the pathfinder-第24章

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whether　it　be　fat　or　lean；　venison　or　bear；　wild　turkey's
breast　or　wild　goose's　wing。　　To　the　shame　of　us　white
men　be　it　said；　that　we　look　upon　blessings　without　satis…
faction；　and　consider　trifling　evils　as　matters　of　great　ac…
count。〃

〃It　is　so　with　the　55th；　as　I　can　answer；　though　I　cannot
say　as　much　for　their　Christianity；〃　returned　the　Sergeant。
〃Even　the　major　himself；　old　Duncan　of　Lundie；　will
sometimes　swear　that　an　oatmeal　cake　is　better　fare　than
the　Oswego　bass；　and　sigh　for　a　swallow　of　Highland　water；
when；　if　so　minded；　he　has　the　whole　of　Ontario　to　quench
his　thirst　in。〃

〃Has　Major　Duncan　a　wife　and　children？〃　asked　Mabel；
whose　thoughts　naturally　turned　towards　her　own　sex　in
her　new　situation。

〃Not　he；　girl；　though　they　do　say　that　he　has　a　be…
trothed　at　home。　　The　lady；　it　seems；　is　willing　to　wait；
rather　than　suffer　the　hardships　of　service　in　this　wild
region；　all　of　which；　brother　Cap；　is　not　according　to　my
notions　of　a　woman's　duties。　　Your　sister　thought　differ…
ently。〃

〃I　hope；　Sergeant；　you　do　not　think　of　Mabel　for　a　sol…
dier's　wife；〃　returned　Cap　gravely。　　〃Our　family　has　done
its　share　in　that　way　already；　and　it's　high　time　that　the
sea　was　again　remembered。〃

〃I　do　not　think　of　finding　a　husband　for　the　girl　in　the
55th；　or　any　other　regiment；　I　can　promise　you；　brother；
though　I　do　think　it　getting　to　be　time　that　the　child　were
respectably　married。〃

〃Father！〃

〃'Tis　not　their　gifts；　Sergeant；　to　talk　of　these　matters
in　so　open　a　manner；〃　said　the　guide；　〃for　I've　seen　it
verified　by　experience；　that　he　who　would　follow　the　trail
of　a　virgin's　good…will　must　not　go　shouting　out　his
thoughts　behind　her。　　So；　if　you　please；　we　will　talk　of
something　else。〃

〃Well；　then；　brother　Cap；　I　hope　that　bit　of　a　cold
roasted　pig　is　to　your　mind；　you　seem　to　fancy　the　food。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　give　me　civilized　grub　if　I　must　eat；〃　returned
the　pertinacious　seaman。　　〃Venison　is　well　enough　for
your　inland　sailors；　but　we　of　the　ocean　like　a　little　of　that
which　we　understand。〃

Here　Pathfinder　laid　down　his　knife　and　fork；　and　in…
dulged　in　a　hearty　laugh；　though　in　his　always　silent　man…
ner；　then　he　asked；　with　a　little　curiosity　in　his　manner；　

〃Don't；　you　miss　the　skin；　Master　Cap？　don't　you　miss
the　skin？

〃It　would　have　been　better　for　its　jacket；　I　think　my…
self；　Pathfinder；　but　I　suppose　it　is　a　fashion　of　the　woods
to　serve　up　shoats　in　this　style。〃

〃Well；　well；　a　man　may　go　round　the　'arth　and　not
know　everything。　　If　you　had　had　the　skinning　of　that
pig；　Master　Cap；　it　would　have　left　you　sore　hands。　　The
cratur'　is　a　hedgehog！〃

〃Blast　me；　if　I　thought　it　wholesome　natural　pork
either！〃　returned　Cap。　　〃But　then　I　believed　even　a　pig
might　lose　some　of　its　good　qualities　up　hereaway　in　the
woods。〃

〃If　the　skinning　of　it；　brother；　does　not　fall　to　my
duty。　　Pathfinder；　I　hope　you　didn't　find　Mabel　disobedi…
ent　on　the　march？〃

〃Not　she；　not　she。　　If　Mabel　is　only　half　as　well　satisfied
with　Jasper　and　Pathfinder　as　the　Pathfinder　and　Jasper
are　satisfied　with　her；　Sergeant；　we　shall　be　friends　for　the
remainder　of　our　days。〃

As　the　guide　spoke；　he　turned　his　eyes　towards　the
blushing　girl；　with　a　sort　of　innocent　desire　to　know　her
opinion；　and　then；　with　an　inborn　delicacy；　which　proved
he　was　far　superior　to　the　vulgar　desire　to　invade　the
sanctity　of　feminine　feeling；　he　looked　at　his　plate；　and
seemed　to　regret　his　own　boldness。

〃Well；　well；　we　must　remember　that　women　are　not
men；　my　friend；〃　resumed　the　Sergeant；　〃and　make　proper
allowances　for　nature　and　education。　　A　recruit　is　not　a
veteran。　　Any　man　knows　that　it　takes　longer　to　make
a　good　soldier　than　it　takes　to　make　anything　else。〃

