fellow of your boyhood。〃
〃Well； Davy； if the request be reasonable； and such as a
superior ought to grant； out with it； man。〃
〃If ye could only contrive a little service for me； down
among the Thousand Isles； for a fortnight or so； I think
this matter might be settled to the satisfaction of all par…
ties。 Just remember； Lundie； the lassie is the only mar…
riageable white female on this frontier。〃
〃There is always duty for one in your line at a post；
however small； but this below can be done by the Ser…
geant as well as by the Quartermaster…general； and better
too。〃
〃But not better than by a regimental officer。 There is
great waste； in common； among the orderlies。〃
〃I'll think of it； Muir；〃 said the Major； laughing； 〃and
you shall have my answer in the morning。 Here will be a
fine occasion； man； the morrow； to show yourself off be…
fore the lady； you are expert with the rifle； and prizes are
to be won。 Make up your mind to display your skill； and
who knows what may yet happen before the _Scud_ sails。〃
〃I'm thinking most of the young men will try their
hands in this sport； Major！〃
〃That will they； and some of the old ones too； if you
appear。 To keep you in countenance； I'll try a shot or
two myself； Davy； and you know I have some name that
way。〃
〃It might； indeed； do good。 The female heart； Major
Duncan； is susceptible in many different modes； and
sometimes in a way that the rules of philosophy might
reject。 Some require a suitor to sit down before them； as
it might be； in a regular siege； and only capitulate when
the place can hold out no longer； others； again； like to be
carried by storm； while there are hussies who can only be
caught by leading them into an ambush。 The first is the
most creditable and officer…like process； perhaps； but I
must say I think the last the most pleasing。〃
〃An opinion formed from experience； out of all question。
And what of the storming parties？〃
〃They may do for younger men； Lundie；〃 returned the
Quartermaster； rising and winking； a liberty that he often
took with his commanding officer on the score of a long
intimacy； 〃every period of life has its necessities； and at
forty…seven it's just as well to trust a little to the head。 I
wish you a very good even； Major Duncan； and freedom
from gout； with a sweet and refreshing sleep。〃
〃The same to yourself； Mr。 Muir； with many thanks。
Remember the passage of arms for the morrow。〃
The Quartermaster withdrew； leaving Lundie in his
library to reflect on what had just passed。 Use had so
accustomed Major Duncan to Lieutenant Muir and all his
traits and humors； that the conduct of the latter did not
strike the former with the same force as it will probably
the reader。 In truth； while all men act under one com…
mon law that is termed nature； the varieties in their dis…
positions； modes of judging； feelings； and selfishness are
infinite。
CHAPTER XI。
Compel the hawke to sit that is unmann'd；
Or make the hound； untaught； to draw the deere；
Or bring the free against his will in band；
Or move the sad a pleasant tale to heere；
Your time is lost； and you no whit the neere！
So love ne learnes； of force the heart to knit：
She serves but those that feel sweet fancies' fit。
_Mirror for Magistrates。_
It is not often that hope is rewarded by fruition so
completely as the wishes of the young men of the garrison
were met by the state of the weather on the succeeding
day。 The heats of summer were little felt at Oswego at
the period of which we are writing； for the shade of the
forest； added to the refreshing breezes from the lake； so
far reduced the influence of the sun as to render the
nights always cool and the days seldom oppressive。
It was now September； a month in which the strong
gales of the coast often appear to force themselves across
the country as far as the great lakes； where the inland
sailor sometimes feels that genial influence which charac…
terizes the winds of the ocean invigorating his frame；
cheering his spirits； and arousing his moral force。 Such a
day was that on which the garrison of Oswego assembled
to witness what its commander had jocularly called a
〃passage of arms。〃 Lundie was a scholar in military
matters at least； and it was one of his sources of honest
pride to direct the reading and thoughts of the young men
under his orders to the more intellectual parts of their
profession。 For one in his situation； his library was both
good and extensive； and its books were freely lent to all
who desired to use them。 Among other whims that had
found their way into the garrison through these means；
was a relish for the sort of amusement in which it was now
about to indulge； and around which some chronicles of
the days of chivalry had induced them to throw a parade
and romance not unsuited to the characters and habits of
soldiers； or to the insulated and wild post occupied by this
particular garrison。 While so earnestly bent on pleasure；
however； they on whom that duty devolved did not neglect
the safety of the garrison。 One standing on the ramparts
of the fort； and gazing on the waste of glittering water
that bounded the view all along the northern horizon； and
on the slumbering and seemingly boundless forest which
filled the other half of the panorama； would have fancied the
spot the very abode of peacefulness and security； but
Duncan of Lundie too well knew that the woods might； at
any moment； give up their hundreds； bent on the destruc…
tion of the fort and all it contained； and that even the
treacherous lake offered a highway of easy approach by
which his more civilized and scarcely less wily foes； the
French； could come upon him at an unguarded moment。
Parties were sent out under old and vigilant officers； men
who cared little for the sports of the day； to scour the for…
est； and one entire company held the fort； under arms；
with orders to maintain a vigilance as strict as if an
enemy of superior force was known to be near。 With
these precautions； the remainder of the officers and men
abandoned themselves； without apprehension； to the busi…
ness of the morning。
The spot selected for the sports was a sort of esplanade；
a little west of the fort； and on the immediate bank of the
lake。 It had been cleared of its trees and stumps； that it
might answer the purpose of a parade…ground； as it pos…
sessed the advantages of having its rear protected by the
water； and one of its flanks by the works。 Men drilling
on it could be attacked； consequently； on two sides only；
and as the cleared space beyond it； in the direction of the
west and south； was large； any assailants would be com…
pelled to quit the cover of the woods before they could
make an approach sufficiently near to render them dan…
gerous。
Although the regular arms of the regiment were mus…
kets； some fifty rifles were produced on the present occa…
sion。 Every officer had one as a part of his private provi…
sion for amusement； many belonged to the scouts and
friendly Indians； of whom more or less were always hang…
ing about the fort； and there was a public provision of
them for the use of those who followed the game with the
express object of obtaining supplies。 Among those who
carried the weapon were some five or six； who had reputa…
tion for knowing how to use it particularly well so well；
indeed； as to have given them a celebrity on the frontier；
twice that number who were believed to be much better
than common； and many who would have been thought ex…
pert in almost any situation but the precise one in which
they now happened to be placed。
The distance was a hundred yards； and the weapon was
to be used without a rest； the target； a board； with the
customary circular lines in white paint； having the bull's…
eye in the centre。 The first trials in skill commenced
with challenges among the more ignoble of the competi…
tors to display their steadiness and dexterity in idle com…
petition。 None but the common men engaged in this
strife； which had little to interest the spectators； among
whom no officer had yet appeared。
Most of the soldiers were Scotch； the regiment having
been raised at Stirling and its vicinity not many years
before； though； as in the case of Sergeant Dunham； many
Americans had joined it since its arrival in the colonies。
As a matter of course； the provincials were generally the
most expert marksmen； and after a desultory trial of half
an hour it was necessarily conceded that a youth who had
been born in the colony of New York； and who coming of
Dutch extraction； was the most expert of all who had yet
tried their skill。 It was just as this opinion prevailed
that the oldest captain； accompanied by most of the gen…
tlemen and ladies of the fort； appeared on the parade。 A
train of some twenty females of humbler condition fol…
lowed； among whom was seen the well…turned form； in…
telligent； blooming； animated countenance； and neat； be…
coming attire of Mabel Dunham。
Of females who were officially recognized as belonging
to the class of ladies； there were but three in the fort； all
of whom were officers' wives； Mabel being strictly； as had
been stated by the Quarterma