lower branch of a small tree； fastened in a way to permit
it to blow out； or to droop like a vessel's pennant。
Now that Mabel's fears were awakened； June herself
could not have manifested greater quickness in analyzing
facts that she believed might affect the safety of the party。
She saw at a glance that this bit of cloth could be ob…
served from an adjacent island； that it lay so near the line
between her own hut and the canoe as to leave no doubt
that June had passed near it； if not directly under it； and
that it might be a signal to communicate some important
fact connected with the mode of attack to those who were
probably lying in ambush near them。 Tearing the little
strip of bunting from the tree； Mabel hastened on； scarcely
knowing what her duty next required of her。 June might
be false to her； but her manner； her looks； her affection；
and her disposition as Mabel had known it in the journey；
forbade the idea。 Then came the allusion to Arrowhead's
admiration of the pale…face beauties； some dim recollections
of the looks of the Tuscarora； and a painful consciousness
that few wives could view with kindness one who had es…
tranged a husband's affections。 None of these images were
distinct and clear； but they rather gleamed over the mind
of our heroine than rested in it； and they quickened her
pulses； as they did her step； without bringing with them the
prompt and clear decisions that usually followed her reflec…
tions。 She had hurried onwards towards the hut occupied
by the soldier's wife； intending to remove at once to the
blockhouse with the woman； though she could persuade
no other to follow； when her impatient walk was interrupted
by the voice of Muir。
〃Whither so fast； pretty Mabel？〃 he cried； 〃and why
so given to solitude？ The worthy Sergeant will deride my
breeding； if he hear that his daughter passes the morn…
ings alone and unattended to； though he well knows it is
my ardent wish to be her slave and companion from the
beginning of the year to its end。〃
〃Surely； Mr。 Muir； you must have some authority here？〃
Mabel suddenly arrested her steps to say。 〃One of your
rank would be listened to； at least； by a corporal？〃
〃I don't know that； I don't know that；〃 interrupted
Muir； with an impatience and appearance of alarm that
might have excited Mabel's attention at another moment。
〃Command is command； discipline； discipline； and au…
thority； authority。 Your good father would be sore grieved
did he find me interfering to sully or carry off the laurels
he is about to win； and I cannot command the Corporal
without equally commanding the Sergeant。 The wisest
way will be for me to remain in the obscurity of a private
individual in this enterprise； and it is so that all parties；
from Lundie down； understand the transaction。〃
〃This I know； and it may be well； nor would I give my
dear father any cause of complaint； but you may influence
the Corporal to his own good。〃
〃I'll no' say that；〃 returned Muir in his sly Scotch way；
〃it would be far safer to promise to influence him to his
injury。 Mankind； pretty Mabel； have their peculiarities；
and to influence a fellow…being to his own good is one of
the most difficult tasks of human nature； while the oppo…
site is just the easiest。 You'll no' forget this； my dear；
but bear it in mind for your edification and government。
But what is that you're twisting round your slender finger
as you may be said to twist hearts？〃
〃It is nothing but a bit of cloth a sort of flag a trifle
that is hardly worth our attention at this grave moment。
If 〃
〃A trifle！ It's no' so trifling as ye may imagine； Mis…
tress Mabel；〃 taking the bit of bunting from her； and
stretching it at full length with both his arms extended；
while his face grew grave and his eye watchful。 〃Ye'll no'
ha' been finding this； Mabel Dunham； in the breakfast？〃
Mabel simply acquainted him with the spot where and
the manner in which she had found the bit of cloth。
While she was speaking； the eye of the Quartermaster was
not quiet for a moment； glancing from the rag to the face
of our heroine； then back again to the rag。 That his sus…
picions were awakened was easy to be seen； nor was he long
in letting it be known what direction they had taken。
〃We are not in a part of the world where our ensigns
and gauds ought to be spread abroad to the wind； Mabel
Dunham！〃 he said； with an ominous shake of the head。
〃I thought as much myself； Mr。 Muir； and brought away
the little flag lest it might be the means of betraying our
presence here to the enemy； even though nothing is in…
