the pathfinder-第42章

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him；　concerning　the　reasons　of　the　latter　for　having　de…
serted　his　charge　and　the　manner　in　which　he　had　been
since　employed。

The　Tuscarora　met　these　inquiries；　and　he　gave　his　an…
swers　with　the　stoicism　of　an　Indian。　　As　respects　the　sep…
aration；　his　excuses　were　very　simply　made；　and　they　seemed
to　be　sufficiently　plausible。　　When　he　found　that　the　party
was　discovered　in　its　place　of　concealment；　he　naturally
sought　his　own　safety；　which　he　secured　by　plunging　into
the　woods。　　In　a　word；　he　had　run　away　in　order　to　save
his　life。

〃This　is　well；〃　returned　Pathfinder；　affecting　to　believe
the　other's　apologies；　〃my　brother　did　very　wisely；　but
his　woman　followed？〃

〃Do　not　the　pale…faces'　women　follow　their　husbands？
Would　not　Pathfinder　have　looked　back　to　see　if　one　he
loved　was　coming？〃

This　appeal　was　made　to　the　guide　while　he　was　in　a
most　fortunate　frame　of　mind　to　admit　its　force；　for
Mabel　and　her　blandishments　and　constancy　were　becom…
ing　images　familiar　to　his　thoughts。　　The　Tuscarora；
though　he　could　not　trace　the　reason；　saw　that　his　excuse
was　admitted；　and　he　stood　with　quiet　dignity　awaiting
the　next　inquiry。

〃This　is　reasonable　and　natural；〃　returned　Pathfinder；
〃this　is　natural；　and　may　be　so。　　A　woman　would　be　likely
to　follow　the　man　to　whom　she　had　plighted　faith；　and
husband　and　wife　are　one　flesh。　　Your　words　are　honest；
Tuscarora；〃　changing　the　language　to　the　dialect　of　the
other。　　〃Your　words　are　honest；　and　very　pleasant　and
just。　　But　why　has　my　brother　been　so　long　from　the　fort？
His　friends　have　thought　of　him　often；　but　have　never
seen　him。〃

〃If　the　doe　follows　the　buck；　ought　not　the　buck　to　fol…
low　the　doe？〃　answered　the　Tuscarora；　smiling；　as　he　laid
a　finger　significantly　on　the　shoulder　of　his　interrogator。
〃Arrowhead's　wife　followed　Arrowhead；　it　was　right　in
Arrowhead　to　follow　his　wife。　　She　lost　her　way；　and　they
made　her　cook　in　a　strange　wigwam。〃

〃I　understand　you；　Tuscarora。　　The　woman　fell　into
the　hands　of　the　Mingos；　and　you　kept　upon　their　trail。〃

〃Pathfinder　can　see　a　reason　as　easily　as　he　can　see　the
moss　on　the　trees。　　It　is　so。〃

〃And　how　long　have　you　got　the　woman　back；　and　in
what　manner　has　it　been　done？〃

〃Two　suns。　　The　Dew…of…June　was　not　long　in　coming
when　her　husband　whispered　to　her　the　path。〃

〃Well；　well；　all　this　seems　natural；　and　according　to
matrimony。　　But；　Tuscarora；　how　did　you　get　that　canoe；
and　why　are　you　paddling　towards　the　St。　Lawrence　in…
stead　of　the　garrison？〃

〃Arrowhead　can　tell　his　own　from　that　of　another。
This　canoe　is　mine；　I　found　it　on　the　shore　near　the　fort。〃

〃That　sounds　reasonable；　too；　for　the　canoe　does　belong
to　the　man；　and　an　Indian　would　make　few　words　about
taking　it。　　Still；　it　is　extraordinary　that　we　saw　nothing
of　the　fellow　and　his　wife；　for　the　canoe　must　have　left
the　river　before　we　did　ourselves。〃

This　idea；　which　passed　rapidly　through　the　mind　of
the　guide；　was　now　put　to　the　Indian　in　the　shape　of　a
question。

〃Pathfinder　knows　that　a　warrior　can　have　shame。　　The
father　would　have　asked　me　for　his　daughter；　and　I　could
not　give　her　to　him。　　I　sent　the　Dew…of…June　for　the　canoe；
and　no　one　spoke　to　the　woman。　　A　Tuscarora　woman
would　not　be　free　in　speaking　to　strange　men。〃

All　this；　too；　was　plausible；　and　in　conformity　with　In…
dian　character　and　customs。　　As　was　usual；　Arrowhead
had　received　one　half　of　his　compensation　previously　to
quitting　the　Mohawk；　and　his　refraining　to　demand　the
residue　was　a　proof　of　that　conscientious　consideration　of
mutual　rights　that　quite　as　often　distinguishes　the　moral…
ity　of　a　savage　as　that　of　a　Christian。　　To　one　as　upright
as　Pathfinder；　Arrowhead　had　conducted　himself　with
delicacy　and　propriety；　though　it　would　have　been　more
in　accordance　with　his　own　frank　nature　to　have　met　the
father；　and　abided　by　the　simple　truth。　　Still；　accustomed
to　the　ways　of　Indians；　he　saw　nothing　out　of　the　ordinary
track　of　things　in　the　course　the　other　had　taken。

