ware； but； less true than that of his friend； it only maimed
an enemy for life。 The people of the _Scud_ shouted； and
the savages sank again； to a man； as if it might be into the
earth。
〃That was the Sarpent's voice；〃 said Pathfinder； as soon
as the second piece was discharged。 〃I know the crack of
his rifle as well as I do that of Killdeer。 'Tis a good bar…
rel； though not sartain death。 Well； well； with Chingach…
gook and Jasper on the water； and you and I in the block；
friend Cap； it will be hard if we don't teach these Mingo
scamps the rationality of a fight。〃
All this time the _Scud_ was in motion。 As soon as he
had reached the end of the island； Jasper sent his prizes
adrift； and they went down before the wind until they
stranded on a point half a mile to leeward。 He then wore；
and came stemming the current again； through the other
passage。 Those on the summit of the block could now
perceive that something was in agitation on the deck of
the _Scud_； and； to their great delight； just as the cutter
came abreast of the principal cove； on the spot where most
of the enemy lay； the howitzer which composed her sole
armament was unmasked； and a shower of case…shot was
sent hissing into the bushes。 A bevy of quail would not
have risen quicker than this unexpected discharge of iron
hail put up the Iroquois； when a second savage fell by a
messenger sent from Killdeer； and another went limping
away by a visit from the rifle of Chingachgook。 New
covers were immediately found； however； and each party
seemed to prepare for the renewal of the strife in another
form。 But the appearance of June； bearing a white flag；
and accompanied by the French officer and Muir； stayed
the hands of all； and was the forerunner of another parley。
The negotiation that followed was held beneath the
blockhouse； and so near it as at once to put those who
were uncovered completely at the mercy of Pathfinder's
unerring aim。 Jasper anchored directly abeam； and the
howitzer； too； was kept trained upon the negotiators： so
that the beseiged and their friends； with the exception of
the man who held the match； had no hesitation about ex…
posing their persons。 Chingachgook alone lay in ambush；
more； however； from habit than distrust。
〃You've triumphed； Pathfinder；〃 called out the Quarter…
master； 〃and Captain Sanglier has come himself to offer
terms。 You'll no' be denying a brave enemy honorable
retreat； when he has fought ye fairly； and done all the
credit he could to king and country。 Ye are too loyal a
subject yourself to visit loyalty and fidelity with a heavy
judgment。 I am authorized to offer； on the part of the
enemy； an evacuation of the island； a mutual exchange of
prisoners； and a restoration of scalps。 In the absence of
baggage and artillery； little more can be done。〃
As the conversation was necessarily carried on in a high
key； both on account of the wind and of the distance； all
that was said was heard equally by those in the block and
those in the cutter。
〃What do you say to that； Jasper？〃 called out Path…
finder。 〃You hear the proposal。 Shall we let the vaga…
bonds go？ or shall we mark them； as they mark their
sheep in the settlements； that we may know them again？〃
〃What has befallen Mabel Dunham？〃 demanded the
young man； with a frown on his handsome face； that was
visible even to those on the block。 〃If a hair of her
head has been touched； it will go hard with the whole Iro…
quois tribe。〃
〃Nay； nay； she is safe below； nursing a dying parent； as
becomes her sex。 We owe no grudge on account of the
Sergeant's hurt； which comes of lawful warfare； and as
for Mabel 〃
〃She is here！〃 exclaimed the girl herself； who had
mounted to the roof the moment she found the direction
things were taking； 〃she is here！ and； in the name of our
holy religion； and of that God whom we profess to wor…
ship in common； let there be no more bloodshed！ Enough
has been spilt already； and if these men will go away；
Pathfinder if they will depart peaceably； Jasper oh； do
not detain one of them！ My poor father is approaching
his end； and it were better that he should draw his last
breath in peace with the world。 Go； go； Frenchmen and
Indians！ we are no longer your enemies； and will harm
none of you。〃
〃Tut； tut； Magnet！〃 put in Cap； 〃this sounds religious；
perhaps； or like a book of poetry； but it does not sound
like common sense。 The enemy is just ready to strike；
Jasper is anchored with his broadside to bear； and； no
doubt； with springs on his cables； Pathfinder's eye and
hand are as true as the needle； and we shall get prize…
