of proceeding at least a dozen times in a single hour。
June was always the source of her greatest embarrassment；
for she did not well see； first； how she was to ascertain
when Chingachgook was at the door； where she doubted
not he would soon appear； and； secondly； how she was to
admit him； without giving the alarm to her watchful com…
panion。 Time pressed； however； for the Mohican might
come and go away again； unless she was ready to receive
him。 It would be too hazardous to the Delaware to re…
main long on the island； and it became absolutely neces…
sary to determine on some course； even at the risk of
choosing one that was indiscreet。 After running over
various projects in her mind； therefore； Mabel came to her
companion； and said； with as much calmness as she could
assume；
〃Are you not afraid； June； now your people believe
Pathfinder is in the blockhouse； that they will come and
try to set it on fire？〃
〃No t'ink such t'ing。 No burn blockhouse。 Block…
house good； got no scalp。〃
〃June； we cannot know。 They hid because they be…
lieved what I told them of Pathfinder's being with us。〃
〃Believe fear。 Fear come quick； go quick。 Fear make
run away； wit make come back。 Fear make warrior fool；
as well as young girl。〃
Here June laughed； as her sex is apt to laugh when any…
thing particularly ludicrous crosses their youthful fancies。
〃I feel uneasy； June； and wish you yourself would go
up again to the roof and look out upon the island； to
make certain that nothing is plotting against us； you
know the signs of what your people intend to do better
than I。〃
〃June go； Lily wish； but very well know that Indian
sleep； wait for 'e fader。 Warrior eat； drink； sleep； all
time； when don't fight and go on war…trail。 Den never
sleep； eat； drink never feel。 Warrior sleep now。〃
〃God send it may be so！ but go up； dear June； and look
well about you。 Danger may come when we least expect
it。〃
June arose； and prepared to ascend to the roof； but she
paused； with her foot on the first round of the ladder。
Mabel's heart beat so violently that she was fearful its
throbs would be heard； and she fancied that some gleam…
ings of her real intentions had crossed the mind of her
friend。 She was right in part； the Indian woman having
actually stopped to consider whether there was any indis…
cretion in what she was about to do。 At first the suspic…
ion that Mabel intended to escape flashed across her mind；
then she rejected it； on the ground that the pale…face had
no means of getting off the island； and that the block…
house was much the most secure place she could find。
The next thought was； that Mabel had detected some sign
of the near approach of her father。 This idea； too； lasted
but an instant； for June entertained some such opinion of
her companion's ability to understand symptoms of this
sort symptoms that had escaped her own sagacity as a
woman of high fashion entertains of the accomplishments
of her maid。 Nothing else in the same way offering； she
began slowly to mount the ladder。
Just as she reached the upper floor； a lucky thought
suggested itself to our heroine； and； by expressing it in a
hurried but natural manner； she gained a great advantage
in executing her projected scheme。
〃I will go down；〃 she said； 〃and listen by the door；
June； while you are on the roof； and we will thus be on
our guard； at the same time； above and below。〃
Though June thought this savored of unnecessary cau…
tion； well knowing that no one could enter the building
unless aided from within； nor any serious danger menace
them from the exterior without giving sufficient warning；
she attributed the proposition to Mabel's ignorance and
alarm； and； as it was made apparently with frankness； it
was received without distrust。 By these means our hero…
ine was enabled to descend to the door； as her friend as…
cended to the roof。 The distance between the two was
now too great to admit of conversation； and for three or
four minutes one was occupied in looking about her as
well as the darkness would allow； and the other in listen…
ing at the door with as much intentness as if all her senses
were absorbed in the single faculty of hearing。
June discovered nothing from her elevated stand； the
obscurity indeed almost forbade the hope of such a result；
but it would not be easy to describe the sensation with
which Mabel thought she perceived a slight and guarded
push against the door。 Fearful that all might not be as
she wished； and anxious to let Chingachgook know that
she was near； she began； though in tremulous and low