〃This　runs　like　water　flowing　down　hill；　Arrowhead；〃
he　answered；　after　a　little　reflection；　〃and　truth　obliges　me
to　own　it。　　It　was　the　gift　of　a　red…skin　to　act　in　this　way；
though　I　do　not　think　it　was　the　gift　of　a　pale…face。　　You
would　not　look　upon　the　grief　of　the　girl's　father？〃

Arrowhead　made　a　quiet　inclination　of　the　body　as　if
to　assent。

〃One　thing　more　my　brother　will　tell　me；〃　continued
PaLhfinder；　〃and　there　will　be　no　cloud　between　his　wig…
wam　and　the　strong…house　of　the　Yengeese。　　If　he　can
blow　away　this　bit　of　fog　with　his　breath；　his　friends　will
look　at　him　as　he　sits　by　his　own　fire；　and　he　can　look　at
them　as　they　lay　aside　their　arms；　and　forget　that　they　are
warriors。　　Why　was　the　head　of　Arrowhead's　canoe　looking
towards　the　St。　Lawrence；　where　there　are　none　but　ene…
mies　to　be　found？〃

〃Why　were　the　Pathfinder　and　his　friends　looking　the
same　way？〃　asked　the　Tuscarora　calmly。　　〃A　Tuscarora
may　look　in　the　same　direction　as　a　Yengeese。〃

〃Why；　to　own　the　truth；　Arrowhead；　we　are　out　scouting
like；　that　is；　sailing　　in　other　words；　we　are　on　the　king's
business；　and　we　have　a　right　to　be　here；　though　we　may
not　have　a　right　to　say　_why_　we　are　here。〃

〃Arrowhead　saw　the　big　canoe；　and　he　loves　to　look　on
the　face　of　Eau…douce。　　He　was　going　towards　the　sun　at
evening　in　order　to　seek　his　wigwam；　but；　finding　that
the　young　sailor　was　going　the　other　way；　he　turned　that
he　might　look　in　the　same　direction。　　Eau…douce　and
Arrowhead　were　together　on　the　last　trail。〃

〃This　may　all　be　true；　Tuscarora；　and　you　are　welcome。
You　shall　eat　of　our　venison；　and　then　we　must　separate。
The　setting　sun　is　behind　us；　and　both　of　us　move　quick：
my　brother　will　get　too　far　from　that　which　he　seeks；
unless　he　turns　round。〃

Pathfinder　now　returned　to　the　others；　and　repeated
the　result　of　his　examination。　　He　appeared　himself　to
believe　that　the　account　of　Arrowhead　might　be　true；
though　he　admitted　that　caution　would　be　prudent　with
one　he　disliked；　but　his　auditors；　Jasper　excepted；　seemed
less　disposed　to　put　faith　in　the　explanations。

〃This　chap　must　be　ironed　at　once；　brother　Dunham；〃
said　Cap；　as　soon　as　Pathfinder　finished　his　narration；
〃he　must　be　turned　over　to　the　master…at…arms；　if　there
is　any　such　officer　on　fresh　water；　and　a　court…martial
ought　to　be　ordered　as　soon　as　we　reach　port。〃

〃I　think　it　wisest　to　detain　the　fellow；〃　the　Sergeant
answered；　〃but　irons　are　unnecessary　so　long　as　he　re…
mains　in　the　cutter。　　In　the　morning　the　matter　shall　be
inquired　into。〃

Arrowhead　was　now　summoned　and　told　the　decision。
The　Indian　listened　gravely；　and　made　no　objections。　　On
the　contrary；　he　submitted　with　the　calm　and　reserved
dignity　with　which　the　American　aborigines　are　known　to
yield　to　fate；　and　he　stood　apart；　an　attentive　but　calm
observer　of　what　was　passing。　　Jasper　caused　the　cutter's
sails　to　be　filled；　and　the　_Scud_　resumed　her　course。

It　was　now　getting　near　the　hour　to　set　the　watch；　and
when　it　was　usual　to　retire　for　the　night。　　Most　of　the
party　went　below；　leaving　no　one　on　deck　but　Cap；　the
Sergeant；　Jasper；　and　two　of　the　crew。　　Arrowhead　and
his　wife　also　remained；　the　former　standing　aloof　in　proud
reserve；　and　the　latter　exhibiting；　by　her　attitude　and　pas…
siveness；　the　meek　humility　that　characterizes　an　Indian
woman。

〃You　will　find　a　place　for　your　wife　below；　Arrowhead；
where　my　daughter　will　attend　to　her　wants；〃　said　the
Sergeant　kindly；　who　was　himself　on　the　point　of　quitting
the　deck；　〃yonder　is　a　sail　where　you　may　sleep　yourself。〃

