had stranded； he took them in tow again； and； making a
few stretches； brought them into the leeward passage。
Here all the savages instantly embarked； when Jasper took
the boats in tow a third time； and； running off before the
wind； he soon set them adrift full a mile to leeward of the
island。 The Indians were furnished with but a single oar
in each boat to steer with； the young sailor well knowing
that by keeping before the wind they would land on the
shores of Canada in the course of the morning。
Captain Sanglier； Arrowhead； and June alone remained；
when this disposition had been made of the rest of the
party： the former having certain papers to draw up and
sign with Lieutenant Muir； who in his eyes possessed the
virtues which are attached to a commission； and the lat…
ter preferring； for reasons of his own； not to depart in com…
pany with his late friends； the Iroquis。 Canoes were de…
tained for the departure of these three； when the proper
moment should arrive。
In the meantime； or while the _Scud_ was running down
with the boats in tow； Pathfinder and Cap； aided by proper
assistants； busied themselves with preparing a breakfast；
most of the party not having eaten for four…and…twenty
hours。 The brief space that passed in this manner before
the _Scud_ came…to again was little interrupted by discourse；
though Pathfinder found leisure to pay a visit to the Ser…
geant； to say a few friendly words to Mabel； and to give
such directions as he thought might smooth the passage of
the dying man。 As for Mabel herself； he insisted on her
taking some light refreshment； and； there no longer ex…
isting any motive for keeping it there； he had the guard
removed from the block； in order that the daughter might
have no impediment to her attentions to her father。 These
little arrangements completed； our hero returned to the
fire； around which he found all the remainder of the party
assembled； including Jasper。
CHAPTER XXVI。
You saw but sorrow in its waning form；
A working sea remaining from a storm；
Where now the weary waves roll o'er the deep；
And faintly murmur ere they fall asleep。
DRYDEN。
Men accustomed to a warfare like that we have been de…
scribing are not apt to be much under the influence of the
tender feelings while still in the field。 Notwithstanding
their habits； however； more than one heart was with Mabel
in the block； while the incidents we are about to relate
were in the course of occurrence； and even the indispen…
sable meal was less relished by the hardiest of the soldiers
than it might have been had not the Sergeant been so near
his end。
As Pathfinder returned from the block； he was met by
Muir； who led him aside in order to hold a private discourse。
The manner of the Quartermaster had that air of supere…
rogatory courtesy about it which almost invariably denotes
artifice； for； while physiognomy and phrenology are but lame
sciences at the best； and perhaps lead to as many false as
right conclusions； we hold that there is no more infallible
evidence of insincerity of purpose； short of overt acts； than
a face that smiles when there is no occasion； and the tongue
that is out of measure smooth。 Muir had much of this
manner in common； mingled with an apparent frankness
that his Scottish intonation of voice； Scottish accent； and
Scottish modes of expression were singularly adapted to
sustain。 He owed his preferment； indeed； to a long…exer…
cised deference to Lundie and his family； for； while the
Major himself was much too acute to be the dupe of one
so much his inferior in real talents and attainments； most
persons are accustomed to make liberal concessions to the
flatterer； even while they distrust his truth and are per…
fectly aware of his motives。 On the present occasion； the
contest in skill was between two men as completely the
opposites of each other in all the leading essentials of char…
acter as very well could be。 Pathfinder was as simple as
the Quartermaster was practised； he was as sincere as the
other was false； and as direct as the last was tortuous。
Both were cool and calculating； and both were brave；
though in different modes and degrees； Muir never expos…
ing his person except for effect； while the guide included
fear among the rational passions； or as a sensation to be
deferred to only when good might come of it。
〃My dearest friend；〃 Muir commenced； 〃for ye'll be
dearer to us all； by seventy and sevenfold； after your late
conduct than ever ye were； ye've just established yourself
in this late transaction。 It's true that they'll not be mak…
