and careful handling； he got so near his chase that it was
secured by a boat…hook。 On receiving an order； the two
persons who were in the canoe left it； and no sooner had
they reached the deck of the cutter than they were found
to be Arrowhead and his wife。
CHAPTER XV。
What pearl is it that rich men cannot buy；
That learning is too proud to gather up；
But which the poor and the despised of all
Seek and obtain； and often find unsought？
Tell me and I will tell thee what is truth。
COWPER。
The meeting with the Indian and his wife excited no
surprise in the majority of those who witnessed the occur…
rence； but Mabel； and all who knew of the manner in
which this chief had been separated from the party of Cap；
simultaneously entertained suspicions； which it was far
easier to feel than to follow out by any plausible clue to
certainty。 Pathfinder； who alone could converse freely
with the prisoners； for such they might now be considered；
took Arrowhead aside； and held a long conversation with
him； concerning the reasons of the latter for having de…
serted his charge and the manner in which he had been
since employed。
The Tuscarora met these inquiries； and he gave his an…
swers with the stoicism of an Indian。 As respects the sep…
aration； his excuses were very simply made； and they seemed
to be sufficiently plausible。 When he found that the party
was discovered in its place of concealment； he naturally
sought his own safety； which he secured by plunging into
the woods。 In a word； he had run away in order to save
his life。
〃This is well；〃 returned Pathfinder； affecting to believe
the other's apologies； 〃my brother did very wisely； but
his woman followed？〃
〃Do not the pale…faces' women follow their husbands？
Would not Pathfinder have looked back to see if one he
loved was coming？〃
This appeal was made to the guide while he was in a
most fortunate frame of mind to admit its force； for
Mabel and her blandishments and constancy were becom…
ing images familiar to his thoughts。 The Tuscarora；
though he could not trace the reason； saw that his excuse
was admitted； and he stood with quiet dignity awaiting
the next inquiry。
〃This is reasonable and natural；〃 returned Pathfinder；
〃this is natural； and may be so。 A woman would be likely
to follow the man to whom she had plighted faith； and
husband and wife are one flesh。 Your words are honest；
Tuscarora；〃 changing the language to the dialect of the
other。 〃Your words are honest； and very pleasant and
just。 But why has my brother been so long from the fort？
His friends have thought of him often； but have never
seen him。〃
〃If the doe follows the buck； ought not the buck to fol…
low the doe？〃 answered the Tuscarora； smiling； as he laid
a finger significantly on the shoulder of his interrogator。
〃Arrowhead's wife followed Arrowhead； it was right in
Arrowhead to follow his wife。 She lost her way； and they
made her cook in a strange wigwam。〃
〃I understand you； Tuscarora。 The woman fell into
the hands of the Mingos； and you kept upon their trail。〃
〃Pathfinder can see a reason as easily as he can see the
moss on the trees。 It is so。〃
〃And how long have you got the woman back； and in
what manner has it been done？〃
〃Two suns。 The Dew…of…June was not long in coming
when her husband whispered to her the path。〃
〃Well； well； all this seems natural； and according to
matrimony。 But； Tuscarora； how did you get that canoe；
and why are you paddling towards the St。 Lawrence in…
stead of the garrison？〃
〃Arrowhead can tell his own from that of another。
This canoe is mine； I found it on the shore near the fort。〃
〃That sounds reasonable； too； for the canoe does belong
to the man； and an Indian would make few words about
taking it。 Still； it is extraordinary that we saw nothing
of the fellow and his wife； for the canoe must have left
the river before we did ourselves。〃
This idea； which passed rapidly through the mind of
the guide； was now put to the Indian in the shape of a
question。
〃Pathfinder knows that a warrior can have shame。 The
father would have asked me for his daughter； and I could
not give her to him。 I sent the Dew…of…June for the canoe；
and no one spoke to the woman。 A Tuscarora woman
would not be free in speaking to strange men。〃
All this； too； was plausible； and in conformity with In…
dian character and customs。 As was usual； Arrowhead
had received one half of his compensation previously to
quitting the Mohawk； and his refraining to demand the
residue was a proof of that conscientious consideration of
