likely to be foes as friends； for he did not think her father
could possibly have arrived so soon。 A number of men
were now seen to quit the boats； and then followed three
hearty English cheers； leaving no further doubts of the
character of the party。 Pathfinder sprang to the trap；
raised it； glided down the ladder； and began to unbar the
door； with an earnestness that proved how critical he
deemed the moment。 Mabel had followed； but she rather
impeded than aided his exertions； and but a single bar
was turned when a heavy discharge of rifles was heard。
They were still standing in breathless suspense； as the
war…whoop rang in all the surrounding thickets。 The
door now opened； and both Pathfinder and Mabel rushed
into the open air。 All human sounds had ceased。 After
listening half a minute； however； Pathfinder thought he
heard a few stifled groans near the boats； but the wind
blew so fresh； and the rustling of the leaves mingled so
much with the murmurs of the passing air； that he was far
from certain。 But Mabel was borne away by her feel…
ings； and she rushed by him； taking the way towards the
boats。
〃This will not do； Mabel；〃 said the scout in an earnest
but low voice； seizing her by an arm； 〃this will never do。
Sartain death would follow； and that without sarving any
one。 We must return to the block。〃
〃Father！ my poor； dear； murdered father！〃 said the
girl wildly； though habitual caution； even at that trying
moment； induced her to speak low。 〃Pathfinder； if you
love me； let me go to my dear father。〃
〃This will not do； Mabel。 It is singular that no one
speaks； no one returns the fire from the boats； and I have
left Killdeer in the block！ But of what use would a rifle
be when no one is to be seen？〃
At that moment the quick eye of Pathfinder； which；
whiel he held Mabel firmly in his grasp； had never ceased
to roam over the dim scene； caught an indistinct view of
five or six dark crouching forms； endeavoring to steal past
him； doubtless with the intention of intercepting the re…
treat to the blockhouse。 Catching up Mabel； and putting
her under an arm； as if she were an infant； the sinewy
frame of the woodsman was exerted to the utmost； and he
succeeded in entering the building。 The tramp of his
pursuers seemed immediately at his heels。 Dropping his
burden； he turned； closed the door； and had fastened one
bar； as a rush against the solid mass threatened to force it
from the hinges。 To secure the other bars was the work
of an instant。
Mabel now ascended to the first floor； while Pathfinder
remained as a sentinel below。 Our heroine was in that
state in which the body exerts itself； apparently without
the control of the mind。 She relighted the candle me…
chanically； as her companion had desired； and returned
with it below； where he was waiting her reappearance。 No
sooner was Pathfinder in possession of the light than he
examined the place carefully； to make certain no one was
concealed in the fortress； ascending to each floor in suc…
cession； after assuring himself that he left no enemy in his
rear。 The result was the conviction that the blockhouse
now contained no one but Mabel and himself； June having
escaped。 When perfectly convinced on this material point；
Pathfinder rejoined our heroine in the principal apart…
ment； setting down the light and examining the priming
of Killdeer before he seated himself。
〃Our worst fears are realized！〃 said Mabel； to whom
the hurry and excitement of the last five minutes appeared
to contain the emotions of a life。 〃My beloved father and
all his party are slain or captured！〃
〃We don't know that morning will tell us all。 I do
not think the affair so settled as that； or we should hear
the vagabond Mingos yelling out their triumph around
the blockhouse。 Of one thing we may be sartain； if the
inimy has really got the better； he will not be long in call…
ing upon us to surrender。 The squaw will let him into
the secret of our situation； and； as they well know the
place cannot be fired by daylight； so long as Killdeer con…
tinues to desarve his reputation； you may depend on it that
they will not be backward in making their attempt while
darkness helps them。〃
〃Surely I hear a groan！〃
〃'Tis fancy； Mabel； when the mind gets to be skeary；
especially a woman's mind； she often concaits things that
have no reality。 I've known them that imagined there was
truth in dreams。〃
〃Nay； I am _not_ deceived； there is surely one below； and
in pain。〃
Pathfinder was compelled to own that the quick senses
