the pathfinder-第89章

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〃Leave！〃　echoed　Jasper；　〃you　do　not　mean　to　quit　us；
my　friend？〃

〃'Tis　best；　Mabel；　'tis　altogether　best；　Eau…douce；　and
it's　wisest。　　I　could　live　and　die　in　your　company；　if　I　only
followed　feeling；　but；　if　I　follow　reason；　I　shall　quit　you
here。　　You　will　go　back　to　Oswego；　and　become　man　and
wife　as　soon　as　you　arrive；　　for　all　that　is　determined　with
Master　Cap；　who　hankers　after　the　sea　again；　and　who
knows　what　is　to　happen；　　while　I　shall　return　to　the　wil…
derness　and　my　Maker。　　Come；　Mabel；〃　continued　Path…
finder；　rising　and　drawing　nearer　to　our　heroine；　with　grave
decorum；　〃kiss　me；　Jasper　will　not　grudge　me　one　kiss；
then　we'll　part。〃

〃Oh；　Pathfinder！〃　exclaimed　Mabel；　falling　into　the
arms　of　the　guide；　and　kissing　his　cheeks　again　and　again；
with　a　freedom　and　warmth　she　had　been　far　from　mani…
festing　while　held　to　the　bosom　of　Jasper；　〃God　bless　you；
dearest　Pathfinder！　　You'll　come　to　us　hereafter。　　We
shall　see　you　again。　　When　old；　you　will　come　to　our
dwelling；　and　let　me　be　a　daughter　to　you？〃

〃Yes；　that's　it；〃　returned　the　guide；　almost　gasping　for
breath；　〃I'll　try　to　think　of　it　in　that　way。　　You're　more
befitting　to　be　my　daughter　than　to　be　my　wife；　you　are。
Farewell；　Jasper。　　Now　we'll　go　to　the　canoe；　it's　time
you　were　on　board。〃

The　manner　in　which　Pathfinder　led　the　way　to　the
shore　was　solemn　and　calm。　　As　soon　as　he　reached　the
canoe；　he　again　took　Mabel　by　the　hands；　held　her　at　the
length　of　his　own　arms；　and　gazed　wistfully　into　her　face；
until　the　unbidden　tears　rolled　out　of　the　fountains　of
feeling　and　trickled　down　his　rugged　cheeks　in　streams。

〃Bless　me；　Pathfinder；〃　said　Mabel；　kneeling　reverently
at　his　feet。　　〃Oh；　at　least　bless　me　before　we　part！〃

That　untutored　but　noble…minded　being　did　as　she　de…
sired；　and；　aiding　her　to　enter　the　canoe；　seemed　to　tear
himself　away　as　one　snaps　a　strong　and　obstinate　cord。
Before　he　retired；　however；　he　took　Jasper　by　the　arm　and
led　him　a　little　aside；　when　he　spoke　as　follows：　

〃You're　kind　of　heart　and　gentle　by　natur'；　Jasper；　but
we　are　both　rough　and　wild　in　comparison　with　that　dear
creatur'。　　Be　careful　of　her；　and　never　show　the　roughness
of　man's　natur'　to　her　soft　disposition。　　You'll　get　to　un…
derstand　her　in　time；　and　the　Lord；　who　governs　the　lake
and　the　forest　alike；　who　looks　upon　virtue　with　a　smile
and　upon　vice　with　a　frown；　keep　you　happy　and　worthy
to　be　so！〃

Pathfinder　made　a　sign　for　his　friend　to　depart；　and　he
stood　leaning　on　his　rifle　until　the　canoe　had　reached　the
side　of　the　_Scud_。　Mabel　wept　as　if　her　heart　would　break；
nor　did　her　eyes　once　turn　from　the　open　spot　in　the　glade；
where　the　form　of　the　Pathfinder　was　to　be　seen；　until　the
cutter　had　passed　a　point　that　completely　shut　out　the
island。　　When　last　in　view；　the　sinewy　frame　of　this　extra…
ordinary　man　was　as　motionless　as　if　it　were　a　statue　set
up　in　that　solitary　place　to　commemorate　the　scenes　of
which　it　had　so　lately　been　the　witness。



