when the rifle has done cracking； and at night； around
our fires； or on our marches； we talk of the things we love；
just as you young women convarse about your fancies and
opinions when you get together to laugh over your idees。
Now it was natural that the Sergeant； having such a
daughter as you； should love her better than anything else；
and that he should talk of her oftener than of anything
else； while I； having neither daughter； nor sister； nor
mother； nor kith； nor kin； nor anything but the Delawares
to love； I naturally chimed in； as it were； and got to love
you； Mabel； before I ever saw you yes； I did just by talk…
ing about you so much。〃
〃And now you _have_ seen me；〃 returned the smiling girl；
whose unmoved and natural manner proved how little she
was thinking of anything more than parental or fraternal
regard； 〃you are beginning to see the folly of forming
friendships for people before you know anything about
them； except by hearsay。〃
〃It wasn't friendship it isn't friendship； Mabel； that
I feel for you。 I am the friend of the Delawares； and
have been so from boyhood； but my feelings for them； or
for the best of them； are not the same as those I got from
the Sergeant for you； and； especially； now that I begin to
know you better。 I'm sometimes afeared it isn't whole…
some for one who is much occupied in a very manly call…
ing； like that of a guide or scout； or a soldier even； to form
friendships for women； young women in particular； as
they seem to me to lessen the love of enterprise； and to
turn the feelings away from their gifts and natural occu…
pations。〃
〃You surely do not mean； Pathfinder； that a friendship
for a girl like me would make you less bold； and more un…
willing to meet the French than you were before？〃
〃Not so； not so。 With you in danger； for instance； I
fear I might become foolhardy； but before we became so
intimate； as I may say； I loved to think of my scoutings；
and of my marches； and outlyings； and fights； and other
adventures： but now my mind cares less about them； I
think more of the barracks； and of evenings passed in dis…
course； of feelings in which there are no wranglings and
bloodshed； and of young women； and of their laughs and
their cheerful； soft voices； their pleasant looks and their
winning ways。 I sometimes tell the Sergeant that he and
his daughter will be the spoiling of one of the best and
most experienced scouts on the lines。〃
〃Not they； Pathfinder； they will try to make that which
is already so excellent； perfect。 You do not know us； if
you think that either wishes to see you in the least changed。
Remain as at present； the same honest； upright； conscien…
tious； fearless； intelligent； trustworthy guide that you are；
and neither my dear father nor myself can ever think of
you differently from what we now do。〃
It was too dark for Mabel to note the workings of the
countenance of her listener； but her own sweet face was
turned towards him； as she spoke with an energy equal to
her frankness； in a way to show how little embarrassed
were her thoughts； and how sincere were her words。 Her
countenance was a little flushed； it is true； but it was with
earnestness and truth of feeling； though no nerve thrilled；
no limb trembled； no pulsation quickened。 In short； her
manner and appearance were those of a sincere…minded
and frank girl； making such a declaration of good…will and
regard for one of the other sex as she felt that his services
and good qualities merited； without any of the emotion
that invariably accompanies the consciousness of an in…
clination which might lead to softer disclosures。
The Pathfinder was too unpractised； however； to enter
into distinctions of this kind； and his humble nature was
encouraged by the directness and strength of the words
he had just heard。 Unwilling； if not unable； to say any
more； he walked away； and stood leaning on his rifle and
looking up at the stars for full ten minutes in profound
silence。
In the meanwhile the interview on the bastion； to which
we have already alluded； took place between Lundie and
the Sergeant。
〃Have the men's knapsacks been examined？〃 demanded
Major Duncan； after he had cast his eye at a written report；
handed to him by the Sergeant； but which it was too dark
to read。
〃All； your honor； and all are right。〃
〃The ammunition arms？〃
〃All in order； Major Duncan； and fit for any service。〃
〃You have the men named in my own draft； Dunham？〃
〃Without an exception； sir。 Better men could not be
found in the regiment。〃
