think that it is all as much owing to Killdeer as to any skill
of my own。 It is sartainly a wonderful piece； and might
do as much in the hands of another。〃
〃That is your own humble opinion of yourself； Path…
finder； but we have seen too many fail with the same
weapon； and you succeed too often with the rifles of other
men； to allow me to agree with you。 We will get up a
shooting match in a day or two； when you call show your
skill； and when Mabel will form some judgment concern…
ing your true character。〃
〃Will that be fair； Sergeant？ Everybody knows that
Killdeer seldom misses； and ought we to make a trial of
this sort when we all know what must be the result？〃
〃Tut； tut； man！ I foresee I must do half this courting
for you。 For one who is always inside of the smoke in a
skirmish； you are the faintest…hearted suitor I ever met
with。 Remember； Mabel comes of a bold stock； and the
girl will be as likely to admire a man as her mother was
before her。〃
Here the Sergeant arose； and proceeded to attend to his
never…ceasing duties； without apology； the terms on which
the guide stood with all in the garrison rendering this
freedom quite a matter of course。
The reader will have gathered from the conversation
just related； one of the plans that Sergeant Dunham had
in view in causing his daughter to be brought to the
frontier。 Although necessarily much weaned from the
caresses and blandishments that had rendered his child so
dear to him during the first year or two of his widowerhood；
he had still a strong but somewhat latent love for her。
Accustomed to command and to obey； without being ques…
tioned himself or questioning others； concerning the rea…
sonableness of the mandates； he was perhaps too much
disposed to believe that his daughter would marry the man
he might select； while he was far from being disposed to
do violence to her wishes。 The fact was； few knew the
Pathfinder intimately without secretly believing him to
be one of extraordinary qualities。 Ever the same； simple…
minded； faithful； utterly without fear； and yet prudent；
foremost in all warrantable enterprises； or what the opinion
of the day considered as such； and never engaged in any…
thing to call a blush to his cheek or censure on his acts； it
was not possible to live much with this being and not feel
respect and admiration for him which had no reference
to his position in life。 The most surprising peculiarity
about the man himself was the entire indifference with
which he regarded all distinctions which did not depend
on personal merit。 He was respectful to his superiors
from habit； but had often been known to correct their
mistakes and to reprove their vices with a fearlessness that
proved how essentially he regarded the more material
points； and with a natural discrimination that appeared to
set education at defiance。 In short； a disbeliever in the
ability of man to distinguish between good and evil with…
out the aid of instruction； would have been staggered by
the character of this extraordinary inhabitant of the fron…
tier。 His feelings appeared to possess the freshness and
nature of the forest in which he passed so much of his
time； and no casuist could have made clearer decisions in
matters relating to right and wrong； and yet he was not
without his prejudices； which； though few； and colored by
the character and usages of the individual； were deep…
rooted； and almost formed a part of his nature。 But the
most striking feature about the moral organization of
Pathfinder was his beautiful and unerring sense of justice。
This noble trait and without it no man can be truly great；
with it no man other than respectable probably had its
unseen influence on all who associated with him； for the
common and unprincipled brawler of the camp had been
known to return from an expedition made in his company
rebuked by his sentiments； softened by his language； and
improved by his example。 As might have been expected；
with so elevated a quality his fidelity was like the immov…
able rock； treachery in him was classed among the things
which are impossible； and as he seldom retired before his
enemies； so was he never known； under any circumstances
that admitted of an alternative； to abandon a friend。 The
affinities of such a character were； as a matter of course；
those of like for like。 His associates and intimates； though
more or less determined by chance； were generally of the
highest order as to moral propensities； for he appeared to
possess a species of instinctive discrimination； which led
him； insensibly to himself； most probably； to cling closest
to those whose characters would best reward his friend…
ship。 In short； it was said of the Pathfinder； by one ac…
customed to study his fellows； that he was a fair example
of what a just…minded and pure man might be； while un…
tempted by unruly or ambitious desires； and left to follow
the bias of his feelings； amid the solitary grandeur and
ennobling influences of a sublime nature； neither led aside
by the inducements which influence all to do evil amid the
incentives of civilization； nor forgetful of the Almighty
Being whose spirit pervades the wilderness as well as the
towns。
Such was the man whom Sergeant Dunham had selected
as the husband of Mabel。 In making this choice； he had
not been as much governed by a clear and judicious view
of the merits of the individual； perhaps； as by his own
likings； still no one knew the Pathfinder so intimately as
himself without always conceding to the honest guide a
high place in his esteem on account of these very virtues。
That his daughter could find any serious objections to the
match the old soldier did not apprehend； while； on the
other hand； he saw many advantages to himself in dim
perspective； connected with the decline of his days； and
an evening of life passed among descendants who were
equally dear to him through both parents。 He had first
made the proposition to his friend； who had listened to it
kindly； but who； the Sergeant was now pleased to find；
already betrayed a willingness to come into his own views
that was proportioned to the doubts and misgivings pro…
ceeding from his humble distrust of himself。
CHAPTER X。
Think not I love him； though I ask for him；
'Tis but a peevish boy： yet he talks well
But what care I for words？
A week passed in the usual routine of a garrison。 Mabel
was becoming used to a situation that； at first she had
found not only novel； but a little irksome； and the officers
and men in their turn； gradually familiarized to the presence
of a young and blooming girl； whose attire and carriage
had that air of modest gentility about them which she had
obtained in the family of her patroness； annoyed her less
by their ill…concealed admiration； while they gratified her
by the respect which； she was fain to think； they paid her
on account of her father； but which； in truth； was more
to be attributed to her own modest but spirited deport…
ment； than to any deference for the worthy Sergeant。
Acquaintances made in a forest； or in any circumstances
of unusual excitement； soon attain their limits。 Mabel
found one week's residence at Oswego sufficient to deter…
mine her as to those with whom she might be intimate
and those whom she ought to avoid。 The sort of neutral
position occupied by her father； who was not an officer；
while he was so much more than a common soldier； by
keeping her aloof from the two great classes of military
life； lessened the number of those whom she was com…
pelled to know； and made the duty of decision compara…
tively easy。 Still she soon discovered that there were a
few； even among those that could aspire to a seat at the
Commandant's table； who were disposed to overlook the
halbert for the novelty of a well…turned figure and of a
pretty； winning face； and by the end of the first two or
three days she had admirers even among the gentlemen。
The Quartermaster； in particular； a middle…aged soldier；
who had more than once tried the blessings of matrimony
already； but was now a widower； was evidently disposed to
increase his intimacy with the Sergeant； though their
duties often brought them together； and the youngsters
among his messmates did not fail to note that this man of
method； who was a Scotsman of the name of Muir； was
much more frequent in his visits to the quarters of his
subordinate than had formerly been his wont。 A laugh；
or a joke； in honor of the 〃Sergeant's daughter；〃 how…
ever； limited their strictures； though 〃Mabel Dunham〃
was soon a toast that even the ensign； or the lieutenant；
did not disdain to give。
At the end of the week； Duncan of Lundie sent for
Sergeant Dunham； after evening roll…call； on business of a
nature that； it was understood； required a personal con…
ference。 The old veteran dwelt in a movable hut； which；
being placed on trucks； he could order to be wheeled about
at pleasure； sometimes living in one part of the area within
the fort； and sometimes in another。 On the present occa…
sion； he had made a halt near the centre； and there he
was found by his subordinate； who was admitted to his
presence without any delay or