girl and then at the bit of bunting； which he still held be…
fore him in a way to denote indecision。 His irresolution
lasted but for this minute； however； for he was soon be…
neath the tree； where he fastened the mimic flag to a branch
again； though； from his ignorance of the precise spot from
which it had been taken by Mabel； he left it fluttering
from a part of the oak where it was still more exposed than
before to the eyes of any passenger on the river； though
less in view from the island itself。
CHAPTER XXI。
Each one has had his supping mess；
The cheese is put into the press；
The pans and bowls； clean scalded all；
Reared up against the milk…house wall。
COTTON。
It seemed strange to Mabel Dunham； as she passed along
on her way to find her female companion； that others
should be so composed； while she herself felt as if the re…
sponsibilities of life and death rested on her shoulders。 It
is true that distrust of June's motives mingled with her
forebodings； but when she came to recall the affectionate
and natural manner of the young Indian girl； and all the
evidences of good faith and sincerity she had seen in her
conduct during the familiar intercourse of their journey；
she rejected the idea with the unwillingness of a generous
disposition to believe ill of others。 She saw； however； that
she could not put her companions properly on their guard
without letting them into the secret of her conference with
June； and she found herself compelled to act cautiously
and with a forethought to which she was unaccustomed；
more especially in a matter of so much moment。
The soldier's wife was told to transport the necessaries
into the blockhouse； and admonished not to be far from it
at any time during the day。 Mabel did not explain her
reasons。 She merely stated that she had detected some
signs in walking about the island； which induced her to
apprehend that the enemy had more knowledge of its po…
sition than had been previously believed； and that they
two at least； would do well to be in readiness to seek a
refuge at the shortest notice。 It was not difficult to arouse
the apprehension of this person； who； though a stout…
hearted Scotchwoman； was ready enough to listen to any…
thing that confirmed her dread of Indian cruelties。 As
soon as Mabel believed that her companion was sufficiently
frightened to make her wary； she threw out some hints
touching the inexpediency of letting the soldiers know the
extent of their own fears。 This was done with a view to
prevent discussions and inquiries that might embarrass
our heroine： she determining to render her uncle； the Cor…
poral； and his men more cautious； by adopting a different
course。 Unfortunately； the British army could not have
furnished a worse person for the particular duty that he
was now required to discharge than Corporal M'Nab； the
individual who had been left in command during the ab…
sence of Sergeant Dunham。 On the one hand； he was res…
olute； prompt； familiar with all the details of a soldier's
life； and used to war； on the other； he was supercilious as
regards the provincials； opinionated on every subject con…
nected with the narrow limits of his professional practice；
much disposed to fancy the British empire the centre of
all that is excellent in the world； and Scotland the focus
of； at least； all moral excellence in that empire。 In short；
he was an epitome； though on a scale suited to his rank；
of those very qualities which were so peculiar to the serv…
ants of the Crown that were sent into the colonies； as these
servants estimated themselves in comparison with the na…
tives of the country； or； in other words； he considered the
American as an animal inferior to the parent stock； and
viewed all his notions of military service； in particular； as
undigested and absurd。 A more impracticable subject；
therefore； could not well have offered for the purpose of
Mabel； and yet she felt obliged to lose no time in putting
her plan in execution。
〃My father has left you a responsible command； Corpo…
ral；〃 she said； as soon as she could catch M'Nab a little
apart； 〃for should the island fall into the hands of the
enemy； not only should we be captured； but the party that
is now out would in all probability become their prisoners
also。〃
〃It needs no journey from Scotland to this place to
know the facts needful to be o' that way of thinking。〃 re…
turned M'Nab drily。
〃I do not doubt your understanding it as well as myelf；
Mr。 M'Nab； but I'm fearful that you veterans； accustomed
as you are to dangers and battles； are a little apt to overlook
