God bless him！ It's a very different thing whether an Eng…
lish man or a Frenchman employs a savage； as everybody
can understand。〃
〃But； father； I cannot see that this alters the case。 If
it be wrong in a Frenchman to hire savages to fight his
enemies； it would seem to be equally wrong in an Eng…
lishman。 _You_ will admit this； Pathfinder？〃
〃It's reasonable； it's reasonable； and I have never been
one of them that has raised a cry ag'in the Frenchers for
doing the very thing we do ourselves。 Still it is worse to
consort with a Mingo than to consort with a Delaware。
If any of that just tribe were left； I should think it no sin
to send them out ag'in the foe。〃
〃And yet they scalp and slay young and old； women and
children！〃
〃They have their gifts； Mabel； and are not to be blamed
for following them； natur' is natur'； though the different
tribes have different ways of showing it。 For my part I
am white； and endeavor to maintain white feelings。〃
〃This is all unintelligible to me；〃 answered Mabel。
〃What is right in King George； it would seem； ought to
be right in King Louis。〃
As all parties； Mabel excepted； seemed satisfied with the
course the discussion had taken； no one appeared to think
it necessary to pursue the subject。 Supper was no sooner
ended than the Sergeant dismissed his guests； and then
held a long and confidential dialogue with his daughter。
He was little addicted to giving way to the gentler emo…
tions； but the novelty of his present situation awakened
feelings that he was unused to experience。 The soldier or
the sailor； so long as he acts under the immediate super…
vision of a superior； thinks little of the risks he runs； but
the moment he feels the responsibility of command； all the
hazards of his undertaking begin to associate themselves
in his mind： with the chances of success or failure。 While
he dwells less on his own personal danger； perhaps； than
when that is the principal consideration； he has more lively
general perceptions of all the risks； and submits more to
the influence of the feelings which doubt creates。 Such
was now the case with Sergeant Dunham； who； instead
of looking forward to victory as certain； according to his
usual habits； began to feel the possibility that he might
be parting with his child for ever。
Never before had Mabel struck him as so beautiful as
she appeared that night。 Possibly she never had displayed
so many engaging qualities to her father； for concern on
his account had begun to be active in her breast； and then
her sympathies met with unusual encouragement through
those which had been stirred up in the sterner bosom of
the veteran。 She had never been entirely at her ease with
her parent； the great superiority of her education creating
a sort of chasm； which had been widened by the military
severity of manner he had acquired by dealing so long
with beings who could only be kept in subjection by an
unremitted discipline。 On the present occasion； however；
the conversation between the father and daughter became
more confidential than usual； until Mabel rejoiced to fiud
that it was gradually becoming endearing； a state of feel…
ing that the warm…hearted girl had silently pined for in
vain ever since her arrival。
〃Then mother was about my height？〃 Mabel said； as
she held one of her father's hands in both her own； looking
up into his face with humid eyes。 〃I had thought her
taller。〃
〃That is the way with most children who get a habit of
thinking of their parents with respect； until they fancy
them larger and more commanding than they actually are。
Your mother； Mabel； was as near your height as one woman
could be to another。〃
〃And her eyes； father？〃
〃Her eyes were like thine； child； too； blue and soft； and
inviting like； though hardly so laughing。〃
〃Mine will never laugh again； dearest father； if you do
not take care of yourself in this expedition。〃
〃Thank you； Mabel hem thank you； child； but I
must do my duty。 I wish I had seen you comfortably
married before we left Oswego； my mind would be easier。〃
〃Married！ to whom； father？〃
〃You know the man I wish you to love。 You may meet
with many gayer； and many dressed in finer clother； but
with none with so true a heart and just a mind。〃
〃None father？〃
〃I know of none； in these particulars Pathfinder has few
equals at least。〃
〃But I need not marry at all。 You are single； and I
can remain to take care of you。〃
〃God bless you； Mabel！ I know you would； and I do
not say that the feeling is not right； for I suppose it is；
