the pathfinder-第86章

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tents　the　other　creaturs　of　God？　　I　counted　on　you；　Jas…
per；　I　counted　on　you；　I　did；　and　thought；　now　that　Mabel
and　I　intend　to　dwell　in　a　cabin　of　our　own；　that　some　day
you　might　be　tempted　to　choose　a　companion　too；　and
come　and　settle　in　our　neighborhood。　　There　is　a　beauti…
ful　spot；　about　fifty　miles　west　of　the　garrison；　that　I　had
chosen　in　my　mind　for　my　own　place　of　abode；　and　there
is　an　excellent　harbor　about　ten　leagues　this　side　of　it
where　you　could　run　in　and　out　with　the　cutter　at　any
leisure　minute；　and　I'd　even　fancied　you　and　your　wife　in
possession　of　the　one　place；　and　Mabel　and　I　in　possession
of　t'other。　　We　should　be　just　a　healthy　hunt　apart；　and
if　the　Lord　ever　intends　any　of　His　creaturs　to　be　happy
on　'arth；　none　could　be　happier　than　we　four。〃

〃You　forget；　my　friend；〃　answered　Jasper；　taking　the
guide's　hand　and　forcing　a　friendly　smile；　〃that　I　have
no　fourth　person　to　love　and　cherish；　and　I　much　doubt
if　I　ever　shall　love　any　other　as　I　love　you　and　Mabel。〃

〃Thank'e；　boy；　I　thank　you　with　all　my　heart；　but
what　you　call　love　for　Mabel　is　only　friendship　like；　and　a
very　different　thing　from　what　I　feel。　　Now；　instead　of
sleeping　as　sound　as　natur'　at　midnight；　as　I　used　to　could；
I　dream　nightly　of　Mabel　Dunham。　　The　young　does　sport
before　me；　and　when　I　raise　Killdeer；　in　order　to　take　a
little　venison；　the　animals　look　back；　and　it　seems　as　if
they　all　had　Mabel's　sweet　countenance；　laughing　in　my
face；　and　looking　as　if　they　said；　'Shoot　me　if　you　dare！'
Then　I　hear　her　soft　voice　calling　out　among　the　birds　as
they　sing；　and　no　later　than　the　last　nap　I　took；　I　be…
thought　me；　in　fancy；　of　going　over　the　Niagara；　holding
Mabel　in　my　arms；　rather　than　part　from　her。　　The　bit…
terest　moments　I've　ever　known　were　them　in　which　the
devil；　or　some　Mingo　conjuror；　perhaps；　has　just　put　into
my　head　to　fancy　in　dreams　that　Mabel　is　lost　to　me　by
some　unaccountable　calamity　　either　by　changefulness　or
by　violence。〃

〃Oh；　Pathfinder！　if　you　think　this　so　bitter　in　a　dream；
what　must　it　be　to　one　who　feels　its　reality；　and　knows　it
all　to　be　true；　true；　true？　　So　true　as　to　leave　no　hope；　to
leave　nothing　but　despair！〃

These　words　burst　from　Jasper　as　a　fluid　pours　from　the
vessel　that　has　been　suddenly　broken。　　They　were　uttered
involuntarily；　almost　unconsciously；　but　with　a　truth　and
feeling　that　carried　with　them　the　instant　conviction　of
their　deep　sincerity。　　Pathfinder　started；　gazed　at　his　friend
for　full　a　minute　like　one　bewildered；　and　then　it　was　that；
in　despite　of　all　his　simplicity；　the　truth　gleamed　upon
him。　　All　know　how　corroborating　proofs　crowd　upon　the
mind　as　soon　as　it　catches　a　direct　clue　to　any　hitherto
unsuspected　fact；　how　rapidly　the　thoughts　flow　and　pre…
mises　tend　to　their　just　conclusions　under　such　circum…
stances。　　Our　hero　was　so　confiding　by　nature；　so　just；　and
so　much　disposed　to　imagine　that　all　his　friends　wished
him　the　same　happiness　as　he　wished　them；　that；　until　this
unfortunate　moment；　a　suspicion　of　Jasper's　attachment
for　Mabel　had　never　been　awakened　in　his　bosom。　　He
was；　however；　now　too　experienced　in　the　emotions　which
characterize　the　passion；　and　the　burst　of　feeling　in　his
companion　was　too　violent　and　too　natural　to　leave　any
further　doubt　on　the　subject。　　The　feeling　that　first　fol…
lowed　this　change　of　opinion　was　one　of　deep　humility　and
exquisite　pain。　　He　bethought　him　of　Jasper's　youth；　his
higher　claims　to　personal　appearance；　and　all　the　general
probabilities　that　such　a　suitor　would　be　more　agreeable　to
Mabel　than　he　could　possibly　be　himself。　　Then　the　noble
rectitude　of　mind；　for　which　the　man　was　so　distinguished；
asserted　its　power；　it　was　sustained　by　his　rebuked　man…
ner　of　thinking　of　himself；　and　all　that　habitual　deference
for　the　rights　and　feelings　of　others　which　appeared　to　be
inbred　in　his　very　nature。　　Taking　the　arm　of　Jasper；　he
led　him　to　a　log；　where　he　compelled　the　young　man　to
seat　himself　by　a　sort　of　irresistible　exercise　of　his　iron
muscles；　and　where　he　placed　himself　at　his　side。

