and there are men who might stand out ag'in giving up
their authority to a prisoner released by their own deeds。
Still no one here will be likely to say anything hostile to
your wishes。〃
〃That's just it； Pathfinder； and when I come to draw
up the report of our success against the boats； and the de…
fence of the block； together with the general operations；
including the capitulation； ye'll no' find any omission of
your claims and merits。〃
〃Tut for my claims and merits； Quartermaster！ Lundie
knows what I am in the forest and what I am in the fort；
and the General knows better than he。 No fear of me；
tell your own story； only taking care to do justice by
Mabel's father； who； in one sense； is the commanding officer
at this very moment。〃
Muir expressed his entire satisfaction with this arrange…
ment； as well as his determination to do justice by all； when
the two went to the group assembled round the fire。 Here
the Quartermaster began； for the first time since leaving
Oswego； to assume some of the authority that might prop…
erly be supposed to belong to his rank。 Taking the re…
maining corporal aside； he distinctly told that functionary
that he must in future be regarded as one holding the
king's commission； and directed him to acquaint his sub…
ordinates with the new state of things。 This change in
the dynasty was effected without any of the usual symp…
toms of a revolution； for； as all well understood the Lieu…
tenant's legal claims to command； no one felt disposed to
dispute his orders。 For reasons best known to themselves；
Lundie and the Quartermaster had originally made a differ…
ent disposition； and now； for reasons of his own； the latter
had seen fit to change it。 This was reasoning enough for
soldiers； though the hurt received by Sergeant Dunham
would have sufficiently explained the circumstance had an
explanation been required。
All this time Captain Sanglier was looking after his own
breakfast with the resignation of a philosopher； the cool…
ness of a veteran； the ingenuity and science of a French…
man； and the voracity of an ostrich。 This person had now
been in the colony some thirty years； having left France
in some such situation in his own army as Muir filled in
the 55th。 An iron constitution； perfect obduracy of feel…
ing； a certain address well suited to manage savages； and
an indomitable courage； had early pointed him out to the
commander…in…chief as a suitable agent to be employed in
directing the military operations of his Indian allies。 In
this capacity； then； he had risen to the titular rank of cap…
tain； and with his promotion had acquired a portion of
the habits and opinions of his associates with a facility and
an adaptation of self which are thought in America to be
peculiar to his countrymen。 He had often led parties of
the Iroquois in their predatory expeditions； and his con…
duct on such occasions exhibited the contradictory results
of both alleviating the misery produced by this species of
warfare； and of augmenting it by the broader views and
greater resources of civilization。 In other words； he
planned enterprises that； in their importance and conse…
quences； much exceeded the usual policy of the Indians；
and then stepped in to lessen some of the evils of his own
creating。 In short； he was an adventurer whom cir…
cumstances had thrown into a situation where the callous
qualities of men of his class might readily show themselves
for good or for evil； and he was not of a character to baffle
fortune by any ill…timed squeamishness on the score of
early impressions； or to trifle with her liberality by unnec…
essarily provoking her frowns through wanton cruelty。
Still； as his name was unavoidably connected with many
of the excesses committed by his parties； he was generally
oonsidered in the American provinces a wretch who de…
lighted in bloodshed； and who found his greatest happiness
in tormenting the helpless and the innocent； and the name
of Sanglier； which was a sobriquet of his own adopting； or
of Flint Heart； as he was usually termed on the borders；
had got to be as terrible to the women and children of that
part of the country as those of Butler and Brandt became
at a later day。
The meeting between Pathfinder and Sanglier bore some
resemblance to that celebrated interview between Welling…
ton and Blucher which has been so often and graphically
told。 It took place at the fire； and the parties stood ear…
nestly regarding each other for more than a minute with…
out speaking。 Each felt that in the other he saw a formi…
