for as life wanes fast the affections resume their force； and
we begin to value that most which we feel we are about to
lose for ever。
〃God be praised； my child！ you； at least； have escaped
their murderous rifles；〃 he said； for he spoke with
strength； and seemingly with no additional pain。 〃Give
me the history of this sad business； Pathfinder。〃
〃Ah's me； Sergeant！ it _has_ been sad； as you say。 That
there has been treachery； and the position of the island
has been betrayed； is now as sartain； in my judgment； as
that we still hold the block。 But 〃
〃Major Duncan was right；〃 interrupted Dunham； laying
a hand on the other's arm。
〃Not in the sense you mean； Sergeant no； not in that
p'int of view； never！ At least； not in my opinion。 I
know that natur' is weak human natur'； I mean and
that we should none of us vaunt of our gifts； whether red
or white； but I do not think a truer…hearted lad lives on
the lines than Jasper Western。〃
〃Bless you！ bless you for that； Pathfinder！〃 burst forth
from Mabel's very soul； while a flood of tears gave vent to
emotions that were so varied while they were so violent。
〃Oh； bless you； Pathfinder； bless you！ The brave should
never desert the brave the honest should sustain the
honest。〃
The father's eyes were fastened anxiously on the face
of his daughter； until the latter hid her countenance in
her apron to conceal her tears； and then they turned with
inquiry to the hard features of the guide。 The latter
merely wore their usual expression of frankness； sincerity；
and uprightness； and the Sergeant motioned to him to
proceed。
〃You know the spot where the Sarpent and I left you；
Sergeant；〃 Pathfinder resumed； 〃and I need say nothing
of all that happened afore。 It is now too late to regret
what is gone and passed； but I do think if I had stayed
with the boats this would not have come to pass。 Other
men may be as good guides I make no doubt they are；
but then natur' bestows its gifts； and some must be better
than other some。 I daresay poor Gilbert； who took my
place； has suffered for his mistake。〃
〃He fell at my elbow；〃 the Sergeant answered in a low
melancholy tone。 〃We have； indeed； all suffered for our
mistakes。〃
〃No； no； Sergeant； I meant no condemnation on you；
for men were never better commanded than yourn； in this
very expedition。 I never beheld a prettier flanking； and
the way in which you carried your own boat up ag'in their
howitzer might have teached Lundie himself a lesson。〃
The eyes of the Sergeant brightened； and his face even
wore an expression of military triumph； though it was of
a degree that suited the humble sphere in which he had
been an actor。
〃'Twas not badly done； my friend；〃 said he； 〃and we
carried their log breastwork by storm。〃
〃'Twas nobly done； Sergeant； though； I fear； when all
the truth comes to be known； it will be found that these
vagabonds have got their howitzer back ag'in。 Well； well；
put a stout heart upon it； and try to forget all that is dis…
agreeable； and to remember only the pleasant part of the
matter。 That is your truest philosophy； ay； and truest
religion too。 If the inimy has got the howitzer ag'in；
they've only got what belonged to them afore； and what
we couldn't help。 They haven't got the blockhouse yet；
nor are they likely to get it； unless they fire it in the dark。
Well； Sergeant； the Sarpent and I separated about ten
miles down the river； for we thought it wisest not to come
upon even a friendly camp without the usual caution。
What has become of Chingachgook I cannot say； though
Mabel tells me he is not far off； and I make no question
the noble…hearted Delaware is doing his duty； although he
is not now visible to our eyes。 Mark my word； Sergeant；
before this matter is over we shall hear of him at some
critical time and that in a discreet and creditable manner。
Ah； the Sarpent is indeed a wise and virtuous chief！ and
any white man might covet his gifts； though his rifle is
not quite as sure as Killdeer； it must be owned。 Well； as
I came near the island I missed the smoke； and that put
me on my guard； for I knew that the men of the 55th
were not cunning enough to conceal that sign； notwith…
standing all that has been told them of its danger。 This
made me more careful； until I came in sight of this mock…
fisherman； as I've just told Mabel； and then the whole of
their infernal arts was as plain before me as if I saw it on
a map。 I need not tell you； Sergeant； that my first
thoughts were of Mabel； and that； finding she was in the
block； I came here； in order to live or die in her company。〃
