than three hours from the time when she had arrived the
cutter was again in motion。
Mabel had taken possession of a hut； and with female
readiness and skill she made all the simple little domestic
arrangements of which the circumstances would admit； not
only for her own comfort； but for that of her father。 To
save labor； a mess…table was prepared in a hut set apart
for that purpose； where all the heads of the detachment
were to eat； the soldier's wife performing the necessary
labor。 The hut of the Sergeant； which was the best on
the island； being thus freed from any of the vulgar offices
of a household； admitted of such a display of womanly
taste； that； for the first time since her arrival on the fron…
tier； Mabel felt proud of her home。 As soon as these im…
portant duties were discharged； she strolled out on the
island； taking a path which led through the pretty glade；
and which conducted to the only point not covered with
bushes。 Here she stood gazing at the limpid water； which
lay with scarcely a ruffle on it at her feet； musing on the
novel situation in which she was placed； and permitting a
pleasing and deep excitement to steal over her feelings；
as she remembered the scenes through which she had so
lately passed； and conjectured those which still lay veiled
in the future。
〃You're a beautiful fixture； in a beautiful spot； Mistress
Mabel；〃 said David Muir； suddenly appearing at her el…
bow； 〃and I'll no' engage you're not just the handsomest
of the two。〃
〃I will not say； Mr。 Muir； that compliments on my per…
son are altogether unwelcome； for I should not gain credit
for speaking the truth； perhaps；〃 answered Mabel with
spirit； 〃but I will say that if you would condescend to
address to me some remarks of a different nature； I may
be led to believe you think I have sufficient faculties to
understand them。〃
〃Hoot！ your mind； beautiful Mabel； is polished just like
the barrel of a soldier's musket； and your conversation is
only too discreet and wise for a poor d…l who has been
chewing birch up here these four years on the lines； instead
of receiving it in an application that has the virtue of
imparting knowledge。 But you are no' sorry； I take it；
young lady； that you've got your pretty foot on _terra firma_
once more。〃
〃I thought so two hours since； Mr。 Muir； but the _Scud_
looks so beautiful as she sails through these vistas of trees；
that I almost regret I am no longer one of her passengers。〃
As Mabel ceased speaking； she waved； her handkerchief
in return to a salutation from Jasper； who kept his eyes
fastened on her form until the white sails of the cutter
had swept round a point； and were nearly lost behind its
green fringe of leaves。
〃There they go； and I'll no' say 'joy go with them；' but
may they have the luck to return safely； for without them
we shall be in danger of passing the winter on this island；
unless； indeed； we have the alternative of the castle at
Quebec。 Yon Jasper Eau…douce is a vagrant sort of a lad；
and they have reports of him in the garrison that it pains
my very heart to hear。 Your worthy father； and almost
as worthy uncle； have none of the best opinion of him。〃
〃I am sorry to hear it； Mr。 Muir； I doubt not that time
will remove all their distrust。〃
〃If time would only remove mine； pretty Mabel；〃 re…
joined the Quartermaster in a wheedling tone； 〃I should
feel no envy of the commander…in…chief。 I think if I were
in a condition to retire； the Sergeant would just step into
my shoes。〃
〃If my dear father is worthy to step into your shoes； Mr。
Muir；〃 returned the girl； with malicious pleasure； 〃I'm
sure that the qualification is mutual； and that you are every
way worthy to step into his。〃
〃The deuce is in the child！ you would not reduce me
to the rank of a non…commissioned officer； Mabel？〃
〃No； indeed； sir； I was not thinking of the army at all
as you spoke of retiring。 My thoughts were more egotis…
tical； and I was thinking how much you reminded me of
my dear father； by your experience； wisdom； ana suitable…
ness to take his place as the head of a family。〃
〃As its bridegroom； pretty Mabel； but not as its parent
or natural chief。 I see how it is with you； loving your re…
partee； and brilliant with wit。 Well； I like spirit in a
young woman； so it be not the spirit of a scold。 This
Pathfinder is all extraordinair； Mabel； if truth may be said
of the man。〃
〃Truth should be said of him or nothing。 Pathfinder
is my friend my very particular friend； Mr。 Muir； and no
evil can be said of him in my presence that I shall not
