the pathfinder-第72章

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subject。　　Everything　turned　out　as　we　had　hoped　with
the　expedition；　for　the　Sarpent　was　on　the　look…out；　and
he　met　us　with　all　the　information　heart　could　desire。
We　ambushed　three　boats；　druv'　the　Frenchers　out　of
them；　got　possession　and　sunk　them；　according　to　orders；
in　the　deepest　part　of　the　channel；　and　the　savages　of
Upper　Canada　will　fare　badly　for　Indian　goods　this　win…
ter。　　Both　powder　and　ball；　too；　will　be　scarcer　among
them　than　keen　hunters　and　active　warriors　may　relish。
We　did　not　lose　a　man　or　have　even　a　skin　barked；　nor　do
I　think　the　inimy　suffered　to　speak　of。　　In　short；　Mabel；
it　has　been　just　such　an　expedition　as　Lundie　likes；　much
harm　to　the　foe；　and　little　harm　to　ourselves。〃

〃Ah；　Pathfinder；　I　fear；　when　Major　Duncan　comes　to
hear　the　whole　of　the　sad　tale；　he　will　find　reason　to　regret
he　ever　undertook　the　affair。〃

〃I　know　what　you　mean；　I　know　what　you　mean；　but
by　telling　my　story　straight　you　will　understand　it　better。
As　soon　as　the　Sergeant　found　himself　successful；　he　sent
me　and　the　Sarpent　off　in　canoes　to　tell　you　how　matters
had　turned　out；　and　he　is　following　with　the　two　boats；
which；　being　so　much　heavier；　cannot　arrive　before　morn…
ing。　　I　parted　from　Chingachgook　this　forenoon；　it　being
agreed　that　he　should　come　up　one　set　of　channels；　and　I
another；　to　see　that　the　path　was　clear。　　I've　not　seen　the
chief　since。〃

Mabel　now　explained　the　manner　in　which　she　had　dis…
covered　the　Mohican；　and　her　expectation　that　he　would
yet　come　to　the　blockhouse。

〃Not　he；　not　he！　　A　regular　scout　will　never　get　behind
walls　or　logs　so　long　as　he　can　keep　the　open　air　and　find
useful　employment。　　I　should　not　have　come　myself；
Mabel；　but　I　promised　the　Sergeant　to　comfort　you　and　to
look　after　your　safety。　　Ah's　me！　　I　reconnoitred　the
island　with　a　heavy　heart　this　forenoon；　and　there　was　a
bitter　hour　when　I　fancied　you　might　be　among　the　slain。〃

〃By　what　lucky　accident　were　you　prevented　from　pad…
dling　up　boldly　to　the　island　and　from　falling　into　the
hands　of　the　enemy？〃

〃By　such　an　accident；　Mabel；　as　Providence　employs　to
tell　the　hound　where　to　find　the　deer　and　the　deer　how　to
throw　off　the　hound。　　No；　no！　these　artifices　and　devil…
ries　with　dead　bodies　may　deceive　the　soldiers　of　the　55th
and　the　king's　officers；　but　they　are　all　lost　upon　men
who　have　passed　their　days　in　the　forest。　　I　came　down
the　channel　in　face　of　the　pretended　fisherman；　and；
though　the　riptyles　have　set　up　the　poor　wretch　with　art；
it　was　not　ingenious　enough　to　take　in　a　practysed　eye。
The　rod　was　held　too　high；　for　the　55th　have　learned　to
fish　at　Oswego；　if　they　never　knew　how　before；　and　then
the　man　was　too　quiet　for　one　who　got　neither　prey　nor
bite。　　But　we　never　come　in　upon　a　post　blindly；　and　I
have　lain　outside　a　garrison　a　whole　night；　because　they
had　changed　their　sentries　and　their　mode　of　standing
guard。　　Neither　the　Sarpent　nor　myself　would　be　likely　to
be　taken　in　by　these　clumsy　contrivances；　which　were　most
probably　intended　for　the　Scotch；　who　are　cunning　enough
in　some　particulars；　though　anything　but　witches　when
Indian　sarcumventions　are　in　the　wind。〃

〃Do　you　think　my　father　and　his　men　may　yet　be　de…
ceived？〃　said　Mabel　quickly。

〃Not　if　I　can　prevent　it；　Mabel。　　You　say　the　Sarpent
is　on　the　look…out　too；　so　there　is　a　double　chance　of　our
succeeding　in　letting　him　know　his　danger；　though　it　is
by　no　means　sartain　by　which　channel　the　party　may
come。〃

〃Pathfinder；〃　said　our　heroine　solemnly；　for　the　fright…
ful　scenes　she　had　witnessed　had　clothed　death　with　un…
usual　horrors；　　〃Pathfinder；　you　have　professed　love　for
me；　a　wish　to　make　me　your　wife？〃

