the pathfinder-第57章

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ness　to　take　his　place　as　the　head　of　a　family。〃

〃As　its　bridegroom；　pretty　Mabel；　but　not　as　its　parent
or　natural　chief。　　I　see　how　it　is　with　you；　loving　your　re…
partee；　and　brilliant　with　wit。　　Well；　I　like　spirit　in　a
young　woman；　so　it　be　not　the　spirit　of　a　scold。　　This
Pathfinder　is　all　extraordinair；　Mabel；　if　truth　may　be　said
of　the　man。〃

〃Truth　should　be　said　of　him　or　nothing。　　Pathfinder
is　my　friend　　my　very　particular　friend；　Mr。　Muir；　and　no
evil　can　be　said　of　him　in　my　presence　that　I　shall　not
deny。〃

〃I　shall　say　nothing　evil　of　him；　I　can　assure　you；　Ma…
bel；　but；　at　the　same　time；　I　doubt　if　much　good　can　be
said　in　his　favor。〃

〃He　is　at　least　expert　with　the　rifle；〃　returned　Mabel；
smiling。　　〃That　you　cannot　deny。〃

〃Let　him　have　all　the　credit　of　his　exploits　in　that　way
if　you　please；　but　he　is　as　illiterate　as　a　Mohawk。〃

〃He　may　not　understand　Latin；　but　his　knowledge　of
Iroquois　is　greater　than　that　of　most　men；　and　it　is　the
more　useful　language　of　the　two　in　this　part　of　the　world。〃

〃If　Lundie　himself　were　to　call　on　me　for　an　opinion
which　I　admire　more；　your　person　or　your　wit；　beautiful
and　caustic　Mabel；　I　should　be　at　a　loss　to　answer。　　My
admiration　is　so　nearly　divided　between　them；　that　I　often
fancy　this　is　the　one　that　bears　off　the　palm；　and　then　the
other！　　Ah！　　the　late　Mrs。　Muir　was　a　paragon　in　that
way　also。〃

〃The　latest　Mrs。　Muir；　did　you　say；　sir？〃　asked　Mabel；
looking　up　innocently　at　her　companion。

〃Hoot；　hoot！　　That　is　some　of　Pathfinder's　scandal。
Now　I　daresay　that　the　fellow　has　been　trying　to　persuade
you；　Mabel；　that　I　have　had　more　than　one　wife　already。〃

〃In　that　case　his　time　would　have　been　thrown　away；　sir；
as　everybody　knows　that　you　have　been　so　unfortunate　as
to　have　had　four。〃

〃Only　three；　as　sure　as　my　name　is　David　Muir。　　The
fourth　is　pure　scandal　　or　rather；　pretty　Mabel；　she　is　yet
_in　petto_；　as　they　say　at　Rome；　and　that　means；　in　matters
of　love；　in　the　heart；　my　dear。〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　I'm　not　that　fourth　person；　_in　petto_；　or
in　anything　else；　as　I　should　not　like　to　be　a　scandal。〃

〃No　fear　of　that；　charming　Mabel；　for　were　you　the
fourth；　all　the　others　would　be　forgotten；　and　your　won…
derful　beauty　and　merit　would　at　once　elevate　you　to　be
the　first。　　No　fear　of　your　being　the　fourth　in　any
thing。〃

There　is　consolation　in　that　assurance；　Mr。　Muir；〃　said
Mabel；　laughing；　〃whatever　there　may　be　in　your　other
assurance；　for　I　confess　I　should　prefer　being　even　a
fourth…rate　beauty　to　being　a　fourth　wife。〃

So　saying　she　tripped　away；　leaving　the　Quartermaster
to　meditate　on　his　success。　　Mabel　had　been　induced　to
use　her　female　means　of　defence　thus　freely；　partly　be…
cause　her　suitor　had　of　late　been　so　pointed　as　to　stand　in
need　of　a　pretty　strong　repulse；　and　partly　on　account　of
his　innuendoes　against　Jasper　and　the　Pathfinder。
Though　full　of　spirit　and　quick　of　intellect；　she　was　not
naturally　pert；　but　on　the　present　occasion　she　thought
circumstances　called　for　more　than　usual　decision。　　When
she　left　her　companion；　therefore；　she　believed　she　was　now
finally　released　from　attentions　which　she　thought　as　ill…
bestowed　as　they　were　certainly　disagreeable。　　Not　so；
however；　with　David　Muir；　accustomed　to　rebuffs；　and
familiar　with　the　virtue　of　perseverance；　he　saw　no　reason
to　despair；　though　the　half…menacing；　half…self…satisfied
manner　in　which　he　shook　his　head　towards　the　retreating
girl　might　have　betrayed　designs　as　sinister　as　they　were
determined。　　While　he　was　thus　occupied；　the　Pathfinder
approached；　and　got　within　a　few　feet　of　him　unseen。

