know that he calculates largely on your prudence。 He
expects the blockhouse in particular to be strictly attended
to。〃
〃If he wishes to defend the honor of the 55th behind
logs； he ought to have remained in command himsel'； for；
to speak frankly； it goes against a Scotchman's bluid and
opinions to be beaten out of the field even before he is at…
tacked。 We are broadsword men； and love to stand foot
to foot with the foe。 This American mode of fighting；
that is getting into so much favor； will destroy the repu…
tation of his Majesty's army； if it no' destroy its spirit。〃
〃No true soldier despises caution。 Even Major Duncan
himself； than whom there is none braver； is celebrated for
his care of his men。〃
〃Lundie has his weakness； and is fast forgetting the
broadsword and open heaths in his tree and rifle practice。
But； Mistress Dunham； tak' the word of an old soldier；
who has seen his fifty…fifth year； when he talls ye that there
is no surer method to encourage your enemy than to seem
to fear him； and that there is no danger in this Indian
warfare that the fancies and imaginations of your Ameri…
cans have not enlarged upon； until they see a savage in
every bush。 We Scots come from a naked region； and have
no need and less relish for covers； and so ye'll be seeing；
Mistress Dunham 〃
The Corporal gave a spring into the air； fell forward on
his face； and rolled over on his back； the whole passing so
suddenly that Mabel had scarcely heard the sharp crack
of the rifle that had sent a bullet through his body。 Our
heroine did not shriek did not even tremble； for the
occurrence was too sudden； too awful； and too unexpected
for that exhibition of weakness； on the contrary； she
stepped hastily forward； with a natural impulse to aid her
companion。 There was just enough of life left in M'Nab
to betray his entire consciousness of all that had passed。
His countenance had the wild look of one who had been
overtaken by death by surprise； and Mabel； in her cooler
moments； fancied that it showed the tardy repentance of
a willful and obstinate sinner。
〃Ye'll be getting into the blockhouse as fast as possible；〃
M'Nab whispered； as Mabel leaned over him to catch his
dying words。
Then came over our heroine the full consciousness of
her situation and of the necessity of exertion。 She cast a
rapid glance at the body at her feet； saw that it had ceased
to breathe； and fled。 It was but a few minutes' run to
the blockhouse； the door of which Mabel had barely gained
when it was closed violently in her face by Jennie； the sol…
dier's wife； who in blind terror thought only of her own
safety。 The reports of five or six rifles were heard while
Mabel was calling out for admittance； and the additional
terror they produced prevented the woman within from
undoing quickly the very fastenings she had been so expert
in applying。 After a minute's delay； however； Mabel
found the door reluctantly yielding to her constant pres…
sure； and she forced her slender body through the opening
the instant it was large enough to allow of its passage。 By
this time Mabel's heart ceased to beat tulmultuously and
she gained sufficient self…command to act collectedly。 In
stead of yielding to the almost convulsive efforts of her
companion to close the door again； she held it open long
enough to ascertain that none of her own party was in
sight； or likely on the instant to endeavor to gain admis…
sion： then she allowed the opening to be shut。 Her orders
and proceedings now became more calm and rational。
But a single bar was crossed； and Jennie was directed to
stand in readiness to remove even that at any application
from a friend。 She then ascended the ladder to the room
above； where by means of a loophole she was enabled to
get as good a view of the island as the surrounding bushes
would allow。 Admonishing her associate below to be firm
and steady； she made as careful an examination of the en…
virons as her situation permitted。
To her great surprise； Mabel could not at first see a liv…
ing soul on the island； friend or enemy。 Neither French…
man nor Indian was visible； though a small straggling
white cloud that was floating before the wind told her in
which quarter she ought to look for them。 The rifles had
been discharged from the direction of the island whence
June had come； though whether the enemy were on that
island； or had actually landed on her own； Mabel could
not say。 Going to the loop that commanded a view of the
spot where M'Nab lay； her blood curdled at perceiving all
