hands of the enemy？〃
〃By such an accident； Mabel； as Providence employs to
tell the hound where to find the deer and the deer how to
throw off the hound。 No； no！ these artifices and devil…
ries with dead bodies may deceive the soldiers of the 55th
and the king's officers； but they are all lost upon men
who have passed their days in the forest。 I came down
the channel in face of the pretended fisherman； and；
though the riptyles have set up the poor wretch with art；
it was not ingenious enough to take in a practysed eye。
The rod was held too high； for the 55th have learned to
fish at Oswego； if they never knew how before； and then
the man was too quiet for one who got neither prey nor
bite。 But we never come in upon a post blindly； and I
have lain outside a garrison a whole night； because they
had changed their sentries and their mode of standing
guard。 Neither the Sarpent nor myself would be likely to
be taken in by these clumsy contrivances； which were most
probably intended for the Scotch； who are cunning enough
in some particulars； though anything but witches when
Indian sarcumventions are in the wind。〃
〃Do you think my father and his men may yet be de…
ceived？〃 said Mabel quickly。
〃Not if I can prevent it； Mabel。 You say the Sarpent
is on the look…out too； so there is a double chance of our
succeeding in letting him know his danger； though it is
by no means sartain by which channel the party may
come。〃
〃Pathfinder；〃 said our heroine solemnly； for the fright…
ful scenes she had witnessed had clothed death with un…
usual horrors； 〃Pathfinder； you have professed love for
me； a wish to make me your wife？〃
〃I did ventur' to speak on that subject； Mabel； and the
Sergeant has even lately said that you are kindly disposed；
but I am not a man to persecute the thing I love。〃
〃Hear me； Pathfinder； I respect you； honor you； revere
you； save my father from this dreadful death； and I can
worship you。 Here is my hand； as a solemn pledge for
my faith； when you come to claim it。〃
〃Bless you； bless you； Mabel； this is more than I desarve
… more； I fear； than I shall know how to profit by as I
ought。 It was not wanting； however； to make me sarve
the Sergeant。 We are old comrades； and owe each other
a life； though I fear me； Mabel； being a father's comrade
is not always the best recommendation with a daughter。〃
〃You want no other recommendation than your own
acts your courage； your fidelity。 All that you do and
say； Pathfinder； my reason approves； and the heart will；
nay； it _shall_ follow。〃
〃This is a happiness I little expected this night； but
we are in God's hands； and He will protect us in His own
way。 These are sweet words； Mabel； but they were not
wanting to make me do all that man can do in the present
circumstances； they will not lessen my endeavors；
neither。〃
〃Now we understand each other； Pathfinder；〃 Mabel
added hoarsely； 〃let us not lose one of the precious mo…
ments； which may be of incalculable value。 Can we not
get into your canoe and go and meet my father？〃
〃That is not the course I advise。 I don't know by
which channel the Sergeant will come； and there are
twenty； rely on it； the Sarpent will be winding his way
through them all。 No； no！ my advice is to remain here。
The logs of this blockhouse are still green； and it will not
be easy to set them on fire； and I can make good the
place； bating a burning； ag'in a tribe。 The Iroquois nation
cannot dislodge me from this fortress； so long as we can
keep the flames off it。 The Sergeant is now 'camped on
some island； and will not come in until morning。 If we
hold the block； we can give him timely warning； by firing
rifles； for instance； and should he determine to attack the
savages； as a man of his temper will be very likely to do；
the possession of this building will be of great account in
the affair。 No； no！ my judgment says remain； if the ob…
ject be to sarve the Sergeant； though escape for our two
selves will be no very difficult matter。〃
〃Stay；〃 murmured Mabel； 〃stay； for God's sake； Path…
finder！ Anything； everything to save my father！〃
〃Yes； that is natur'。 I am glad to hear you say this；
Mabel； for I own a wish to see the Sergeant fairly sup…
ported。 As the matter now stands； he has gained himself
credit； and； could he once drive off these miscreants； and
make an honorable retreat； laying the huts and block in
ashes； no doubt； Lundie would remember it and sarve him
accordingly。 Yes； yes； Mabel； we must not only save the
Sergeant's life； but we must save his reputation。〃
