spring； and as he sat near her； fast won his way to her
esteem by his gentle but frank manner of manifesting his
care； homage that woman always wishes to receive； but
which is never so flattering or so agreeable as when it
comes from the young to those of their own age from the
manly to the gentle。 Like most of those who pass their
time excluded from the society of the softer sex； young
Western was earnest； sincere； and kind in his attentions；
which； though they wanted a conventional refinement；
which； perhaps； Mabel never missed； had those winning
qualities that prove very sufficient as substitutes。 Leav…
ing these two unsophisticated young people to become ac…
quainted through their feelings； rather than their expressed
thoughts； we will turn to the group in which the uncle
had already become a principal actor。
The party had taken their places around a platter of
venison steaks； which served for the common use； and the
discourse naturally partook of the characters of the differ…
ent individuals which composed it。 The Indians were
silent and industrious the appetite of the aboriginal
American for venison being seemingly inappeasable； while
the two white men were communicative； each of the latter
being garrulous and opinionated in his way。 But； as the
dialogue will put the reader in possession of certain facts
that may render the succeeding narrative more clear； it
will be well to record it。
〃There must be satisfaction in this life of yours； no
doubt Mr。 Pathfinder；〃 continued Cap； when the hunger
of the travellers was so far appeased that they began to
pick and choose among the savory morsels； 〃it has some
of the chances and luck that we seamen like； and if ours
is all water； yours is all land。〃
〃Nay； we have water too； in our journeyings and
marches；〃 returned his white companion； 〃we border…
men handle the paddle and the spear almost as much as
the rifle and the hunting…knife。〃
〃Ay； but do you handle the brace and the bow…line； the
wheel and the lead…line； the reef…point and the top…rope？
The paddle is a good thing； out of doubt； in a canoe； but
of what use is it in the ship？〃
〃Nay； I respect all men in their callings； and I can be…
lieve the things you mention have their uses。 One who
has lived； like myself； in company with many tribes； un…
derstands differences in usages。 The paint of a Mingo is
not the paint of a Delaware； and he who should expect to
see a warrior in the dress of a squaw might be disappointed。
I am not yet very old； but I have lived in the woods； and
have some acquaintance with human natur'。 I never be…
lieve much in the learning of them that dwell in towns；
for I never yet met with one that had an eye for a rifle or
a trail。〃
〃That's my manner of reasoning； Master Pathfinder； to
a yarn。 Walking about streets； going to church of Sun…
days； and hearing sermons； never yet made a man of a
human being。 Send the boy out upon the broad ocean； if
you wish to open his eyes； and let him look upon foreign
nations； or what I call the face of nature； if you wish him
to understand his own character。 Now； there is my
brother…in…law； the Sergeant： he is as good a fellow as
ever broke a biscuit； in his way； but what is he； after all？
Why； nothing but a soldier。 A sergeant； to be sure； but
that is a sort of a soldier； you know。 When he wished to
marry poor Bridget； my sister； I told the girl what he was；
as in duty bound； and what she might expect from such a
husband； but you know how it is with girls when their
minds are jammed by an inclination。 It is true； the Ser…
geant has risen in his calling； and they say he is an im…
portant man at the fort； but his poor wife has not lived
to see it all； for she has now been dead these fourteen
years。〃
〃A soldier's calling is honorable； provided he has fi't
only on the side of right；〃 returned the Pathfinder； 〃and
as the Frenchers are always wrong； and his sacred Majesty
and these colonies are always right； I take it the Sergeant
has a quiet conscience as well as a good character。 I have
never slept more sweetly than when I have fi't the Mingos；
though it is the law with me to fight always like a white
man and never like an Indian。 The Sarpent； here； has
his fashions； and I have mine； and yet have we fi't side
by side these many years； without either thinking a hard
thought consarning the other's ways。 I tell him there is
but one heaven and one hell； notwithstanding his tradi…
tions； though there are many paths to both。〃
〃That is rational； and he is bound to believe you；
though； I fancy； most of the roads to the last are on dry
