there； or； for that matter； it may be in my pocket。 Well；
I suppose there will be room enough； when we reach it；
to work our canoe。 But Arrowhead； if there be pale…faces
in our neighborhood； I confess I should like to get within
hail of them。〃
The Tuscarora now gave a quiet inclination of his head；
and the whole party descended from the roots of the up…
torn tree in silence。 When they reached the ground；
Arrowhead intimated his intention to go towards the fire；
and ascertain who had lighted it； while he advised his
wife and the two others to return to a canoe； which they
had left in the adjacent stream； and await his return。
〃Why； chief； this might do on soundings； and in an
offing where one knew the channel；〃 returned old Cap；
〃but in an unknown region like this I think it unsafe to
trust the pilot alone too far from the ship： so； with your
leave； we will not part company。〃
〃What my brother want？〃 asked the Indian gravely；
though without taking offence at a distrust that was suffi…
ciently plain。
〃Your company； Master Arrowhead； and no more。 I will
go with you and speak these strangers。〃
The Tuscarora assented without difficulty； and again
he directed his patient and submissive little wife； who
seldom turned her full rich black eye on him but to ex…
press equally her respect； her dread； and her love； to pro…
ceed to the boat。 But here Magnet raised a difficulty。
Although spirited； and of unusual energy under circum…
stances of trial； she was but woman； and the idea of being
entirely deserted by her two male protectors； in the midst
of a wilderness that her senses had just told her was seem…
ingly illimitable； became so keenly painful； that she ex…
pressed a wish to accompany her uncle。
〃The exercise will be a relief； dear sir； after sitting so
long in the canoe；〃 she added； as the rich blood slowly re…
turned to a cheek that had paled in spite of her efforts to
be calm； 〃and there may be females with the strangers。〃
〃Come； then； child； it is but a cable's length； and we
shall return an hour before the sun sets。〃
With this permission； the girl； whose real name was
Mabel Dunham； prepared to be of the party； while the
Dew…of…June； as the wife of Arrowhead was called； pas…
sively went her way towards thie canoe； too much accus…
tomed to obedience； solitude； and the gloom of the forest
to feel apprehension。
The three who remained in the wind…row now picked
their way around its tangled maze； and gained the margin
of the woods。 A few glances of the eye sufficed for Arrow…
head； but old Cap deliberately set the smoke by a pocket…
compass； before he trusted himself within the shadows of
the trees。
〃This steering by the nose； Magnet； may do well enough
for an Indian； but your thoroughbred knows the virtue of
the needle；〃 said the uncle； as he trudged at the heels of
the light…stepping Tuscarora。 〃America would never have
been discovered； take my word for it； if Columbus had
been nothing but nostrils。 Friend Arrowhead； didst ever
see a machine like this？〃
The Indian turned； cast at glance at the compass； which
Cap held in a way to direct his course； and gravely an…
swered； 〃A pale…face eye。 The Tuscarora see in his head。
The Salt…water （for so the Indian styled his companion）
all eye now； no tongue。〃
〃He means； uncle； that we had needs be silent； perhaps
he distrusts the persons we are about to meet。〃
〃Ay； 'tis an Indian's fashion of going to quarters。 You
perceive he has examined the priming of his rifle； and it
may be as well if I look to that of my own pistols。〃
Without betraying alarm at these preparations； to which
she had become accustomed by her long journey in the
wilderness； Mabel followed with a step as elastic as that of
the Indian； keeping close in the rear of her companions。
For the first half mile no other caution beyond a rigid
silence was observed； but as the party drew nearer to the
spot where the fire was known to be； much greater care
became necessary。
The forest； as usual； had little to intercept the view
below the branches but the tall straight trunks of trees。
Everything belonging to vegetation had struggled towards
the light； and beneath the leafy canopy one walked； as it
might be； through a vast natural vault； upheld by myriads
of rustic columns。 These columns or trees； however； often
served to conceal the adventurer； the hunter； or the foe；
and； as Arrowhead swiftly approached the spot where his
practised and unerrimig senses told him the strangers ought
to be； his footstep gradually became lighter； his eye more
