the pathfinder-第65章

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a　willful　and　obstinate　sinner。

〃Ye'll　be　getting　into　the　blockhouse　as　fast　as　possible；〃
M'Nab　whispered；　as　Mabel　leaned　over　him　to　catch　his
dying　words。

Then　came　over　our　heroine　the　full　consciousness　of
her　situation　and　of　the　necessity　of　exertion。　　She　cast　a
rapid　glance　at　the　body　at　her　feet；　saw　that　it　had　ceased
to　breathe；　and　fled。　　It　was　but　a　few　minutes'　run　to
the　blockhouse；　the　door　of　which　Mabel　had　barely　gained
when　it　was　closed　violently　in　her　face　by　Jennie；　the　sol…
dier's　wife；　who　in　blind　terror　thought　only　of　her　own
safety。　　The　reports　of　five　or　six　rifles　were　heard　while
Mabel　was　calling　out　for　admittance；　and　the　additional
terror　they　produced　prevented　the　woman　within　from
undoing　quickly　the　very　fastenings　she　had　been　so　expert
in　applying。　　After　a　minute's　delay；　however；　Mabel
found　the　door　reluctantly　yielding　to　her　constant　pres…
sure；　and　she　forced　her　slender　body　through　the　opening
the　instant　it　was　large　enough　to　allow　of　its　passage。　　By
this　time　Mabel's　heart　ceased　to　beat　tulmultuously　and
she　gained　sufficient　self…command　to　act　collectedly。　　In
stead　of　yielding　to　the　almost　convulsive　efforts　of　her
companion　to　close　the　door　again；　she　held　it　open　long
enough　to　ascertain　that　none　of　her　own　party　was　in
sight；　or　likely　on　the　instant　to　endeavor　to　gain　admis…
sion：　then　she　allowed　the　opening　to　be　shut。　　Her　orders
and　proceedings　now　became　more　calm　and　rational。
But　a　single　bar　was　crossed；　and　Jennie　was　directed　to
stand　in　readiness　to　remove　even　that　at　any　application
from　a　friend。　　She　then　ascended　the　ladder　to　the　room
above；　where　by　means　of　a　loophole　she　was　enabled　to
get　as　good　a　view　of　the　island　as　the　surrounding　bushes
would　allow。　　Admonishing　her　associate　below　to　be　firm
and　steady；　she　made　as　careful　an　examination　of　the　en…
virons　as　her　situation　permitted。

To　her　great　surprise；　Mabel　could　not　at　first　see　a　liv…
ing　soul　on　the　island；　friend　or　enemy。　　Neither　French…
man　nor　Indian　was　visible；　though　a　small　straggling
white　cloud　that　was　floating　before　the　wind　told　her　in
which　quarter　she　ought　to　look　for　them。　　The　rifles　had
been　discharged　from　the　direction　of　the　island　whence
June　had　come；　though　whether　the　enemy　were　on　that
island；　or　had　actually　landed　on　her　own；　Mabel　could
not　say。　　Going　to　the　loop　that　commanded　a　view　of　the
spot　where　M'Nab　lay；　her　blood　curdled　at　perceiving　all
three　of　his　soldiers　lying　apparently　lifeless　at　his　side。
These　men　had　rushed　to　a　common　centre
at　the　first
alarm；　and　had　been　shot　down　almost　simultaneously　by
the　invisible　foe　whom　the　Corporal　had　affected　to　despise。

Neither　Cap　nor　Lieutenant　Muir　was　to　be　seen。　　With
a　beating　heart；　Mabel　examined　every　opening　through
the　trees；　and　ascended　even　to　the　upper　story　or　garret　of
the　blockhouse；　where　she　got　a　full　view　of　the　whole
island；　so　far　as　its　covers　would　allow；　but　with　no　better
success。　　She　had　expected　to　see　the　body　of　her　uncle
lying　on　the　grass　like　those　of　the　soldiers；　but　it　was
nowhere　visible。　　Turning　towards　the　spot　where　the　boat
lay；　Mabel　saw　that　it　was　still　fastened　to　the　shore；　and
then　she　supposed　that　by　some　accident　Muir　had　been
prevented　from　effecting　his　retreat　in　that　quarter。　　In
short；　the　island　lay　in　the　quiet　of　the　grave；　the　bodies
of　the　soldiers　rendering　the　scone　as　fearful　as　it　was　ex…
traordinary。

〃For　God's　holy　sake；　Mistress　Mabel；〃　called　out　the
woman　from　below；　for；　though　her　fear　had　become　too
ungovernable　to　allow　her　to　keep　silence；　our　heroine's
superior　refinement；　more　than　the　regimental　station　of
her　father；　still　controlled　her　mode　of　address；　　〃Mistress
Mabel；　tell　me　if　any　of　our　friends　are　living！　　I　think　I
hear　groans　that　grow　fainter　and　fainter；　and　fear　that
they　will　all　be　tomahawked！〃

