第74章

"And now you _have_ seen me," returned the smiling girl, whose unmoved and natural manner proved how little she was thinking of anything more than parental or fraternal regard, "you are beginning to see the folly of forming friendships for people before you know anything about them, except by hearsay.""It wasn't friendship -- it isn't friendship, Mabel, that I feel for you.I am the friend of the Delawares, and have been so from boyhood; but my feelings for them, or for the best of them, are not the same as those I got from the Sergeant for you; and, especially, now that I begin to know you better.I'm sometimes afeared it isn't whole-some for one who is much occupied in a very manly call-ing, like that of a guide or scout, or a soldier even, to form friendships for women, -- young women in particular, -- as they seem to me to lessen the love of enterprise, and to turn the feelings away from their gifts and natural occu-pations."

"You surely do not mean, Pathfinder, that a friendship for a girl like me would make you less bold, and more un-willing to meet the French than you were before?""Not so, not so.With you in danger, for instance, Ifear I might become foolhardy; but before we became so intimate, as I may say, I loved to think of my scoutings, and of my marches, and outlyings, and fights, and other adventures: but now my mind cares less about them; Ithink more of the barracks, and of evenings passed in dis-course, of feelings in which there are no wranglings and bloodshed, and of young women, and of their laughs and their cheerful, soft voices, their pleasant looks and their winning ways.I sometimes tell the Sergeant that he and his daughter will be the spoiling of one of the best and most experienced scouts on the lines.""Not they, Pathfinder; they will try to make that which is already so excellent, perfect.You do not know us, if you think that either wishes to see you in the least changed.

Remain as at present, the same honest, upright, conscien-tious, fearless, intelligent, trustworthy guide that you are, and neither my dear father nor myself can ever think of you differently from what we now do."It was too dark for Mabel to note the workings of the countenance of her listener; but her own sweet face was turned towards him, as she spoke with an energy equal to her frankness, in a way to show how little embarrassed were her thoughts, and how sincere were her words.Her countenance was a little flushed, it is true; but it was with earnestness and truth of feeling, though no nerve thrilled, no limb trembled, no pulsation quickened.In short, her manner and appearance were those of a sincere-minded and frank girl, making such a declaration of good-will and regard for one of the other sex as she felt that his services and good qualities merited, without any of the emotion that invariably accompanies the consciousness of an in-clination which might lead to softer disclosures.

The Pathfinder was too unpractised, however, to enter into distinctions of this kind, and his humble nature was encouraged by the directness and strength of the words he had just heard.Unwilling, if not unable, to say any more, he walked away, and stood leaning on his rifle and looking up at the stars for full ten minutes in profound silence.

In the meanwhile the interview on the bastion, to which we have already alluded, took place between Lundie and the Sergeant.

"Have the men's knapsacks been examined?" demanded Major Duncan, after he had cast his eye at a written report, handed to him by the Sergeant, but which it was too dark to read.

"All, your honor; and all are right."

"The ammunition -- arms?"

"All in order, Major Duncan, and fit for any service.""You have the men named in my own draft, Dunham?""Without an exception, sir.Better men could not be found in the regiment.""You have need of the best of our men, Sergeant.This experiment has now been tried three times; always under one of the ensigns, who have flattered me with success, but have as often failed.After so much preparation and expense, I do not like to abandon the project entirely;but this will be the last effort; and the result will mainly depend on you and on the Pathfinder.""You may count on us both, Major Duncan.The duty you have given us is not above our habits and experience, and I think it will be well done.I know that the Path-finder will not be wanting."

"On that, indeed, it will be safe to rely.He is a most extraordinary man, Dunham -- one who long puzzled me;but who, now that I understand him, commands as much of my respect as any general in his majesty's service.""I was in hopes, sir, that you would come to look at the proposed marriage with Mabel as a thing I ought to wish and forward.""As for that, Sergeant, time will show," returned Lundie, smiling; though here, too, the obscurity concealed tbe nicer shades of expression; "one woman is sometimes more difficult to manage than a whole regiment of men.

By the way, you know that your would-be son-in-law, the Quartermaster, will be of the party; and I trust you will at least give him an equal chance in the trial for your daughter's smiles.""If respect for his rank, sir, did not cause me to do this, your honor's wish would be sufficient.""I thank you, Sergeant.We have served much together, and ought to value each other in our several stations.