already mentioned。
After this simple explanation was made； the Sergeant
was so weak as to need repose； and his companions； while
they ministered to his wants； suffered some time to pass in
silence。 Pathfinder took the occasion to reconnoitre from
the loops and the roof； and he examined the condition of
the rifles； of which there were a dozen kept in the build…
ing； the soldiers having used their regimental muskets in
the expedition。 But Mabel never left her father's side for
an instant； and when； by his breathing； she fancied he
slept； she bent her knees and prayed。
The half…hour that succeeded was awfully solemn and
still。 The moccasin of Pathfinder was barely heard over…
head； and occasionally the sound of the breech of a rifle
fell upon the floor； for he was busied in examining the
pieces； with a view to ascertain the state of their charges
and their primings。 Beyond this； nothing was so loud as
the breathing of the wounded man。 Mabel's heart yearned
to be in communication with the father she was so soon to
lose； and yet she would not disturb his apparent repose。
But Dunham slept not； he was in that state when the
world suddenly loses its attractious； its illusions； and its
power； and the unknown future fills the mind with its
conjectures； its revelations； and its immensity。 He had
been a moral man for one of his mode of life； but he had
thought little of this all…important moment。 Had the din
of battle been ringing in his ears； his martial ardor might
have endured to the end； but there； in the silence of that
nearly untenanted blockhouse； with no sound to enliven
him； no appeal to keep alive factitious sentiment； no hope
of victory to impel； things began to appear in their true
colors； and this state of being to be estimated at its just
value。 He would have given treasures for religious con…
solation； and yet he knew not where to turn to seek it。
He thought of Pathfinder； but he distrusted his knowl…
edge。 He thought of Mabel； but for the parent to appeal
to the child for such succor appeared like reversing the
order of nature。 Then it was that he felt the full re…
sponsibility of the parental character； and had some clear
glimpse of the manner in which he himself had discharged
the trust towards an orphan child。 While thoughts like
these were rising in his mind； Mabel； who watched the
slightest change in his breathing； heard a guarded knock
at the door。 Supposing it might be Chingachgook； she
rose； undid two of the bars； and held the third in her hand；
as she asked who was there。 The answer was in her uncle's
voice； and he implored her to give him instant admission。
Without an instant of hesitation； she turned the bar； and
Cap entered。 He had barely passed the opening； when
Mabel closed the door again； and secured it as before； for
practice had rendered her expert in this portion of her
duties。
The sturdy seaman； when he had made sure of the state
of his brother…in…law； and that Mabel； as well as himself；
was safe； was softened nearly to tears。 His own appear…
ance he explained by saying that he had been carelessly
guarded； under the impression that he and the Quarter…
master were sleeping under the fumes of liquor with which
they had been plied with a view to keep them quiet in the
expected engagement。 Muir had been left asleep； or seem…
ing to sleep； but Cap had run into the bushes on the
alarm of the attack； and having found Pathfinder's canoe；
had only succeeded； at that moment； in getting to the
blockhouse； whither he had come with the kind intent of
escaping with his niece by water。 It is scarcely necessary
to say that he changed his plan when he ascertained the
state of the Sergeant； and the apparent security of his
present quarters。
〃If the worst comes to the worst； Master Pathfinder；〃
said he； 〃we must strike； and that will entitle us to re…
ceive quarter。 We owe it to our manhood to hold out a
reasonable time； and to ourselves to haul down the ensign
in season to make saving conditions。 I wished Master
Muir to do the same thing when we were captured by these
chaps you call vagabonds and rightly are they named； for
viler vagabonds do not walk the earth 〃
〃You've found out their characters？〃 interrupted
Pathfinder； who was always as ready to chime in with
abuse of the Mingos as with the praises of his friends。
〃Now； had you fallen into the hands of the Delawares；
you would have learned the difference。〃
〃Well； to me they seem much of a muchness； black…
guards fore and aft； always excepting our friend the Ser…
pent； who is a gentleman for an Indian。 But； when these
