artifices of your people。〃
〃Tuscarora very cunning；〃 said June； in a way to show
that she rather approved of than condemned the uses to
which the dead bodies had been applied。 〃Do soldier no
harm now； do Iroquois good； got the scalp first； now
make bodies work。 By and by； burn 'em。
This speech told Mabel how far she was separated from
her friend in character； and it was several minutes before
she could again address her。 But this temporary aversion
was lost on June； who set about preparing their simple
breakfast； in a way to show how insensible she was to feel…
ings in others which her own habits taught her to discard。
Mabel ate sparingly； and her companion as if nothing had
happened。 Then they had leisure again for their thoughts；
and for further surveys of the island。 Our heroine；
though devoured with a feverish desire to be always at the
loops； seldom went that she did not immediately quit them
in disgust； though compelled by her apprehensions to re…
turn again in a few minutes； called by the rustling of
leaves； or the sighing of the wind。 It was； indeed； a
solemn thing to look out upon that deserted spot； peopled
by the dead in the panoply of the living； and thrown into
the attitudes and acts of careless merriment and rude en…
joyment。 The effect on our heroine was much as if she
had found herself an observer of the revelries of demons。
Throughout the livelong day not an Indian nor a
Frenchman was to be seen； and night closed over the
frightful but silent masquerade； with the steady and unal…
terable progress with which the earth obeys her laws； in…
different to the petty actors and petty scenes that are in
daily bustle and daily occurrence on her bosom。 The
night was far more quiet than that which had preceded it；
and Mabel slept with an increasing confidence； for she
now felt satisfied that her own fate would not be decided
until the return of her father。 The following day he was
expected； however； and when our heroine awoke； she ran
eagerly to the loops in order to ascertain the state of the
weather and the aspect of the skies； as well as the condi…
tion of the island。 There lounged the fearful group on
the grass； the fisherman still hung over the water； seem…
ingly intent on his sport； and the distorted countenance
of Jennie glared from out the hut in horrible contortions。
But the weather had changed； the wind blew fresh from
the southward； and though the air was bland； it was filled
with the elements of storm。
〃This grows more and more difficult to bear； June；〃
Mabel said； when she left the window。 〃I could even
prefer to see the enemy than to look any longer on this
fearful array of the dead。〃
〃Hush！ here they come。 June thought hear a cry like
a warrior's shout when he take a scalp。〃
〃What mean you？ There is no more butchery！ there
can be no more。〃
〃Saltwater！〃 exclaimed June； laughing； as she stood
peeping through a loophole。
〃My dear uncle！ Thank God！ he then lives！ Oh；
June； June； _you_ will not let them harm _him？_〃
〃June； poor squaw。 What warrior t'ink of what she
say？ Arrowhead bring him here。〃
By this time Mabel was at a loop； and； sure enough；
there were Cap and the Quartermaster in the hands of the
Indians； eight or ten of whom were conducting them to
the foot of the block； for； by this capture； the enemy now
well knew that there could be no man in the building。
Mabel scarcely breathed until the whole party stood ranged
directly before the door； when she was rejoiced to see that
the French officer was among them。 A low conversation
followed； in which both the white leader and Arrowhead
spoke earnestly to their captives； when the Quartermaster
called out to her in a voice loud enough to be heard。
〃Pretty Mabel！ pretty Mabel！〃 said he； 〃look out of
one of the loopholes； and pity our condition。 We are
threatened with instant death uniess you open the door to
the conquerors。 Relent； then or we'll no' be wearing our
scalps half an hour from this blessed moment。〃
Mabel thought there were mockery and levity in this
appeal； and its manner rather fortified than weakened her
resolution to hold the place as long as possible。
〃Speak to me； uncle；〃 said she； with her mouth at a
loop； 〃and tell me what I ought to do。〃
〃Thank God！ thank God！〃 ejaculated Cap； 〃the
sound of your sweet voice； Magnet； lightens my heart of a
heavy load； for I feared you had shared the fate of poor
Jennie。 My breast has felt the last four…and…twenty hours
as if a ton of kentledge had been stowed in it。 You ask
me what you ought to do； child； and I do not know how