ing ye a commissioned officer； for that species of prefair…
ment is not much in your line； nor much in your wishes；
I'm thinking； but as a guide； and a counsellor； and a loyal
subject； and an expert marksman； yer renown may be said
to be full。 I doubt if the commander…in…chief will carry
away with him from America as much credit as will fall to
yer share； and ye ought just to set down in content and
enjoy yoursal' for the remainder of yer days。 Get mar…
ried； man； without delay； and look to your precious happi…
ness； for ye've no occasion to look any longer to your
glory。 Take Mabel Dunham； for Heaven's sake； to your
bosom； and ye'll have both a bonnie bride and a bonnie
reputation。〃
〃Why； Quartermaster； this is a new piece of advice to
come from your mouth。 They've told me I had a rival in
you。〃
〃And ye had； man； and a formidible one； too； I can tell
you； one that has never yet courted in vain； and yet one
that has courted five times。 Lundie twits me with four；
and I deny the charge； but he little thinks the truth would
outdo even his arithmetic。 Yes； yes； ye had a rival； Path…
finder； but ye've one no longer in me。 Ye've my hearty
wishes for yer success with Mabel； and were the honest
Sergeant likely to survive； ye might rely on my good word
with him； too； for a certainty。〃
〃I feel your friendship； Quartermaster； I feel your
friendship； though I have no great need of any favor with
Sergeant Dunham； who has long been my friend。 I be…
lieve we may look upon the matter to be as sartain as most
things in war…time； for； Mabel and her father consenting；
the whole 55th couldn't very well put a stop to it。 Ah's
me！ the poor father will scarcely live to see what his heart
has so long been set upon。〃
〃But he'll have the consolation of knowing it will come
to pass； in dying。 Oh； it's a great relief； Pathfinder； for
the parting spirit to feel certain that the beloved ones left
behind will be well provided for after its departure。 All
the Mistress Muirs have duly expressed that sentiment
with their dying breaths。〃
〃All your wives； Quartermaster； have been likely to feel
this consolation。〃
〃Out upon ye； man！ I'd no' thought ye such a wag。
Well； well； pleasant words make no heart…burnings be…
tween auld fri'nds。 If I cannot espouse Mabel； ye'll no
object to my esteeming her； and speaking well of her； and
of yoursal'； too； on all suitable occasions and in all com…
panies。 But； Pathfinder； ye'll easily understan' that a poor
deevil who loses sucha bride will probably stand in need
of some consolation？〃
〃Quite likely； quite likely； Quartermaster；〃 returned
the simple…minded guide； 〃I know the loss of Mabel would
be found heavy to be borne by myself。 It may bear hard
on your feelings to see us married； but the death of the
Sergeant will be likely to put it off； and you'll have time
to think more manfully of it； you will。〃
〃I'll bear up against it； yes； I'll bear up against it；
though my heart…strings crack！ and ye might help me；
man； by giving me something to do。 Ye'll understand
that this expedition has been of a very peculiar nature；
for here am I； bearing the king's commission； just a volun…
teer； as it might be； while a mere orderly has had the
command。 I've submitted for various reasons； though my
blood has boiled to be in authority； while ye war' battling；；
for the honor of the country and his Majesty's rights 〃
〃Quartermaster；〃 interrupted the guide； 〃you fell so
early into the enemy's hands that your conscience ought
to be easily satisfied on that score； so take my advice； and
say nothing about it。〃
〃That's just my opinion； Pathfinder； we'll all say noth…
ing about it。 Sergeant Dunham is _hors de combat_ 〃
〃Anan？〃 said the guide。
〃Why； the Sergeant can command no longer； and it will
hardly do to leave a corporal at the head of a victorious
party like this； for flowers that will bloom in a garden
will die on a heath； and I was just thinking I would claim
the authority that belongs to one who holds a lieutenant's
commission。 As for the men； they'll no dare to raise any
objaction； and as for yoursal'； my dear friend； now that
ye've so much honor； and Mabel； and the consciousness of
having done yer duty； which is more precious than all； I
expect to find an ally rather than one to oppose the
plan。〃
〃As for commanding the soldiers of the 55th； Lieuten…
ant； it is your right； I suppose； and no one here will be
likely to gainsay it； though you've been a prisoner of war；
and there are men who might stand out ag'in giving up
their authority to a prisoner released b