第147章

I know little of the settlements, or of the notions that men hold in them; but up hereaway even the Indians rate a warrior's character according to his luck.The principal thing with a soldier is never to be whipt; nor do I think mankind stops long to consider how the day was won or lost.For my part, Mabel, I make it a rule when facing the inimy to give him as good as I can send, and to try to be moderate after a defeat, little need be said on that score, as a flogging is one of the most humbling things in natur'.The parsons preach about humility in the garri-son; but if humility would make Christians, the king's troops ought to be saints, for they've done little as yet this war but take lessons from the French, beginning at Fort du Quesne and ending at Ty.""My father could not have suspected that the position of the island was known to the enemy," resumed Mabel, whose thoughts were running on the probable effect of the recent events on the Sergeant.

"That is true; nor do I well see how the Frenchers found it out.The spot is well chosen, and it is not an easy matter, even for one who has travelled the road to and from it, to find it again.There has been treachery, Ifear; yes, yes, there must have been treachery.""Oh, Pathfinder! can this be?"

"Nothing is easier, Mabel, for treachery comes as nat'ral to some men as eating.Now when I find a man all fair words I look close to his deeds; for when the heart is right, and really intends to do good, it is generally satisfied to let the conduct speak instead of the tongue.""Jasper Western is not one of these," said Mabel impet-uously."No youth can be more sincere in his manner, or less apt to make the tongue act for the head.""Jasper Western! tongue and heart are both right with that lad, depend on it, Mabel; and the notion taken up by Lundie, and the Quartermaster, and the Sergeant, and your uncle too, is as wrong as it would be to think that the sun shone by night and the stars shone by day.No, no; I'll answer for Eau-douce's honesty with my own scalp, or, at need, with my own rifle.""Bless you, bless you, Pathfinder!" exclaimed Mabel, extending her own hand and pressing the iron fingers of her companion, under a state of feeling that far sur-passed her own consciousness of its strength."You are all that is generous, all that is noble! God will reward you for it.""Ah, Mabel, I fear me, if this be true, I should not covet such a wife as yourself; but would leave you to be sued for by some gentleman of the garrison, as your desarts require.""We will not talk of this any more to-night," Mabel answered in a voice so smothered as to seem nearly choked.

"We must think less of ourselves just now, Pathfinder, and more of our friends.But I rejoice from my soul that you believe Jasper innocent.Now let us talk of other things -- ought we not to release June?""I've been thinking about the woman; for it will not be safe to shut our eyes and leave hers open, on this side of the blockhouse door.If we put her in the upper room, and take away the ladder, she'll be a prisoner at least.""I cannot treat one thus who has saved my life.It would be better to let her depart, for I think she is too much my friend to do anything to harm me.""You do not know the race, Mabel, you do not know the race.It's true she's not a full-blooded Mingo, but she consorts with the vagabonds, and must have larned some of their tricks.What is that?""It sounds like oars; some boat is passing through the channel."Pathfinder closed the trap that led to the lower room, to prevent June from escaping, extinguished the candle, and went hastily to a loop, Mabel looking over his shoulder in breathless curiosity.These several movements con-sumed a minute or two; and by the time the eye of the scout had got a dim view of things without, two boats had swept past and shot up to the shore, at a spot some fifty yards beyond the block, where there was a regular landing.

The obscurity prevented more from being seen; and Path-finder whispered to Mabel that the new-comers were as likely to be foes as friends, for he did not think her father could possibly have arrived so soon.A number of men were now seen to quit the boats, and then followed three hearty English cheers, leaving no further doubts of the character of the party.Pathfinder sprang to the trap, raised it, glided down the ladder, and began to unbar the door, with an earnestness that proved how critical he deemed the moment.Mabel had followed, but she rather impeded than aided his exertions, and but a single bar was turned when a heavy discharge of rifles was heard.

They were still standing in breathless suspense, as the war-whoop rang in all the surrounding thickets.The door now opened, and both Pathfinder and Mabel rushed into the open air.All human sounds had ceased.After listening half a minute, however, Pathfinder thought he heard a few stifled groans near the boats; but the wind blew so fresh, and the rustling of the leaves mingled so much with the murmurs of the passing air, that he was far from certain.But Mabel was borne away by her feel-ings, and she rushed by him, taking the way towards the boats.

"This will not do, Mabel," said the scout in an earnest but low voice, seizing her by an arm; "this will never do.