to advise you； though you are my own sister's daughter！
The most I can say just now； my poor girl； is most heartily
to curse the day you or I ever saw this bit of fresh water。〃
〃But； uncle； is your life in danger do _you_ think I
ought to； open the door？〃
〃A round turn and two half…hitches make a fast belay；
and I would counsel no one who is out of the hands of
these devils to unbar or unfasten anything in order to fall
into them。 As to the Quartermhaster and myself； we are
both elderly men； and not of much account to mankind in
general； as honest Pathfinder would say； and it can make
no great odds to him whether he balances the purser's
books this year or the next； and as for myself； why； if I
were on the seaboard； I should know what to do； but up
here； in this watery wilderness； I can only say； that if I
were behind that bit of a bulwark； it would take a good
deal of Indian logic to rouse me out of it。〃
〃You'll no' be minding all your uncle says； pretty
Mabel；〃 put in Muir； 〃for distress is obviously fast unset…
tling his faculties； and he is far from calculating all the
necessities of the emergency。 We are in the hands here
of very considerate and gentlemanly pairsons； it must be
acknowledged； and one has little occasion to apprehend
disagreeable violence。 The casualties that have occurred
are the common incidents of war； and can no' change our
sentiments of the enemy； for they are far from indicating
that any injustice will be done the prisoners。 I'm sure
that neither Master Cap nor myself has any cause of com…
plaint since we have given ourselves up to Master Arrow…
head； who reminds me of a Roman or a Spartan by his
virtues and moderation； but ye'll be remembering that
usages differ； and that our scalps may be lawful sacrifices
to appease the manes of fallen foes； unless you save them
by capitulation。〃
〃I shall do wiser to keep within the blockhouse until
the fate of the island is settled；〃 returned Mabel。 〃Our
enemies can feel no concern on account of one like me；
knowing that I can do them no harm； and I greatly prefer
to remain here as more befitting my sex and years。〃
〃If nothing but your convenience were concerned；
Mabel； we should all cheerfully acquiesce in your wishes；
but these gentlemen fancy that the work will aid their
operations； and they have a strong desire to possess it。
To be frank with you； finding myself and your uncle in a
very peculiar situation； I acknowledge that； to avert con…
sequences； I have assumed the power that belongs to his
Majesty's commission； and entered into a verbal capitula…
tion； by which I have engaged to give up the blockhouse
and the whole island。 It is the fortune of war； and must
be submitted to； so open the door； pretty Mabel； forth…
with； and confide yourself to the care of those who know
how to treat beauty and virtue in distress。 There's no
courtier in Scotland more complaisant than this chief； or
who is more familiar with the laws of decorum。〃
〃No leave blockhouse；〃 muttered June； who stood at
Mabel's side； attentive to all that passed。 〃Blockhouse
good got no scalp。〃
Our heroine might have yielded but for this appeal； for
it began to appear to her that the wisest course would be
to conciliate the enemy by concessions instead of exasper…
ating them by resistance。 They must know that Muir and
her uncle were in their power； that there was no man in
the building； and she fancied they might proceed to batter
down the door； or cut their way through the logs with
axes； if she obstinately refused to give them peaceable ad…
mission； since there was no longer any reason to dread the
rifle。 But the words of June induced her to hesitate； and
the earnest pressure of the hand and entreating looks of
her companion strengthened a resolution that was falter…
ing。
〃No prisoner yet；〃 whispered June； 〃let 'em make
prisoner before 'ey take prisoner talk big； June manage
'em。〃
Mabel now began to parley more resolutely with Muir；
for her uncle seemed disposed to quiet his conscience by
holding his tongue； and she plainly intimated that it was
not her intention to yield the building。
〃You forget the capitulation； Mistress Mabel；〃 said
Muir； 〃the honor of one of his Majesty's servants is con…
cerned； and the honor of his Majesty through his servant。
You will remeinber the finesse and delicacy that belong to
military honor？〃
〃I know enough； Mr。 Muir； to understand that you have
no command in this expedition； and therefore can have no
right to yield the blockhouse； and I remember； moreover；
to have heard my dear fath