the pathfinder-第70章

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June；　June；　_you_　will　not　let　them　harm　_him？_〃

〃June；　poor　squaw。　　What　warrior　t'ink　of　what　she
say？　　Arrowhead　bring　him　here。〃

By　this　time　Mabel　was　at　a　loop；　and；　sure　enough；
there　were　Cap　and　the　Quartermaster　in　the　hands　of　the
Indians；　eight　or　ten　of　whom　were　conducting　them　to
the　foot　of　the　block；　for；　by　this　capture；　the　enemy　now
well　knew　that　there　could　be　no　man　in　the　building。
Mabel　scarcely　breathed　until　the　whole　party　stood　ranged
directly　before　the　door；　when　she　was　rejoiced　to　see　that
the　French　officer　was　among　them。　　A　low　conversation
followed；　in　which　both　the　white　leader　and　Arrowhead
spoke　earnestly　to　their　captives；　when　the　Quartermaster
called　out　to　her　in　a　voice　loud　enough　to　be　heard。

〃Pretty　Mabel！　pretty　Mabel！〃　said　he；　〃look　out　of
one　of　the　loopholes；　and　pity　our　condition。　　We　are
threatened　with　instant　death　uniess　you　open　the　door　to
the　conquerors。　　Relent；　then　or　we'll　no'　be　wearing　our
scalps　half　an　hour　from　this　blessed　moment。〃

Mabel　thought　there　were　mockery　and　levity　in　this
appeal；　and　its　manner　rather　fortified　than　weakened　her
resolution　to　hold　the　place　as　long　as　possible。

〃Speak　to　me；　uncle；〃　said　she；　with　her　mouth　at　a
loop；　〃and　tell　me　what　I　ought　to　do。〃

〃Thank　God！　thank　God！〃　ejaculated　Cap；　〃the
sound　of　your　sweet　voice；　Magnet；　lightens　my　heart　of　a
heavy　load；　for　I　feared　you　had　shared　the　fate　of　poor
Jennie。　　My　breast　has　felt　the　last　four…and…twenty　hours
as　if　a　ton　of　kentledge　had　been　stowed　in　it。　　You　ask
me　what　you　ought　to　do；　child；　and　I　do　not　know　how
to　advise　you；　though　you　are　my　own　sister's　daughter！
The　most　I　can　say　just　now；　my　poor　girl；　is　most　heartily
to　curse　the　day　you　or　I　ever　saw　this　bit　of　fresh　water。〃

〃But；　uncle；　is　your　life　in　danger　　do　_you_　think　I
ought　to；　open　the　door？〃

〃A　round　turn　and　two　half…hitches　make　a　fast　belay；
and　I　would　counsel　no　one　who　is　out　of　the　hands　of
these　devils　to　unbar　or　unfasten　anything　in　order　to　fall
into　them。　　As　to　the　Quartermhaster　and　myself；　we　are
both　elderly　men；　and　not　of　much　account　to　mankind　in
general；　as　honest　Pathfinder　would　say；　and　it　can　make
no　great　odds　to　him　whether　he　balances　the　purser's
books　this　year　or　the　next；　and　as　for　myself；　why；　if　I
were　on　the　seaboard；　I　should　know　what　to　do；　but　up
here；　in　this　watery　wilderness；　I　can　only　say；　that　if　I
were　behind　that　bit　of　a　bulwark；　it　would　take　a　good
deal　of　Indian　logic　to　rouse　me　out　of　it。〃

〃You'll　no'　be　minding　all　your　uncle　says；　pretty
Mabel；〃　put　in　Muir；　〃for　distress　is　obviously　fast　unset…
tling　his　faculties；　and　he　is　far　from　calculating　all　the
necessities　of　the　emergency。　　We　are　in　the　hands　here
of　very　considerate　and　gentlemanly　pairsons；　it　must　be
acknowledged；　and　one　has　little　occasion　to　apprehend
disagreeable　violence。　　The　casualties　that　have　occurred
are　the　common　incidents　of　war；　and　can　no'　change　our
sentiments　of　the　enemy；　for　they　are　far　from　indicating
that　any　injustice　will　be　done　the　prisoners。　　I'm　sure
that　neither　Master　Cap　nor　myself　has　any　cause　of　com…
plaint　since　we　have　given　ourselves　up　to　Master　Arrow…
head；　who　reminds　me　of　a　Roman　or　a　Spartan　by　his
virtues　and　moderation；　but　ye'll　be　remembering　that
usages　differ；　and　that　our　scalps　may　be　lawful　sacrifices
to　appease　the　manes　of　fallen　foes；　unless　you　save　them
by　capitulation。〃

〃I　shall　do　wiser　to　keep　within　the　blockhouse　until
the　fate　of　the　island　is　settled；〃　returned　Mabel。　　〃Our
enemies　can　feel　no　concern　on　account　of　one　like　me；
knowing　that　I　can　do　them　no　harm；　and　I　greatly　prefer
to　remain　here　as　more　befitting　my　sex　and　years。〃

