the pathfinder-第63章

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whole　party。　　Mabel　now；　affecting　to　have　dropped　some…
thing；　returned　nearly　to　the　hut　she　had　left；　warbling　an
air；　stooped　as　if　to　pick　up　some　object　from　the　ground；
and　hurried　towards　the　hut　June　had　mentioned。　　This
was　a　dilapidated　structure；　and　it　had　been　converted　by
the　soldiers　of　the　last　detachment　into　a　sort　of　store…
house　for　their　live　stock。　　Among　other　things；　it　con…
tained　a　few　dozen　pigeons；　which　were　regaling　on　a　pile
of　wheat　that　had　been　brought　off　from　one　of　the　farms
plundered　on　the　Canada　shore。　　Mabel　had　not　much
difficulty　in　catching　one　of　these　pigeons；　although　they
fluttered　and　flew　about　the　hut　with　a　noise　like　that　of
drums；　and；　concealing　it　in　her　dress；　she　stole　back
towards　her　own　hut　with　the　prize。　　It　was　empty；　and；
without　doing　more　than　cast　a　glance　in　at　the　door；　the
eager　girl　hurried　down　to　the　shore。　　She　had　no　diffi…
culty　in　escaping　observation；　for　the　trees　and　bushes　made
a　complete　cover　to　her　person。　　At　the　canoe　she　found
June；　who　took　the　pigeon；　placed　it　in　a　basket　of　her
own　manufacturing；　and；　repeating　the　words；　〃blockhouse
good；〃　she　glided　out　of　the　bushes　and　across　the　narrow
passage；　as　noiselessly　as　she　had　come。　　Mabel　waited　some
time　to　catch　a　signal　of　leave…taking　or　amity　after　her
friend　had　landed；　but　none　was　given。　　The　adjacent
islands；　without　exception；　were　as　quiet　as　if　no　one　had
ever　disturbed　the　sublime　repose　of　nature；　and　nowhere
could　any　sign　or　symptom　be　discovered；　as　Mabel　then
thought；　that　might　denote　the　proximity　of　the　sort　of
danger　of　which　June　had　given　notice。

On　returning；　however；　from　the　shore；　Mabel　was　struck
with　a　little　circumstance；　that；　in　an　ordinary　situation；
would　have　attracted　no　attention；　but　which；　now　that
her　suspicions　had　been　aroused；　did　not　pass　before　her
uneasy　eye　unnoticed。　　A　small　piece　of　red　bunting；　such
as　is　used　in　the　ensigns　of　ships；　was　fluttering　at　the
lower　branch　of　a　small　tree；　fastened　in　a　way　to　permit
it　to　blow　out；　or　to　droop　like　a　vessel's　pennant。

Now　that　Mabel's　fears　were　awakened；　June　herself
could　not　have　manifested　greater　quickness　in　analyzing
facts　that　she　believed　might　affect　the　safety　of　the　party。
She　saw　at　a　glance　that　this　bit　of　cloth　could　be　ob…
served　from　an　adjacent　island；　that　it　lay　so　near　the　line
between　her　own　hut　and　the　canoe　as　to　leave　no　doubt
that　June　had　passed　near　it；　if　not　directly　under　it；　and
that　it　might　be　a　signal　to　communicate　some　important
fact　connected　with　the　mode　of　attack　to　those　who　were
probably　lying　in　ambush　near　them。　　Tearing　the　little
strip　of　bunting　from　the　tree；　Mabel　hastened　on；　scarcely
knowing　what　her　duty　next　required　of　her。　　June　might
be　false　to　her；　but　her　manner；　her　looks；　her　affection；
and　her　disposition　as　Mabel　had　known　it　in　the　journey；
forbade　the　idea。　　Then　came　the　allusion　to　Arrowhead's
admiration　of　the　pale…face　beauties；　some　dim　recollections
of　the　looks　of　the　Tuscarora；　and　a　painful　consciousness
that　few　wives　could　view　with　kindness　one　who　had　es…
tranged　a　husband's　affections。　　None　of　these　images　were
distinct　and　clear；　but　they　rather　gleamed　over　the　mind
of　our　heroine　than　rested　in　it；　and　they　quickened　her
pulses；　as　they　did　her　step；　without　bringing　with　them　the
prompt　and　clear　decisions　that　usually　followed　her　reflec…
tions。　　She　had　hurried　onwards　towards　the　hut　occupied
by　the　soldier's　wife；　intending　to　remove　at　once　to　the
blockhouse　with　the　woman；　though　she　could　persuade
no　other　to　follow；　when　her　impatient　walk　was　interrupted
by　the　voice　of　Muir。