dable foe； and each felt； while he ought to treat the other
with the manly liberality due to a warrior； that there was
little in common between them in the way of character as
well as of interests。 One served for money and prefer…
ment； the other； because his life had been cast in the wil…
derness； and the land of his birth needed his arm and ex…
perience。 The desire of rising above his present situation
never disturbed the tranquillity of Pathfinder； nor had he
ever known an ambitious thought； as ambition usually
betrays itself； until he became acquainted with Mabel。
Since then； indeed； distrust of himself； reverence for her；
and the wish to place her in a situation above that which
he then filled； had caused him some uneasy moments； but
the directness and simplicity of his character had early
afforded the required relief； and he soon came to feel that
the woman who would not hesitate to accept him for her
husband would not scruple to share his fortunes； however
humble。 He respected Sanglier as a brave warrior； and
he had far too much of that liberality which is the result
of practical knowledge to believe half of what he had heard
to his prejudice； for the most bigoted and illiberal on every
subject are usually those who know nothing about it； but
he could not approve of his selfishness； cold…blooded calcu…
lations； and least of all of the manner in which he forgot
his 〃white gifts；〃 to adopt those that were purely 〃red。〃
On the other hand； Pathfinder was a riddle to Captain
Sanglier。 The latter could not comprehend the other's
motives； he had often heard of his disinterestedness； jus…
tice； and truth； and in several instances they had led him
into grave errors； on that principle by which a frank and
open…mouthed diplomatist is said to keep his secrets better
than one that is close…mouthed and wily。
After the two heroes had gazed at each other in the man…
ner mentioned； Monsieur Sanglier touched his cap； for
the rudeness of a border life had not entirely destroyed the
courtesy of manner he had acquired in youth； nor extin…
guished that appearance of _bonhomie_ which seems inbred
in a Frenchman。
〃Monsieur le Pathfinder；〃 said he； with a very decided
accent； though with a friendly smile； 〃_un militaire_ honor
_le courage； et la loyaute_。 You speak Iroquois？〃
〃Ay； I understand the language of the riptyles； and can
get along with it if there's occasion；〃 returned the literal
and truth…telling guide； 〃but it's neither a tongue nor a
tribe to my taste。 Wherever you find the Mingo blood； in
my opinion； Master Flinty…heart； you find a knave。 Well；
I've seen you often； though it was in battle； and I must
say it was always in the van。 You must know most of our
bullets by sight？〃
〃Nevvair； sair； your own； _une balle_ from your honorable
hand be sairtaine deat'。 You kill my best warrior on some
island。〃
〃That may be； that may be； though I daresay； if the
truth was known； they would turn out to be great rascals。
No offence to you； Master Flinty…heart； but you keep des…
perate evil company。〃
〃Yes； sair；〃 returned the Frenchman； who； bent on say…
ing that which was courteous himself； and comprehending
with difficulty； was disposed to think he received a com…
pliment； 〃you too good。 But _un brave_ always _comme ca_。
What that mean？ ha！ what that _jeune homme_ do？〃
The hand and eye of Captain Sanglier directed the look
of Pathfinder to the opposite side of the fire； where Jasper；
just at that moment； had been rudely seized by two of the
soldiers； who were binding his arms under the direction of
Muir。
〃What does that mean； indeed？〃 cried the guide； step…
ping forward and shoving the two subordinates away with
a power of muscle that would not be denied。 〃Who has
the heart to do this to Jasper Eau…douce？ and who has
the boldness to do it before my eyes？〃
〃It is by my orders； Pathfinder；〃 answered the Quarter…
master； 〃and I command it on my own responsibility。
Ye'll no' tak' on yourself to disrute the legality of orders
given by one who bears the king's commission to the
king's soldiers？〃
〃I'd dispute the king's words； if they came from the
king's own mouth； did he say that Jasper desarves this。
Has not the lad just saved all our scalps； taken us from
defeat； and given us victory？ No； no； Lieutenant； if this
is the first use that you make of your authority； I； for
one； will not respect it。〃
〃This savors a little of insubordination；〃 answered Muir；
〃but we can bear much from Pathfinder。 It is true this
Jasper has _seemed_ to serve us in this affair； but we ought
not to overlook past transactions。