not seem
to feel much uneasiness； I was afraid some accident might
have happened to you and your friend on that frightful
rift。〃
〃The lad knows us both； and was sartain that we
should not drown； which is scarcely one of my gifts。 It
would have been hard swimming of a sartainty； with a
long…barrelled rifle in the hand； and what between the
game； and the savages and the French； Killdeer and I
have gone through too much in company to part very
easily。 No； no； we waded ashore； the rift being shallow
enough for that with small exceptions； and we landed with
our arms in our hands。 We had to take our time for it；
on account of the Iroquois； I will own； but； as soon as the
skulking vagabonds saw the lights that the Sergeant sent
down to your canoe； we well understood they would
decamp； since a visit might have been expected from some
of the garrison。 So it was only sitting patiently on the
stones for an hour； and all the danger was over。 Patience
is the greatest of virtues in a woodsman。〃
〃I rejoice to hear this； for fatigue itself could scarcely
make me sleep； for thinking of what might befall you。〃
〃Lord bless your tender little heart； Mabel！ but this is
the way with all you gentle ones。 I must say； on my part；
however； that I was right glad to see the lanterns come
down to the waterside； which I knew to be a sure sign of
_your_ safety。 We hunters and guides are rude beings； but
we have our feelings and our idees； as well as any general
in the army。 Both Jasper and I would have died before
you should have come to harm we would。〃
〃I thank you for all you did for me； Pathfinder； from
the bottom of my heart； I thank you； and； depend on it；
my father shall know it。 I have already told him much；
but have still a duty to perform on this subject。〃
〃Tush； Mabel！ The Sergeant knows what the woods
be； and what men true red men be； too。 There is lit…
tle need to tell him anything about it。 Well； now you
have met your father； do you find the honest old soldier
the sort of person you expected to find ？〃
〃He is my own dear father； and received me as a soldier
and a father should receive a child。 Have you known him
long； Pathfinder？〃
〃That is as people count time。 I was just twelve when
the Sergeant took me on my first scouting； and that is
now more than twenty years ago。 We had a tramping time
of it； and； as it was before your day； you would have had
no father； had not the rifle been one of my natural gifts。〃
〃Explain yourself。〃
〃It is too simple for many words。 We were ambushed；
and the Sergeant got a bad hurt； and would have lost his
scalp； but for a sort of inbred turn I took to the weapon。
We brought him off； however； and a handsomer head of
hair； for his time of life； is not to be found in the rijiment
than the Sergeant carries about with him this blessed day。〃
〃You saved my father's life； Pathfinder！〃 exclaimed
Mabel； unconsciously； though warmly； taking one of his
hard； sinewy hands into both her own。 〃God bless you
for this； too； among your other good acts！〃
〃Nay； I did not say that much； though I believe I did
save his scalp。 A man might live without a scalp； and so
I cannot say I saved his life。 Jasper may say that much
consarning you； for without his eye and arm the canoe
would never have passed the rift in safety on a night like
the last。 The gifts of the lad are for the water； while
mine are for the hunt and the trail。 He is yonder； in the
cove there； looking after the canoes； and keeping his eye
on his beloved little craft。 To my eye； there is no likelier
youth in these parts than Jasper Western。〃
For the first time since she had left her room； Mabel
now turned her eyes beneath her； and got a view of what
might be