brag as well as the rest of them； but； my gifts and natur'
being both white； my turn is rather for doing than talk…
ing。 You've said quite enough； considering you carry the
king's commission； and should we all be consumed； none
of us will bear you any malice。〃
〃Pathfinder； ye'll no' be exposing Mabel； pretty Mabel
Dunham； to sic' a calamity！〃
〃Mabel Dunham is by the side of her wounded father；
and God will care for the safety of a pious child。 Not a
hair； of her head shall fall； while my arm and sight remain
true； and though _you_ may trust the Mingos； Master Muir；
I put no faith in them。 You've a knavish Tuscarora in
your company there； who has art and malice enough to
spoil the character of any tribe with which he consorts；
though he found the Mingos ready ruined to his hands； I
fear。 But enough said； now let each party go to the use
of his means and his gifts。〃
Throughout this dialogue Pathfinder had kept his body
covered； lest a treacherous shot should be aimed at the
loop； and he now directed Cap to ascend to the roof in
order to be in readiness to meet the first assault。 Al…
though the latter used sufficient diligence； he found no
less than ten blazing arrows sticking to the bark； while
the air was filled with the yells and whoops of the enemy。
A rapid discharge of rifles followed； and the bullets came
pattering against the logs； in a way to show that the strug…
gle had indeed seriously commenced。
These were sounds； however； that appalled neither Path…
finder nor Cap； while Mabel was too much absorbed in her
affliction to feel alarm。 She had good sense enough； too；
to understand the nature of the defences； and fully to ap…
preciate their importance。 As for her father； the familiar
noises revived him； and it pained his child； at such a
moment； to see that his glassy eye began to kindle； and
that the blood returned to a cheek it had deserted； as he
listened to the uproar。 It was now Mabel first perceived
that his reason began slightly to wander。
〃Order up the light companies；〃 he muttered； 〃and let
the grenadiers charge！ Do they dare to attack us in our
fort？ Why does not the artillery open on them？〃
At that instant the heavy report of a gun burst on the
night； and the crashing of rending wood was heard； as a
heavy shot tore the logs in the room above； and the whole
block shook with the force of a shell that lodged in the
work。 The Pathfinder narrowly escaped the passage of
this formidable missile as it entered； but when it exploded；
Mabel could not suppress a shriek； for she supposed all
over her head； whether animate or inanimate； destroyed。
To increase her horror； her father shouted in a frantic
voice to 〃charge！〃
〃Mabel；〃 said Pathfinder； with his head at the trap；
〃this is true Mingo work more noise than injury。 The
vagabonds have got the howitzer we took from the French；
and have discharged it ag'in the block； but fortunately
they have fired off the only shell we had； and there is an
ind of its use for the present。 There is some confusion
among the stores up in this loft； but no one is hurt。 Your
uncle is still on the roof； and； as for myself； I've run the
gauntlet of too many rifles to be skeary about such a thing
as a howitzer； and that in Indian hands。〃
Mabel murmured her thanks； and tried to give all her
attention to her father； whose efforts to rise were only
counteracted by his debility。 During the fearful minutes
that succeeded； she was so much occupied with the care of
the invalid that she scarcely heeded the clamor that
reigned around her。 Indeed； the uproar was so great；
that； had not her thoughts been otherwise employed； con…
fusion of faculties rather than alarm would probably have
been the consequence。
Cap preserved his coolness admirably。 He had a pro…
found and increasing respect for the power of the savages；
and even for the majesty of fresh water； it is true； but his
apprehensions of the former proceeded more from his
dread of being scalped and tortured than from any un…
manly fear of death； and； as he was now on the deck of a
house； if not on the deck of a ship； and knew that there
was little danger of boarders； he moved about with a fear…
lessness and a rash exposure of his person that Pathfinder；
had he been aware of the fact； would have been the first to
condemn。 Instead of keeping his body covered； agreeably
to the usages of Indian warfare； he was seen on every part
of the roof； dashing the water right and left； with the ap…
parent steadiness and unconcern he would have manifested
had he been a sail trimmer exercising his art in a battle
