the pathfinder-第26章

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incentives　of　civilization；　nor　forgetful　of　the　Almighty
Being　whose　spirit　pervades　the　wilderness　as　well　as　the
towns。

Such　was　the　man　whom　Sergeant　Dunham　had　selected
as　the　husband　of　Mabel。　　In　making　this　choice；　he　had
not　been　as　much　governed　by　a　clear　and　judicious　view
of　the　merits　of　the　individual；　perhaps；　as　by　his　own
likings；　still　no　one　knew　the　Pathfinder　so　intimately　as
himself　without　always　conceding　to　the　honest　guide　a
high　place　in　his　esteem　on　account　of　these　very　virtues。
That　his　daughter　could　find　any　serious　objections　to　the
match　the　old　soldier　did　not　apprehend；　while；　on　the
other　hand；　he　saw　many　advantages　to　himself　in　dim
perspective；　connected　with　the　decline　of　his　days；　and
an　evening　of　life　passed　among　descendants　who　were
equally　dear　to　him　through　both　parents。　　He　had　first
made　the　proposition　to　his　friend；　who　had　listened　to　it
kindly；　but　who；　the　Sergeant　was　now　pleased　to　find；
already　betrayed　a　willingness　to　come　into　his　own　views
that　was　proportioned　to　the　doubts　and　misgivings　pro…
ceeding　from　his　humble　distrust　of　himself。



CHAPTER　X。

Think　not　I　love　him；　though　I　ask　for　him；
'Tis　but　a　peevish　boy：　　yet　he　talks　well　
But　what　care　I　for　words？


A　week　passed　in　the　usual　routine　of　a　garrison。　　Mabel
was　becoming　used　to　a　situation　that；　at　first　she　had
found　not　only　novel；　but　a　little　irksome；　and　the　officers
and　men　in　their　turn；　gradually　familiarized　to　the　presence
of　a　young　and　blooming　girl；　whose　attire　and　carriage
had　that　air　of　modest　gentility　about　them　which　she　had
obtained　in　the　family　of　her　patroness；　annoyed　her　less
by　their　ill…concealed　admiration；　while　they　gratified　her
by　the　respect　which；　she　was　fain　to　think；　they　paid　her
on　account　of　her　father；　but　which；　in　truth；　was　more
to　be　attributed　to　her　own　modest　but　spirited　deport…
ment；　than　to　any　deference　for　the　worthy　Sergeant。

Acquaintances　made　in　a　forest；　or　in　any　circumstances
of　unusual　excitement；　soon　attain　their　limits。　　Mabel
found　one　week's　residence　at　Oswego　sufficient　to　deter…
mine　her　as　to　those　with　whom　she　might　be　intimate
and　those　whom　she　ought　to　avoid。　　The　sort　of　neutral
position　occupied　by　her　father；　who　was　not　an　officer；
while　he　was　so　much　more　than　a　common　soldier；　by
keeping　her　aloof　from　the　two　great　classes　of　military
life；　lessened　the　number　of　those　whom　she　was　com…
pelled　to　know；　and　made　the　duty　of　decision　compara…
tively　easy。　　Still　she　soon　discovered　that　there　were　a
few；　even　among　those　that　could　aspire　to　a　seat　at　the
Commandant's　table；　who　were　disposed　to　overlook　the
halbert　for　the　novelty　of　a　well…turned　figure　and　of　a
pretty；　winning　face；　and　by　the　end　of　the　first　two　or
three　days　she　had　admirers　even　among　the　gentlemen。
The　Quartermaster；　in　particular；　a　middle…aged　soldier；
who　had　more　than　once　tried　the　blessings　of　matrimony
already；　but　was　now　a　widower；　was　evidently　disposed　to
increase　his　intimacy　with　the　Sergeant；　though　their
duties　often　brought　them　together；　and　the　youngsters
among　his　messmates　did　not　fail　to　note　that　this　man　of
method；　who　was　a　Scotsman　of　the　name　of　Muir；　was
much　more　frequent　in　his　visits　to　the　quarters　of　his
subordinate　than　had　formerly　been　his　wont。　　A　laugh；
or　a　joke；　in　honor　of　the　〃Sergeant's　daughter；〃　how…
ever；　limited　their　strictures；　though　〃Mabel　Dunham〃
was　soon　a　toast　that　even　the　ensign；　or　the　lieutenant；
did　not　disdain　to　give。

At　the　end　of　the　week；　Duncan　of　Lundie　sent　for
Sergeant　Dunham；　after　evening　roll…call；　on　business　of　a
nature　that；　it　was　understood；　required　a　personal　con…
ference。　　The　old　veteran　dwelt　in　a　movable　hut；　which；
being　placed　on　trucks；　he　could　order　to　be　wheeled　about
at　pleasure；　sometimes　living　in　one　part　of　the　area　within
the　fort；　and　sometimes　in　another。　　On　the　present　occa…
sion；　he　had　made　a　halt　near　the　centre；　and　there　he
was　found　by　his　subordinate；　who　was　admitted　to　his
presence　without　any　delay　or　dancing　attendance　in　an
ante…chamber。　　In　point　of　fact；　there　was　very　little　dif…
ference　in　the　quality　of　the　accommodations　allowed　to
the　officers　and　those　allowed　to　the　men；　the　former　being
merely　granted　the　most　room。

