the pathfinder-第73章

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likely　to　be　foes　as　friends；　for　he　did　not　think　her　father
could　possibly　have　arrived　so　soon。　　A　number　of　men
were　now　seen　to　quit　the　boats；　and　then　followed　three
hearty　English　cheers；　leaving　no　further　doubts　of　the
character　of　the　party。　　Pathfinder　sprang　to　the　trap；
raised　it；　glided　down　the　ladder；　and　began　to　unbar　the
door；　with　an　earnestness　that　proved　how　critical　he
deemed　the　moment。　　Mabel　had　followed；　but　she　rather
impeded　than　aided　his　exertions；　and　but　a　single　bar
was　turned　when　a　heavy　discharge　of　rifles　was　heard。
They　were　still　standing　in　breathless　suspense；　as　the
war…whoop　rang　in　all　the　surrounding　thickets。　　The
door　now　opened；　and　both　Pathfinder　and　Mabel　rushed
into　the　open　air。　　All　human　sounds　had　ceased。　　After
listening　half　a　minute；　however；　Pathfinder　thought　he
heard　a　few　stifled　groans　near　the　boats；　but　the　wind
blew　so　fresh；　and　the　rustling　of　the　leaves　mingled　so
much　with　the　murmurs　of　the　passing　air；　that　he　was　far
from　certain。　　But　Mabel　was　borne　away　by　her　feel…
ings；　and　she　rushed　by　him；　taking　the　way　towards　the
boats。

〃This　will　not　do；　Mabel；〃　said　the　scout　in　an　earnest
but　low　voice；　seizing　her　by　an　arm；　〃this　will　never　do。
Sartain　death　would　follow；　and　that　without　sarving　any
one。　　We　must　return　to　the　block。〃

〃Father！　my　poor；　dear；　murdered　father！〃　said　the
girl　wildly；　though　habitual　caution；　even　at　that　trying
moment；　induced　her　to　speak　low。　　〃Pathfinder；　if　you
love　me；　let　me　go　to　my　dear　father。〃

〃This　will　not　do；　Mabel。　　It　is　singular　that　no　one
speaks；　no　one　returns　the　fire　from　the　boats；　and　I　have
left　Killdeer　in　the　block！　　But　of　what　use　would　a　rifle
be　when　no　one　is　to　be　seen？〃

At　that　moment　the　quick　eye　of　Pathfinder；　which；
whiel　he　held　Mabel　firmly　in　his　grasp；　had　never　ceased
to　roam　over　the　dim　scene；　caught　an　indistinct　view　of
five　or　six　dark　crouching　forms；　endeavoring　to　steal　past
him；　doubtless　with　the　intention　of　intercepting　the　re…
treat　to　the　blockhouse。　　Catching　up　Mabel；　and　putting
her　under　an　arm；　as　if　she　were　an　infant；　the　sinewy
frame　of　the　woodsman　was　exerted　to　the　utmost；　and　he
succeeded　in　entering　the　building。　　The　tramp　of　his
pursuers　seemed　immediately　at　his　heels。　　Dropping　his
burden；　he　turned；　closed　the　door；　and　had　fastened　one
bar；　as　a　rush　against　the　solid　mass　threatened　to　force　it
from　the　hinges。　　To　secure　the　other　bars　was　the　work
of　an　instant。

Mabel　now　ascended　to　the　first　floor；　while　Pathfinder
remained　as　a　sentinel　below。　　Our　heroine　was　in　that
state　in　which　the　body　exerts　itself；　apparently　without
the　control　of　the　mind。　　She　relighted　the　candle　me…
chanically；　as　her　companion　had　desired；　and　returned
with　it　below；　where　he　was　waiting　her　reappearance。　　No
sooner　was　Pathfinder　in　possession　of　the　light　than　he
examined　the　place　carefully；　to　make　certain　no　one　was
concealed　in　the　fortress；　ascending　to　each　floor　in　suc…
cession；　after　assuring　himself　that　he　left　no　enemy　in　his
rear。　　The　result　was　the　conviction　that　the　blockhouse
now　contained　no　one　but　Mabel　and　himself；　June　having
escaped。　　When　perfectly　convinced　on　this　material　point；
Pathfinder　rejoined　our　heroine　in　the　principal　apart…
ment；　setting　down　the　light　and　examining　the　priming
of　Killdeer　before　he　seated　himself。

〃Our　worst　fears　are　realized！〃　said　Mabel；　to　whom
the　hurry　and　excitement　of　the　last　five　minutes　appeared
to　contain　the　emotions　of　a　life。　　〃My　beloved　father　and
all　his　party　are　slain　or　captured！〃