vigilant； and his person was more carefully concealed。
〃See； Saltwater；〃 said he exulting； pointing through
the vista of trees； 〃pale…face fire！〃
〃By the Lord； the fellow is right！〃 muttered Cap；
〃there they are； sure enough； and eating their grub as
quietly as if they were in the cabin of a three…decker。〃
〃Arrowhead is but half right！〃 whispered Mabel； 〃for
there are two Indians and only one white man。〃
〃Pale…faces；〃 said the Tuscarora； holding up two fingers；
〃red man；〃 holding up one。
〃Well；〃 rejoined Cap； 〃it is hard to say which is right
and which is wrong。 One is entirely white； and a fine
comely lad he is； with an air of respectability about him；
one is a red…skin as plain as paint and nature can make
him； but the third chap is half…rigged； being neither brig
nor schooner。〃
〃Pale…faces；〃 repeated Arrowhead； again raising two
fingers； 〃red man；〃 showing but one。
〃He must be right； uncle； for his eye seems never to
fail。 But it is now urgent to know whether we meet as
friends or foes。 They may be French。〃
〃One hail will soon satisfy us on that head；〃 returned
Cap。 〃Stand you behind the tree； Magnet； lest the knaves
take it into their heads to fire a broadside without a parley；
and I will soon learn what colors they sail under。〃
The uncle had placed his two hands to his mouth to
form a trumpet； and was about to give the promised hail；
when a rapid movement from the hand of Arrowhead de…
feated the intention by deranging the instrument。
〃Red man； Mohican；〃 said the Tuscarora； 〃good； pale…
faces； Yengeese。〃
〃These are heavenly tidings；〃 murmured Mabel； who
little relished the prospect of a deadly fray in that remote
wilderness。 〃Let us approach at once； dear uncle； and
proclaim ourselves friends。〃
〃Good；〃 said the Tuscarora 〃red man cool； and know；
pale…face hurried； and fire。 Let the squaw go。〃
〃What！〃 said Cap in astonishment； 〃send little Mag…
net ahead as a lookout； while two lubbers； like you and
me； lie…to to see what sort of a land…fall she will make！
If I do； I 〃
〃It is wisest； uncle；〃 interrupted the generous girl；
〃and I have no fear。 No Christian； seeing a woman ap…
proach alone； would fire upon her； and my presence will
be a pledge of peace。 Let me go forward； as Arrowhead
wishes； and all will be well。 We are； as yet； unseen； and
the surprise of the strangers will not partake of alarm。〃
〃Good；〃 returned Arrowhead； who did not conceal his
approbation of Mabel's spirit。
〃It has an unseaman…like look；〃 answered Cap； 〃but；
being in the woods； no one will know it。 If you think；
Mabel 〃
〃Uncle； I know。 There is no cause to fear for me； and
you are always nigh to protect me。〃
〃Well； take one of the pistols； then 〃
〃Nay； I had better rely on my youth and feebleness；〃
said the girl； smiling； while her color heightened under
her feelings。 〃Among Christian men； a woman's best
guard is her claim to their protection。 I know nothing of
arms； and wish to live in ignorance of them。〃
The uncle desisted； and； after receiving a few cautious
instructions from the Tuscarora； Mabel rallied all her
spirit； and advanced alone towards the group seated near
the fire。 Although the heart of the girl beat quick； her
step was firm； and her movements； seemingly； were with…
out reluctance。 A death…like silence reigned in the forest；
for they towards whom she approached were too much oc…
cupied in appeasing their hunger to avert their looks for
an instant from the important business in which they
were all engaged。 When Mabel； however； had got within
a hundred feet of the fire； she trod upon a dried stick； and
the trifling noise produced by her light footstep caused
the Mohican； as Arrowhead had pronounced the Indian
to be； and his companion； whose character had been
thought so equivocal； to rise to their feet； as quick as
thought。 Both glanced at the rifles that leaned against a
tree； and then each stood without stretching out an arm；
as his eyes fell on the form of the girl。 The Indian uttered
a few words to his companion； and resumed his seat and
his meal as calmly as if no interruption had occurred。 On
the contrary； the white man left the fire； and came forward
to meet Mabel。
The latter saw； as the stranger approached that she was
about to be addressed by one of her own color； though his
dress was so strange a mixture of the habits of the two
races； that it required a near look to be certain of the fact。
He was of middle age； but there was an open honesty； a
total absence of guile； in his face； which otherwise would
not have been thought handsome； that at on