the pathfinder-第84章

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it　was　not　in　a　matter　to　disturb　a　man's　conscience　in　his
last　moments。　　The　first　time　was　when　I　found　in　the
woods　a　pack　of　skins　that　I　knowed　belonged　to　a　Frencher
who　was　hunting　on　our　side　of　the　lines；　where　he　had
no　business　to　be；　twenty…six　as　handsome　beavers　as　ever
gladdened　human　eyes。　　Well；　that　was　a　sore　tempta…
tion；　for　I　thought　the　law　would　have　been　almost　with
me；　although　it　was　in　peace　times。　　But　then；　I　remem…
bered　that　such　laws　wasn't　made　for　us　hunters；　and　be…
thought　me　that　the　poor　man　might　have　built　great
expectations　for　the　next　winter　on　the　sale　of　his　skins；
and　I　left　them　where　they　lay。　　Most　of　our　people　said
I　did　wrong；　but　the　manner　in　which　I　slept　that　night
convinced　me　that　I　had　done　right。　　The　next　trial　was
when　I　found　the　rifle　that　is　sartainly　the　only　one　in　this
part　of　the　world　that　can　be　calculated　on　as　surely　as
Killdeer；　and　knowed　that　by　taking　it；　or　even　hiding　it；
I　might　at　once　rise　to　be　the　first　shot　in　all　these　parts。
I　was　then　young；　and　by　no　means　so　expart　as　I　have
since　got　to　be；　and　youth　is　ambitious　and　striving；　but；
God　be　praised！　　I　mastered　that　feeling；　and；　friend　Cap；
what　is　almost　as　good；　I　mastered　my　rival　in　as　fair　a
shooting…match　as　was　ever　witnessed　in　a　garrison；　he
with　his　piece；　and　I　with　Killdeer；　and　before　the　Gene…
ral　in　person　too！〃　　Here　Pathfinder　stopped　to　laugh；　his
triumph　still　glittering　in　his　eyes　and　glowing　on　his　sun…
burnt　and　browned　cheek。　　〃Well；　the　next　conflict　with
the　devil　was　the　hardest　of　them　all；　and　that　was　when
I　came　suddenly　upon　a　camp　of　six　Mingos　asleep　in　the
woods；　with　their　guns　and　horns　piled　in　away　that　en…
abled　me　to　get　possession　of　them　without　waking　a　mis…
creant　of　them　all。　　What　an　opportunity　that　would　have
been　for　the　Sarpent；　who　would　have　despatched　them；
one　after　another；　with　his　knife；　and　had　their　six　scalps
at　his　girdle；　in　about　the　time　it　takes　me　to　tell　you　the
story。　　Oh；　he's　a　valiant　warrior；　that　Chingachgook；　and
as　honest　as　he's　brave；　and　as　good　as　he's　honest！〃

〃And　what　may　_you_　have　done　in　this　matter；　Master
Pathfinder？〃　demanded　Cap；　who　began　to　be　interested
in　the　result；　〃it　seems　to　me　you　had　made　either　a　very
lucky；　or　a　very　unlucky　landfall。〃

〃'Twas　lucky；　and　'twas　unlucky；　if　you　can　understand
that。　　'Twas　unlucky；　for　it　proved　a　desperate　trial；　and
yet　'twas　lucky；　all　things　considered；　in　the　ind。　　I　did
not　touch　a　hair　of　their　heads；　for　a　white　man　has　no
nat'ral　gifts　to　take　scalps；　nor　did　I　even　make　sure　of
one　of　their　rifles。　　I　distrusted　myself；　knowing　that　a
Mingo　is　no　favorite　in　my　own　eyes。〃

〃As　for　the　scalps；　I　think　you　were　right　enough；　my
worthy　friend；　but　as　for　the　armament　and　the　stores；
they　would　have　been　condemned　by　any　prize…court　in
Christendom。〃

〃That　they　would；　that　they　would；　but　then　the　Mingos
would　have　gone　clear；　seeing　that　a　white　man　can　no
more　attack　an　unarmed　than　a　sleeping　inimy。　　No；　no；
I　did　myself；　and　my　color；　and　my　religion　too；　greater
justice。　　I　waited　till　their　nap　was　over；　and　they　well　on
their　war…path　again；　and；　by　ambushing　them　here　and
flanking　them　there；　I　peppered　the　blackguards　intrinsi…
cally　like〃　（Pathfinder　occasionally　caught　a　fine　word
from　his　associates；　and　used　it　a　little　vaguely）；　〃that　only
one　ever　got　back　to　his　village；　and　he　came　into　his　wig…
wam　limping。　　Luckily；　as　it　turned　out；　the　great　Dela…
ware　had　only　halted　to　jerk　some　venison；　and　was　follow…
ing　on　my　trail；　and　when　he　got　up　he　had　five　of　the
scoundrels'　scalps　hanging　where　they　ought　to　be；　so；　you
see；　nothing　was　lost　by　doing　right；　either　in　the　way　of
honor　or　in　that　of　profit。〃