The father turned a gratified look upon his child； and
Mabel felt a sinking of the heart that at such a moment
she could not have thought possible； when she wished to
believe all her concern centred in the situation of her
parent。 As the latter held out his hand； she took it in her
own and kissed it。 Then； kneeling at his side； she wept
as if her heart would break。
〃Mabel；〃 said he steadily； 〃the will of God must be
done。 It is useless to attempt deceiving either you or my…
self； my time has come； and it is a consolation to me to
die like a soldier。 Lundie will do me justice； for our good
friend Pathfinder will tell him what has been done； and
how all came to pass。 You do not forget our last con…
versation？〃
〃Nay； father； my time has probably come too；〃 exclaimed
Mabel； who felt just then as if it would be a relief to die。
〃I cannot hope to escape； and Pathfinder would do well
to leave us； and return to the garrison with the sad news
while he can。〃
〃Mabel Dunham；〃 said Pathfinder reproachfully； though
he took her hand with kindness； 〃I have not desarved this。
I know I am wild； and uncouth； and ungainly 〃
〃Pathfinder！〃
〃Well； well； we'll forget it； you did not mean it； you
could not think it。 It is useless now to talk of escaping；
for the Sergeant cannot be moved； and the blockhouse
must be defended； cost what it will。 Maybe Lundie will
get the tidings of our disaster； and send a party to raise
the siege。〃
〃Pathfinder Mabel！〃 said the Sergeant； who had been
writhing with pain until the cold sweat stood on his fore…
head； 〃come both to my side。 You understand each
other； I hope？〃
〃Father； say nothing of that； it is all as you wish。〃
〃Thank God！ Give me your hand； Mabel here； Path…
finder； take it。 I can do no more than give you the girl
in this way。 I know you will make her a kind husband。
Do not wait on account of my death； but there will be a
chaplain in the fort before the season closes； and let him
marry you at once。 My brother； if living； will wish。to go
back to his vessel； and then the child will have no pro…
tector。 Mabel； your husband will have been my friend；
and that will be some consolation to you； I hope。〃
〃Trust this matter to me； Sergeant；〃 put in Pathfinder；
〃leave it all in my hands as your dying request； and； de…
pend on it； all will go as it should。〃
〃I do； I do put all confidence in you； my trusty friend；
and empower you to act as I could act myself in every
particular。 Mabel； child； hand me the water； you will
never repent this night。 Bless you； my daughter！ God
bless； and have you in His holy keeping！〃
This tenderness was inexpressibly touching to one of
Mabel's feelings； and she felt at that moment as if her
feuture union with Pathfinder had received a solemnization
that no ceremony of the Church could render more holy。
Still； a weight； as that of a mountain； lay upon her heart；
and she thought it would be happiness to die。 Then fol…
lowed a short pause； when the Sergeant； in broken sen…
tences； briefly related what had passed since he parted
with Pathfinder and the Delaware。 The wind had come
more favorable； and； instead of encamping on an island
agreeably to the original intention； he had determined to
continue； and reach the station that night。 Their approach
would have been unseen； and a portion of the calamity
avoided； he thought； had they not grounded on the point
of a neighboring island； where； no doubt； the noise made
by the men in getting off the boat gave notice of their ap…
proach； and enabled the enemy to be in readiness to receive
them。 They had landed without the slightest suspicion of
danger； though surprised at not finding a sentinel； and had
actually left their arms in the boat； with the intention of
first securing their knapsacks and provisions。 The fire
had been so close； that； notwithstanding the obscurity； it
was very deadly。 Every man had fallen； though two or
three subsequently arose and disappeared。 Four or five of
the soldiers had been killed； or so nearly so as to survive
but a few minutes； though； for some unknown reason； the
enemy did not make the usual rush for the scalps。 Ser…
geant Dunham fell with the others； and he had heard the
voice of Mabel； as she rushed from the blockhouse。 This
frantic appeal aroused all his parental feelings； and had
enabled him to crawl as far as the door of the building；
where he had raised himself against the logs in the manner
already mentioned。
After this simple explanation was made； the Sergeant
was so weak as to need repose； and his