〃I　did　ventur'　to　speak　on　that　subject；　Mabel；　and　the
Sergeant　has　even　lately　said　that　you　are　kindly　disposed；
but　I　am　not　a　man　to　persecute　the　thing　I　love。〃

〃Hear　me；　Pathfinder；　I　respect　you；　honor　you；　revere
you；　save　my　father　from　this　dreadful　death；　and　I　can
worship　you。　　Here　is　my　hand；　as　a　solemn　pledge　for
my　faith；　when　you　come　to　claim　it。〃

〃Bless　you；　bless　you；　Mabel；　this　is　more　than　I　desarve
…　more；　I　fear；　than　I　shall　know　how　to　profit　by　as　I
ought。　　It　was　not　wanting；　however；　to　make　me　sarve
the　Sergeant。　　We　are　old　comrades；　and　owe　each　other
a　life；　though　I　fear　me；　Mabel；　being　a　father's　comrade
is　not　always　the　best　recommendation　with　a　daughter。〃

〃You　want　no　other　recommendation　than　your　own
acts　　your　courage；　your　fidelity。　　All　that　you　do　and
say；　Pathfinder；　my　reason　approves；　and　the　heart　will；
nay；　it　_shall_　follow。〃

〃This　is　a　happiness　I　little　expected　this　night；　but
we　are　in　God's　hands；　and　He　will　protect　us　in　His　own
way。　　These　are　sweet　words；　Mabel；　but　they　were　not
wanting　to　make　me　do　all　that　man　can　do　in　the　present
circumstances；　they　will　not　lessen　my　endeavors；
neither。〃

〃Now　we　understand　each　other；　Pathfinder；〃　Mabel
added　hoarsely；　〃let　us　not　lose　one　of　the　precious　mo…
ments；　which　may　be　of　incalculable　value。　　Can　we　not
get　into　your　canoe　and　go　and　meet　my　father？〃

〃That　is　not　the　course　I　advise。　　I　don't　know　by
which　channel　the　Sergeant　will　come；　and　there　are
twenty；　rely　on　it；　the　Sarpent　will　be　winding　his　way
through　them　all。　　No；　no！　my　advice　is　to　remain　here。
The　logs　of　this　blockhouse　are　still　green；　and　it　will　not
be　easy　to　set　them　on　fire；　and　I　can　make　good　the
place；　bating　a　burning；　ag'in　a　tribe。　　The　Iroquois　nation
cannot　dislodge　me　from　this　fortress；　so　long　as　we　can
keep　the　flames　off　it。　　The　Sergeant　is　now　'camped　on
some　island；　and　will　not　come　in　until　morning。　　If　we
hold　the　block；　we　can　give　him　timely　warning；　by　firing
rifles；　for　instance；　and　should　he　determine　to　attack　the
savages；　as　a　man　of　his　temper　will　be　very　likely　to　do；
the　possession　of　this　building　will　be　of　great　account　in
the　affair。　　No；　no！　my　judgment　says　remain；　if　the　ob…
ject　be　to　sarve　the　Sergeant；　though　escape　for　our　two
selves　will　be　no　very　difficult　matter。〃

〃Stay；〃　murmured　Mabel；　〃stay；　for　God's　sake；　Path…
finder！　　Anything；　everything　to　save　my　father！〃

〃Yes；　that　is　natur'。　　I　am　glad　to　hear　you　say　this；
Mabel；　for　I　own　a　wish　to　see　the　Sergeant　fairly　sup…
ported。　　As　the　matter　now　stands；　he　has　gained　himself
credit；　and；　could　he　once　drive　off　these　miscreants；　and
make　an　honorable　retreat；　laying　the　huts　and　block　in
ashes；　no　doubt；　Lundie　would　remember　it　and　sarve　him
accordingly。　　Yes；　yes；　Mabel；　we　must　not　only　save　the
Sergeant's　life；　but　we　must　save　his　reputation。〃

〃No　blame　can　rest　on　my　father　on　account　of　the　sur…
prise　of　this　island。〃

〃There's　no　telling；　there's　no　telling；　military　glory　is
a　most　unsartain　thing。　　I've　seen　the　Delawares　routed；
when　they　desarved　more　credit　than　at　other　times　when
they've　carried　the　day。　　A　man　is　wrong　to　set　his　head
on　success　of　any　sort；　and　worst　of　all　on　success　in　war。
I　know　little　of　the　settlements；　or　of　the　notions　that
men　hold　in　them；　but　up　hereaway　even　the　Indians　rate
a　warrior's　character　according　to　his　luck。　　The　principal
thing　with　a　soldier　is　never　to　be　whipt；　nor　do　I　think
mankind　stops　long　to　consider　how　the　day　was　won　or
lost。　　For　my　part；　Mabel；　I　make　it　a　rule　when　facing
the　inimy　to　give　him　as　good　as　I　can　send；　and　to　try　to
be　moderate　after　a　defeat；　little　need　be　said　on　that
score；　as　a　flogging　is　one　of　the　most　humbling　things　in
natur'。　　The　parsons　preach　about　humility　in　the　garri…
son；　but　if　humility　would　make　Christians；　the　king's
troops　ought　to　be　saints；　for　they've　done　little　as　yet　this
war　but　take　lessons　from　the　French；　beginning　at　Fort
du　Quesne　and　ending　at　Ty。〃