〃You have need of the best of our men； Sergeant。 This
experiment has now been tried three times； always under
one of the ensigns； who have flattered me with success；
but have as often failed。 After so much preparation and
expense； I do not like to abandon the project entirely；
but this will be the last effort； and the result will mainly
depend on you and on the Pathfinder。〃
〃You may count on us both； Major Duncan。 The duty
you have given us is not above our habits and experience；
and I think it will be well done。 I know that the Path…
finder will not be wanting。〃
〃On that； indeed； it will be safe to rely。 He is a most
extraordinary man； Dunham one who long puzzled me；
but who； now that I understand him； commands as much
of my respect as any general in his majesty's service。〃
〃I was in hopes； sir； that you would come to look at the
proposed marriage with Mabel as a thing I ought to wish
and forward。〃
〃As for that； Sergeant； time will show；〃 returned
Lundie； smiling； though here； too； the obscurity concealed
tbe nicer shades of expression； 〃one woman is sometimes
more difficult to manage than a whole regiment of men。
By the way； you know that your would…be son…in…law； the
Quartermaster； will be of the party； and I trust you will
at least give him an equal chance in the trial for your
daughter's smiles。〃
〃If respect for his rank； sir； did not cause me to do
this； your honor's wish would be sufficient。〃
〃I thank you； Sergeant。 We have served much together；
and ought to value each other in our several stations。
Understand me； however； I ask no more for Davy Muir
than a clear field and no favor。 In love； as in war； each
man must gain his own victories。 Are you certain that
the rations have been properly calculated？〃
〃I'll answer for it； Major Duncan； but if they were not；
we cannot suffer with two such hunters as Pathfinder and
the Serpent in company。〃
〃That will never do； Dunham；〃 interrupted Lundie
sharply； 〃and it comes of your American birth and
American training。 No thorough soldier ever relies on
anything but his commissary for supplies； and I beg that
no part of my regiment may be the first to set an example
to the contrary。〃
〃You have only to command； Major Duncan； to be
obeyed； and yet； if I might presume； sir 〃
〃Speak freely； Sergeant； you are talking with a friend。〃
〃I was merely about to say that I find even the Scotch
soldiers like venison and birds quite as well as pork； when
they are difficult to be had。〃
〃That may be very true； but likes and dislikes have
nothing to do with system。 An army can rely on nothing
but its commissaries。 The irregularity of the provincials
has played the devil with the king's service too often to be
winked at any longer。〃
〃General Braddock； your honor； might have been ad…
vised by Colonel Washington。〃
〃Out upon your Washington！ You're all provincials
together； man； and uphold each other as if you were of a
sworn confederacy。〃
〃I believe his majesty has no more loyal subjects than
the Americans； your honor。〃
〃In that； Dunham； I'm thinking you're right； and I
have been a little too warm； perhaps。 I do not consider
_you_ a provincial； however； Sergeant； for though born in
America； a better soldier never shouldered a musket。〃
〃And Colonel Washington； your honor？〃
〃Well！ and Colonel Washington may be a useful subject
too。 He is the American prodigy； and I suppose I may as
well give him all the credit you ask。 You have no doubt
of the skill of this Jasper Eau…douce？〃
〃The boy has been tried； sir； and found equal to all that
can be required of him。〃
〃He has a French name； and has passed much of his
boyhood in the French colonies； has he French blood in
his veins； Sergeant？〃
〃Not a drop； your honor。 Jasper's father was an old
comrade of my own； and his mother came of an honest
and loyal family in this very province。〃
〃How came he then so much among the French； and
whence his name？ He speaks the language of the Canadas；
too； I find。〃
〃That is easily explained； Major Duncan。 The boy was
left under the care of one of our mariners in the old war；
and he took to the water like a duck。 Your honor knows
that we have no ports on Ontario that can be named as
such； and he naturally passed most of his time on the
other side of the lake； where the French have had a few
vessels these fifty years。 He learned to speak their lan…
guage； as a matter of course； and got his name from the
Indians and Canadians； who are fond of calling men by
their qualities； as it might be。〃
〃A French master is but a poor instructor for a British
sailor； notwit