three of his soldiers lying apparently lifeless at his side。
These men had rushed to a common centre
at the first
alarm； and had been shot down almost simultaneously by
the invisible foe whom the Corporal had affected to despise。
Neither Cap nor Lieutenant Muir was to be seen。 With
a beating heart； Mabel examined every opening through
the trees； and ascended even to the upper story or garret of
the blockhouse； where she got a full view of the whole
island； so far as its covers would allow； but with no better
success。 She had expected to see the body of her uncle
lying on the grass like those of the soldiers； but it was
nowhere visible。 Turning towards the spot where the boat
lay； Mabel saw that it was still fastened to the shore； and
then she supposed that by some accident Muir had been
prevented from effecting his retreat in that quarter。 In
short； the island lay in the quiet of the grave； the bodies
of the soldiers rendering the scone as fearful as it was ex…
traordinary。
〃For God's holy sake； Mistress Mabel；〃 called out the
woman from below； for； though her fear had become too
ungovernable to allow her to keep silence； our heroine's
superior refinement； more than the regimental station of
her father； still controlled her mode of address； 〃Mistress
Mabel； tell me if any of our friends are living！ I think I
hear groans that grow fainter and fainter； and fear that
they will all be tomahawked！〃
Mabel now remembered that one of the soldiers was this
woman's husband； and she trembled at what might be the
immediate effect of her sorrow； should his death become
suddenly known to her。 The groans； too； gave a little
hope； though she feared they might come from her uncle；
who lay out of view。
〃We are in His holy keeping； Jennie；〃 she answered。
〃We must trust in Providence； while we neglect none
of its benevolent means of protecting ourselves。 Be care…
ful with the door； on no account open it without my di…
rections。〃
〃Oh； tell me； Mistress Mabel； if you can anywhere see
Sandy！ If I could only let him know that I'm in safety；
the guid man would be easier in his mind； whether free or
a prisoner。〃
Sandy was Jennie's husband； and he lay dead in plain
view of the loop from which our heroine was then looking。
〃You no' tell me if you're seeing of Sandy；〃 the woman
repeated from below； impatient at Mabel's silence。
〃There are some of our people gathered about the body
of M'Nab； was the answer； for it seemed sacrilegious in
her eyes to tell a direct untruth under the awful circum…
stances in which she was placed。
〃Is Sandy amang them？〃 demanded the woman； in a
voice that sounded appalling by its hoarseness and energy。
〃He may be certainly； for I see one； two； three； four；
and all in the scarlet coats of the regiment。〃
〃Sandy！〃 called out the woman frantically； 〃why d'ye
no' care for yoursal'； Sandy？ Come hither the instant；
man； and share your wife's fortunes in weal or woe。 It's
no' a moment for your silly discipline and vain…glorious
notions of honor！ Sandy！ Sandy！〃
Mabel heard the bar turn； and then the door creaked on
its hinges。 Expectation； not to say terror； held her in sus…
pense at the loop； and she soon beheld Jennie rushing
through the bushes in the direction of the cluster of the
dead。 It took the woman but an instant to reach the
fatal spot。 So sudden and unexpected had been the blow；
that she in her terror did not appear to comprehend its
weight。 Some wild and half…frantic notion of a deception
troubled her fancy； and she imagined that the men were
trifling with her fears。 She took her husband's hand； and
it was still warm； while she thought a covert smile was
struggling on his lip。
〃Why will ye fool life away； Sandy？〃 she cried； pulling
at the arm。 〃Ye'll all be murdered by these accursed
Indians； and you no' takin' to the block like trusty sol…
diers！ Awa'！ awa'！ and no' be losing the precious mo…
ments。〃
In her desperate efforts； the woman pulled the body of
her husband in a way to cause the head to turn completely
over； when tbe small hole in the temple； caused by the en…
trance of a rifle bullet； and a few drops of blood trickling
over the skin； revealed the meaning of her husband's si…
lence。 As the horrid truth flashed in its full extent on
her mind； the woman clasped her hands； gave a shriek
that pierced the glades of every island near； and fell at
length on the dead body of the soldier。 Thrilling； heart…
reaching； appalling as was that shriek； it was melody to
the cry that followed it so quickly as to blend the sounds。
The terrific war…whoop arose out of the covers of