〃This　is　new　doctrine；　Sergeant；〃　said　Cap　with　some
spirit。　　〃We　old　seamen　are　apt　to　think　that　six　soldiers；
ay；　and　capital　soldiers　too；　might　be　made　while　one　sailor
is　getting　his　education。〃

〃Ay；　brother　Cap；　I've　seen　something　of　the　opinions
which　seafaring　men　have　of　themselves；〃　returned　the
brother…in…law；　with　a　smile　as　bland　as　comported　with
his　saturnine　features；　〃for　I　was　many　years　one　of　the
garrison　in　a　seaport。　　You　and　I　have　conversed　on　the
subject　before　and　I'm　afraid　we　shall　never　agree。　　But
if　you　wish　to　know　what　the　difference　is　between　a　real
soldier　and　man　in　what　I　should　call　a　state　of　nature；
you　have　only　to　look　at　a　battalion　of　the　55th　on　parade
this　afternoon；　and　then；　when　you　get　back　to　York；　ex…
amine　one　of　the　militia　regiments　making　its　greatest
efforts。〃

〃Well；　to　my　eye；　Sergeant；　there　is　very　little　difference；
not　more　than　you'll　find　between　a　brig　and　a　snow。　　To
me　they　seem　alike：　all　scarlet；　and　feathers；　and　powder；
and　pipeclay。〃

〃So　much；　sir；　for　the　judgment　of　a　sailor；〃　returned
the　Sergeant　with　dignity；　〃but　perhaps　you　are　not　aware
that　it　requires　a　year　to　teach　a　true　soldier　how　to　eat？〃

〃So　much　the　worse　for　him。　　The　militia　know　how
to　eat　at　starting；　for　I　have　often　heard　that；　on　their
marches；　they　commonly　eat　all　before　them；　even　if　they
do　nothing　else。〃

〃They　have　their　gifts；　I　suppose；　like　other　men；〃　ob…
served　Pathfinder；　with　a　view　to　preserve　the　peace；　which
was　evidently　in　some　danger　of　being　broken　by　the　ob…
stinate　predilection　of　each　of　the　disputants　in　favor　of
his　own　calling；　〃and　when　a　man　has　his　gift　from
Providence；　it　is　commonly　idle　to　endeavor　to　bear　up
against　it。　　The　55th；　Sergeant；　is　a　judicous　regiment　in
the　way　of　eating；　as　I　know　from　having　been　so　long　in
its　company　though　I　daeesay　militia　corps　could　be　found
that　would　outdo　them　in　feats　of　that　natur'　too。〃

〃Uncle；〃　said　Mabel；　〃if　you　have　breakfasted；　I　will
thank　you　to　go　out　upon　the　bastion　with　me　again。
We　have　neither　of　us　half　seen　the　lake；　and　it　would　be
hardly　seemly　for　a　young　woman　to　be　walking　about　the
fort；　the　first　day　of　her　arrival；　quite　alone。〃

Cap　understood　the　motive　of　Mabel；　and　having；　at
the　bottom；　a　hearty　friendship　for　his　brother…in…law；　he
was　willing　enough　to　defer　the　argument　until　they　had
been　longer　together；　for　the　idea　of　abandoning　it　alto…
gether　never　crossed　the　mind　of　one　so　dogmatical　and
obstinate。　　He　accordingly　accompanied　his　niece；　leaving
Sergeant　Dunham　and　his　friend；　the　Pathfinder；　alone
together。　　As　soon　as　his　adversary　had　beat　a　retreat；　the
Sergeant；　who　did　not　quite　so　well　understand　the
manoeuvre　of　his　daughter；　turned　to　his　companion；
and；　with　a　smile　which　was　not　without　triumph；　he　re…
marked；　

〃The　army；　Pathfinder；　has　never　yet　done　itself　justice
in　the　way　of　asserting　its　rights；　and　though　modesty
becomes　a　man；　whether　he　is　in　a　red　coat　or　a　black　one；
or；　for　that　matter；　in　his　shirt…sleeves；　I　don't　like　to　let
a　good　opportunity　slip　of　saying　a　word　in　its　behalf。
Well；　my　friend；〃　laying　his　own　hand　on　one　of　the　Path…
finder's；　and　giving　it　a　hearty　squeeze；　〃how　do　you　like
the　girl？〃

〃You　have　reason　to　be　proud　of　her；　Sergeant。　　I　have
seen　many　of　her　sex；　and　some　that　were　great　and　beau…
tiful；　but　never　before　did　I　meet　with　one　in　whom　I
thought　Providence　had　so　well　balanced　the　different
gifts。〃

〃And　the　good　opinion；　I　can　tell　you；　Pathfinder；　is
mutual。　　She　told　me　last　night　all　about　your　coolness；
and　spirit；　and　kindness；　　particularly　the　last；　for　kind…
ness　counts　for　more　than　half　with　females；　my　friend；　
and　the　first　inspection　seems　to　give　satisfaction　on　both
sides。　　Brush　up　the　uniform；　and　pay　a　little　more　atten…
tion　to　the　outside；　Pathfinder；　and　you　will　have　the　girl
heart　and　hand。〃

