wife of Pathfinder。〃
〃Well； brother Dunham； every man has his opinions
and his manner of viewing things； and； to my notion； this
match will be anything but agreeable to Mabel。 I have
no objection to the age of the man； I'm not one of them
that thinks it necessary to be a boy to make a girl happy；
but； on the whole； I prefer a man of about fifty for a hus…
band； still there ought not to be any circumstance be…
tween the parties to make them unhappy。 Circumstances
play the devil with matrimony； and I set it down as one
that Pathfinder don't know as much as my niece。 You've
seen but little of the girl； Sergeant； and have not got the
run of her knowledge； but let her pay it out freely； as she
will do when she gets to be thoroughly acquainted； and
you'll fall in with but few schoolmasters that can keep
their luffs in her company。〃
〃She's a good child a dear； good child；〃 muttered the
Sergeant； his eyes filling with tears； 〃and it is my mis…
fortune that I have seen so little of her。〃
〃She is indeed a good girl； and knows altogether too
much for poor Pathfinder； who is a reasonable man and an
experienced man in his own way； but who has no more
idea of the main chance than you have of spherical trigo…
nometry； Sergeant。〃
〃Ah； brother Cap； had Pathfinder been with us in the
boats this sad affair might not have happened！〃
〃That is quite likely； for his worst enemy will allow
that the man is a good guide； but then； Sergeant； if the
truth must be spoken； you have managed this expedition
in a loose way altogether。 You should have hove…to off
your haven； and sent in a boat to reconnoitre； as I told
you before。 That is a matter to be repented of？ and I
tell it to you； because truth； in such a case； ought to be
spoken。〃
〃My errors are dearly paid for； brother； and poor Mabel；
I fear； will be the sufferer。 I think； however； that the
calamity would not have happened had there not been
treason。 I fear me； brother； that Jasper Eau…douce has
played us false。〃
〃That is just my notion； for this fresh…water life must
sooner or later undermine any man's morals。 Lieutenant
Muir and myself talked this matter over while we lay in a
bit of a hole out here； on this island； and we both came
to the conclusion that nothing short of Jasper's treachery
could have brought us all into this infernal scrape。 Well；
Sergeant； you had better compose your mind； and think
of other matters； for； when a vessel is about to enter a
strange port； it is more prudent to think of the anchorage
inside than to be under…running all the events that have
turned up during the v'y'ge。 There's the log…book ex…
pressly to note all these matters in； and what stands there
must form the column of figures that's to be posted up for
or against us。 How now； Pathfinder！ is there anything in
the wind； that you come down the ladder like an Indian
in the wake of a scalp？〃
The guide raised a finger for silence and then beckoned
to Cap to ascend the first ladder； and to allow Mabel to
take his place at the side of the Sergeant。
〃We must be prudent； and we must be bold too；〃 said
he in a low voice。 〃The riptyles are in earnest in their
intention to fire the block； for they know there is now
nothing to be gained by letting it stand。 I hear the voice
of that vagabond Arrowhead among them； and he is urg…
ing them to set about their devilry this very night。 We
must be stirring； Saltwater； and doing too。 Luckily there
are four or five barrels of water in the block； and these are
something towards a siege。 My reckoning is wrong； too；
or we shall yet reap some advantage from that honest fel…
low's； the Sarpent； being at liberty。〃
Cap did not wait for a second invitation； but； stealing
away； he was soon in the upper room with Pathfinder；
while Mabel took his post at the side of her father's humble
bed。 Pathfinder had opened a loop； having so far con…
cealed the light that it would not expose him to a treacher…
ous shot； and； expecting a summons； he stood with his
face near the hole； ready to answer。 The stillness that
succeeded was at length broken by the voice of Muir。
〃Master Pathfinder；〃 called out the Scotchman； 〃a
friend summons you to a parley。 Come freely to one of
the loops； for you've nothing to fear so long as you are
in converse with an officer of the 55th。〃
〃What is your will； Quartermaster？ what is your will？
I know the 55th； and believe it to be a brave regiment；
though I rather incline to the 60th as my favorite； and to
the Delawares more than to either； but what would you
have； Quartermaster？ It must be a pressing errand that