〃I　thank　my　father。　　The　Tuscaroras　are　not　poor。　　The
woman　will　look　for　my　blankets　in　the　canoe。〃

〃As　you　wish；　my　friend。　　We　think　it　necessary　to　de…
tain　you；　but　not　necessary　to　confine　or　to　maltreat　you。
Send　your　squaw　into　the　canoe　for　the　blankets　and　you
may　follow　her　yourself；　and　hand　us　up　the　paddles。　　As
there　may　be　some　sleepy　heads　in　the　_Scud_；　Eau…douce；〃
added　the　Sergeant　in　a　lower　tone；　〃it　may　be　well　to
secure　the　paddles。〃

Jasper　assented；　and　Arrowhead　and　his　wife；　with
whom　resistance　appeared　to　be　out　of　the　question；　silently
complied　with　the　directions。　　A　few　expressions　of　sharp
rebuke　passed　from　the　Indian　to　his　wife；　while　both
were　employed　in　the　canoe；　which　the　latter　received　with
submissive　quiet；　immediately　repairing　an　error　she　had
made　by　laying　aside　the　blanket　she　had　taken　and　search…
ing　for　another　that　was　more　to　her　tyrant's　mind。

〃Come；　bear　a　hand；　Arrowhead；〃　said　the　Sergeant；　who
stood　on　the　gunwale　overlooking　the　movements　of　the
two；　which　were　proceeding　too　slowly　for　the　impatience
of　a　drowsy　man；　〃it　is　getting　late；　and　we　soldiers　have
such　a　thing　as　reveille　　early　to　bed　and　early　to　rise。〃

〃Arrowhead　is　coming；〃　was　the　answer；　as　the　Tusca…
rora　stepped　towards　the　head　of　his　canoe。

One　blow　of　his　keen　knife　severed　the　rope　which　held
the　boat；　and　then　the　cutter　glanced　ahead；　leaving　the
light　bubble　of　bark；　which　instantly　lost　its　way；　almost
stationary。　　So　suddenly　and　dexterously　was　this　manoeu…
vre　performed；　that　the　canoe　was　on　the　lee　quarter　of
the　_Scud_　before　the　Sergeant　was　aware　of　the　artifice；　and
quite　in　her　wake　ere　he　had　time　to　announce　it　to　his
companions。

〃Hard…a…lee！〃　shouted　Jasper；　letting　fly　the　jib…sheet
with　his　own　hands；　when　the　cutter　came　swiftly　up　to
the　breeze；　with　all　her　canvas　flapping；　or　was　running
into　the　wind's　eye；　as　seamen　term　it；　until　the　light　craft
was　a　hundred　feet　to　windward　of　her　former　position。
Quick　and　dexterous　as　was　this　movement；　and　ready　as
had　been　the　expedient；　it　was　not　quicker　or　more　ready
than　that　of　the　Tuscarora。　　With　an　intelligence　that
denoted　some　familiarity　with　vessels；　he　had　seized　his
paddle　and　was　already　skimming　the　water；　aided　by　the
efforts　of　his　wife。　　The　direction　he　took　was　south…
westerly；　or　on　a　line　that　led　him　equally　towards　the
wind　and　the　shore；　while　it　also　kept　him　so　far　aloof
from　the　cutter　as　to　avoid　the　danger　of　the　latter　falling
on　board　of　him　when　she　filled　on　the　other　tack。　　Swiftly
as　the　_Scud_　had　shot　into　the　wind；　and　far　as　she　had
forced　ahead；　Jasper　knew　it　was　necessary　to　cast　her　ere
she　had　lost　all　her　way；　and　it　was　not　two　minutes　from
the　time　the　helm　had　been　put　down　before　the　lively
little　craft　was　aback　forward；　and　rapidly　falling　off；　in
order　to　allow　her　sails　to　fill　on　the　opposite　tack。

〃He　will　escape！〃　said　Jasper　the　instant　he　caught　a
glimpse　of　the　relative　bearings　of　the　cutter　and　the
canoe。　　〃The　cunning　knave　is　paddling　dead　to　wind…
ward；　and　the　_Scud_　can　never　overtake　him！〃

〃You　have　a　canoe！〃　exclaimed　the　Sergeant；　mani…
festing　the　eagerness　of　a　boy　to　join　in　the　pursuit；　〃let
us　launch　it；　and　give　chase！〃

〃It　will　be　useless。　　If　Pathfinder　had　been　on　deck；
there　might　have　been　a　chance；　but　there　is　none　now。
To　launch　the　canoe　would　have　taken　three　or　four　min…
utes；　and　the　time　lost　would　be　sufficient　for　the　purposes
of　Arrowhead。〃

Both　Cap　and　the　Sergeant　saw　the　truth　of　this；　which
wo