savages made the assault on us； killing Corporal M'Nab
and his men as if they had been so many rabbits； Lieuten…
ant Muir and myself took refuge in one of the holes of
this here island； of which there are so many among the
rocks； and there we remained stowed away like two leaguers
in a ship's hold； until we gave out for want of grub。 A
man may say that grub is the foundation of human nature。
I desired the Quartermaster to make terms； for we could
have defended ourselves for an hour or two in the place；
bad as it was； but he declined； on the ground that the
knaves wouldn't keep faith if any of them were hurt； and
so there was no use in asking them to。 I consented to
strike； on two principles； one； that we might be said to
have struck already； for running below is generally thought
to be giving up the ship； and the other； that we had an
enemy in our stomachs that was more formidable in his
attacks than the enemy on deck。 Hunger is a dble
circumstance； as any man who has lived on it eight…and…
forty hours will acknowledge。〃
〃Uncle；〃 said Mabel in a mournful voice and with an
expostulatory manner； 〃my poor father is sadly； sadly
hurt！〃
〃True； Magnet； true； I will sit by him； and do my best
at consolation。 Are the bars well fastened； girl？ for on
such an occasion the mind should be tranquil and undis…
turbed。〃
〃We are safe； I believe； from all but this heavy blow of
Providence。〃
〃Well； then； Magnet； do you go up to the floor above
and try to compose yourself； while Pathfinder runs aloft
and takes a look…out from the cross…trees。 Your father
may wish to say something to me in private； and it may be
well to leave us alone。 These are solemn scenes； and in…
experienced people； like myself； do not always wish what
they say to be overheard。〃
Although the idea of her uncle's affording religious con…
solation by the side of a death…bed certainly never ob…
truded itself on the imagination of Mabel； she thought
there might be a propriety in the request with which she
was unacquainted； and she complied accordingly。 Path…
finder had already ascended to the roof to make his sur…
vey； and the brothers…in…law were left alone。 Cap took a
seat by the side of the Sergeant； and bethought him seri…
ously of the grave duty he had before him。 A silence of
several minutes succeeded； during which brief space the
mariner was digesting the substance of his intended dis…
course。
〃I must say； Sergeant Dunham；〃 Cap at length com…
menced in his peculiar manner； 〃that there has been mis…
management somewhere in this unhappy expedition； and；
the present being an occasion when truth ought to be
spoken； and nothing but the truth； I feel it my duty to be
say as much in plain language。 In short； Sergeant； on
this point there cannot well be two opinions； for； seaman
as I am； and no soldier； I can see several errors myself；
that it needs no great education to detect。〃
〃What would you have； brother Cap？〃 returned the
other in a feeble voice； 〃what is done is done； and it is
now too late to remedy it。〃
〃Very true； brother Dunham； but not to repent of it；
the Good Book tells us it is never too late to repent； and
I've； always neard that this is the precious moment。 If
you've anything on your mind； Sergeant； hoist it out freely；
for； you know； you trust it to a friend。 You were my own
sister's husband； and poor little Magnet is my own sister's
daughter； and； living or dead； I shall always look upon
you as a brother。 It's a thousand pities that you didn't
lie off and on with the boats； and send a canoe ahead to
reconnoitre； in which case your command would have
been saved； and this disaster would not have befallen us
all。 Well； Sergeant； we are _all_ mortal； that is some con…
solation； I make no doubt； and if you go before a little；
why； we must follow。 Yes； that _must_ give you consola…
tion。〃
〃I know all this； brother Cap； and hope I'm prepared
to meet a soldier's fate there is poor Mabel 〃
〃Ay； ay； that's a heavy drag； I know； but you wouldn't
take her with you if you could； Sergeant； and so the better
way is to make as light of the separation as you can。
Mabel is a good girl； and so was her mother before her；
she was my sister； and it shall be my care to see that her
daughter gets a good husband； if our lives and scalps are
spared； for I suppose no one would care about entering
into a family that has no scalps。〃
〃Brother； my child is betrothed； she will become the
wife of Pathfinder。〃
〃Well； brother Dunham； every man has his opinions
and his manner of viewing things； a