deny。〃
〃I shall say nothing evil of him； I can assure you； Ma…
bel； but； at the same time； I doubt if much good can be
said in his favor。〃
〃He is at least expert with the rifle；〃 returned Mabel；
smiling。 〃That you cannot deny。〃
〃Let him have all the credit of his exploits in that way
if you please； but he is as illiterate as a Mohawk。〃
〃He may not understand Latin； but his knowledge of
Iroquois is greater than that of most men； and it is the
more useful language of the two in this part of the world。〃
〃If Lundie himself were to call on me for an opinion
which I admire more； your person or your wit； beautiful
and caustic Mabel； I should be at a loss to answer。 My
admiration is so nearly divided between them； that I often
fancy this is the one that bears off the palm； and then the
other！ Ah！ the late Mrs。 Muir was a paragon in that
way also。〃
〃The latest Mrs。 Muir； did you say； sir？〃 asked Mabel；
looking up innocently at her companion。
〃Hoot； hoot！ That is some of Pathfinder's scandal。
Now I daresay that the fellow has been trying to persuade
you； Mabel； that I have had more than one wife already。〃
〃In that case his time would have been thrown away； sir；
as everybody knows that you have been so unfortunate as
to have had four。〃
〃Only three； as sure as my name is David Muir。 The
fourth is pure scandal or rather； pretty Mabel； she is yet
_in petto_； as they say at Rome； and that means； in matters
of love； in the heart； my dear。〃
〃Well； I'm glad I'm not that fourth person； _in petto_； or
in anything else； as I should not like to be a scandal。〃
〃No fear of that； charming Mabel； for were you the
fourth； all the others would be forgotten； and your won…
derful beauty and merit would at once elevate you to be
the first。 No fear of your being the fourth in any
thing。〃
There is consolation in that assurance； Mr。 Muir；〃 said
Mabel； laughing； 〃whatever there may be in your other
assurance； for I confess I should prefer being even a
fourth…rate beauty to being a fourth wife。〃
So saying she tripped away； leaving the Quartermaster
to meditate on his success。 Mabel had been induced to
use her female means of defence thus freely； partly be…
cause her suitor had of late been so pointed as to stand in
need of a pretty strong repulse； and partly on account of
his innuendoes against Jasper and the Pathfinder。
Though full of spirit and quick of intellect； she was not
naturally pert； but on the present occasion she thought
circumstances called for more than usual decision。 When
she left her companion； therefore； she believed she was now
finally released from attentions which she thought as ill…
bestowed as they were certainly disagreeable。 Not so；
however； with David Muir； accustomed to rebuffs； and
familiar with the virtue of perseverance； he saw no reason
to despair； though the half…menacing； half…self…satisfied
manner in which he shook his head towards the retreating
girl might have betrayed designs as sinister as they were
determined。 While he was thus occupied； the Pathfinder
approached； and got within a few feet of him unseen。
〃'Twill never do； Quartermaster； 'twill never do；〃 com…
menced the latter； laughing in his noiseless way； 〃she is
young and active； and none but a quick foot can overtake
her。 They tell me you are her suitor； if you are not her
follower。〃
〃And I hear the same of yourself； man； though the pre…
sumption would be so great that I scarcely can think it
true。〃
〃I fear you're right； I do； yes； I fear you're right；
when I consider myself； what I am； how little I know； and
how rude my life has been； I altogether distrust my claim；
even to think a moment of one so tutored； and gay； and
light of heart； and delicate 〃
〃You forget handsome；〃 coarsely interrupted Muir。
〃And handsome； too； I fear；〃 returned the meek and
self…abased guide； 〃I might have said handsome at once；
among her other qualities； for the young fa'n； just as it
learns to bound； is not more pleasant to the eye of the hun…
ter than Mabel is lovely in mine。 I do indeed fear that
all the thoughts I have harbored about her are vain and
presumptuous。〃
〃If you think this； my friend； of your own accord and
natural modesty； as it might be； my duty to you as an old
fellow…campaigner compels me to say 〃
〃Quartermaster；〃 interrupted the other； regarding his
companion keenly； 〃you and I have lived together much
behind the ramparts of forts； but very little in the open
woods or in front of the enemy。〃
〃Garrison or tent； it all passes for part of the same cam…
paign； you know； Pathfinder； and t