afloat。 His appearance was one of the causes of the ex…
traordinary clamor among the assailants； who； unused to
see their enemies so reckless； opened upon him with their
tongues； like a pack that has the fox in view。 Still he ap…
peared to possess a charmed life； for； though the bullets
whistled around him on every side； and his clothes were
several times torn； nothing cut his skin。 When the shell
passed through the logs below； the old sailor dropped his
bucket； waved his hat； and gave three cheers； in which
heroic act he was employed as the dangerous missile ex…
ploded。 This characteristic feat probably saved his life；
for from that instant the Indians ceased to fire at him；
and even to shoot their flaming arrows at the block； hav…
ing taken up the notion simultaneously； and by common
consent； that the 〃Saltwater〃 was mad； and it was a
singular effect of their magnanimity never to lift a hand
against those whom they imagined devoid of reason。
The conduct of Pathfinder was very different。 Every…
thing he did was regulated by the most exact calculation；
the result of long experience and habitual thoughtfulness。
His person was kept carefully out of a line with the loops；
and the spot that he selected for his look…out was one quite
removed from danger。 This celebrated guide had often
been known to lead forlorn hopes： he had once stood at
the stake； suffering under the cruelties and taunts of savage
ingenuity and savage ferocity without quailing； and legends
of his exploits； coolness； and daring were to be heard all
along that extensive frontier； or wherever men dwelt and
men contended。 But on this occasion； one who did not
know his history and character might have thought his
exceeding care and studied attention to self…preservation
proceeded from an unworthy motive。 But such a judge
would not have understood his subject； the Pathfinder
bethought him of Mabel； and of what might possibly be the
consequences to that poor girl should any casualty befall
himself。 But the recollection rather quickened his intel…
lect than changed his customary prudence。 He was； in
fact； one of those who was so unaccustomed to fear； that
he never bethought him of the constructions others might
put upon his conduct。 But while in moments of danger
he acted with the wisdom of the serpent； it was also with
the simplicity of a child。
For the first ten minutes of the assault； Pathfinder never
raised the breech of his rifle from the floor； except when
he changed his own position； for he well knew that the
bullets of the enemy were thrown away upon the massive
logs of the work； and as he had been at the capture of
the howitzer he felt certain that the savages had no other
shell than the one found in it when the piece was taken。
There existed no reason； therefore； to dread the fire of the
assailants； except as a casual bullet might find a passage
through a loophole。 One or two of these accidents did
occur； but the balls entered at an angle that deprived them
of all chance of doing any injury so long as the Indians
kept near the block； and if discharged from a distance；
there was scarcely the possibility of one in a hundred's
striking the apertures。 But when Pathfinder heard the
sound of mocassined feet and the rustling of brush at the
foot of the building； he knew that the attempt to build a
fire against the logs was about to be renewed。 He now
summoned Cap from the roof； where； indeed； all the danger
had ceased； and directed him to stand in readiness with
his water at a hole immediately over the spot assailed。
One less trained than our hero would have been in a
hurry to repel this dangerous attempt also； and might have
resorted to his means prematurely； not so with Pathfinder。
His aim was not only to extinguish the fire； about which
he felt little apprehension； but to give the enemy a lesson
that would render him wary during the remainder of the
night。 In order to effect the latter purpose； it became
necessary to wait until the light of the intended conflagra…
tion should direct his aim； when he well knew that a very
slight effort of his skill would suffice。 The Iroquois were
permitted to collect their heap of dried brush； to pile it
against the block； to light it； and to return to their covers
without molestation。 All that Pathfinder would suffer
Cap to do； was to roll a barrel filled with water to the hole
immediately over the spot； in readiness to be used at the
proper instant。 That moment； however； did not arrive； in
his judgment； until the blaze illuminated the surrounding
bushes；