some of the precautions that may be necessary in a situa…
tion as peculiar as ours。〃
〃They say Scotland is no conquered country； young
woman； but I'm thinking there must be some mistak' in
the matter； as we； her children； are so drowsy…headed and
apt to be o'ertaken when we least expect it。〃
〃Nay； my good friend； you mistake my meaning。 In
the first place； I'm not thinking of Scotland at all； but of
this island； and then I am far from doubting your vigi…
lance when you think it necessary to practise it； but my
great fear is that there may be danger to whicb your cour…
age will make you indifferent。〃
〃My courage； Mistress Dunham； is doubtless of a very
pool quality； being nothing but Scottish courage； your
father's is Yankee； and were he here amang us we should
see different preparations； beyond a doubt。 Well； times
are getting wrang； when foreigners hold commissions and
carry halberds in Scottish corps； and I no wonder that
battles are lost； and campaigns go wrang end foremost。〃
Mabel was almost in despair； but the quiet warning of
June was still too vividly impressed on her mind to allow
her to yield the matter。 She changed her mode of operat…
ing； therefore； still clinging to the hope of getting the
whole party within the blockhouse； without being corn…
pelled to betray the source whence she obtained her notices
of the necessity of vigilance。
〃I daresay you are right； Corporal M'Nab；〃 she ob…
served； 〃for I've often heard of tbe heroes of your coun…
try； who have been among the first of tbe civilized world；
if what they tell me of them is true。〃
〃Have you read the history of Scotland； Mistress Dun…
ham？〃 demanded the Corporal； looking up at his pretty
companion； for the first time with something like a smile
on his hard； repulsive countenance。
〃I have read a little of it； Corporal； but I've heard much
more。 The lady who brought me up had Scottish blood
in her veins； and was fond of the subject。〃
〃I'll warrant ye； the Sergeant no' troubled himself to
expatiate on the renown of the country where his regiment
was raised？〃
〃My father has other things to think of； and the little
I know was got from the lady I have mentioned。〃
〃She'll no' be forgetting to tall ye o' Wallace？〃
〃Of him I've even read a good deal。〃
〃And o' Bruce； and the affair of Bannockburn？〃
〃Of that too； as well as of Culloden Muir。〃
The last of these battles was then a recent event； it hav…
ing actually been fought within the recollection of our
heroine； whose notions of it； however； were so confused
that she scarcely appreciated the effect her allusion might
produce on her companion。 She knew it had been a vic…
tory； and had often heard the guests of her patroness men…
tion it with triumph； and she fancied their feelings would
find a sympathetic chord in those of every British soldier。
Unfortunately； M'Nab had fought throughout that luckless
day on the side of the Pretender； and a deep scar that
garnished his face had been left there by the sabre of a
German soldier in the service of the House of Hanover。
He fancied that his wound bled afresh at Mabel's allusion；
and it is certain that the blood rushed to his face in a tor…
rent； as if it would pour out of his skin at the cicatrix。
〃Hoot！ hoot awa'！〃 he fairly shouted； 〃with your Cul…
loden and Sherriff muirs； young woman； ye'll no' be un…
derstanding the subject at all； and will manifest not only
wisdom but modesty in speaking o' your ain country and
its many failings。 King George has some loyal subjects
in the colonies； na doubt； but 'twill be a lang time before
he sees or hears any guid of them。〃
Mabel was surprised at the Corporal's heat； for she had
not the smallest idea where the shoe pinched； but she
was determined not to give up the point。
〃I've always heard that the Scotch had two of the good
qualities of soldiers；〃 she said； 〃courage and circumspec…
tion； and I feel persuaded that Corporal M'Nab will sus…
tain the national renown。〃
〃Ask yer own father； Mistress Dunham； he is acquaint'
with Corporal M'Nab； and will no' be backward to point
out his demerits。 We have been in battle thegither； and
he is my superior officer； and has a sort o' official right to
give the characters of his subordinates。〃
〃My father thinks well of you； M'Nab； or he would not
have left you in charge of this island and all it contains；
his own daughter included。 Among other things； I well
know that he calculates largely on your prudence。 He
expects the blockhouse in particular to be strictly attended
to。〃
〃If he wishes to def