of Mabel had not deceived her。 He cautioned her； how…
ever； to repress her feelings； and reminded her that the
savages were in the practice of resorting to every artifice
to attain their ends； and that nothing was more likely than
that the groans were feigned with a view to lure them from
the blockhouse； or； at least； to induce them to open the
door。
〃No； no； no！〃 said Mabel hurriedly； 〃there is no arti…
fice in those sounds； and they come from anguish of body；
if not of spirit。 They are fearfully natural。〃
〃Well； we shall soon know whether a friend is there or
not。 Hide the light again； Mabel； and I will speak the
person from a loop。〃
Not a little precaution was necessary； according to Path…
finder's judgment and experience； in performing even this
simple act； for he had known the careless slain by their
want of proper attention to what might have seemed to
the ignorant supererogatory means of； safety。 He did not
place his mouth to the loop itself； but so near it that he
could be heard without raising his voice； and the same
precaution was observed as regards his ear。
〃Who is below？〃 Pathfinder demanded； when his ar…
rangements were made to his mind。 〃Is any one in suf…
fering？ If a friend； speak boldly； and depend on our aid。〃
〃Pathfinder！〃 answered a voice that both Mabel and
the person addressed at once knew to be the Sergeant's；
〃Pathfinder； in the name of God； tell me what has become
of my daughter。〃
〃Father； I am here； unhurt； safe！ and oh that I could
think the same of you！〃
The ejaculation of thanksgiving that followed was dis…
tinctly audible to the two； but it was clearly mingled with；
a groan of pain。
〃My worst forebodings are realized！〃 said Mabel with
a sort of desperate calmness。 〃Pathfinder； my father must
be brought within the block； though we hazard everything
to do it。〃
〃This is natur'； and it is the law of God。 But； Mabel；
be calm； and endivor to be cool。 All that can be effected
for the Sergeant by human invention shall be done。 I
only ask you to be cool。〃
〃I am； I am； Pathfinder。 Never in my life was I more
calm； more collected； than at this moment。 But remem…
ber how perilous may be every instant； for Heaven's sake；
what we do； let us do without delay。〃
Pathfinder was struck with the firmnesss of Mabel's
tones； and perhaps he was a little deceived by the forced
tranquillity and self…possession she had assumed。 At all
events； he did not deem any further explanations neces…
sary； but descended forthwith； and began to unbar the
door。 This delicate process was conducted with the usual
caution； but； as he warily permitted the mass of timber to
swing back on the hinges； he felt a pressure against it； that
had nearly induced him to close it again。 But； catching a
glimpse of the cause through the crack； the door was per…
mitted to swing back； when the body of Sergeant Dunham；
which was propped against it； fell partly within the block。
To draw in the legs and secure the fastenings occupied the
Pathfinder but a moment。 Then there existed no obstacle
to their giving their undivided care to the wounded man。
Mabel； in this trying scene； conducted herself with the
sort of unnatural energy that her sex； when aroused； is apt
to manifest。 She got the light； administered water to the
parched lips of her father； and assisted Pathfinder in form…
ing a bed of straw for his body and a pillow of clothes for
his head。 All this was done earnestly； and almost without
speaking； nor did Mabel shed a tear； until she heard the
blessings of her father murmured on her head for this
tenderness and care。 All this time Mabel had merely con…
jectured the condition of her parent。 Pathfinder； how…
ever； had shown greater attention to the physical danger
of the Sergeant。 He had ascertained that a rifle…ball had
passed through the body of the wounded man； and he was
sufficiently familiar with injuries of this nature to be cer…
tain that the chances of his surviving the hurt were very
trifling； if any。
CHAPTER XXIV。
Then drink my tears； while yet they fall
Would that my bosom's blood were balm；
And well thou knowest I'd shed it all；
To give thy brow one minute's calm。
MOORE。
The eyes of Sergeant Dunham had not ceased to follow
the form of his beautiful daughter from the moment that
the light appeared。 He next examined the door of the
block； to ascertain its security； for he was left on the
ground below； there being no available means of raising
him to the upper floor。 Then he sought the face of Mabel；
for as life wanes fast the affections resume their force； and
we begin to