notes； to sing。 So profound was the stillness of the
moment that the sound of the unsteady warbling ascended
to the roof and in a minute June began to descend。 A
slight tap at the door was heard immediately after。 Mabel
was bewildered； for there was no time to lose。 Hope
proved stronger than fear； and with unsteady hands she
commenced unbarring the door。 The moccassin of June
was heard on the floor above her when only a single bar
was turned。 The second was released as her form reached
half…way down the lower ladder。
〃What you do？〃 exclaimed June angrily。 〃Run away
… mad leave blockhouse； blockhouse good。〃 The hands
of both were on the last bar； and it would have been
cleared from the fastenings but for a vigorous shove from
without； which jammed the wood。 A short struggle
ensued； though both were disinclined to violence。 June
would probably have prevailed； had not another and a
more vigorous push from without forced the bar past the
trifling impediment that held it； when the door opened。
The form of a man was seen to enter； and both the
females rushed up the ladder； as if equally afraid of the
consequences。 The stranger secured the door； and； first
examining the lower room with great care； he cautiously
ascended the ladder。 June； as soon as it became dark；
had closed the loops of the principal floor； and lighted a
candle。 By means of this dim taper； then； the two
females stood in expectation； waiting to ascertain the per…
son of their visitor； whose wary ascent of the ladder was
distinctly audible； though sufficiently deliberate。 It would
not be easy to say which was the more astonished on find…
ing； when the stranger had got through the trap； that
Pathfinder stood before them。
〃God be praised！〃 Mabel exclaimed； for the idea that
the blockhouse would be impregnable with such a garrison
at once crossed her mind。 〃O Pathfinder！ what has be…
come of my father？〃
〃The Sergeant is safe as yet； and victorious； though it
is not in the gift of man to say what will be the ind of it。
Is not that the wife of Arrowhead skulking in the corner
there？〃
〃Speak not of her reproachfully； Pathfinder； I owe her
my life； my present security。 Tell me what has happened
to my father's party why you are here； and I will relate
all the horrible events that have passed upon this island。〃
〃Few words will do the last； Mabel； for one used to
Indian devilries needs but little explanations on such a
subject。 Everything turned out as we had hoped with
the expedition； for the Sarpent was on the look…out； and
he met us with all the information heart could desire。
We ambushed three boats； druv' the Frenchers out of
them； got possession and sunk them； according to orders；
in the deepest part of the channel； and the savages of
Upper Canada will fare badly for Indian goods this win…
ter。 Both powder and ball； too； will be scarcer among
them than keen hunters and active warriors may relish。
We did not lose a man or have even a skin barked； nor do
I think the inimy suffered to speak of。 In short； Mabel；
it has been just such an expedition as Lundie likes； much
harm to the foe； and little harm to ourselves。〃
〃Ah； Pathfinder； I fear； when Major Duncan comes to
hear the whole of the sad tale； he will find reason to regret
he ever undertook the affair。〃
〃I know what you mean； I know what you mean； but
by telling my story straight you will understand it better。
As soon as the Sergeant found himself successful； he sent
me and the Sarpent off in canoes to tell you how matters
had turned out； and he is following with the two boats；
which； being so much heavier； cannot arrive before morn…
ing。 I parted from Chingachgook this forenoon； it being
agreed that he should come up one set of channels； and I
another； to see that the path was clear。 I've not seen the
chief since。〃
Mabel now explained the manner in which she had dis…
covered the Mohican； and her expectation that he would
yet come to the blockhouse。
〃Not he； not he！ A regular scout will never get behind
walls or logs so long as he can keep the open air and find
useful employment。 I should not have come myself；
Mabel； but I promised the Sergeant to comfort you and to
look after your safety。 Ah's me！ I reconnoitred the
island with a heavy heart this forenoon； and there was a
bitter hour when I fancied you might be among the slain。〃
〃By what lucky accident were you prevented from pad…
dling up boldly to the island and from falling into the
hands of the enemy？〃
〃By such an accident； Mabel； as Providence employs to
tell the ho