〃Walk　in；　Sergeant；　walk　in；　my　good　friend；〃　said　old
Lundie　heartily；　as　his　inferior　stood　in　a　respectful　atti…
tude　at　the　door　of　a　sort　of　library　and　bedroom　into
which　he　had　been　ushered；　　〃walk　in；　and　take　a　seat　on
that　stool。　　I　have　sent　for　you；　man；　to　discuss　anything
but　rosters　and　pay…rolls　this　evening。　　It　is　now　many
years　since　we　have　been　comrades；　and　'auld　lang　syne'
should　count　for　something；　even　between　a　major　and　his
orderly；　a　Scot　and　a　Yankee。　　Sit　ye　down；　man；　and　just
put　yourself　at　your　ease。　　It　has　been　a　fine　day；　Sergeant。〃

〃It　has　indeed；　Major　Duncan；〃　returned　the　other；
who；　though　he　complied　so　far　as　to　take　the　seat；　was
much　too　practised　not　to　understand　the　degree　of　respect
it　was　necessary　to　maintain　in　his　manner；　〃a　very　fine
day；　sir；　it　has　been　and　we　may　look　for　more　of　them　at
this　season。〃

〃I　hope　so　with　all　my　heart。　　The　crops　look　well　as
it　is　man　and　you'll　be　finding　that　the　55th　make　almost
as　good　farmers　as　soldiers。　　I　never　saw　better　potatoes
in　Scotland　than　we　are　likely　to　have　in　that　new　patch
of　ours。〃

〃They　promise　a　good　yield；　Major　Duncan；　and；　in　that
light；　a　more　comfortable　winter　than　the　last。〃

〃Life　is　progressive；　Sergeant；　in　its　comforts　as　well　as
in　its　need　of　them。　　We　grow　old；　and　I　begin　to　think
it　time　to　retire　and　settle　in　life。　　I　feel　that　my　working
days　are　nearly　over。〃

〃The　king；　God　bless　him！　sir；　has　much　good　service
in　your　honor　yet。〃

〃It　may　be　so；　Sergeant　Dunham；　especially　if　he　should
happen　to　have　a　spare　lieutenant…colonelcy　left。〃

〃The　55th　will　be　honored　the　day　that　commission　is
given　to　Duncan　of　Lundie；　sir。〃

〃And　Duncan　of　Lundie　will　be　honored　the　day　he　re…
ceives　it。　　But；　Sergeant；　if　you　have　never　had　a　lieutenant…
colonelcy；　you　have　had　a　good　wife；　and　that　is　the　next
thing　to　rank　in　making　a　man　happy。〃

〃I　have　been　married；　Major　Duncan；　but　it　is　now　a
long　time　since　I　have　had　no　drawback　on　the　love　I　bear
his　majesty　and　my　duty。〃

〃What；　man！　not　even　the　love　you　bear　that　active
little　round…limbed；　rosy…cheeked　daughter　that　I　have
seen　in　the　fort　these　last　few　days！　　Out　upon　you；　Ser…
geant！　old　fellow　as　I　am；　I　could　almost　love　that　little
lassie　myself；　and　send　the　lieuteuant…colonelcy　to　the
devil。〃

〃We　all　know　where　Major　Duncan's　heart　is；　and　that
is　in　Scotland；　where　a　beautiful　lady　is　ready　and　willing
to　make　him　happy；　as　soon　as　his　own　sense　of　duty　shall
permit。〃

〃Ay；　hope　is　ever　a　far…off　thing；　Sergeant；〃　returned
the　superior；　a　shade　of　melancholy　passing　over　his　hard
Scottish　features　as　he　spoke；　〃and　bonnie　Scotland　is　a
far…off　country。　　Well；　if　we　have　no　heather　and　oatmeal
in　this　region；　we　have　venison　for　the　killing　of　it　and
salmon　as　plenty　as　at　Berwick…upon…Tweed。　　Is　it　true；
Sergeant　that　the　men　complain　of　having　been　over…
venisoned　and　over…pigeoned　of　late？〃

〃Not　for　some　weeks；　Major　Duncan；　for　neither　deer
nor　birds　are　so　plenty　at　this　season　as　they　have　been。
They　begin　to　throw　their　remarks　about　concerning　the
salmon；　but　I　trust　we　shall　get　through　the　summer
without　any　serious　disturbance　on　the　score　of　food。　　The
Scotch　in　the　battalion　do；　indeed；　talk　more　than　is　pru…
dent　of　their　want　of　oatmeal；　grumbling　occasionally　of
our　wheaten　bread。〃