money； head…money； and honor in the bargain； if you will
not interfere for the next half…hour。〃
〃Well；〃 said Pathfinder； 〃I incline to Mabel's way of
thinking。 There _has_ been enough blood shed to answer
our purpose and to sarve the king； and as for honor； in
that meaning； it will do better for young ensigns and re…
cruits than for cool…headed； obsarvant Christian men。
There is honor in doing what's right； and unhonor in doing
what's wrong； and I think it wrong to take the life even
of a Mingo； without a useful end in view； I do； and nght
to hear reason at all times。 So； Lieutenant Muir； let us
know what your friends the Frenchers and Indians have
to say for themselves。〃
〃My friends！〃 said Muir； starting； 〃you'll no' be calling
the king's enemies my friends； Pathfinder； because the
fortune of war has thrown me into their hands？ Some of
the greatest warriors； both of ancient aud modern times；
have been prisoners of war； and yon is Master Cap； who
can testify whether we did not do all that men could de…
vise to escape the calamity。〃
〃Ay； ay；〃 drily answered Cap； 〃escape is the proper
word。 We ran below aud hid ourselves； and so discreetly；
that we might have remained in the hole to this hour； had
it not been for the necessity of re…stowing the bread lockers。
You burrowed on that occasion； Quartermaster； as handily
as a fox； and how the d…l you knew so well where to
find the spot is a matter of wonder to me。 A regular skulk
on board ship does not trail aft more readily when the jib
is to be stowed； than you went into that same hole。〃
〃And did ye no' follow？ There are moments in a man's
life when reason ascends to instinct 〃
〃And men descend into holes；〃 interrupted Cap； laugh…
ing in his boisterous way； while Pathfinder chimed in； in
his peculiar manner。 Even Jasper； though still filled with
concern for Mabel； was obliged to smile。 〃They say the
d…l wouldn't make a sailor if he didn't look aloft； and
now it seems he'll not make a soldier if he doesn't look
below！〃
This burst of merriment； though it was anything but
agreeable to Muir； contributed largely towards keeping
the peace。 Cap fancied he had said a thing much better
than common； and that disposed him to yield his own
opinion on the main point； so long as he got the good opin…
ion of his companions on his novel claim to be a wit。
After a short discussion； all the savages on the island were
collected in a body； without arms； at the distance of a hun…
dred yards from the block； and under the gun of the _Scud_；
while Pathfinder descended to the door of the blockhouse
and settled the terms on which the island was to be finally
evacuated by the enemy。 Considering all the circum…
stances； the conditions were not very discreditable to either
party。 The Indians were compelled to give up all their
arms； even to their knives and tomahawks； as a measure of
precaution； their force being still quadruple that of their
foes。 The French officer； Monsieur Sanglier； as he was
usually styled； and chose to call himself； remonstrated
against this act as one likely to reflect more discredit on
his command than any other part of the affair； but Path…
finder； who had witnessed one or two Indian massacres；
and knew how valueless pledges became when put in op…
position to interest where a savage was concerned； was ob…
durate。 The second stipulation was of nearly the same
importance。 It compelled Captain Sanglier to give up all
his prisoners； who had been kept well guarded in the very
hole or cave in which Cap and Muir had taken refuge。
When these men were produced； four of them were found
to be unhurt； they had fallen merely to save their lives； a
common artifice in that species of warfare； and of the re…
mainder； two were so slightly injured as not to be unfit for
service。 As they brought their muskets with them； this
addition to his force immediately put Pathfinder at his
ease； for； having collected all the arms of the enemy in the
blockhouse； he directed these men to take possession of
the building； stationing a regular sentinel at the door。 The
remainder of the soldiers were dead； the badly wounded
having been instantly despatched in order to obtain the
much…coveted scalps。
As soon as Jasper was made acquainted with the terms；
and the preliminaries had been so far observed as to ren…
der it safe for him to be absent； he got the _Scud_ under
weigh； and； running down to the point where the boats
had stranded； he took them in tow again； and； making a
few stretches； brought them into the leeward passage。