〃Nay；　nay；　Sergeant；　I've　forgotten　nothing　that　you
have　told　me；　and　grudge　no　reasonable　pains　to　make
myself　as　pleasant　in　the　eyes　of　Mabel　as　she　is　getting　to
be　in　mine。　　I　cleaned　and　brightened　up　Killdeer　this
morning　as　soon　as　the　sun　rose；　and；　in　my　judgment；
the　piece　never　looked　better　than　it　does　at　this　very
moment。〃

〃That　is　according　to　your　hunting　notions；　Pathfinder；
but　firearms　should　sparkle　and　glitter　in　the　sun；　and　I
never　yet　could　see　any　beauty　in　a　clouded　barrel。〃

〃Lord　Howe　thought　otherwise；　Sergeant；　and　he　was
accounted　a　good　soldier。〃

〃Very　true；　his　lordship　had　all　the　barrels　of　his　regi…
ment　darkened；　and　what　good　came　of　it？　　You　can　see
his　'scutcheon　hanging　in　the　English　church　at　Albany。
No；　no；　my　worthy　friend；　a　soldier　should　be　a　soldier；
and　at　no　time　ought　he　to　be　ashamed　or　afraid　to　carry
about　him　the　signs　and　symbols　of　his　honorable　trade。
Had　you　much　discourse　with　Mabel；　Pathfinder；　as　you
came　along　in　the　canoe？〃

〃There　was　not　much　opportunity；　Sergeant；　and　then
I　found　myself　so　much　beneath　her　in　idees；　that　I　was
afraid　to　speak　of　much　beyond　what　belonged　to　my　own
gifts。〃

〃Therein　you　are　partly　right　and　partly　wrong；　my
friend。　　Women　love　trifling　discourse；　though　they　like
to　have　most　of　it　to　themselves。　　Now　you　know　I'm　a
man　that　do　not　loosen　my　tongue　at　every　giddy　thought；
and　yet　there　were　days　when　I　could　see　that　Mabel's
mother　thought　none　the　worse　of　me　because　I　descended
a　little　from　my　manhood。　　It　is　true；　I　was　twenty…two
years　younger　then　than　I　am　to…day；　and；　moreover；
instead　of　being　the　oldest　sergeant　in　the　regiment；　I　was
the　youngest。　　Dignity　is　commanding　and　useful；　and
there　is　no　getting　on　without　it；　as　respects　the　men；　but
if　you　would　be　thoroughly　esteemed　by　a　woman；　it　is
necessary　to　condescend　a　little　on　occasions。〃

〃Ah's　me；　Sergeant；　I　sometimes　fear　it　will　never　do。〃

〃Why　do　you　think　so　discouragingly　of　a　matter　on
which　I　thought　both　our　minds　were　made　up？〃

〃We　did　agree；　if　Mabel　should　prove　what　you　told　me
she　was；　and　if　the　girl　could　fancy　a　rude　hunter　and
guide；　that　I　should　quit　some　of　my　wandering　ways；　and
try　to　humanize　my　mind　down　to　a　wife　and　children。
But　since　I　have　seen　the　girl；　I　will　own　that　many　mis…
givings　have　come　over　me。〃

〃How's　this？〃　interrupted　the　Sergeant　sternly；　〃did
I　not　understand　you　to　say　that　you　were　pleased？　　and
is　Mabel　a　young　woman　to　disappoint　expectation？〃

〃Ah；　Sergeant；　it　is　not　Mabel　that　I　distrust；　but　my…
self。　　I　am　but　a　poor　ignorant　woodsman；　after　all；　and
perhaps　I'm　not；　in　trutb；　as　good　as　even　you　and　I　may
think　me。〃

〃If　you　doubt　your　own　judgment　of　yourself；　Path…
finder；　I　beg　you　will　not　doubt　mine。　　Am　I　not　accus…
tomed　to　judge　men's　character？　and　am　I　often　deceived？
Ask　Major　Duncan；　sir；　if　you　desire　any　assurances　in　this
particular。〃

〃But；　Sergeant；　we　have　long　been　friends；　have　fi't
side　by　side　a　dozen　times；　and　have　done　each　other　many
services。　　When　this　is　the　case；　men　are　apt　to　think　over
kindly　of　each　other；　and　I　fear　me　that　the　daughter　may
not　be　so　likely　to　view　a　plain　ignorant　hunter　as　favor…
ably　as　the　father　does。〃

〃Tut；　tut；　Pathfinder！　you　don't　know　yourself；　man；
and　may　put　all　faith　in　my　judgment。　　In　the　first　place
you　have　experience；　and；　as　all　girls　must　want　that；　no
prudent　young　woman　would　overlook　such　a　qualification。
Then