the pathfinder-第75章

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Muir　to　do　the　same　thing　when　we　were　captured　by　these
chaps　you　call　vagabonds　　and　rightly　are　they　named；　for
viler　vagabonds　do　not　walk　the　earth　　〃

〃You've　found　out　their　characters？〃　interrupted
Pathfinder；　who　was　always　as　ready　to　chime　in　with
abuse　of　the　Mingos　as　with　the　praises　of　his　friends。
〃Now；　had　you　fallen　into　the　hands　of　the　Delawares；
you　would　have　learned　the　difference。〃

〃Well；　to　me　they　seem　much　of　a　muchness；　black…
guards　fore　and　aft；　always　excepting　our　friend　the　Ser…
pent；　who　is　a　gentleman　for　an　Indian。　　But；　when　these
savages　made　the　assault　on　us；　killing　Corporal　M'Nab
and　his　men　as　if　they　had　been　so　many　rabbits；　Lieuten…
ant　Muir　and　myself　took　refuge　in　one　of　the　holes　of
this　here　island；　of　which　there　are　so　many　among　the
rocks；　and　there　we　remained　stowed　away　like　two　leaguers
in　a　ship's　hold；　until　we　gave　out　for　want　of　grub。　　A
man　may　say　that　grub　is　the　foundation　of　human　nature。
I　desired　the　Quartermaster　to　make　terms；　for　we　could
have　defended　ourselves　for　an　hour　or　two　in　the　place；
bad　as　it　was；　but　he　declined；　on　the　ground　that　the
knaves　wouldn't　keep　faith　if　any　of　them　were　hurt；　and
so　there　was　no　use　in　asking　them　to。　　I　consented　to
strike；　on　two　principles；　one；　that　we　might　be　said　to
have　struck　already；　for　running　below　is　generally　thought
to　be　giving　up　the　ship；　and　the　other；　that　we　had　an
enemy　in　our　stomachs　that　was　more　formidable　in　his
attacks　than　the　enemy　on　deck。　　Hunger　is　a　dble
circumstance；　as　any　man　who　has　lived　on　it　eight…and…
forty　hours　will　acknowledge。〃

〃Uncle；〃　said　Mabel　in　a　mournful　voice　and　with　an
expostulatory　manner；　〃my　poor　father　is　sadly；　sadly
hurt！〃

〃True；　Magnet；　true；　I　will　sit　by　him；　and　do　my　best
at　consolation。　　Are　the　bars　well　fastened；　girl？　for　on
such　an　occasion　the　mind　should　be　tranquil　and　undis…
turbed。〃

〃We　are　safe；　I　believe；　from　all　but　this　heavy　blow　of
Providence。〃

〃Well；　then；　Magnet；　do　you　go　up　to　the　floor　above
and　try　to　compose　yourself；　while　Pathfinder　runs　aloft
and　takes　a　look…out　from　the　cross…trees。　　Your　father
may　wish　to　say　something　to　me　in　private；　and　it　may　be
well　to　leave　us　alone。　　These　are　solemn　scenes；　and　in…
experienced　people；　like　myself；　do　not　always　wish　what
they　say　to　be　overheard。〃

Although　the　idea　of　her　uncle's　affording　religious　con…
solation　by　the　side　of　a　death…bed　certainly　never　ob…
truded　itself　on　the　imagination　of　Mabel；　she　thought
there　might　be　a　propriety　in　the　request　with　which　she
was　unacquainted；　and　she　complied　accordingly。　　Path…
finder　had　already　ascended　to　the　roof　to　make　his　sur…
vey；　and　the　brothers…in…law　were　left　alone。　　Cap　took　a
seat　by　the　side　of　the　Sergeant；　and　bethought　him　seri…
ously　of　the　grave　duty　he　had　before　him。　　A　silence　of
several　minutes　succeeded；　during　which　brief　space　the
mariner　was　digesting　the　substance　of　his　intended　dis…
course。

〃I　must　say；　Sergeant　Dunham；〃　Cap　at　length　com…
menced　in　his　peculiar　manner；　〃that　there　has　been　mis…
management　somewhere　in　this　unhappy　expedition；　and；
the　present　being　an　occasion　when　truth　ought　to　be
spoken；　and　nothing　but　the　truth；　I　feel　it　my　duty　to　be
say　as　much　in　plain　language。　　In　short；　Sergeant；　on
this　point　there　cannot　well　be　two　opinions；　for；　seaman
as　I　am；　and　no　soldier；　I　can　see　several　errors　myself；
that　it　needs　no　great　education　to　detect。〃

〃What　would　you　have；　brother　Cap？〃　returned　the
other　in　a　feeble　voice；　〃what　is　done　is　done；　and　it　is
now　too　late　to　remedy　it。〃