land。 The sea is what my poor sister Bridget used to call
a 'purifying place；' and one is out of the way of tempta…
tion when out of sight of land。 I doubt if as much can
be said in favor of your lakes up hereaway。〃
〃That towns and settlements lead to sin； I will allow；
but our lakes are bordered by the forests； and one is every
day called upon to worship God in such a temple。 That
men are not always the same； even in the wilderness； I
must admit for the difference between a Mingo and a
Delaware is as plain to be seen as the difference between
the sun and the moon。 I am glad； friend Cap； that we
have met； however； if it be only that you may tell the Big
Sarpent here that there are lakes in which the water is
salt。 We have been pretty much of one mind since our
acquaintance began； and if the Mohican has only half the
faith in me that I have in him； he believes all that I have
told him touching the white men's ways and natur's laws；
but it has always seemed to me that none of the red…skins
have given as free a belief as an honest man likes to the
accounts of the Big Salt Lakes； and to that of their being
rivers that flow up stream。〃
〃This comes of getting things wrong end foremost；〃
answered Cap； with a condescending nod。 〃You have
thought of your lakes and rifts as the ship； and of the
ocean and the tides as the boat。 Neither Arrowhoad nor
the Serpent need doubt what you have said concerning
both； though I confess myself to some difficulty in swal…
lowing the tale about there being inland seas at all； and
still more that there is any sea of fresh water。 I have
come this long journey as much to satisfy my own eyes
concerning these facts； as to oblige the Sergeant and Mag…
net； though the first was my sister's husband； and I love
the last like a child。〃
〃You are wrong； friend Cap； very wrong； to distrust；
the power of God in any thing；〃 returned Pathfinder
earnestly。 〃They that live in the settlements and the
towns have confined and unjust opinions consarning the
might of His hand； but we； who pass our time in His very
presence； as it might be； see things differently I mean；
such of us as have white natur's。 A red…skin has his
notions； and it is right that it should be so； and if they
are not exactly the same as a Christian white man's； there
is no harm in it。 Still； there are matters which belong
altogether to the ordering of God's providence； and these
salt and fresh…water lakes are some of them。 I do not
pretend to account for these things； but I think it the
duty of all to believe in them。〃
〃Hold on there； Master Pathfinder；〃 interrupted Cap；
not without some heat； 〃in the way of a proper and manly
faith； I will turn my back on no one； when afloat。 Al…
though more accustomed to make all snug aloft； and to
show the proper canvas； than to pray when the hurricane
comes； I know that we are but helpless mortals at times；
and I hope I pay reverence where reverence is due。 All I
mean to say is this： that； being accustomed to see water
in large bodies salt； I should like to taste it before I can
believe it to be fresh。〃
〃God has given the salt lick to the deer； and He has
given to man； red…skin and white； the delicious spring at
which to slake his thirst。 It is unreasonable to think that
He may not have given lakes of pure water to the west；
and lakes of impure water to the east。〃
Cap was awed； in spite of his overweening dogmatism；
by the earnest simplicity of the Pathfinder； though he did
not relish the idea of believing a fact which； for many
years； he had pertinaciously insisted could not be true。
Unwilling to give up the point and； at the same time； un…
able to maintain it against a reasoning to which he was un…
accustomed； and which possessed equally the force of
truth； faith； and probability； he was glad to get rid of the
subject by evasion。
〃Well； well； friend Pathfinder；〃 said he； 〃we will leave
the argument where it is； and we can try the water when
we once reach it。 Only mark my words I do not say
that it may not be fresh on the surface； the Atlantic is
sometimes fresh on the surface； near the mouths of great
rivers； but； rely on it； I shall show you a way of tasting
the water many fathoms deep； of which you never dreamed；
and then we shall know more about it。〃
The guide seemed content to let the matter rest； and
the conversation changed。
〃We are not over…conceited consarning our gifts；〃 ob…
served the Pathfinder； after a short pause； 〃and well know
that such as live in the towns； and near the sea 〃
〃On the sea；〃 interrupted Cap