Mabel　now　remembered　that　one　of　the　soldiers　was　this
woman's　husband；　and　she　trembled　at　what　might　be　the
immediate　effect　of　her　sorrow；　should　his　death　become
suddenly　known　to　her。　　The　groans；　too；　gave　a　little
hope；　though　she　feared　they　might　come　from　her　uncle；
who　lay　out　of　view。

〃We　are　in　His　holy　keeping；　Jennie；〃　she　answered。
〃We　must　trust　in　Providence；　while　we　neglect　none
of　its　benevolent　means　of　protecting　ourselves。　　Be　care…
ful　with　the　door；　on　no　account　open　it　without　my　di…
rections。〃

〃Oh；　tell　me；　Mistress　Mabel；　if　you　can　anywhere　see
Sandy！　　If　I　could　only　let　him　know　that　I'm　in　safety；
the　guid　man　would　be　easier　in　his　mind；　whether　free　or
a　prisoner。〃

Sandy　was　Jennie's　husband；　and　he　lay　dead　in　plain
view　of　the　loop　from　which　our　heroine　was　then　looking。

〃You　no'　tell　me　if　you're　seeing　of　Sandy；〃　the　woman
repeated　from　below；　impatient　at　Mabel's　silence。

〃There　are　some　of　our　people　gathered　about　the　body
of　M'Nab；　was　the　answer；　for　it　seemed　sacrilegious　in
her　eyes　to　tell　a　direct　untruth　under　the　awful　circum…
stances　in　which　she　was　placed。

〃Is　Sandy　amang　them？〃　demanded　the　woman；　in　a
voice　that　sounded　appalling　by　its　hoarseness　and　energy。

〃He　may　be　certainly；　for　I　see　one；　two；　three；　four；
and　all　in　the　scarlet　coats　of　the　regiment。〃

〃Sandy！〃　called　out　the　woman　frantically；　〃why　d'ye
no'　care　for　yoursal'；　Sandy？　　Come　hither　the　instant；
man；　and　share　your　wife's　fortunes　in　weal　or　woe。　　It's
no'　a　moment　for　your　silly　discipline　and　vain…glorious
notions　of　honor！　　Sandy！　　Sandy！〃

Mabel　heard　the　bar　turn；　and　then　the　door　creaked　on
its　hinges。　　Expectation；　not　to　say　terror；　held　her　in　sus…
pense　at　the　loop；　and　she　soon　beheld　Jennie　rushing
through　the　bushes　in　the　direction　of　the　cluster　of　the
dead。　　It　took　the　woman　but　an　instant　to　reach　the
fatal　spot。　　So　sudden　and　unexpected　had　been　the　blow；
that　she　in　her　terror　did　not　appear　to　comprehend　its
weight。　　Some　wild　and　half…frantic　notion　of　a　deception
troubled　her　fancy；　and　she　imagined　that　the　men　were
trifling　with　her　fears。　　She　took　her　husband's　hand；　and
it　was　still　warm；　while　she　thought　a　covert　smile　was
struggling　on　his　lip。

〃Why　will　ye　fool　life　away；　Sandy？〃　she　cried；　pulling
at　the　arm。　　〃Ye'll　all　be　murdered　by　these　accursed
Indians；　and　you　no'　takin'　to　the　block　like　trusty　sol…
diers！　　Awa'！　awa'！　and　no'　be　losing　the　precious　mo…
ments。〃

In　her　desperate　efforts；　the　woman　pulled　the　body　of
her　husband　in　a　way　to　cause　the　head　to　turn　completely
over；　when　tbe　small　hole　in　the　temple；　caused　by　the　en…
trance　of　a　rifle　bullet；　and　a　few　drops　of　blood　trickling
over　the　skin；　revealed　the　meaning　of　her　husband's　si…
lence。　　As　the　horrid　truth　flashed　in　its　full　extent　on
her　mind；　the　woman　clasped　her　hands；　gave　a　shriek
that　pierced　the　glades　of　every　island　near；　and　fell　at
length　on　the　dead　body　of　the　soldier。　　Thrilling；　heart…
reaching；　appalling　as　was　that　shriek；　it　was　melody　to
the　cry　that　followed　it　so　quickly　as　to　blend　the　sounds。
The　terrific　war…whoop　arose　out　of　the　covers　of　the
island；　and　some　twenty　savages；　horrible　in　their　paint
and　the　other　devices　of　Indian　ingenuity；　rushed　forward；
eager　to　secure　the　coveted　scalps。　　Arrowhead　was　fore…
most；　and　it　was　his　tomahawk　that　brained　the　insensible
Jennie；　and　her　reeking　hair　was　hanging　at　his　girdle　as
a　trophy　in　less　than　two　minutes　after　she　had　quitted
the　blockhouse。　　His　companions　were　equally　active；　and
M'Nab　and　his　soldiers　no　longer　presented　the　quiet　as…
pect　of　men　who　slumbered。　　They　were　left　in　their　gore；
unequivocally　butchered　co　rpses。