Cap　grunted　an　assent；　though　the　distinctions　in　his
companion's　morality；　it　must　be　owned；　were　not　exactly
clear　to　his　understanding。　　The　two　had　occasionally
moved　towards　the　block　as　they　conversed；　and　then
stopped　again　as　some　matter　of　more　interest　than　com…
mon　brought　them　to　a　halt。　　They　were　now　so　near　the
building；　however；　that　neither　thought　of　pursuing　the
subject　any　further；　but　each　prepared　himself　for　the　final
scene　with　Sergeant　Dunham。



CHAPTER　XXVIII。

Thou　barraine　ground；　whom　winter's　wrath　hath　wasted；
　　　Art　made　a　mirror　to　behold　my　plight：
Whilome　thy　fresh　spring　flower'd：　and　after　hasted
　　　Thy　summer　proude；　with　daffodillies　dight；
And　now　is　come　thy　winter's　stormy　state；
Thy　mantle　mar'd　wherein　thou　maskedst　late。
SPENSER。


Although　the　soldier　may　regard　danger　and　even
death　with　indifference　in　the　tumult　of　battle；　when　the
passage　of　the　soul　is　delayed　to　moments　of　tranquillity
and　reflection　the　change　commonly　brings　with　it　the
usual　train　of　solemn　reflections；　of　regrets　for　the　past；
and　of　doubts　and　anticipations　for　the　future。　　Many　a
man　has　died　with　a　heroic　expression　on　his　lips；　but　with
heaviness　and　distrust　at　his　heart；　for；　whatever　may　be
the　varieties　of　our　religious　creeds；　let　us　depend　on　the
mediation　of　Christ；　the　dogmas　of　Mahomet；　or　the　elab…
orated　allegories　of　the　East；　there　is　a　conviction；　common
to　all　men；　that　death　is　but　the　stepping…stone　between
this　and　a　more　elevated　state　of　being。　　Sergeant　Dun…
ham　was　a　brave　man；　but　he　was　departing　for　a　country
in　which　resolution　could　avail　him　nothing；　and　as　he
felt　himself　gradually　loosened　from　the　grasp　of　the　world；
his　thoughts　and　feelings　took　the　natural　direction；　for
if　it　be　true　that　death　is　the　great　leveller；　in　nothing　is
it　more　true　than　that　it　reduces　all　to　the　same　views　of
the　vanity　of　life。

Pathfinder；　though　a　man　of　peculiar　habits　and　opin…
ions；　was　always　thoughtful；　and　disposed　to　view　the
things　around　him　with　a　shade　of　philosophy；　as　well　as
with　seriousness。　　In　him；　therefore；　the　scene　in　the
blockhouse　awakened　no　very　novel　feelings。　　But　the
case　was　different　with　Cap：　rude；　opinionated；　dogmati…
cal；　and　boisterous；　the　old　sailor　was　little　accustomed　to
view　even　death　with　any　approach　to　the　gravity　which
its　importance　demands；　and　notwithstanding　all　that　had
passed；　and　his　real　regard　for　his　brother…in…law；　he　now
entered　the　room　of　the　dying　man　with　much　of　that
callous　unconcern　which　was　the　fruit　of　long　training　in
a　school　that；　while　it　gives　so　many　lessons　in　the　sublim…
est　truths；　generally　wastes　its　admonitions　on　scholars
who　are　little　disposed　to　profit　by　them。

The　first　proof　that　Cap　gave　of　his　not　entering　so　fully
as　those　around　him　into　the　solemnity　of　the　moment；
was　by　commencing　a　narration　of　the　events　which　had
just　led　to　the　deaths　of　Muir　and　Arrowhead。　　〃Both
tripped　their　anchors　in　a　hurry；　brother　Dunham；〃　he
concluded；　〃and　you　have　the　consolation　of　knowing
that　others　have　gone　before　you　in　the　great　journey；　and
they；　too；　men　whom　you've　no　particular　reason　to　love；
which　to　me；　were　I　placed　in　your　situation；　would　be　a
source　of　very　great　satisfaction。　　My　mother　always　said；
Master　Pathfinder；　that　dying　people's　spirits　should　not
be　damped；　but　that　they　ought　to　be　encouraged　by　all
proper　and　prudent　means；　and　this　news　will　give　the
poor　fellow　a　great　lift；　if　he　feels　towards　them　savages
any　way　as　I　feel　myself。〃