〃'Twill　never　do；　Quartermaster；　'twill　never　do；〃　com…
menced　the　latter；　laughing　in　his　noiseless　way；　〃she　is
young　and　active；　and　none　but　a　quick　foot　can　overtake
her。　　They　tell　me　you　are　her　suitor；　if　you　are　not　her
follower。〃

〃And　I　hear　the　same　of　yourself；　man；　though　the　pre…
sumption　would　be　so　great　that　I　scarcely　can　think　it
true。〃

〃I　fear　you're　right；　I　do；　yes；　I　fear　you're　right；　
when　I　consider　myself；　what　I　am；　how　little　I　know；　and
how　rude　my　life　has　been；　I　altogether　distrust　my　claim；
even　to　think　a　moment　of　one　so　tutored；　and　gay；　and
light　of　heart；　and　delicate　　〃

〃You　forget　handsome；〃　coarsely　interrupted　Muir。

〃And　handsome；　too；　I　fear；〃　returned　the　meek　and
self…abased　guide；　〃I　might　have　said　handsome　at　once；
among　her　other　qualities；　for　the　young　fa'n；　just　as　it
learns　to　bound；　is　not　more　pleasant　to　the　eye　of　the　hun…
ter　than　Mabel　is　lovely　in　mine。　　I　do　indeed　fear　that
all　the　thoughts　I　have　harbored　about　her　are　vain　and
presumptuous。〃

〃If　you　think　this；　my　friend；　of　your　own　accord　and
natural　modesty；　as　it　might　be；　my　duty　to　you　as　an　old
fellow…campaigner　compels　me　to　say　　〃

〃Quartermaster；〃　interrupted　the　other；　regarding　his
companion　keenly；　〃you　and　I　have　lived　together　much
behind　the　ramparts　of　forts；　but　very　little　in　the　open
woods　or　in　front　of　the　enemy。〃

〃Garrison　or　tent；　it　all　passes　for　part　of　the　same　cam…
paign；　you　know；　Pathfinder；　and　then　my　duty　keeps　me
much　within　sight　of　the　storehouses；　greatly　contrary　to
my　inclinations；　as　ye　may　well　suppose；　having　yourself
the　ardor　of　battle　in　your　temperament。　　But　had　ye　heard
what　Mabel　had　just　been　saying　of　you；　ye'd　no　think
another　minute　of　making　yourself　agreeable　to　the　saucy
and　uncompromising　hussy。〃

Pathfinder　looked　earnestly　at　the　lieutenant；　for　it　was
impossible　he　should　not　feel　an　interest　in　what　might　be
Mabel's　opinion；　but　he　had　too　much　of　the　innate　and
true　feeling　of　a　gentleman　to　ask　to　hear　what　another　had
said　of　him。　　Muir；　however；　was　not　to　be　foiled　by　this
self…denial　and　self…respect；　for；　believing　he　had　a　man
of　great　truth　and　simplicity　to　deal　with；　he　determined
to　practise　on　his　credulity；　as　one　means　of　getting　rid　of
his　rivalry。　　He　therefore　pursued　the　subject；　as　soon　as
he　perceived　that　his　companion's　self…denial　was　stronger
than　his　curiosity。

〃You　ought　to　know　her　opinion；　Pathfinder；〃　he　con…
tinued；　〃and　I　think　every　man　ought　to　hear　what　his
friends　and　acquaintances　say　of　him：　and　so；　by　way　of
proving　my　own　regard　for　your　character　and　feelings；
I'll　just　tell　you　in　as　few　words　as　possible。　　You　know
that　Mabel　has　a　wicked；　malicious　way　with　them　eyes　of
her　own；　when　she　has　a　mind　to　be　hard　upon　one's　feel…
ings。〃

〃To　me　her　eyes；　Lieutenant　Muir；　have　always　seemed
winning　and　soft；　though　I　will　acknowledge　that　they
sometimes　laugh；　yes；　I　have　known　them　to　laugh；　and
that　right　heartily；　and　with　downright　goodwill。〃

〃Well；　it　was　just　that　then；　her　eyes　were　laughing
with　all　their　might；　as　it　were；　and　in　the　midst　of　all
her　fun；　she　broke　out　with　an　exclamation　to　this　effect：
…　I　hope　'twill　no'　hurt　your　sensibility；　Pathfinder？〃

〃I　will　not　say　Quartermaster；　I　will　not　say。　　Mabel's
opinion　of　me　is　of　no　more　account　than　that　of　most　others。〃

〃Then　I'll　no'　tell　ye；　but　just　keep　discretion　on　the
subject；　and　why　should　a　man　be　telling　another　what
his　friends　say　of　him；　especially　when　they　happen　to　say
that　which　may　not　be　pleasant　to　hear？　　I'll　not　add　an…
other　word　to　this　present　communication。〃