mutual rights that quite as often distinguishes the moral…
ity of a savage as that of a Christian。 To one as upright
as Pathfinder； Arrowhead had conducted himself with
delicacy and propriety； though it would have been more
in accordance with his own frank nature to have met the
father； and abided by the simple truth。 Still； accustomed
to the ways of Indians； he saw nothing out of the ordinary
track of things in the course the other had taken。
〃This runs like water flowing down hill； Arrowhead；〃
he answered； after a little reflection； 〃and truth obliges me
to own it。 It was the gift of a red…skin to act in this way；
though I do not think it was the gift of a pale…face。 You
would not look upon the grief of the girl's father？〃
Arrowhead made a quiet inclination of the body as if
to assent。
〃One thing more my brother will tell me；〃 continued
PaLhfinder； 〃and there will be no cloud between his wig…
wam and the strong…house of the Yengeese。 If he can
blow away this bit of fog with his breath； his friends will
look at him as he sits by his own fire； and he can look at
them as they lay aside their arms； and forget that they are
warriors。 Why was the head of Arrowhead's canoe looking
towards the St。 Lawrence； where there are none but ene…
mies to be found？〃
〃Why were the Pathfinder and his friends looking the
same way？〃 asked the Tuscarora calmly。 〃A Tuscarora
may look in the same direction as a Yengeese。〃
〃Why； to own the truth； Arrowhead； we are out scouting
like； that is； sailing in other words； we are on the king's
business； and we have a right to be here； though we may
not have a right to say _why_ we are here。〃
〃Arrowhead saw the big canoe； and he loves to look on
the face of Eau…douce。 He was going towards the sun at
evening in order to seek his wigwam； but； finding that
the young sailor was going the other way； he turned that
he might look in the same direction。 Eau…douce and
Arrowhead were together on the last trail。〃
〃This may all be true； Tuscarora； and you are welcome。
You shall eat of our venison； and then we must separate。
The setting sun is behind us； and both of us move quick：
my brother will get too far from that which he seeks；
unless he turns round。〃
Pathfinder now returned to the others； and repeated
the result of his examination。 He appeared himself to
believe that the account of Arrowhead might be true；
though he admitted that caution would be prudent with
one he disliked； but his auditors； Jasper excepted； seemed
less disposed to put faith in the explanations。
〃This chap must be ironed at once； brother Dunham；〃
said Cap； as soon as Pathfinder finished his narration；
〃he must be turned over to the master…at…arms； if there
is any such officer on fresh water； and a court…martial
ought to be ordered as soon as we reach port。〃
〃I think it wisest to detain the fellow；〃 the Sergeant
answered； 〃but irons are unnecessary so long as he re…
mains in the cutter。 In the morning the matter shall be
inquired into。〃
Arrowhead was now summoned and told the decision。
The Indian listened gravely； and made no objections。 On
the contrary； he submitted with the calm and reserved
dignity with which the American aborigines are known to
yield to fate； and he stood apart； an attentive but calm
observer of what was passing。 Jasper caused the cutter's
sails to be filled； and the _Scud_ resumed her course。
It was now getting near the hour to set the watch； and
when it was usual to retire for the night。 Most of the
party went below； leaving no one on deck but Cap； the
Sergeant； Jasper； and two of the crew。 Arrowhead and
his wife also remained； the former standing aloof in proud
reserve； and the latter exhibiting； by her attitude and pas…
siveness； the meek humility that characterizes an Indian
woman。
〃You will find a place for your wife below； Arrowhead；
where my daughter will attend to her wants；〃 said the
Sergeant kindly； who was himself on the point of quitting
the deck； 〃yonder is a sail where you may sleep yourself。〃
〃I thank my father。 The Tuscaroras are not poor。 The
woman will look for my blankets in the canoe。〃
〃As you wish； my friend。 We think it necessary to de…
tain you； but not necessary to confine or to maltreat you。
Send your squaw into the canoe for the blankets and you
may follow her yourself； and hand us up the paddles。 As
there may be some sleepy heads in the _Scud_； Eau…douce；〃
added the Sergeant in a lower tone； 〃it may be well to
secure the paddles。〃
Jasper assented； and Arrowhead and his wife； with
whom resistance appeared to b