〃We　don't　know　that　　morning　will　tell　us　all。　　I　do
not　think　the　affair　so　settled　as　that；　or　we　should　hear
the　vagabond　Mingos　yelling　out　their　triumph　around
the　blockhouse。　　Of　one　thing　we　may　be　sartain；　if　the
inimy　has　really　got　the　better；　he　will　not　be　long　in　call…
ing　upon　us　to　surrender。　　The　squaw　will　let　him　into
the　secret　of　our　situation；　and；　as　they　well　know　the
place　cannot　be　fired　by　daylight；　so　long　as　Killdeer　con…
tinues　to　desarve　his　reputation；　you　may　depend　on　it　that
they　will　not　be　backward　in　making　their　attempt　while
darkness　helps　them。〃

〃Surely　I　hear　a　groan！〃

〃'Tis　fancy；　Mabel；　when　the　mind　gets　to　be　skeary；
especially　a　woman's　mind；　she　often　concaits　things　that
have　no　reality。　　I've　known　them　that　imagined　there　was
truth　in　dreams。〃

〃Nay；　I　am　_not_　deceived；　there　is　surely　one　below；　and
in　pain。〃

Pathfinder　was　compelled　to　own　that　the　quick　senses
of　Mabel　had　not　deceived　her。　　He　cautioned　her；　how…
ever；　to　repress　her　feelings；　and　reminded　her　that　the
savages　were　in　the　practice　of　resorting　to　every　artifice
to　attain　their　ends；　and　that　nothing　was　more　likely　than
that　the　groans　were　feigned　with　a　view　to　lure　them　from
the　blockhouse；　or；　at　least；　to　induce　them　to　open　the
door。

〃No；　no；　no！〃　said　Mabel　hurriedly；　〃there　is　no　arti…
fice　in　those　sounds；　and　they　come　from　anguish　of　body；
if　not　of　spirit。　　They　are　fearfully　natural。〃

〃Well；　we　shall　soon　know　whether　a　friend　is　there　or
not。　　Hide　the　light　again；　Mabel；　and　I　will　speak　the
person　from　a　loop。〃

Not　a　little　precaution　was　necessary；　according　to　Path…
finder's　judgment　and　experience；　in　performing　even　this
simple　act；　for　he　had　known　the　careless　slain　by　their
want　of　proper　attention　to　what　might　have　seemed　to
the　ignorant　supererogatory　means　of；　safety。　　He　did　not
place　his　mouth　to　the　loop　itself；　but　so　near　it　that　he
could　be　heard　without　raising　his　voice；　and　the　same
precaution　was　observed　as　regards　his　ear。

〃Who　is　below？〃　Pathfinder　demanded；　when　his　ar…
rangements　were　made　to　his　mind。　　〃Is　any　one　in　suf…
fering？　　If　a　friend；　speak　boldly；　and　depend　on　our　aid。〃

〃Pathfinder！〃　answered　a　voice　that　both　Mabel　and
the　person　addressed　at　once　knew　to　be　the　Sergeant's；　
〃Pathfinder；　in　the　name　of　God；　tell　me　what　has　become
of　my　daughter。〃

〃Father；　I　am　here；　unhurt；　safe！　and　oh　that　I　could
think　the　same　of　you！〃

The　ejaculation　of　thanksgiving　that　followed　was　dis…
tinctly　audible　to　the　two；　but　it　was　clearly　mingled　with；
a　groan　of　pain。

〃My　worst　forebodings　are　realized！〃　said　Mabel　with
a　sort　of　desperate　calmness。　　〃Pathfinder；　my　father　must
be　brought　within　the　block；　though　we　hazard　everything
to　do　it。〃

〃This　is　natur'；　and　it　is　the　law　of　God。　　But；　Mabel；
be　calm；　and　endivor　to　be　cool。　　All　that　can　be　effected
for　the　Sergeant　by　human　invention　shall　be　done。　　I
only　ask　you　to　be　cool。〃

〃I　am；　I　am；　Pathfinder。　　Never　in　my　life　was　I　more
calm；　more　collected；　than　at　this　moment。　　But　remem…
ber　how　perilous　may　be　every　instant；　for　Heaven's　sake；
what　we　do；　let　us　do　without　delay。〃

Pathfinder　was　struck　with　the　firmnesss　of　Mabel's
tones；　and　perhaps　he　was　a　little　deceived　by　the　forced
tranquillity　and　self…possession　she　had　assumed。　　At　all
events；　he　did　not　deem　any　further　explanations　neces…
sary；　but　descended　forthwith；　and　began　to　unbar　the
door。　　This　delicate　process　was　conducted　with　the　usual
caution；　but；　as　he　warily　permitted　the　mass　of　timber　to
swing　back　on　the　hinges；　he　felt　a　pressure　against　it；　that
had　nearly　induced　him　to　close　it　again。　　But；　catching　a
glimpse　of　the　cause　through　the　crack；　the　door　was　per…
mitted　to　swing　back；　when　the　body　of　Sergeant　Dunham；
which　was　propped　against　it；　fell　partly　within　the　block。
To　draw　in　the　legs　and　secure　the　fastenings　occupied　the
Pathfinder　but　a　moment。　　Then　there　existed　no　obstacle
to　their　giving　their　undivided　care　to　the　wounded　man。

