he was far from being blind to his sophistry。 The result
was that the two parted； after a long dialogue； unconvinced；
and distrustful of each other's motives； though the distrust
of the guide； like all that was connected with the man；
partook of his own upright； disinterested； and ingenuous
nature。
A conference that took place soon after between Sergeant
Dunham and the Lieutenant led to more consequences。
When it was ended； secret orders were issued to the men；
the blockhouse was taken possession of； the huts were oc…
cupied； and one accustomed to the movements of soldiers
might have detected that an expedition was in the wind。
In fact； just as the sun was setting； the Sergeant； who had
been much occupied at what was called the harbor； came
into his own hut； followed by Pathfinder and Cap； and as
he took his seat at the neat table which Mabel had pre…
pared for him； he opened the budget of his intelligence。
〃You are likely to be of some use here； my child；〃 the
old soldier commenced； 〃as this tidy and well…ordered
supper can testify； and I trust； when the proper moment
arrives； you will show yourself to be the descendant of
those who know how to face their enemies。〃
〃You do not expect me； dear father； to play Joan of Arc；
and to lead the men to battle？〃
〃Play whom； child？ Did you ever hear of the person
Mabel mentions； Pathfinder？〃
〃Not I； Sergeant； but what of that？ I am ignorant
and unedicated； and it is too great a pleasure to me to
listen to her voice； and take in her words； to be particular
about persons。〃
〃I know her；〃 said Cap decidedly； 〃she sailed a priva…
teer out of Morlaix in the last war； and good cruises she
made of them。〃
Mabel blushed at having inadvertently made an allusion
that went beyond her father's reading； to say nothing of
her uncle's dogmatism； and； perhaps； a little at the Path…
finder's simple； ingenuous earnestness； but she did not
forbear the less to smile。
〃Why； father； I am not expected to fall in with the
men； and to help defend the island？〃
〃And yet women have often done such things in this
quarter of the world； girl； as our friend； the Pathfinder
here； will tell you。 But lest you should be surprised at
not seeing us when you awake in the morning； it is proper
that I now tell you we intend to march in the course of
this very night。〃
〃_We_； father！ and leave me and Jennie on this island
alone？〃
〃No； my daughter； not qnite as unmilitary as that。 We
shall leave Lieutenant Muir； brother Cap； Corporal M'Nab；
and three men to compose the garrison during our ab…
sence。 Jennie will remain with you in this hut； and
brother Cap will occupy my place。〃
〃And Mr。 Muir？〃 said Mabel； half unconscious of what
she uttered； though she foresaw a great deal of unpleasant
persecution in the arrangement。
〃Why； he can make love to you； if you like it； girl； for
he is an amorous youth； and； having already disposed of
four wives； is impatient to show how much he honors their
memories by taking a fifth。〃
〃The Quartermaster tells me；〃 said Pathfinder inno…
cently； 〃that when a man's feelings have been harassed by
so many losses； there is no wiser way to soothe them than
by ploughing up the soil anew； in such a manner as to
leave no traces of what have gone over it before。〃
〃Ay； that is just the difference between ploughing and
harrowing；〃 returned the Sergeant； with a grim smile。
〃But let him tell Mabel his mind； and there will be an end
of his suit。 I very well know that _my_ daughter will never
be the wife of Lieutenant Muir。〃
This was said in a way that was tanatmount to declaring
that no daughter of his ever _should_ become the wife of the
person in question。 Mabel had colored； trembled； half
laughed； and looked uneasy； but； rallying her spirit； she
said； in a voice so cheerful as completely to conceal her
agitation； 〃But； father； we might better wait until Mr。
Muir manifests a wish that your daughter would have him；
or rather a wish to have your daughter； lest we get the
fable of sour grapes thrown into our faces。〃
〃And what is that fable； Mabel？〃 eagerly demanded
Pathfinder； who was anything but learned in the ordinary
lore of white men。 〃Tell it to us； in your own pretty
way； I daresay the Sergeant never heard it。〃
Mabel repeated the well…known fable； and； as her suitor
had desired； in her own pretty way； which was a way to
keep his eyes riveted on her face； and the whole of his
honest countenance covered with a smile。
〃That was like a fox！〃 cried Pathfinder； when she had
ceased； 〃ay； and like a Mingo； too； cunning and cruel；