〃I　cannot　make　you　speak；　Quartermaster；　if　you　are
not　so　minded；　and　perhaps　it　is　better　for　me　not　to　know
Mabel's　opinion；　as　you　seem　to　think　it　is　not　in　my　favor。
Ah's　me！　if　we　could　be　what　we　wish　to　be；　instead　of
being　only　what　we　are；　there　would　be　a　great　difference
in　our　characters　and　knowledge　and　appearance。　　One
may　be　rude　and　coarse　and　ignorant；　and　yet　happy；　if　he
does　not　know　it；　but　it　is　hard　to　see　our　own　failings　in
the　strongest　light；　just　as　we　wish　to　hear　the　least　about
them。〃

〃That's　just　the　_rationale_；　as　the　French　say；　of　the
matter；　and　so　I　was　telling　Mabel；　when　she　ran　away
and　left　me。　　You　noticed　the　manner　in　which　she
skipped　off　as　you　approached？〃

〃It　was　very　observable；〃　answered　Pathfinder；　drawing
a　long　breath　and　clenching　the　barrel　of　his　rifle　as　if　the
fingers　would　bury　themselves　in　the　iron。

〃It　was　more　than　observable　　it　was　flagrant；　that's
just　the　word；　and　the　dictionary　wouldn't　supply　a　bet…
ter；　after　an　hour's　search。　　Well；　you　must　know；　Path…
finder；　　for　I　cannot　reasonably　deny　you　the　gratification
of　hearing　this；　　so　you　must　know　the　minx　bounded　off
in　that　manner　in　preference　to　hearing　what　I　had　to　say
in　your　justification。〃

〃And　what　could　you　find　to　say　in　my　behalf；　Quarter…
master？〃

〃Why；　d'ye　understand；　my　friend；　I　was　ruled　by　cir…
cumstances；　and　no'　ventured　indiscreetly　into　generalities；
but　was　preparing　to　meet　particulars；　as　it　might　be；　with
particulars。　　If　you　were　thought　wild；　half…savage；　or　of
a　frontier　formation；　I　could　tell　her；　ye　know；　that　it　came
of　the　frontier；　wild　and　half…savage　life　ye'd　led；　and　all
her　objections　must　cease　at　once；　or　there　would　be　a　sort
of　a　misunderstanding　with　Providence。〃

〃And　did　you　tell　her　this；　Quartermaster？〃

〃I'll　no'　swear　to　the　exact　words；　but　the　idea　was　prev…
alent　in　my　mind；　ye'll　understand。　　The　girl　was　impa…
tient；　and　would　not　hear　the　half　I　had　to　say；　but　away
she　skipped；　as　ye　saw　with　your　own　eyes；　Pathfinder；　as
if　her　opinion　were　fully　made　up；　and　she　cared　to　listen
no　longer。　　I　fear　her　mind　may　be　said　to　have　come　to
its　conclusion？〃

〃I　fear　it　has　indeed；　Quartermaster；　and　her　father；
after　all；　is　mistaken。　　Yes；　yes；　the　Sergeant　has　fallen
into　a　grievous　error。〃

〃Well；　man；　why　need　ye　lament；　and　undo　all　the　grand
reputation　ye've　been　so　many　weary　years　making？
Shoulder　the　rifle　that　ye　use　so　well；　and　off　into　the
woods　with　ye；　for　there's　not　the　female　breathing　that　is
worth　a　heavy　heart　for　a　minute；　as　I　know　from　experi…
ence。　　Tak'　the　word　of　one　who　knows　the　sax；　and　has
had　two　wives；　that　women；　after　all；　are　very　much　the
sort　of　creatures　we　do　not　imagine　them　to　be。　　Now；　if
you　would　really　mortify　Mabel；　here　is　as　glorious　an
occasion　as　any　rejected　lover　could　desire。〃

〃The　last　wish　I　have；　Lieutenant；　would　be　to　mortify
Mabel。〃

〃Well；　ye'll　come　to　that　in　the　end；　notwithstanding；
for　it's　human　nature　to　desire　to　give　unpleasant　feelings
to　them　that　give　unpleasant　feelings　to　us。　　But　a　better
occasion　never　offered　to　make　your　friends　love　you；　than
is　to　be　had　at　this　very　moment；　and　that　is　the　certain
means　of　causing　one's　enemies　to　envy　us。〃

〃Quartermaster；　Mabel　is　not　my　inimy；　and　if　she　was；
the　last　thing　I　could　desire　would　be　to　give　her　an　uneasy
moment。〃

〃Ye　say　so；　Pathfinder；　ye　say　so；　and　I　daresay　ye　think
so；　but　reason　and　nature　are　both　against　you；　as　ye'll
find　in　the　end。　　Ye've　heard　the　saying　'love　me；　love
my　dog：'　well；　now；　that　means；　read　backwards；　'don't
love　me；　don't　love　my　dog。'　　Now；　listen　to　what　is　in
your　power　to　do。　　You　know　we　occupy　an　exceedingly
precarious　and　uncertain　postion　here；　almost　in　the　jaws
of　the　lion；　as　it　were？〃

〃Do　you　mean　the　Frenchers　by　the　lion；　and