Mabel；　in　this　trying　scene；　conducted　herself　with　the
sort　of　unnatural　energy　that　her　sex；　when　aroused；　is　apt
to　manifest。　　She　got　the　light；　administered　water　to　the
parched　lips　of　her　father；　and　assisted　Pathfinder　in　form…
ing　a　bed　of　straw　for　his　body　and　a　pillow　of　clothes　for
his　head。　　All　this　was　done　earnestly；　and　almost　without
speaking；　nor　did　Mabel　shed　a　tear；　until　she　heard　the
blessings　of　her　father　murmured　on　her　head　for　this
tenderness　and　care。　　All　this　time　Mabel　had　merely　con…
jectured　the　condition　of　her　parent。　　Pathfinder；　how…
ever；　had　shown　greater　attention　to　the　physical　danger
of　the　Sergeant。　　He　had　ascertained　that　a　rifle…ball　had
passed　through　the　body　of　the　wounded　man；　and　he　was
sufficiently　familiar　with　injuries　of　this　nature　to　be　cer…
tain　that　the　chances　of　his　surviving　the　hurt　were　very
trifling；　if　any。



CHAPTER　XXIV。

Then　drink　my　tears；　while　yet　they　fall　
Would　that　my　bosom's　blood　were　balm；
And　　well　thou　knowest　　I'd　shed　it　all；
To　give　thy　brow　one　minute's　calm。
MOORE。


The　eyes　of　Sergeant　Dunham　had　not　ceased　to　follow
the　form　of　his　beautiful　daughter　from　the　moment　that
the　light　appeared。　　He　next　examined　the　door　of　the
block；　to　ascertain　its　security；　for　he　was　left　on　the
ground　below；　there　being　no　available　means　of　raising
him　to　the　upper　floor。　　Then　he　sought　the　face　of　Mabel；
for　as　life　wanes　fast　the　affections　resume　their　force；　and
we　begin　to　value　that　most　which　we　feel　we　are　about　to
lose　for　ever。

〃God　be　praised；　my　child！　you；　at　least；　have　escaped
their　murderous　rifles；〃　he　said；　for　he　spoke　with
strength；　and　seemingly　with　no　additional　pain。　　〃Give
me　the　history　of　this　sad　business；　Pathfinder。〃

〃Ah's　me；　Sergeant！　it　_has_　been　sad；　as　you　say。　　That
there　has　been　treachery；　and　the　position　of　the　island
has　been　betrayed；　is　now　as　sartain；　in　my　judgment；　as
that　we　still　hold　the　block。　　But　　〃

〃Major　Duncan　was　right；〃　interrupted　Dunham；　laying
a　hand　on　the　other's　arm。

〃Not　in　the　sense　you　mean；　Sergeant　　no；　not　in　that
p'int　of　view；　never！　　At　least；　not　in　my　opinion。　　I
know　that　natur'　is　weak　　human　natur'；　I　mean　　and
that　we　should　none　of　us　vaunt　of　our　gifts；　whether　red
or　white；　but　I　do　not　think　a　truer…hearted　lad　lives　on
the　lines　than　Jasper　Western。〃

〃Bless　you！　bless　you　for　that；　Pathfinder！〃　burst　forth
from　Mabel's　very　soul；　while　a　flood　of　tears　gave　vent　to
emotions　that　were　so　varied　while　they　were　so　violent。
〃Oh；　bless　you；　Pathfinder；　bless　you！　　The　brave　should
never　desert　the　brave　　the　honest　should　sustain　the
honest。〃

The　father's　eyes　were　fastened　anxiously　on　the　face
of　his　daughter；　until　the　latter　hid　her　countenance　in
her　apron　to　conceal　her　tears；　and　then　they　turned　with
inquiry　to　the　hard　features　of　the　guide。　　The　latter
merely　wore　their　usual　expression　of　frankness；　sincerity；
and　uprightness；　and　the　Sergeant　motioned　to　him　to
proceed。

〃You　know　the　spot　where　the　Sarpent　and　I　left　you；
Sergeant；〃　Pathfinder　resumed；　〃and　I　need　say　nothing
of　all　that　happened　afore。　　It　is　now　too　late　to　regret
what　is　gone　and　passed；　but　I　do　think　if　I　had　stayed
with　the　boats　this　would　not　have　come　to　pass。　　Other
men　may　be　as　good　guides　　I　make　no　doubt　they　are；
but　then　natur'　bestows　its　gifts；　and　some　must　be　better
than　other　some。　　I　daresay　poor　Gilbert；　who　took　my
place；　has　suffered　for　his　mistake。〃