〃Very　true；　brother　Dunham；　but　not　to　repent　of　it；
the　Good　Book　tells　us　it　is　never　too　late　to　repent；　and
I've；　always　neard　that　this　is　the　precious　moment。　　If
you've　anything　on　your　mind；　Sergeant；　hoist　it　out　freely；
for；　you　know；　you　trust　it　to　a　friend。　　You　were　my　own
sister's　husband；　and　poor　little　Magnet　is　my　own　sister's
daughter；　and；　living　or　dead；　I　shall　always　look　upon
you　as　a　brother。　　It's　a　thousand　pities　that　you　didn't
lie　off　and　on　with　the　boats；　and　send　a　canoe　ahead　to
reconnoitre；　in　which　case　your　command　would　have
been　saved；　and　this　disaster　would　not　have　befallen　us
all。　　Well；　Sergeant；　we　are　_all_　mortal；　that　is　some　con…
solation；　I　make　no　doubt；　and　if　you　go　before　a　little；
why；　we　must　follow。　　Yes；　that　_must_　give　you　consola…
tion。〃

〃I　know　all　this；　brother　Cap；　and　hope　I'm　prepared
to　meet　a　soldier's　fate　　there　is　poor　Mabel　　〃

〃Ay；　ay；　that's　a　heavy　drag；　I　know；　but　you　wouldn't
take　her　with　you　if　you　could；　Sergeant；　and　so　the　better
way　is　to　make　as　light　of　the　separation　as　you　can。
Mabel　is　a　good　girl；　and　so　was　her　mother　before　her；
she　was　my　sister；　and　it　shall　be　my　care　to　see　that　her
daughter　gets　a　good　husband；　if　our　lives　and　scalps　are
spared；　for　I　suppose　no　one　would　care　about　entering
into　a　family　that　has　no　scalps。〃

〃Brother；　my　child　is　betrothed；　she　will　become　the
wife　of　Pathfinder。〃

〃Well；　brother　Dunham；　every　man　has　his　opinions
and　his　manner　of　viewing　things；　and；　to　my　notion；　this
match　will　be　anything　but　agreeable　to　Mabel。　　I　have
no　objection　to　the　age　of　the　man；　I'm　not　one　of　them
that　thinks　it　necessary　to　be　a　boy　to　make　a　girl　happy；
but；　on　the　whole；　I　prefer　a　man　of　about　fifty　for　a　hus…
band；　still　there　ought　not　to　be　any　circumstance　be…
tween　the　parties　to　make　them　unhappy。　　Circumstances
play　the　devil　with　matrimony；　and　I　set　it　down　as　one
that　Pathfinder　don't　know　as　much　as　my　niece。　　You've
seen　but　little　of　the　girl；　Sergeant；　and　have　not　got　the
run　of　her　knowledge；　but　let　her　pay　it　out　freely；　as　she
will　do　when　she　gets　to　be　thoroughly　acquainted；　and
you'll　fall　in　with　but　few　schoolmasters　that　can　keep
their　luffs　in　her　company。〃

〃She's　a　good　child　　a　dear；　good　child；〃　muttered　the
Sergeant；　his　eyes　filling　with　tears；　〃and　it　is　my　mis…
fortune　that　I　have　seen　so　little　of　her。〃

〃She　is　indeed　a　good　girl；　and　knows　altogether　too
much　for　poor　Pathfinder；　who　is　a　reasonable　man　and　an
experienced　man　in　his　own　way；　but　who　has　no　more
idea　of　the　main　chance　than　you　have　of　spherical　trigo…
nometry；　Sergeant。〃

〃Ah；　brother　Cap；　had　Pathfinder　been　with　us　in　the
boats　this　sad　affair　might　not　have　happened！〃

〃That　is　quite　likely；　for　his　worst　enemy　will　allow
that　the　man　is　a　good　guide；　but　then；　Sergeant；　if　the
truth　must　be　spoken；　you　have　managed　this　expedition
in　a　loose　way　altogether。　　You　should　have　hove…to　off
your　haven；　and　sent　in　a　boat　to　reconnoitre；　as　I　told
you　before。　　That　is　a　matter　to　be　repented　of？　and　I
tell　it　to　you；　because　truth；　in　such　a　case；　ought　to　be
spoken。〃

〃My　errors　are　dearly　paid　for；　brother；　and　poor　Mabel；
I　fear；　will　be　the　sufferer。　　I　think；　however；　that　the
calamity　would　not　have　happened　had　there　not　been
treason。　　I　fear　me；　brother；　that　Jasper　Eau…douce　has
played　us　false。〃