〃No blame can rest on my father on account of the sur…
prise of this island。〃
〃There's no telling； there's no telling； military glory is
a most unsartain thing。 I've seen the Delawares routed；
when they desarved more credit than at other times when
they've carried the day。 A man is wrong to set his head
on success of any sort； and worst of all on success in war。
I know little of the settlements； or of the notions that
men hold in them； but up hereaway even the Indians rate
a warrior's character according to his luck。 The principal
thing with a soldier is never to be whipt； nor do I think
mankind stops long to consider how the day was won or
lost。 For my part； Mabel； I make it a rule when facing
the inimy to give him as good as I can send； and to try to
be moderate after a defeat； little need be said on that
score； as a flogging is one of the most humbling things in
natur'。 The parsons preach about humility in the garri…
son； but if humility would make Christians； the king's
troops ought to be saints； for they've done little as yet this
war but take lessons from the French； beginning at Fort
du Quesne and ending at Ty。〃
〃My father could not have suspected that the position
of the island was known to the enemy；〃 resumed Mabel；
whose thoughts were running on the probable effect of the
recent events on the Sergeant。
〃That is true； nor do I well see how the Frenchers
found it out。 The spot is well chosen； and it is not an
easy matter； even for one who has travelled the road to
and from it； to find it again。 There has been treachery； I
fear； yes； yes； there must have been treachery。〃
〃Oh； Pathfinder！ can this be？〃
〃Nothing is easier； Mabel； for treachery comes as nat'ral
to some men as eating。 Now when I find a man all fair
words I look close to his deeds； for when the heart is right；
and really intends to do good； it is generally satisfied to let
the conduct speak instead of the tongue。〃
〃Jasper Western is not one of these；〃 said Mabel impet…
uously。 〃No youth can be more sincere in his manner； or
less apt to make the tongue act for the head。〃
〃Jasper Western！ tongue and heart are both right with
that lad； depend on it； Mabel； and the notion taken up by
Lundie； and the Quartermaster； and the Sergeant； and
your uncle too； is as wrong as it would be to think that
the sun shone by night and the stars shone by day。 No；
no； I'll answer for Eau…douce's honesty with my own
scalp； or； at need； with my own rifle。〃
〃Bless you； bless you； Pathfinder！〃 exclaimed Mabel；
extending her own hand and pressing the iron fingers of
her companion； under a state of feeling that far sur…
passed her own consciousness of its strength。 〃You are
all that is generous； all that is noble！ God will reward you
for it。〃
〃Ah； Mabel； I fear me； if this be true； I should not covet
such a wife as yourself； but would leave you to be sued
for by some gentleman of the garrison； as your desarts
require。〃
〃We will not talk of this any more to…night；〃 Mabel
answered in a voice so smothered as to seem nearly choked。
〃We must think less of ourselves just now； Pathfinder；
and more of our friends。 But I rejoice from my soul that
you believe Jasper innocent。 Now let us talk of other
things ought we not to release June？〃
〃I've been thinking about the woman； for it will not
be safe to shut our eyes and leave hers open； on this side
of the blockhouse door。 If we put her in the upper room；
and take away the ladder； she'll be a prisoner at least。〃
〃I cannot treat one thus who has saved my life。 It
would be better to let her depart； for I think she is too
much my friend to do anything to harm me。〃
〃You do not know the race； Mabel； you do not know
the race。 It's true she's not a full…blooded Mingo； but she
consorts with the vagabonds； and must have larned some
of their tricks。 What is that？〃
〃It sounds like oars； some boat is passing through the
channel。〃
Pathfinder closed the trap that led to the lower room；
to prevent June from escaping； extinguished the candle；
and went hastily to a loop； Mabel looking over his shoulder
in breathless curiosity。 These several movements con…
sumed a minute or two； and by the time the eye of the
scout had got a dim view of things without； two boats had
swept past and shot up to the shore； at a spot some fifty
yards beyond the block； where there was a regular landing。
The obscurity prevented more from being seen； and Path…
finder whispered to Mabel that the new…comers were as
likely to be foes as friends； for he did not think her father
could possibly have arrived so soon。 A number