and yet I believe there is another that is more so。〃
〃What can be more right than to honor one's parents？〃
〃It is just as right to honor one's husband； my dear
child。〃
〃But I have no husband； father。〃
〃Then take one as soon as possible； that you may have
a husband to honor。 I cannot live for ever； Mabel； but
must drop off in the course of nature ere long； if I am not
carried off in the course of war。 You are young； and may
yet live long； and it is proper that you should have a male
protector； who can see you safe through life； and take care
of you in age； as you now wish to take care of me。〃
〃And do you think； father；〃 said Mabel； playing with
his sinewy fingers with her own little hands； and looking
down at them； as if they were subjects of intense interest；
though her lips curled in a slight smile as the words came
from them； 〃and do you think； father； that Pathfinder
is just the man to do this？ Is he not； within ten or twelve
years； as old as yourself？〃
〃What of that？ His life has been one of moderation
and exercise； and years are less to be counted； girl； than
constitution。 Do you know another more likely to be your
protector？〃
Mabel did not； at least another who had expressed a
desire to that effect； whatever might have been her hopes
and her wishes。
〃Nay； father； we are not talking of anotber； but of the
Pathfinder；〃 she answered evasively。 〃If he were younger；
I think it would be more natural for me to think of him
for a husband。〃
〃'Tis all in the constitution； I tell you； child； Pathfinder
is a younger man than half our subalterns。〃
〃He is certainly younger than one； sir Lieutenant
Muir。〃
Mabel's laugh was joyous and light…hearted； as if just
then she felt no care。
〃That he is young enough to be his grandson； he is
younger in years； too。 God forbid； Mabel； that you should
ever become an officer's lady； at least until you are an
officer's daughter！〃
〃There will be little fear of that； father； if I marry
Pathfinder；〃 returned the girl； looking up archly in the
Sergeant's face again。
〃Not by the king's commission； perhaps； though the
man is even now the friend and companion of generals。
I think I could die happy； Mabel； if you were his wife。〃
〃Father！〃
〃'Tis a sad thing to go into battle with the weight of an
unprotected daughter laid upon the heart。〃
〃I would give the world to lighten yours of its load； my
dear sir。〃
〃It might be done；〃 said the Sergeant； looking fondly
at his child； 〃though I could not wish to put a burthen
on yours in order to do so。〃
The voice was deep and tremulous； and never before
had Mabel witnessed such a show of affection in her parent。
The habitual sternness of the man lent an interest to his
emotions which they might otherwise have wanted； and
the daughter's heart yearned to relieve the father's mind。
〃Father； speak plainly！〃 she cried； almost convulsively。
〃Nay； Mabel； it might not be right； your wishes and
mine may be very different。〃
〃I have no wishes know nothing of what you mean。
Would you speak of my future marriage？〃
〃If I could see you promised to Pathfinder know that
you were pledged to become his wife； let my own fate be
what it might； I think I could die happy。 But I will ask
no pledge of you； my child； I will not force you to do
what you might repent。 Kiss me； Mabel； and go to your
bed。〃
Had Sergeant Dunham exacted of Mabel the pledge that
he really so much desired； he would have encountered a
resistance that he might have found it difficult to over…
come； but； by letting nature have its course； he enlisted a
powerful ally on his side； and the warm…hearted； generous…
minded Mabel was ready to concede to her affections much
more than she would ever have yielded to menace。 At
that touching moment she thought only of her parent；
who was about to quit her； perhaps for ever； and all of
that ardent love for him； which had possibly been as much
fed by the imagination as by anything else； but which had
received a little check by the restrained intercourse of the
last fortnight； now returned with a force that was increased
by pure and intense feeling。 Her father seemed all in all
to her； and to render him happy there was no proper sac…
rifice which she was not ready to make。 One painful； rapid；
almost wild gleam of thought shot across the brain of the
girl； and her resolution wavered； but endeavoring to trace
the foundation of the pleasing hope on which it was based；
she found nothing positive to support it。 Trained like a
woman to subdue her most ardent feelings； her thoughts
reverted to her father； and to the