tended by its display。 Ought not my uncle to be made
acquainted with the circumstance？〃
〃I no' see the necessity for that； pretty Mabel； for； as
you justly say； it is a circumstance； and circumstances
sometimes worry the worthy mariner。 But this flag； if flag
it can be called； belongs to a seaman's craft。 You may
perceive that it is made of what is called bunting； and that
is a description of cloth used only by vessels for such pur…
poses； _our_ colors being of silk； as you may understand； or
painted canvas。 It's surprisingly like the fly of the _Scud's_
ensign。 And now I recollect me to have observed that a
piece had been cut from that very flag。〃
Mabel felt her heart sink； but she had sufficient self…
command not to attempt an answer。
〃It must be looked to；〃 Muir continued； 〃and； after all；
I think it may be well to hold a short consultation with
Master Cap； than whom a more loyal subject does not ex…
ist in the British empire。〃
〃I have thought the warning so serious；〃 Mabel rejoined；
〃that I am about to remove to the blockhouse； and to take
the woman with me。〃
〃I do not see the prudence of that； Mabel。 The block…
house will be the first spot assailed should there really be
an attack； and it's no' well provided for a siege； that must
be allowed。 If I might advise in so delicate a contin…
gency； I would recommend your taking refuge in the boat；
which； as you may now perceive； is most favorably placed
to retreat by that channel opposite； where all in it would
be hid by the islands in one or two minutes。 Water leaves
no trail； as Pathfinder well expresses it； and there appears
to be so many different passages in that quarter that escape
would be more than probable。 I've always been of opin…
ion that Lundie hazarded too much in occupying a post so
far advanced and so much exposed as this。〃
〃It's too late to regret it now； Mr。 Muir； and we have
only to consult our own security。〃
〃And the king's honor； pretty Mabel。 Yes； his Majesty's
arms and his glorious name are not to be overlooked on
any occasion。〃
〃Then I think it might be better if we all turned our
eyes towards the place that has been built to maintain
them instead of the boat；〃 said Mabel； smiling； 〃and so；
Mr。 Muir； I am for the blockhouse； intending to await
there the return of my father and his party。 He would be
sadly grieved at finding we had fled when he got back suc…
cessful himself； and filled with the confidence of our having
been as faithful to our duties as he has been to his own。〃
〃Nay； nay； for heaven's sake； do not misunderstand me；
Mabel！〃 Muir interrupted； with some alarm of manner；
〃I am far from intimating that any but you females ought
to take refuge in the boat。 The duty of us men is suffi…
ciently plain； no doubt； and my resolution has been formed
from the first to stand or fall by the blockhouse。〃
〃And did you imagine； Mr。 Muir； that two females could
row that heavy boat in a way to escape the bark canoe of
an Indian？〃
〃Ah； my pretty Mabel； love is seldom logical； and its
fears and misgivings are apt to warp the faculties。 I only
saw your sweet person in the possession of the means of
safety； and overlooked the want of ability to use them；
but you'll not be so cruel； lovely creature； as to impute to
me as a fault my intense anxiety on your own account。〃
Mabel had heard enough： her mind was too much oc…
cupied with what had passed that morning； and with her
fears； to wish to linger longer to listen to love speeches；
which in her most joyous and buoyant moments she would
have found unpleasant。 She took a hasty leave of her
companion； and was about to trip away towards the hilt of
the other woman； when Muir arrested the movement by
laying a hand on her arm。
〃One word； Mabel；〃 said he； 〃before you leave me。 This
little flag may； or it may not； have a particular meaning；
if it has； now that we are aware of its being shown； may it
not be better to put it back again； while we watch vigilantly
for some answer that may betray the conspiracy； and if it
mean nothing； why； nothing will follow。〃
〃This may be all right； Mr。 Muir； though； if the whole
is accidental； the flag might be the occasion of the fort's
being discovered。
Mabel stayed to utter no more； but she was soon out of
sight； running into the hut towards which she had been first
proceeding。 The Quartermaster remained on the very spot
and in the precise attitude in which she had left him for
quite a minute； first looking at the bounding figure of the
girl and then at the bit of bunting； which he still held be…
fore h