〃Whither　so　fast；　pretty　Mabel？〃　he　cried；　〃and　why
so　given　to　solitude？　　The　worthy　Sergeant　will　deride　my
breeding；　if　he　hear　that　his　daughter　passes　the　morn…
ings　alone　and　unattended　to；　though　he　well　knows　it　is
my　ardent　wish　to　be　her　slave　and　companion　from　the
beginning　of　the　year　to　its　end。〃

〃Surely；　Mr。　Muir；　you　must　have　some　authority　here？〃
Mabel　suddenly　arrested　her　steps　to　say。　　〃One　of　your
rank　would　be　listened　to；　at　least；　by　a　corporal？〃

〃I　don't　know　that；　I　don't　know　that；〃　interrupted
Muir；　with　an　impatience　and　appearance　of　alarm　that
might　have　excited　Mabel's　attention　at　another　moment。
〃Command　is　command；　discipline；　discipline；　and　au…
thority；　authority。　　Your　good　father　would　be　sore　grieved
did　he　find　me　interfering　to　sully　or　carry　off　the　laurels
he　is　about　to　win；　and　I　cannot　command　the　Corporal
without　equally　commanding　the　Sergeant。　　The　wisest
way　will　be　for　me　to　remain　in　the　obscurity　of　a　private
individual　in　this　enterprise；　and　it　is　so　that　all　parties；
from　Lundie　down；　understand　the　transaction。〃

〃This　I　know；　and　it　may　be　well；　nor　would　I　give　my
dear　father　any　cause　of　complaint；　but　you　may　influence
the　Corporal　to　his　own　good。〃

〃I'll　no'　say　that；〃　returned　Muir　in　his　sly　Scotch　way；
〃it　would　be　far　safer　to　promise　to　influence　him　to　his
injury。　　Mankind；　pretty　Mabel；　have　their　peculiarities；
and　to　influence　a　fellow…being　to　his　own　good　is　one　of
the　most　difficult　tasks　of　human　nature；　while　the　oppo…
site　is　just　the　easiest。　　You'll　no'　forget　this；　my　dear；
but　bear　it　in　mind　for　your　edification　and　government。
But　what　is　that　you're　twisting　round　your　slender　finger
as　you　may　be　said　to　twist　hearts？〃

〃It　is　nothing　but　a　bit　of　cloth　　a　sort　of　flag　　a　trifle
that　is　hardly　worth　our　attention　at　this　grave　moment。
If　　〃

〃A　trifle！　　It's　no'　so　trifling　as　ye　may　imagine；　Mis…
tress　Mabel；〃　taking　the　bit　of　bunting　from　her；　and
stretching　it　at　full　length　with　both　his　arms　extended；
while　his　face　grew　grave　and　his　eye　watchful。　　〃Ye'll　no'
ha'　been　finding　this；　Mabel　Dunham；　in　the　breakfast？〃

Mabel　simply　acquainted　him　with　the　spot　where　and
the　manner　in　which　she　had　found　the　bit　of　cloth。
While　she　was　speaking；　the　eye　of　the　Quartermaster　was
not　quiet　for　a　moment；　glancing　from　the　rag　to　the　face
of　our　heroine；　then　back　again　to　the　rag。　　That　his　sus…
picions　were　awakened　was　easy　to　be　seen；　nor　was　he　long
in　letting　it　be　known　what　direction　they　had　taken。

〃We　are　not　in　a　part　of　the　world　where　our　ensigns
and　gauds　ought　to　be　spread　abroad　to　the　wind；　Mabel
Dunham！〃　he　said；　with　an　ominous　shake　of　the　head。

〃I　thought　as　much　myself；　Mr。　Muir；　and　brought　away
the　little　flag　lest　it　might　be　the　means　of　betraying　our
presence　here　to　the　enemy；　even　though　nothing　is　in…
tended　by　its　display。　　Ought　not　my　uncle　to　be　made
acquainted　with　the　circumstance？〃

〃I　no'　see　the　necessity　for　that；　pretty　Mabel；　for；　as
you　justly　say；　it　is　a　circumstance；　and　circumstances
sometimes　worry　the　worthy　mariner。　　But　this　flag；　if　flag
it　can　be　called；　belongs　to　a　seaman's　craft。　　You　may
perceive　that　it　is　made　of　what　is　called　bunting；　and　that
is　a　description　of　cloth　used　only　by　vessels　for　such　pur…
poses；　_our_　colors　being　of　silk；　as　you　may　understand；　or
painted　canvas。　　It's　surprisingly　like　the　fly　of　the　_Scud's_
ensign。　　And　now　I　recollect　me　to　have　observed　that　a
piece　had　been　cut　from　that　very　flag。〃

Mabel　felt　her　heart　sink；　but　she　had　sufficient　self…
command　not　to　attempt　an　answer。

〃It　must　be　looked　to；〃　Muir　continued；　〃and；　after　all；
I　think　it　may　be　well　to　hold　a　short　consultation　with
Master　Cap；　than　whom　a　more　loyal　subject　does　not　ex…
ist　in　the　British　empire。〃