All　this　passed　in　much　less　time　than　has　been　required
to　relate　it；　and　all　this　did　Mabel　witness。　　She　had　stood
riveted　to　the　spot；　gazing　on　the　whole　horrible　scene；　as
if　enchained　by　some　charm；　nor　did　the　idea　of　self　or　of
her　own　danger　once　obtrude　itself　on　her　thoughts。　　But
no　sooner　did　she　perceive　the　place　where　the　men　had
fallen　covered　with　savages；　exulting　in　the　success　of　their
surprise；　than　it　occurred　to　her　that　Jennie　had　left　the
blockhouse　door　unbarred。　　Her　heart　beat　violently；　for
that　defence　alone　stood　between　her　and　immediate　death；
and　she　sprang　toward　the　ladder　with　the　intention　of
descending　to　make　sure　of　it。　　Her　foot　had　not　yet
reached　the　floor　of　the　second　story；　however；　when　she
heard　the　door　grating　on　its　hinges；　and　she　gave　herself
up　for　lost。　　Sinking　on　her　knees；　the　terrified　but　cour…
ageous　girl　endeavored　to　prepare　herself　for　death；　and
to　raise　her　thoughts　to　God。　　The　instinct　of　life；　how…
ever；　was　too　strong　for　prayer；　and　while　her　lips　moved；
the　jealous　senses　watched　every　sound　beneath。　　When
her　ears　heard　the　bars；　which　went　on　pivots　secured　to
the　centre　of　the　door；　turning　into　their　fastenings；　not
one；　as　she　herself　had　directed；　with　a　view　to　admit　her
uncle　should　he　apply；　but　all　three；　she　started　again　to
her　feet；　all　spiritual　contemplations　vanishing　in　her
actual　temporal　condition；　and　it　seemed　as　if　all　her　fac…
ulties　were　absorbed　in　the　sense　of　hearing。

The　thoughts　are　active　in　a　moment　so　fearful。　　At
first　Mabel　fancied　that　her　uncle　had　entered　the　block…
house；　and　she　was　about　to　descend　the　ladder　and　throw
herself　into　his　arms；　then　the　idea　that　it　might　be　an
Indian；　who　had　barred　the　door　to　shut　out　intruders
while　he　plundered　at　leisure；　arrested　the　movement。　　The
profound　stillness　below　was　unlike　the　bold；　restless　move…
ments　of　Cap；　and　it　seemed　to　savor　more　of　the　artifices
of　an　enemy。　　If　a　friend　at　all；　it　could　only　be　her　uncle
or　the　Quartermaster；　for　the　horrible　conviction　now　pre…
sented　itself　to　our　heroine　that　to　these　two　and　herself
were　the　whole　party　suddenly　reduced；　if；　indeed；　the　two
latter　survived。　　This　consideration　held　Mabel　in　check；
and　for　full　two　minutes　more　a　breathless　silence　reigned
in　the　building。　　During　this　time　the　girl　stood　at　the
foot　of　the　upper　ladder；　the　trap　which　led　to　the　lower
opening　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　floor；　the　eyes　of
Mabel　were　riveted　on　this　spot；　for　she　now　began　to　ex…
pect　to　see　at　each　instant　the　horrible　sight　of　a　savage
face　at　the　hole。　　This　apprehension　soon　became　so　in…
tense；　that　she　looked　about　her　for　a　place　of　conceal…
ment。　　The　procrastination　of　the　catastrophe　she　now
fully　expected；　though　it　were　only　for　a　moment；　afforded
a　relief。　　The　room　contained　several　barrels；　and　behind
two　of　these　Mabel　crouched；　placing　her　eyes　at　an　open…
ing　by　which　she　could　still　watch　the　trap。　　She　made
another　effort　to　pray；　but　the　moment　was　too　horrible
for　that　relief。　　She　thought；　too；　that　she　heard　a　low
rustling；　as　if　one　were　ascending　the　lower　ladder　with　an
effort　at　caution　so　great　as　to　betray　itself　by　its　own　ex…
cess；　then　followed　a　creaking　that　she　was　certain　came
from　one　of　the　steps　of　the　ladder；　which　had　made　the
same　noise　under　her　own　light　weight　as　she　ascended。
This　was　one　of　those　instants　into　which　are　compressed
the　sensations　of　years　of　ordinary　existence。　　Life；　dea