superiors。 Sergeant Dunham has taken counsel of his
heart； instead of his head； in resolving to issue such orders；
but； if the fort fall； the blame will lie on him that ordered
it to be occupied； and not on him whose duty it was to
defend it。 Whatever may be the determination of the
latter； should the French and their allies land； a good
commander never neglects the preparations necessary to
effect a retreat； and I would advise Master Cap； who is
the admiral of our navy； to have a boat in readiness to
evacuate the island； if need comes to need。 The largest
boat that we have left carries a very ample sail； and by
hauling it round here； and mooring it under those bushes；
there will be a convenient place for a hurried embarka…
tion； and then you'll perceive； pretty Mabel； that it is
scarcely fifty yards before we shall be in a channel between
two other islands； and hid from the sight of those who
may happen to be on this。〃
〃All that you say is very true； Mr。 Muir； but may not
the French come from that quarter themselves？ If it is
so good for a retreat； it is equally good for an advance。〃
〃They'll no' have the sense to do so discreet a thing；〃
returned Muir； looking furtively and a little uneasily
around him； 〃they'll no' have sufficient discretion。 Your
French are a head…over…heels nation； and usually come
forward in a random way； so we may look for them； if
they come at all； on the other side of the island。〃
The discourse now became exceedingly desultory； touch…
ing principally； however； on the probabilities of an inva…
sion； and the best means of meeting it。
To most of this Mabel paid but little attention； though
she felt some surprise that Lieutenant Muir； an officer
whose character for courage stood well； should openly
recommend an abandonment of what appeared to her to
be doubly a duty； her father's character being connected
with the defence of the island。 Her mind； however； was
so much occupied with her guest； that； seizing the first
favorable moment； she left the table； and was soon in her
own hut again。 Carefully fastening the door； and seeing
that the simple curtain was drawn before the single little
window； Mabel next led the Dew…of…June； or June； as she
was familiarly termed by those who spoke to her in Eng…
lish； into the outer room； making signs of affection and
confidence。
〃I am glad to see you； June；〃 said Mabel； with one of
her sweetest smiles； and in her own winning voice； 〃very
glad to see you。 What has brought you hither； and how
did you discover the island？〃
〃Speak slow；〃 said June； returning smile for smile； and
pressing the little hand she held with one of her own that
was scarcely larger； though it had been hardened by labor；
〃more slow too quick。〃
Mabel repeated her questions； endeavoring to repress the
impetuosity of her feelings； and she succeeded in speak…
ing so distinctly as to be understood。
〃June； friend；〃 returned the Indian woman。
〃I believe you； June from my soul I believe you； what
has this to do with your visit？〃
〃Friend come to see friend；〃 answered June； again
smiling openly in the other's face。
〃There is some other reason； June； else would you never
run this risk； and alone。 You are alone； June？〃
〃June wid you； no one else。 June come alone； paddle
canoe。〃
〃I hope so； I think so nay； I know so。 You would not
be treacherous with me； June？〃
〃What treacherous？〃
〃You would not betray me； would not give me to the
French； to the Iroquois； to Arrowhead？〃
June shook her head earnestly。
〃You would not sell my scalp？〃
Here June passed her arm fondly around the slender
waist of Mabel and pressed her to her heart with a tender…
ness and affection that brought tears into the eyes of our
heroine。 It was done in the fond caressing manner of a
woman； and it was scarcely possible that it should not ob…
tain credit for sincerity with a young and ingenuous per…
son of the same sex。 Mabel returned the pressure； and
then held the other off at the length of her arm； looked
her steadily in the face； and continued her inquiries。
〃If June has something to tell her friend； let her speak
plainly；〃 she said。 〃My ears are open。〃
〃June 'fraid Arrowhead kill her。〃
〃But Arrowhead will never know it。〃 Mabel's blood
mounted to her temples as she said this； for she felt that
she was urging a wife to be treacherous to her husband。
〃That is； Mabel will not tell him。〃
〃He bury tomahawk in June's head。〃
〃That must never be； dear June； I would rather you
should say no more than run this risk。〃