〃I　have　thought　the　warning　so　serious；〃　Mabel　rejoined；
〃that　I　am　about　to　remove　to　the　blockhouse；　and　to　take
the　woman　with　me。〃

〃I　do　not　see　the　prudence　of　that；　Mabel。　　The　block…
house　will　be　the　first　spot　assailed　should　there　really　be
an　attack；　and　it's　no'　well　provided　for　a　siege；　that　must
be　allowed。　　If　I　might　advise　in　so　delicate　a　contin…
gency；　I　would　recommend　your　taking　refuge　in　the　boat；
which；　as　you　may　now　perceive；　is　most　favorably　placed
to　retreat　by　that　channel　opposite；　where　all　in　it　would
be　hid　by　the　islands　in　one　or　two　minutes。　　Water　leaves
no　trail；　as　Pathfinder　well　expresses　it；　and　there　appears
to　be　so　many　different　passages　in　that　quarter　that　escape
would　be　more　than　probable。　　I've　always　been　of　opin…
ion　that　Lundie　hazarded　too　much　in　occupying　a　post　so
far　advanced　and　so　much　exposed　as　this。〃

〃It's　too　late　to　regret　it　now；　Mr。　Muir；　and　we　have
only　to　consult　our　own　security。〃

〃And　the　king's　honor；　pretty　Mabel。　　Yes；　his　Majesty's
arms　and　his　glorious　name　are　not　to　be　overlooked　on
any　occasion。〃

〃Then　I　think　it　might　be　better　if　we　all　turned　our
eyes　towards　the　place　that　has　been　built　to　maintain
them　instead　of　the　boat；〃　said　Mabel；　smiling；　〃and　so；
Mr。　Muir；　I　am　for　the　blockhouse；　intending　to　await
there　the　return　of　my　father　and　his　party。　　He　would　be
sadly　grieved　at　finding　we　had　fled　when　he　got　back　suc…
cessful　himself；　and　filled　with　the　confidence　of　our　having
been　as　faithful　to　our　duties　as　he　has　been　to　his　own。〃

〃Nay；　nay；　for　heaven's　sake；　do　not　misunderstand　me；
Mabel！〃　Muir　interrupted；　with　some　alarm　of　manner；
〃I　am　far　from　intimating　that　any　but　you　females　ought
to　take　refuge　in　the　boat。　　The　duty　of　us　men　is　suffi…
ciently　plain；　no　doubt；　and　my　resolution　has　been　formed
from　the　first　to　stand　or　fall　by　the　blockhouse。〃

〃And　did　you　imagine；　Mr。　Muir；　that　two　females　could
row　that　heavy　boat　in　a　way　to　escape　the　bark　canoe　of
an　Indian？〃

〃Ah；　my　pretty　Mabel；　love　is　seldom　logical；　and　its
fears　and　misgivings　are　apt　to　warp　the　faculties。　　I　only
saw　your　sweet　person　in　the　possession　of　the　means　of
safety；　and　overlooked　the　want　of　ability　to　use　them；
but　you'll　not　be　so　cruel；　lovely　creature；　as　to　impute　to
me　as　a　fault　my　intense　anxiety　on　your　own　account。〃

Mabel　had　heard　enough：　her　mind　was　too　much　oc…
cupied　with　what　had　passed　that　morning；　and　with　her
fears；　to　wish　to　linger　longer　to　listen　to　love　speeches；
which　in　her　most　joyous　and　buoyant　moments　she　would
have　found　unpleasant。　　She　took　a　hasty　leave　of　her
companion；　and　was　about　to　trip　away　towards　the　hilt　of
the　other　woman；　when　Muir　arrested　the　movement　by
laying　a　hand　on　her　arm。

〃One　word；　Mabel；〃　said　he；　〃before　you　leave　me。　　This
little　flag　may；　or　it　may　not；　have　a　particular　meaning；
if　it　has；　now　that　we　are　aware　of　its　being　shown；　may　it
not　be　better　to　put　it　back　again；　while　we　watch　vigilantly
for　some　answer　that　may　betray　the　conspiracy；　and　if　it
mean　nothing；　why；　nothing　will　follow。〃

〃This　may　be　all　right；　Mr。　Muir；　though；　if　the　whole
is　accidental；　the　flag　might　be　the　occasion　of　the　fort's
being　discovered。

Mabel　stayed　to　utter　no　more；　but　she　was　soon　out　of
sight；　running　into　the　hut　towards　which　she　had　been　first
proceeding。　　The　Quartermaster　remained　on　the　very　spot
and　in　the　precise　attitude　in　which　she　had　left　him　for
quite　a　minute；　first　looking　at　the　bounding　figure　of　the
girl　and　then　at　the　bit　of　bunting；　which　he　still　held　be…
fore　him　in　a　way　to　denote　indecis