that is the way with both the riptyles。 As to grapes； they
are sour enough in this part of the country； even to them
that can get at them； though I daresay there are seasons
and times and places where they are sourer to them that
can't。 I should judge； now； my scalp is very sour in Mingo
eyes。〃
〃The sour grapes will be the other way； child； and it is
Mr。 Muir who will make the complaint。 You would never
marry that man； Mabel？〃
〃Not she；〃 put in Cap； 〃a fellow who is only half a
soldier after all。 The story of them there grapes is quite
a circumstance。〃
〃I think little of marrying any one； dear father and
dear uncle； and would rather talk about it less； if you
please。 But； did I think of marrying at all； I do be…
lieve a man whose affections have already been tried by
three or four wives would scarcely be my choice。〃
The Sergeant nodded at the guide； as much as to say；
You see how the land lies； and then he had sufficient con…
sideration for his daughter's feelings to change the sub…
ject。
〃Neither you nor Mabel； brother Cap；〃 he resumed；
〃can have any legal authority with the little garrison I
leave behind on the island； but you may counsel and in…
fluence。 Strictly speaking； Corporal M'Nab will be the
commanding officer； and I have endeavored to impress him
with a sense of his dignity； lest he might give way too
much to the superior rank of Lieutenant Muir； who； being
a volunteer； can have no right to interfere with the duty。
I wish you to sustain the Corporal； brother Cap； for
should the Quartermaster once break through the regula…
tions of the expedition； he may pretend to command me；
as well as M'Nab。〃
〃More particularly； should Mabel really cut him adrift
while you are absent。 Of course； Sergeant； you'll leave
everything that is afloat under my care？ The most dble
confusion has grown out of misunderstandings between
commanders…in…chief； ashore and afloat。〃
〃In one sense； brother； though in a general way； the
Corporal is commander…in…chief。 The Corporal must com…
mand； but you can counsel freely； particularly in all mat…
ters relating to the boats； of which I shall leave one behind
to secure your retreat； should there be occasion。 I know
the Corporal well； he is a brave man and a good soldier；
and one that may be relied on； if the Santa Cruz can be
kept from him。 But then he is a Scotchman； and will be
liable to the Quartermaster's influence； against which I de…
sire both you and Mabel to be on your guard。〃
〃But why leave us behind； dear father？ I have come
thus far to be a comfort to you； and why not go farther？〃
〃You are a good girl； Mabel； and very like the Dunhams。
But you must halt here。 We shall leave the island to…
morrow； before the day dawns； in order not to be seen by
any prying eyes coming from our cover； and we shall take
the two largest boats； leaving you the other and one bark
canoe。 We are about to go into the channel used by the
French； where we shall lie in wait； perhaps a week； to in…
tercept their supply…boats； which are about to pass up on
their way to Frontenac； loaded； in particular； with a heavy
amount of Indian goods。〃
〃Have you looked well to your papers； brother？〃 Cap
anxiously demanded。 〃Of course you know a capture on
the high seas is piracy； unless your boat is regularly com…
missioned； either as a public or a private armed cruiser。〃
〃I have the honor to hold the Colonel's appointment as
sergeant…major of the 55th；〃 returned the other； drawing
himself up with dignity； 〃and that will be sufficient even
for the French king。 If not； I have Major Duncan's writ…
ten orders。〃
〃No papers； then； for a warlike cruiser？〃
〃They must suffice； brother； as I have no other。 It is
of vast importance to his Majesty's interests； in this part
of the world； that the boats in question should be captured
and carried into Oswego。 They contain the blankets； trink…
ets； rifles； ammunition； in short； all the stores with which the
French bribe their accursed savage allies to commit their
unholy acts； setting at nought our holy religion and its
precepts； the laws of humanity； and all that is sacred and
dear among men。 By cutting off these supplies we shall
derange their plans； and gain time on them； for the arti…
cles cannot be sent across the ocean again this autumn。〃
〃But； father； does not his Majesty employ Indians also？〃
asked Mabel； with some curiosity。
〃Certainly； girl； and he has a right to employ them
God bless him！ It's a very different thing whether an Eng…
lish man or a Frenchman employs a savage； as everybody
can understa