June　arose　at　this　intelligence；　and　stole　from　the　block…
house　with　a　noiseless　step。　　Dunham　listened　with　a　va…
cant　stare；　for　life　had　already　lost　so　many　of　its　ties　that
he　had　really　forgotten　Arrowhead；　and　cared　nothing　for
Muir；　but　he　inquired；　in　a　feeble　voice；　for　Eau…douce。
The　young　man　was　immediately　summoned；　and　soon
made　his　appearance。　　The　Sergeant　gazed　at　him　kindly；
and　the　expression　of　his　eyes　was　that　of　regret　for　the
injury　he　had　done　him　in　thought。　　The　party　in　the
blockhouse　now　consisted　of　Pathfinder；　Cap；　Mabel；　Jas…
por；　and　the　dying　man。　　With　the　exception　of　the　daugh…
ter；　all　stood　around　the　Sergeant's　pallet；　in　attendance
in　his　last　moments。　　Mabel　kneeled　at　his　side；　now　press…
ing　a　clammy　hand　to　her　head；　now　applying　moisture　to
the　parched　lips　of　her　father。

〃Your　case　will　shortly　be　ourn；　Sergeant；〃　said　Path…
finder；　who　could　hardly　be　said　to　be　awestruck　by　the
scene；　for　he　had　witnessed　the　approach　and　victories　of
death　too　often　for　that；　but　who　felt　the　full　difference
between　his　triumphs　in　the　excitement　of　battle　and　in
the　quiet　of　the　domestic　circle；　〃and　I　make　no　question
we　shall　meet　ag'in　hereafter。　　Arrowhead　has　gone　his
way；　'tis　true；　but　it　can　never　be　the　way　of　a　just　In…
dian。　　You've　seen　the　last　of　him；　for　his　path　cannot　be
the　path　of　the　just。　　Reason　is　ag'in　the　thought　in　his
case；　as　it　is　also；　in　my　judgment；　ag'in　it　too　in　the　case
of　Lieutenant　Muir。　　You　have　done　your　duty　in　life；
and　when　a　man　does　that；　he　may　start　on　the　longest
journey　with　a　light　heart　and　an　actyve　foot。〃

〃I　hope　so；　my　friend：　I've　tried　to　do　my　duty。〃

〃Ay；　ay；〃　put　in　Cap；　〃intention　is　half　the　battle；　and
though　you　would　have　done　better　had　you　hove…to　in
the　offing　and　sent　a　craft　in　to　feel　how　the　land　lay；　things
might　have　turned　out　differently：　no　one　here　doubts
that　you　meant　all　for　the　best；　and　no　one　anywhere　else；
I　should　think；　from　what　I've　seen　of　this　world　and　read
of　t'other。〃

〃I　did；　yes。　　I　meant　all　for　the　best。〃

〃Father！　　Oh；　my　beloved　father！〃

〃Magnet　is　taken　aback　by　this　blow；　Master　Pathfinder；
and　can　say　or　do　but　little　to　carry　her　father　over　the
shoals；　so　we　must　try　all　the　harder　to　serve　him　a
friendly　turn　ourselves。〃

〃Did　you　speak；　Mabel？〃　Dunham　asked；　turning　his
eyes　in　the　direction　of　his　daughter；　for　he　was　already
too　feeble　to　turn　his　body。

〃Yes；　father；　rely　on　nothing　you　have　done　yourself
for　mercy　and　salvation；　trust　altogether　in　the　blessed
mediation　of　the　Son　of　God！〃

〃The　chaplain　has　told　us　something　like　this；　brother。
The　dear　child　may　be　right。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　that's　doctrine；　out　of　question。　　He　will　be
our　Judge；　and　keeps　the　log…book　of　our　acts；　and　will
foot　them　all　up　at　the　last　day；　and　then　say　who　has
done　well　and　who　has　done　ill。　　I　do　believe　Mabel　is
right；　but　then　you　need　not　be　concerned；　as　no　doubt
the　account　has　been　fairly　kept。〃

〃Uncle！　　dearest　father！　this　is　a　vain　illusion！　　Oh；　place
all　your　trust　in　the　mediation　of　our　Holy　Redeemer！
Have　you　not　often　felt　your　own　insufficiency　to　effect
your　own　wishes　in　the　commonest　things？　and　how　can
you　imagine　yourself；　by　your　own　acts；　equal　to　raise　up
a　frail　and　sinful　nature　sufficiently　to　be　received　into　the
presence　of　perfect　purity？　　There　is　no　hope　for　any　but
in　the　mediation　of　Christ！〃

〃This　is　what　the　Moravians　used　to　tell　us；〃　said　Path…
finder　to　Cap　in　a　low　voice；　〃rely　on　it；　Mabel　is　right。〃

〃Right　enough；　friend　Pathfinder；　in　the　distances；　but
wrong　in　the　course。　　I'm　afraid　the　child　will　get　the
Sergeant　adrift；　at　the　very　moment　when　we　had　him　in
the　best　of　the　water　and　in　the　plainest　part　of　the　chan…
nel。〃

〃Leave　it　to　Mabel；　leave　it　to　Mabel；