perienced many trials。 It's the man or the woman that
has had many occasions to improve the affections that can
best speak of such matters； and； believe me； of all love；
philosophical is the most lasting； as it is the most rational。〃
〃You would then recommend experience as an improve…
ment on the passion？〃
〃Your quick mind has conceived the idea at a glance。
The happiest marriages are those in which youth and
beauty and confidence on one side； rely on the sagacity；
moderation； and prudence of years…middle age； I mean；
madam； for I'll no' deny that there is such a thing as a
husband's being too old for a wife。 Here is Sergeant
Dunham's charming daughter； now； to approve of such
sentiments； I'm certain； her character for discretion being
already well established in the garrison； short as has been
her residence among us。〃
〃Sergeant Dunham's daughter is scarcely a fitting in…
terlocutor in a discourse between you and me； Lieutenant
Muir；〃 rejoined the captain's lady； with careful respect for
her own dignity； 〃and yonder is the Pathfinder about to
take his chance； by way of changing the subject。〃
〃I protest； Major Duncan； I protest；〃 cried Muir hur…
rying back towards the stand； with both arms elevated by
way of enforcing his words； 〃I protest in the strongest
terms； gentlemen； against Pathfinder's being admitted into
these sports with Killdeer； which is a piece； to say nothing
of long habit that is altogether out of proportion for a
trial of skill against Government rifles。〃
〃Killdeer is taking its rest； Quartermaster；〃 returned
Pathfinder calmly； 〃and no one here thinks of disturbing
it。 I did not think； myself； of pulling a trigger to…day；
but Sergeant Dunham has been persuading me that I shall
not do proper honor to his handsome daughter； who came
in under my care； if I am backward on such an occasion。
I'm using Jasper's rifle； Quartermaster； as you may see；
and that is no better than your own。〃
Lieutenant Muir was now obliged to acquiesce； and every
eye turned towards the Pathfinder； as he took the required
station。 The air and attitude of this celebrated guide and
hunter were extremely fine； as he raised his tall form and
levelled the piece； showing perfect self…command； and a
through knowledge of the power of the human frame as
well as of the weapon。 Pathfinder was not what is usually
termed a handsome man； though his appearance excited so
much confidence and commanded respect。 Tall； and even
muscular； his frame might have been esteemed nearly per…
fect； were it not for the total absence of everything like
flesh。 Whipcord was scarcely more rigid than his arms
and legs； or； at need； more pliable； but the outlines of his
person were rather too angular for the proportion that the
eye most approves。 Still； his motions； being natural； were
graceful； and； being calm and regulated； they gave him an
air and dignity that associated well with the idea； which
was so prevalent； of his services and peculiar merits。 His
honest； open features were burnt to a bright red； that
comported well with the notion of exposure and hardships；
while his sinewy hands denoted force； and a species of use
removed from the stiffening and deforming effects of
labor。 Although no one perceived any of those gentler or
more insinuating qualities which are apt to win upon a
woman's affections； as he raised his rifle not a female eye
was fastened on him without a silent approbation of the
freedom of his movements and the manliness of his air。
Thought was scarcely quicker than his aim； and； as the
smoke floated above his head； the butt…end of the rifle was
seen on the ground； the hand of the Pathfinder was lean…
ing on the barrel； and his honest countenance was illu…
minated by his usual silent； hearty laugh。
〃If one dared to hint at such a thing；〃 cried Major
Duncan； 〃I should say that the Pathfinder had also missed
the target。〃
〃No； no； Major；〃 returned the guide confidently； 〃that
_would_ be a risky declaration。 I didn't load the piece； and
can't say what was in it； but if it was lead； you will find
the bullet driving down those of the Quartermaster and
Jasper； else is not my name Pathfinder。〃
A shout from the target announced the truth of this
assertion。
〃That's not all； that's not all； boys；〃 called out the
guide； who was now slowly advancing towards the stage
occupied by the females； 〃if you find the target touched
at all； I'll own to a miss。 The Quartermaster cut the wood；
but you'll find no wood cut by that last messenger。〃
〃Very true； Pathfinder； very true；〃 answered Muir； who