〃Blockhouse good place to sleep； good place to stay。〃
〃Do you mean that I may save my life by keeping in the
blockhouse； June？ Surely； surely； Arrowhead will not
hurt you for telling me that。 He cannot wish me any
great harm； for I never injured him。〃
〃Arrowhead wish no harm to handsome pale…face；〃 re…
turned June； averting her face； and； though she always
spoke ih the soft； gentle voice of an Indian girl； now per…
mitting its notes to fall so low as to cause them to sound
melancholy and timid。 〃Arrowhead love pale…face girl。〃
Mabel blushed； she knew not why； and for a moment
her questions were repressed by a feeling of inherent deli…
cacy。 But it was necessary to know more； for her appre…
hensions had been keenly awakened； and she resumed her
inquiries。
〃Arrowhead can have no reason to love or to hate _me_；〃
she said。 〃Is he near you？〃
〃Husband always near wife； here；〃 said June； laying her
hand on her heart。
〃Excellent creature！ But tell me； June； ought I to
keep in the blockhouse to…day this morning now？〃
〃Blockhouse very good； good for women。 Blockhouse
got no scalp。〃
〃I fear I understand you only too well； June。 Do you
wish to see my father？〃
〃No here； gone away。〃
〃You cannot know that； June； you see the island is full
of his soldiers。〃
〃No full； gone away；〃 here June held up four of her
fingers； 〃so many red…coats。〃
〃And Pathfinder？ would you not like to see the Path…
finder？ He can talk to you in the Iroquois tongue。〃
〃Tongue gone wid him；〃 said June； laughing； 〃keep
tongue in his mout'。〃
There was something so sweet and contagious in the in…
fantine laugh of an Indian girl； that Mabel could not re…
frain from joining in it； much as her fears were aroused
by all that had passed。
〃You appear to know； or to think you know； all about
us； June。 But if Pathfinder be gone； Eau…douce can speak
French too。 You know Eau…douce； shall I run and bring
him to talk with you？〃
〃Eau…douce gone too； all but heart； that there。〃 As
June said this； she laughed again； looked in different di…
rections； as if unwilling to confuse the other； and laid her
hand on Mabel's bosom。
Our heroine had often heard of the wonderful sagacity
of the Indians； and of the surprising manner in which
they noted all things； while they appeared to regard none；
but she was scarcely prepared for the direction the dis…
course had so singularly taken。 Willing to change it； and
at the same time truly anxious to learn how great the
danger that impended over them might really be； she rose
from the camp…stool on which she had been seated； and；
by assuming an attitude of less affectionate confidence；
she hoped to hear more of that she really desired to learn；
and to avoid allusions to that which she found so embar…
rassing。
〃You know how much or how little you ought to tell
me； June；〃 she said； 〃and I hope you love me well enough
to give me the information I ought to hear。 My dear
uncle； too； is on the island； and you are； or ought to be； his
friend as well as mine； and both of us will remember your
conduct when we get back to Oswego。〃
〃Maybe； never get back； who know？〃 This was said
doubtingly； or as one who lays down an uncertain propo…
sition； and not with a taunt； or a desire to alarm。
〃No one knows what will happen but God。 Our lives
are in His hands。 Still； I think you are to be His instru…
ment in saving us。〃
This passed June's comprehension； and she only looked
her ignorance； for it was evident she wished to be of use。
〃Blockhouse very good；〃 she repeated； as soon as her
countenance ceased to express uncertainty； laying strong
emphasis on the last two words。
〃Well； I understand this； June； and will sleep in it to…
night。 Of course I am to tell my uncle what you have
said？〃
The Dew…of…June started； and she discovered a very
manifest uneasiness at the interrogatory。
〃No； no； no； no！〃 she answered； with a volubility and
vehemence that was imitated from the French of the Can…
adas； 〃no good to tell Saltwater。 He much talk and long
tongue。 Thinks woods all water； understand not'ing。
Tell Arrowhead； and June die。〃
〃You do my dear uncle injustice； for he would be as
little likely to betray you as any one。〃
〃No understand。 Saltwater got tongue； but no eyes； no
ears； no nose not'ing but tongue； tongue； tongue！〃
Although Mabel did not exactly coincide in this opinion；
she saw that Cap had not the confidence of the young In…
dian woman； and that it was idle to expect she would con…
sent to his being admitted to their interview。
〃You appear to think you know our situation pret