The　instant　his　feelings　had　found　vent；　Eau…douce　was
both　alarmed　at；　and　ashamed　of；　their　violence。　　He
would　have　given　all　he　possessed　on　earth　could　the　last
three　minutes　be　recalled；　but　he　was　too　frank　by　dispo…
sition　and　too　much　accustomed　to　deal　ingenuously　by
his　friend　to　think　a　moment　of　attempting　further　con…
cealment；　or　of　any　evasion　of　the　explanation　that　he
knew　was　about　to　be　demanded。　　Even　while　he　trembled
in　anticipation　of　what　was　about　to　follow；　he　never　con…
templated　equivocation。

〃Jasper；〃　Pathfinder　commenced；　in　a　tone　so　solemn
as　to　thrill　on　every　nerve　in　his　listener's　body；　〃this　_has_
surprised　me！　　You　have　kinder　feelings　towards　Mabel
than　I　had　thought；　and；　unless　my　own　mistaken　vanity
and　consait　have　cruelly　deceived　me；　I　pity　you；　boy；　from
my　soul　I　do！　　Yes；　I　think　I　know　how　to　pity　any　one　who
has　set　his　heart　on　a　creature　like　Mabel；　unless　he　sees
a　prospect　of　her　regarding　him　as　he　regards　her。　　This
matter　must　be　cleared　up；　Eau…douce；　as　the　Delawares
say；　until　there　shall　not　be　a　cloud　'atween　us。〃

〃What　clearing　up　can　it　want；　Pathfinder？　　I　love
Mabel　Dunham；　and　Mabel　Dunham　does　not　love　me；
she　prefers　you　for　a　husband；　and　the　wisest　thing　I　can
do　is　to　go　off　at　once　to　the　salt　water；　and　try　to　forget
you　both。〃

〃Forget　me；　Jasper！　that　would　be　a　punishment　I
don't　desarve。　　But　how　do　you　know　that　Mabel　prefars
_me_？　how　do　you　know　it；　lad？　　To　me　it　seems　impossible
like！〃

〃Is　she　not　to　marry　you；　and　would　Mabel　marry　a
man　she　does　not　love？〃

〃She　has　been　hard　urged　by　the　Sergeant；　she　has；
and　a　dutiful　child　may　have　found　it　difficult　to　with…
stand　the　wishes　of　a　dying　parent。　　Have　you　ever　told
Mabel　that　you　prefarred　her；　Jasper　　that　you　bore　her
these　feelings？〃

〃Never；　Pathfinder。　　I　would　not　do　you　that　wrong。〃

〃I　believe　you；　lad；　I　do　believe　you；　and　I　think　you
would　now　go　off　to　the　salt　water；　and　let　the　scent　die
with　you。　　But　this　must　not　be。　　Mabel　shall　hear　all；
and　she　shall　have　her　own　way；　if　my　heart　breaks　in
the　trial；　she　shall。　　No　words　have　ever　passed　'atween
you；　then；　Jasper？〃

〃Nothing　of　account；　nothing　direct。　　Still；　I　will　own
all　my　foolishness；　Pathfinder；　for　I　ought　to　own　it　to　a
generous　friend　like　you；　and　there　will　be　an　end　of　it。
You　know　how　young　people　understand　each　other；　or
think　they　understand　each　other；　without　always　speak…
ing　out　in　plain　speech；　and　get　to　know　each　other's
thoughts；　or　to　think　they　know　them；　by　means　of　a　hun…
dred　little　ways。〃

〃Not　I；　Jasper；　not　I；〃　truly　answered　the　guide；　for；
sooth　to　say；　his　advances　had　never　been　met　with　any　of
that　sweet　and　precious　encouragement　which　silently
marks　the　course　of　sympathy　united　to　passion。　　〃Not
I；　Jasper；　I　know　nothing　of　all　this。　　Mabel　has　always
treated　me　fairly；　and　said　what　she　has　had　to　say　in
speech　as　plain　as　tongue　could　tell　it。〃

〃You　have　had　the　pleasure　of　hearing　her　say　that　she
loved　you；　Pathfinder？〃

〃Why；　no；　Jasper；　not　just　that　in　words。　　She　has　told
me　that　we　never　could；　never　ought　to　be　married；　that
_she_　was　not　good　enough　for　_me_；　though　she　_did_　say　that
she　honored　me　and　respected　me。　　But　then　the　Sergeant
said　it　was　always　so　with　the　youthful　and　timid；　that
her　mother　did　so　and　said　so　afore　her；　and　that　I　ought
to　be　satisfied　if　she　would　consent　on　any　terms　to　marry
me；　and　therefore　I　have　concluded　that　all　was　right；　I
have。〃