〃If　nothing　but　your　convenience　were　concerned；
Mabel；　we　should　all　cheerfully　acquiesce　in　your　wishes；
but　these　gentlemen　fancy　that　the　work　will　aid　their
operations；　and　they　have　a　strong　desire　to　possess　it。
To　be　frank　with　you；　finding　myself　and　your　uncle　in　a
very　peculiar　situation；　I　acknowledge　that；　to　avert　con…
sequences；　I　have　assumed　the　power　that　belongs　to　his
Majesty's　commission；　and　entered　into　a　verbal　capitula…
tion；　by　which　I　have　engaged　to　give　up　the　blockhouse
and　the　whole　island。　　It　is　the　fortune　of　war；　and　must
be　submitted　to；　so　open　the　door；　pretty　Mabel；　forth…
with；　and　confide　yourself　to　the　care　of　those　who　know
how　to　treat　beauty　and　virtue　in　distress。　　There's　no
courtier　in　Scotland　more　complaisant　than　this　chief；　or
who　is　more　familiar　with　the　laws　of　decorum。〃

〃No　leave　blockhouse；〃　muttered　June；　who　stood　at
Mabel's　side；　attentive　to　all　that　passed。　　〃Blockhouse
good　　got　no　scalp。〃

Our　heroine　might　have　yielded　but　for　this　appeal；　for
it　began　to　appear　to　her　that　the　wisest　course　would　be
to　conciliate　the　enemy　by　concessions　instead　of　exasper…
ating　them　by　resistance。　　They　must　know　that　Muir　and
her　uncle　were　in　their　power；　that　there　was　no　man　in
the　building；　and　she　fancied　they　might　proceed　to　batter
down　the　door；　or　cut　their　way　through　the　logs　with
axes；　if　she　obstinately　refused　to　give　them　peaceable　ad…
mission；　since　there　was　no　longer　any　reason　to　dread　the
rifle。　　But　the　words　of　June　induced　her　to　hesitate；　and
the　earnest　pressure　of　the　hand　and　entreating　looks　of
her　companion　strengthened　a　resolution　that　was　falter…
ing。

〃No　prisoner　yet；〃　whispered　June；　〃let　'em　make
prisoner　before　'ey　take　prisoner　　talk　big；　June　manage
'em。〃

Mabel　now　began　to　parley　more　resolutely　with　Muir；
for　her　uncle　seemed　disposed　to　quiet　his　conscience　by
holding　his　tongue；　and　she　plainly　intimated　that　it　was
not　her　intention　to　yield　the　building。

〃You　forget　the　capitulation；　Mistress　Mabel；〃　said
Muir；　〃the　honor　of　one　of　his　Majesty's　servants　is　con…
cerned；　and　the　honor　of　his　Majesty　through　his　servant。
You　will　remeinber　the　finesse　and　delicacy　that　belong　to
military　honor？〃

〃I　know　enough；　Mr。　Muir；　to　understand　that　you　have
no　command　in　this　expedition；　and　therefore　can　have　no
right　to　yield　the　blockhouse；　and　I　remember；　moreover；
to　have　heard　my　dear　father　say　that　a　prisoner　loses　all
his　authority　for　the　time　being。〃

〃Rank　sophistry；　pretty　Mabel；　and　treason　to　the　king；
as　well　as　dishonoring　his　commission　and　discrediting
his　name。　　You'll　no'　be　persevering　in　your　intentions；
when　your　better　judgment　has　had　leisure　to　reflect　and
to　make　conclusions　on　matters　and　circumstances。〃

〃Ay；〃　put　in　Cap；　〃this　is　a　circumstance；　and　be　dd
to　it！〃

〃No　mind　what'e　uncle　say；〃　ejaculated　June；　who　was
occupied　in　a　far　corner　of　the　room。　　〃Blockhouse　good
…　got　no　scalp。〃

〃I　shall　remain　as　I　am；　Mr。　Muir；　until　I　get　some　tid…
ings　of　my　father。　　He　will　return　in　the　course　of　the
next　ten　days。〃

〃Ah；　Mabel；　this　artifice　will　no'　deceive　the　enemy；
who；　by　means　that　would　be　unintelligible；　did　not　our
suspicions　rest　on　an　unhappy　young　man　with　too　much
plausibility；　are　familiar　with　all　our　doings　and　plans；　and
well　know　that　the　sun　will　not　set　before　the　worthy　Ser…
geant　and　his　companions　will　be　in　their　power。　　Aweel！
Submission　to　Providence　is　truly　a　Christian　virtue！〃

〃Mr。　Muir；　you　appear　to　be　deceived　in　the　strength
of　this　work；　and　to　fancy　it　weaker　than　it　is。　　Do　you
desire　to　see　what　I　can　do　in　the　way　of　defence；　if　so
disposed？〃