brings you under the loops of a blockhouse at this hour of
the night； with the sartainty of Killdeer being inside of it。〃
〃Oh； you'll no' harm a friend； Pathfinder； I'm certain；
and that's my security。 You're a man of judgment； and
have gained too great a name on this frontier for bravery
to feel the necessity of foolhardiness to obtain a character。
You'll very well understand； my good friend； there is as
much credit to be gained by submitting gracefully； when
resistance becomes impossible； as by obstinately holding
out contrary to the rules of war。 The enemy is too strong
for us； my brave comrade； and I come to counsel you to
give up the block； on condition of being treated as a pris…
oner of war。〃
〃I thank you for this advice； Quartermaster； which is
the more acceptable as it costs nothing； but I do not
think it belongs to my gifts to yield a place like this while
food and water last。〃
〃Well； I'd be the last； Pathfinder； to recommend any…
thing against so brave a resolution； did I see the means of
maintaining it。 But ye'll remember that Master Cap has
fallen。〃
〃Not he； not he！〃 roared the individual in question
through another loop； 〃and so far from that； Lieutenant；
he has risen to the height of this here fortification； and
has no mind to put his head of hair into the hands of such
barbers again； so long as he can help it。 I look upon this
blockhouse as a circumstance； and have no mind to throw
it away。〃
〃If that is a living voice；〃 returned Muir； 〃I am glad
to hear it； for we all thought the man had fallen in the
late fearful confusion。 But； Master Pathfinder； although
ye're enjoying the society of our friend Cap； and a great
pleasure do I know it to be； by the experience of two days
and a night passed in a hole in the earth； we've lost that
of Sergeant Dunham； who has fallen； with all the brave
men he led in the late expedition。 Lundie would have it
so； though it would have been more discreet and becoming
to send a commissioned officer in command。 Dunham was
a brave man； notwithstanding； and shall have justice done
his memory。 In short； we have all acted for the best； and
that is as much as could be said in favor of Prince Eugene；
the Duke of Marlborough； or the great Earl of Stair him…
self。〃
〃You're wrong ag'in； Quartermaster； you're wrong
ag'in；〃 answered Pathfinder； resorting to a ruse to magnify
his force。 〃The Sergeant is safe in the block too； where
one might say the whole family is collected。〃
〃Well I rejoice to hear it； for we had certainly counted
the Sergeant among the slain。 If pretty Mabel is in the
block still； let her not delay an instant； for heaven's sake；
in quitting it； for the enemy is about to put it to the trial
by fire。 Ye know the potency of that dread element； and
will be acting more like the discreet and experienced war…
rior ye're universally allowed to be； in yielding a place you
canna' defend； than in drawing down ruin on yourself and
companions。〃
〃I know the potency of fire； as you call it； Quarter…
master； and am not to be told； at this late hour； that it
can be used for something else besides cooking a dinner。
But I make no doubt you've heard of the potency of Kill…
deer； and the man who attempts to lay a pile of brush
against these logs will get a taste of his power。 As for
arrows； it is not in their gift to set this building on fire；
for we've no shingles on our roof； but good solid logs and
green bark； and plenty of water besides。 The roof is so
flat； too； as you know yourself； Quartermaster； that we can
walk on it； and so no danger on that score while water
lasts。 I'm peaceable enough if let alone； but he who en…
divors to burn this block over my head will find the fire
squinched in his own blood。〃
〃This is idle and romantic talk； Pathfinder； and ye'll
no maintain it yourself when ye come to meditate on the
realities。 I hope ye'll no' gainsay the loyalty or the cour…
age of the 55th； and I feel convinced that a council of war
would decide on the propriety of a surrender forthwith。
Na； na； Pathfinder； foolhardiness is na mair like the brav…
ery o' Wallace or Bruce than Albany on the Hudson is like
the old town of Edinbro'。〃
〃As each of us seems to have made up his mind； Quar…
termaster； more words are useless。 If the riptyles near
you are disposed to set about their hellish job； let them
begin at once。 They can burn wood； and I'll burn pow…
der。 If I were an Indian at the stake； I suppose I could
brag as well as the rest of them； but； my gifts and natur'
being both white； my turn is rather f