In　spite　of　all　his　friendship　for　the　successful　wooer；　in
spite　of　all　his　honest；　sincere　wished　for　his　happiness；
we　should　be　unfaithful　chroniclers　did　we　not　own　that
Jasper　felt　his　heart　bound　with　an　uncontrollable　feeling
of　delight　at　this　admission。　　It　was　not　that　he　saw　or
felt　any　hope　connected　with　the　circumstance；　but　it　was
grateful　to　the　jealous　covetousness　of　unlimited　love　thus
to　learn　that　no　other　ears　had　heard　the　sweet　confessions
that　were　denied　its　own。

〃Tell　me　more　of　this　manner　of　talking　without　the
use　of　the　tongue；〃　continued　Pathfinder；　whose　counte…
nance　was　becoming　grave；　and　who　now　questioned　his
companion　like　one　who　seemed　to　anticipate　evil　in　the
reply。　　〃I　can　and　have　conversed　with　Chingachgook；
and　with　his　son　Uncas　too；　in　that　mode；　afore　the　latter
fell；　but　I　didn't　know　that　young　girls　practysed　this
art；　and；　least　of　all；　Mabel　Dunham。〃

〃'Tis　nothing；　Pathfinder。　　I　mean　only　a　look；　or　a
smile；　or　a　glance　of　the　eye；　or　the　trembling　of　an　arm
or　a　hand　when　the　young　woman　has　had　occasion　to
touch　me；　and　because　I　have　been　weak　enough　to　trem…
ble　even　at　Mabel's　breath；　or　her　brushing　me　with　her
clothes；　my　vain　thoughts　have　misled　me。　　I　never　spoke
plainly　to　Mabel　myself；　and　now　there　is　no　use　for　it；
since　there　is　clearly　no　hope。〃

〃Jasper；〃　returned　Pathfinder　simply；　but　with　a　dig…
nity　that　precluded　further　remarks　at　the　moment；　〃we
will　talk　of　the　Sergeant's　funeral　and　of　our　own　depar…
ture　from　this　island。　　After　these　things　are　disposed　of；
it　will　be　time　enough　to　say　more　of　the　Sergeant's
daughter。　　This　matter　must　be　looked　into；　for　the　father
left　me　the　care　of　his　child。〃

Jasper　was　glad　enough　to　change　the　subject；　and　the
friends　separated；　each　charged　with　the　duty　most　pecu…
liar　to　his　own　station　and　habits。

That　afternoon　all　the　dead　were　interred；　the　grave　of
Sergeant　Dunham　being　dug　in　the　centre　of　the　glade；
beneath　the　shade　of　a　huge　elm。　　Mabel　wept　bitterly　at
the　ceremony；　and　she　found　relief　in　thus　disburthening
her　sorrow。　　The　night　passed　tranquilly；　as　did　the　whole
of　the　following　day；　Jasper　declaring　that　the　gale　was
too　severe　to　venture　on　the　lake。　　This　circumstance　de…
tained　Captain　Sanglier　also；　who　did　not　quit　the　island
until　the　morning　of　the　third　day　after　the　death　of　Dun…
ham；　when　the　weather　had　moderated；　and　the　wind　had
become　fair。　　Then；　indeed；　he　departed；　after　taking
leave　of　the　Pathfinder；　in　the　manner　of　one　who　believed
he　was　in　company　of　a　distinguished　character　for　the
last　time。　　The　two　separated　like　those　who　respect　one
another；　while　each　felt　that　the　other　was　all　enigma　to
himself。



CHAPTER　XXIX。

Playful　she　turn'd　that　he　might　see
　　　The　passing　smile　her　cheek　put　on；
But　when　she　marked　how　mournfully
　　His　eyes　met　hers；　that　smile　was　gone。
_Lalla　Rookh。_


The　occurrences　of　the　last　few　days　had　been　too　ex…
citing；　and　had　made　too　many　demands　on　the　fortitude
of　our　heroine；　to　leave　her　in　the　helplessness　of　grief。
She　mourned　for　her　father；　and　she　occasionally　shud…
dered　as　she　recalled　the　sudden　death　of　Jennie；　and　all
the　horrible　scenes　she　had　witnessed；　but　on　the　whole
she　had　aroused　herself；　and　was　no　longer　in　the　deep
depression　which　usually　accompanies　grief。　　Perhaps　the
overwhelming；　almost　stupefying　sorrow　that　crushed　poor
June；　and　left　her　for　nearly　twenty…four　hours　in　a　state
of　stupor；　assisted　Mabel　in　conquering　her　own　feelings；
for　she　ha