〃I　dinna　mind　if　I　do；〃　answered　the　Quartermaster；
who　always　grew　Scotch　as　he　grew　interested。

〃What　do　you　think　of　that；　then？　　Look　at　the　loop
of　the　upper　story？〃

As　soon　as　Mabel　had　spoken；　all　eyes　were　turned　up…
ward；　and　beheld　the　muzzle　of　a　rifle　cautiously　thrust
through　a　hole；　June　having　resorted　again　to　a　_ruse_　which
had　already　proved　so　successful。　　The　result　did　not　dis…
appoint　expectation。　　No　sooner　did　the　Indians　catch　a
sight　of　the　fatal　weapon　than　they　leaped　aside；　and　in
less　than　a　minute　every　man　among　them　had　sought　a
cover。　　The　French　officer　kept　his　eye　on　the　barrel　of
the　piece　in　order　to　ascertain　that　it　was　not　pointed　in
his　particular　direction；　and　he　coolly　took　a　pinch　of
snuff。　　As　neither　Muir　nor　Cap　had　anything　to　appre…
hend　from　the　quarter　in　which　the　others　were　menaced；
they　kept　their　ground。

〃Be　wise；　my　pretty　Mabel；　be　wise！〃　exclaimed　the
former；　〃and　no'　be　provoking　useless　contention。　　In　the
name　of　all　the　kings　of　Albin；　who　have　ye　closeted　with
you　in　that　wooden　tower　that　seemeth　so　bloody…minded？
There　is　necromancy　about　this　matter；　and　all　our　char…
acters　may　be　involved　in　the　explanation。〃

〃What　do　you　think　of　the　Pathfinder；　Master　Muir；
for　a　garrison　to　so　strong　a　post？〃　cried　Mabel；　resorting
to　an　equivocation　which　the　circumstances　rendered　very
excusable。　　〃What　will　your　French　and　Indian　compan…
ions　think　of　the　aim　of　the　Pathfinder's　rifle？〃

〃Bear　gently　on　the　unfortunate；　pretty　Mabel；　and　do
not　confound　the　king's　servants　　may　Heaven　bless　him
and　all　his　royal　lineage！　　with　the　king's　enemies。　　If
Pathfinder　be　indeed　in　the　blockhouse；　let　him　speak；　and
we　will　hold　our　negotiations　directly　with　him。　　He
knows　us　as　friends；　and　we　fear　no　evil　at　his　hands；　and
least　of　all　to　myself；　for　a　generous　mind　is　apt　to　render
rivalry　in　a　certain　interest　a　sure　ground　of　respect　and
amity；　since　admiration　of　the　same　woman　proves　a　com…
munity　of　feeling　and　tastes。〃

The　reliance　on　Pathfinder's　friendship　did　not　extend
beyond　the　Quartermaster　and　Cap；　however；　for　even　the
French　officer；　who　had　hitherto　stood　his　ground　so　well；
shrank　back　at　the　sound　of　the　terrible　name。　　So　unwil…
ling；　indeed；　did　this　individual；　a　man　of　iron　nerves；　and
one　long　accustomed　to　the　dangers　of　the　peculiar　war…
fare　in　which　he　was　engaged；　appear　to　remain　exposed
to　the　assaults　of　Killdeer；　whose　reputation　throughout
all　that　frontier　was　as　well　established　as　that　of　Marl…
borough　in　Europe；　that　he　did　not　disdain　to　seek　a　cover；
insisting　that　his　two　prisoners　should　follow　him。　　Mabel
was　too　glad　to　be　rid　of　her　enemies　to　lament　the　depar…
ture　of　her　friends；　though　she　kissed　her　hand　to　Cap
through　the　loop；　and　called　out　to　him　in　terms　of　affec…
tion　as　he　moved　slowly　and　unwillingly　away。

The　enemy　now　seemed　disposed　to　abandon　all　attempts
on　the　blockhouse　for　the　present；　and　June；　who　had
ascended　to　a　trap　in　the　roof；　whence　the　best　view　was
to　be　obtained；　reported　that　the　whole　party　had　assem…
bled　to　eat；　on　a　distant　and　sheltered　part　of　the　island；
where　Muir　and　Cap　were　quietly　sharing　in　the　good
things　which　were　going；　as　if　they　had　no　concern　on
their　minds。　　This　information　greatly　relieved　Mabel；
and　she　began　to　turn　her　thoughts　again　to　the　means　of
effecting　her　own　escape；　or　at　least　of　letting　her　father
know　of　the　danger　that　awaited　him。　　The　Sergeant　was
expected　to　return　that　afternoon；　and　she　knew　that　a
moment　gained　or　lost　might　decide　his　fate。

Three　or　four　hours　flew　by。　　The　island　was　again
buried　in　a　profound　quiet；　the　day　was　wearing　away；　and
yet　Mabel　had　decided