〃That　is　just　my　notion；　for　this　fresh…water　life　must
sooner　or　later　undermine　any　man's　morals。　　Lieutenant
Muir　and　myself　talked　this　matter　over　while　we　lay　in　a
bit　of　a　hole　out　here；　on　this　island；　and　we　both　came
to　the　conclusion　that　nothing　short　of　Jasper's　treachery
could　have　brought　us　all　into　this　infernal　scrape。　　Well；
Sergeant；　you　had　better　compose　your　mind；　and　think
of　other　matters；　for；　when　a　vessel　is　about　to　enter　a
strange　port；　it　is　more　prudent　to　think　of　the　anchorage
inside　than　to　be　under…running　all　the　events　that　have
turned　up　during　the　v'y'ge。　　There's　the　log…book　ex…
pressly　to　note　all　these　matters　in；　and　what　stands　there
must　form　the　column　of　figures　that's　to　be　posted　up　for
or　against　us。　　How　now；　Pathfinder！　is　there　anything　in
the　wind；　that　you　come　down　the　ladder　like　an　Indian
in　the　wake　of　a　scalp？〃

The　guide　raised　a　finger　for　silence　and　then　beckoned
to　Cap　to　ascend　the　first　ladder；　and　to　allow　Mabel　to
take　his　place　at　the　side　of　the　Sergeant。

〃We　must　be　prudent；　and　we　must　be　bold　too；〃　said
he　in　a　low　voice。　　〃The　riptyles　are　in　earnest　in　their
intention　to　fire　the　block；　for　they　know　there　is　now
nothing　to　be　gained　by　letting　it　stand。　　I　hear　the　voice
of　that　vagabond　Arrowhead　among　them；　and　he　is　urg…
ing　them　to　set　about　their　devilry　this　very　night。　　We
must　be　stirring；　Saltwater；　and　doing　too。　　Luckily　there
are　four　or　five　barrels　of　water　in　the　block；　and　these　are
something　towards　a　siege。　　My　reckoning　is　wrong；　too；
or　we　shall　yet　reap　some　advantage　from　that　honest　fel…
low's；　the　Sarpent；　being　at　liberty。〃

Cap　did　not　wait　for　a　second　invitation；　but；　stealing
away；　he　was　soon　in　the　upper　room　with　Pathfinder；
while　Mabel　took　his　post　at　the　side　of　her　father's　humble
bed。　　Pathfinder　had　opened　a　loop；　having　so　far　con…
cealed　the　light　that　it　would　not　expose　him　to　a　treacher…
ous　shot；　and；　expecting　a　summons；　he　stood　with　his
face　near　the　hole；　ready　to　answer。　　The　stillness　that
succeeded　was　at　length　broken　by　the　voice　of　Muir。

〃Master　Pathfinder；〃　called　out　the　Scotchman；　〃a
friend　summons　you　to　a　parley。　　Come　freely　to　one　of
the　loops；　for　you've　nothing　to　fear　so　long　as　you　are
in　converse　with　an　officer　of　the　55th。〃

〃What　is　your　will；　Quartermaster？　what　is　your　will？
I　know　the　55th；　and　believe　it　to　be　a　brave　regiment；
though　I　rather　incline　to　the　60th　as　my　favorite；　and　to
the　Delawares　more　than　to　either；　but　what　would　you
have；　Quartermaster？　　It　must　be　a　pressing　errand　that
brings　you　under　the　loops　of　a　blockhouse　at　this　hour　of
the　night；　with　the　sartainty　of　Killdeer　being　inside　of　it。〃

〃Oh；　you'll　no'　harm　a　friend；　Pathfinder；　I'm　certain；
and　that's　my　security。　　You're　a　man　of　judgment；　and
have　gained　too　great　a　name　on　this　frontier　for　bravery
to　feel　the　necessity　of　foolhardiness　to　obtain　a　character。
You'll　very　well　understand；　my　good　friend；　there　is　as
much　credit　to　be　gained　by　submitting　gracefully；　when
resistance　becomes　impossible；　as　by　obstinately　holding
out　contrary　to　the　rules　of　war。　　The　enemy　is　too　strong
for　us；　my　brave　comrade；　and　I　come　to　counsel　you　to
give　up　the　block；　on　condition　of　being　treated　as　a　pris…
oner　of　war。〃

〃I　thank　you　for　this　advice；　Quartermaster；　which　is
the　more　acceptable　as　it　costs　nothing；　but　I　do　not
think　it　belongs　to　my　gifts　to　yield　a　place　like　this　while
food　and　water　last。〃

〃Well；　I'd　be　the　last；　Pathfinder；　to　recommend　any…
thing　against　so　brave　a　resolution；　did　I　see　the　means　of
maintaining　it。　　But　ye'll　remember　that　Master　Cap　has
fallen。〃

〃Not　he；　not　he！〃　roared　the　individual　in　question
through　another　loop；　〃and　so　far　from　that；　Lieutenant；
he　has　risen　to　the　height　of　this　here　fortification；　and
has　no　mind　to　put　his　head　of　hair　into　the　hands　of　such
barbers　again；　so　long　as　he　can　help　it。　　I　look　upon　this
blockhouse　as　a　circumstance；　and　have　no　mind　to　throw
it　away。〃

〃If　that　is　a　living　voice；〃　returned　Muir；　〃I　am　glad
to　hear　it；　for　we　all　thought　the　man　had