was lingering near Mabel； though ashamed to address her
particularly in the presence of the officers' wives。 〃The
Quartermaster did cut the wood； and by that means he
opened a passage for your bullet； which went through the
hole he had made。〃
〃Well； Quartermaster； there goes the nail and we'll see
who can drive it closer； you or I； for； though I did not
think of showing what a rifle can do to…day； now my hand
is in； I'll turn my back to no man that carries King
George's commission。 Chingachgook is outlying； or he
might force me into some of the niceties of the art； but；
as for you； Quartermaster； if the nail don't stop you； the
potato will。〃
〃You're over boastful this morning； Pathfinder； but
you'll find you've no green boy fresh from the settlements
and the towns to deal with； I will assure ye！〃
〃I know that well； Quartermaster； I know that well；
and shall not deny your experience。 You've lived many
years on the frontiers； and I've heard of you in the col…
onies； and among the Indians； too； quite a human life ago。〃
〃Na； na；〃 interrupted Muir in his broadest Scotch；
〃this is injustice； man。 I've no' lived so very long；
neither。〃
〃I'll do you justice； Lieutenant； even if you get the best
in the potato trial。 I say you've passed a good human life；
for a soldier； in places where the rifle is daily used； and I
know you are a creditable and ingenious marksman； but
then you are not a true rifle…shooter。 As for boasting； I
hope I'm not a vain talker about my own exploits； but a
man's gifts are his gifts； and it's flying in the face of Prov…
idence to deny them。 The Sergeant's daughter； here；
shall judge between us； if you have the stomach to submit
to so pretty a judge。〃
The Pathfinder had named Mabel as the arbiter because
he admired her； and because； in his eyes； rank had little or
no value； but Lieutenant Muir shrank at such a reference
in the presence of the wives of the officers。 He would
gladly keep himself constantly before the eyes and the
imagination of the object of his wishes； but he was still
too much under the influence of old prejudices； and per…
haps too wary； to appear openly as her suitor； unless he
saw something very like a certainty of success。 On the
discretion of Major Duncan he had a full reliance； and he
apprehended no betrayal from that quarter； but he was
quite aware； should it ever get abroad that he had been
refused by the child of a non…commissioned officer； he
would find great difficulty in making his approaches to any
other woman of a condition to which he might reasonably
aspire。 Notwithstanding these doubts and misgivings；
Mabel looked so prettily； blushed so charmingly； smiled so
sweetly； and altogether presented so winning a picture of
youth； spirit； modesty； and beauty； that he found it ex…
ceedingly tempting to be kept so prominently before her
imagination； and to be able to address her freely。
〃You shall have it your own way； Pathfinder；〃 he an…
swered； as soon as his doubts had settled down into de…
termination； 〃let the； Sergeant's daughter his charming
daughter； I should have termed her be the umpire then；
and to her we will both dedicate the prize； that one or the
other must certainly win。 Pathfinder must be humored；
ladies； as you perceive； else； no doubt； we should have had
the honor to submit ourselves to one of your charming
society。〃
A call for the competitors now drew the Quartermaster
and his adversary away； and in a few moments the second
trial of skill commenced。 A common wrought nail was
driven lightly into the target； its head having been first
touched with paint； and the marksman was required to hit
it； or he lost his chances in the succeeding trials。 No one
was permitted to enter； on this occasion； who had already
failed in the essay against the bull's…eye。
There might have been half a dozen aspirants for the
honors of this trial； one or two； who had barely succeeded
in touching the spot of paint in the previous strife； pre…
ferring to rest their reputations there； feeling certain that
they could not succeed in the greater effort that was now
exacted of them。 The first three adventurers failed； all
coming very near the mark； but neither touching it。
The fourth person whb presented himself was the Quarter…
master； who； after going through his usual attitudes； so far
succeeded as to carry away a small portion of the head of
the nail； planting his bullet by the side of its point。 This
was not considered an extraordinary shot； though it
brought the adventurer within the category。
〃You've saved your bacon； Quartermast