〃My　father　could　not　have　suspected　that　the　position
of　the　island　was　known　to　the　enemy；〃　resumed　Mabel；
whose　thoughts　were　running　on　the　probable　effect　of　the
recent　events　on　the　Sergeant。

〃That　is　true；　nor　do　I　well　see　how　the　Frenchers
found　it　out。　　The　spot　is　well　chosen；　and　it　is　not　an
easy　matter；　even　for　one　who　has　travelled　the　road　to
and　from　it；　to　find　it　again。　　There　has　been　treachery；　I
fear；　yes；　yes；　there　must　have　been　treachery。〃

〃Oh；　Pathfinder！　can　this　be？〃

〃Nothing　is　easier；　Mabel；　for　treachery　comes　as　nat'ral
to　some　men　as　eating。　　Now　when　I　find　a　man　all　fair
words　I　look　close　to　his　deeds；　for　when　the　heart　is　right；
and　really　intends　to　do　good；　it　is　generally　satisfied　to　let
the　conduct　speak　instead　of　the　tongue。〃

〃Jasper　Western　is　not　one　of　these；〃　said　Mabel　impet…
uously。　　〃No　youth　can　be　more　sincere　in　his　manner；　or
less　apt　to　make　the　tongue　act　for　the　head。〃

〃Jasper　Western！　tongue　and　heart　are　both　right　with
that　lad；　depend　on　it；　Mabel；　and　the　notion　taken　up　by
Lundie；　and　the　Quartermaster；　and　the　Sergeant；　and
your　uncle　too；　is　as　wrong　as　it　would　be　to　think　that
the　sun　shone　by　night　and　the　stars　shone　by　day。　　No；
no；　I'll　answer　for　Eau…douce's　honesty　with　my　own
scalp；　or；　at　need；　with　my　own　rifle。〃

〃Bless　you；　bless　you；　Pathfinder！〃　exclaimed　Mabel；
extending　her　own　hand　and　pressing　the　iron　fingers　of
her　companion；　under　a　state　of　feeling　that　far　sur…
passed　her　own　consciousness　of　its　strength。　　〃You　are
all　that　is　generous；　all　that　is　noble！　　God　will　reward　you
for　it。〃

〃Ah；　Mabel；　I　fear　me；　if　this　be　true；　I　should　not　covet
such　a　wife　as　yourself；　but　would　leave　you　to　be　sued
for　by　some　gentleman　of　the　garrison；　as　your　desarts
require。〃

〃We　will　not　talk　of　this　any　more　to…night；〃　Mabel
answered　in　a　voice　so　smothered　as　to　seem　nearly　choked。
〃We　must　think　less　of　ourselves　just　now；　Pathfinder；
and　more　of　our　friends。　　But　I　rejoice　from　my　soul　that
you　believe　Jasper　innocent。　　Now　let　us　talk　of　other
things　　ought　we　not　to　release　June？〃

〃I've　been　thinking　about　the　woman；　for　it　will　not
be　safe　to　shut　our　eyes　and　leave　hers　open；　on　this　side
of　the　blockhouse　door。　　If　we　put　her　in　the　upper　room；
and　take　away　the　ladder；　she'll　be　a　prisoner　at　least。〃

〃I　cannot　treat　one　thus　who　has　saved　my　life。　　It
would　be　better　to　let　her　depart；　for　I　think　she　is　too
much　my　friend　to　do　anything　to　harm　me。〃

〃You　do　not　know　the　race；　Mabel；　you　do　not　know
the　race。　　It's　true　she's　not　a　full…blooded　Mingo；　but　she
consorts　with　the　vagabonds；　and　must　have　larned　some
of　their　tricks。　　What　is　that？〃

〃It　sounds　like　oars；　some　boat　is　passing　through　the
channel。〃

Pathfinder　closed　the　trap　that　led　to　the　lower　room；
to　prevent　June　from　escaping；　extinguished　the　candle；
and　went　hastily　to　a　loop；　Mabel　looking　over　his　shoulder
in　breathless　curiosity。　　These　several　movements　con…
sumed　a　minute　or　two；　and　by　the　time　the　eye　of　the
scout　had　got　a　dim　view　of　things　without；　two　boats　had
swept　past　and　shot　up　to　the　shore；　at　a　spot　some　fifty
yards　beyond　the　block；　where　there　was　a　regular　landing。
The　obscurity　prevented　more　from　being　seen；　and　Path…
finder　whispered　to　Mabel　that　the　new…comers　were　as
likely　to　be　foes　as　friends；　for　he　did　not　think　her　father
could　possibly　have　arr