〃Ah；　that　is　human　nature；　Sergeant！　pure；　unadul…
terated　Scotch　human　nature。　　A　cake；　man；　to　say　the
truth；　is　an　agreeable　morsel；　and　I　often　see　the　time
when　I　pine　for　a　bite　myself。〃

〃If　the　feeling　gets　to　be　troublesome；　Major　Duncan；　
in　the　men；　I　mean；　sir；　for　I　would　not　think　of　saying　so
disrespectful　a　thing　to　your　honor；　　but　if　the　men　ever
pine　seriously　for　their　natural　food；　I　would　humbly
recommend　that　some　oatmeal　be　imported；　or　prepared　in
this　country　for　them；　and　I　think　we　shall　hear　no　more
of　it。　　A　very　little　would　answer　for　a　cure；　sir。〃

〃You　are　a　wag；　Sergeant；　but　hang　me　if　I　am　sure
you　are　not　right。　　There　may　be　sweeter　things　in　this
world；　after　all；　than　oatmeal。　　You　have　a　sweet　daughter；
Dunham；　for　one。〃

〃The　girl　is　like　her　mother；　Major　Duncan；　and　will
pass　inspection；〃　said　the　Sergeant　proudly。　　〃Neither
was　brought　up　on　anything　better　than　good　American
flour。　　The　girl　will　pass　inspection；　sir。〃

〃That　would　she；　I'll　answer　for　it。　　Well；　I　may　as　well
come　to　the　point　at　once；　man；　and　bring　up　my　reserve
into　the　front　of　the　battle。　　Here　is　Davy　Muir；　the
quartermaster；　disposed　to　make　your　daughter　his　wife；
and　he　has　just　got　me　to　open　the　matter　to　you；　being
fearful　of　compromising　his　own　dignity；　and　I　may　as
well　add　that　half　the　youngsters　in　the　fort　toast　her；　and
talk　of　her　from　morning　till　night。〃

〃She　is　much　honored；　sir；〃　returned　the　father　stiffly；
〃but　I　trust　the　gentlemen　will　find　something　more
worthy　of　them　to　talk　about　ere　long。　　I　hope　to　see　her
the　wife　of　an　honest　man　before　many　weeks；　sir。〃

〃Yes；　Davy　is　an　honest　man；　and　that　is　more　than　can
be　said　for　all　in　the　quartermaster's　department；　I'm
thinking；　Sergeant；〃　returned　Lundie；　with　a　slight　smile。
〃Well；　then　may　I　tell　the　Cupid…stricken　youth　that　the
matter　is　as　good　as　settled？〃

〃I　thank　your　honor；　but　Mabel　is　betrothed　to　an…
other。〃

〃The　devil　she　is！　　That　will　produce　a　stir　in　the　fort；
though　I'm　not　sorry　to　hear　it　either；　for；　to　be　frank
with　you；　Sergeant；　I'm　no　great　admirer　of　unequal
matches。〃

〃I　think　with　your　honor；　and　have　no　desire　to　see　my
daughter　an　officer's　lady。　　If　she　can　get　as　high　as　her
mother　was　before　her；　it　ought　to　satisfy　any　reasonable
woman。〃

〃And　may　I　ask；　Sergeant；　who　is　the　lucky　man　that
you　intend　to　call　son…in…law　？〃

〃The　Pathfinder；　your　honor。〃

〃Pathfinder！〃

〃The　same；　Major　Duncan；　and　in　naming　him　to　you；
I　give　you　his　whole　history。　　No　one　is　better　known　on
this　frontier　than　my　honest；　brave；　true…hearted　friend。〃

〃All　that　is　true　enough；　but　is　he；　after　all；　the　sort　of
person　to　make　a　girl　of　twenty　happy？〃

〃Why　not；　your　honor？　　The　man　is　at　the　head　of　his
calling。　　There　is　no　other　guide　or　scout　connected　with
the　army　who　has　half　the　reputation　of　Pathfinder；　or
who　deserves　to　have　it　half　as　well。〃

〃Very　true；　Sergeant；　but　is　the　reputation　of　a　scout
exactly　the　sort　of　renown　to　captivate　a　girl's　fancy？〃

〃Talking　of　girls'　fancies；　sir；　is　in　my　humble　opinion
much　like　talking　of　a　recruit's　judgment。　　If　we　were　to
take　the　movements　of　the　awkward　squad；　sir；　as　a　guide；
we　should　never　form　a　decent　line　in　battalion；　Major
Duncan。〃

〃But　your　daughter　has　nothing　awkward　about　her：
for　a　genteeler　girl　of　her　class　could　not　be　found　in　old
Albion　itself。　　Is　she　of　your　way　of　thinking　in　this
matter？　　though　I