CHAPTER　XXX。

Oh！　let　me　only　breathe　the　air；
　　　The　blessed　air　that's　breath'd　by　thee；
And；　whether　on　its　wings　it　bear
　　　Healing　or　death；　'tis　sweet　to　me！
MOORE。


Pathfinder　was　accustomed　to　solitude；　but；　when
the　_Scud_　had　actually　disappeared；　he　was　almost　overcome
with　a　sense　of　his　loneliness。　　Never　before　had　he　been
conscious　of　his　isolated　condition　in　the　world；　for　his
feelings　had　gradually　been　accustoming　themselves　to　the
blandishments　and　wants　of　social　life；　particularly　as　the
last　were　connected　with　the　domestic　affections。　　Now；　all
had　vanished；　as　it　might　be；　in　one　moment；　and　he　was
left　equally　without　companions　and　without　hope。　　Even
Chingachgook　had　left　him；　though　it　was　but　temporarily；
still　his　presence　was　missed　at　the　precise　instant　which
might　be　termed　the　most　critical　in　our　hero's　life。

Pathfinder　stood　leaning　on　his　rifle；　in　the　attitude
described　in　the　last　chapter；　a　long　time　after　the　_Scud_
had　disappeared。　　The　rigidity　of　his　limbs　seemed　per…
manent；　and　none　but　a　man　accustomed　to　put　his　mus…
cles　to　the　severest　proof　could　have　maintained　that　pos…
ture；　with　its　marble…like　inflexibility；　for　so　great　a　length
of　time。　　At　length　he　moved　away　from　the　spot；　the
motion　of　the　body　being　preceded　by　a　sigh　that　seemed
to　heave　up　from　the　very　depths　of　his　bosom。

It　was　a　peculiarity　of　this　extraordinary　being　that　his
senses　and　his　limbs；　for　all　practical　purposes；　were　never
at　fault；　let　the　mind　be　preoccupied　with　other　interests　as
much　as　it　might。　　On　the　present　occasion　neither　of
these　great　auxiliaries　failed　him；　but；　though　his　thoughts
were　exclusively　occupied　with　Mabel；　her　beauty；　her　pref…
erence　of　Jasper；　her　tears；　and　her　departure；　he　moved
in　a　direct　line　to　the　spot　where　June　still　remained；
which　was　the　grave　of　her　husband。　　The　conversation
that　followed　passed　in　the　language　of　the　Tuscaroras；
which　Pathfinder　spoke　fluently；　but；　as　that　tongue　is
understood　only　by　the　extremely　learned；　we　shall　trans…
late　it　freely　into　the　English；　preserving；　as　far　as　possi…
ble；　the　tone　of　thought　of　each　interlocutor；　as　well　as　the
peculiarities　of　manner。　　June　had　suffered　her　hair　to　fall
about　her　face；　had　taken　a　seat　on　a　stone　which　had　been
dug　from　the　excavation　made　by　the　grave；　and　was　hang…
ing　over　the　spot　which　contained　the　body　of　Arrowhead；
unconscious　of　the　presence　of　any　other。　　She　believed；
indeed；　that　all　had　left　the　island　but　herself；　and　the
tread　of　the　guide's　moccassined　foot　was　too　noiseless
rudely　to　undeceive　her。

Pathfinder　stood　gazing　at　the　woman　for　several　min…
utes　in　mute　attention。　　The　contemplation　of　her　grief；
the　recollection　of　her　irreparable　loss；　and　the　view　of　her
desolation　produced　a　healthful　influence　on　his　own　feel…
ings；　his　reason　telling　him　how　much　deeper　lay　the
sources　of　grief　in　a　young　wife；　who　was　suddenly　and
violently　deprived　of　her　husband；　than　in　himself。

〃Dew…of…June；〃　he　said　solemnly；　but　with　an　earnest…
ness　which　denoted　the　strength　of　his　sympathy；　〃you
are　not　alone　in　your　sorrow。　　Turn；　and　let　your　eyes　look
upon　a　friend。〃

〃June　has　no　longer　any　friend！〃　the　woman　answered。
〃Arrowhead　has　gone　to　the　happy　hunting…grounds；　and
there　is　no　one　left　to　care　for　June。　　The　Tuscaroras
would　chase　her　from　their　wigwams；　the　Iroquois　are
hateful　in　her　eyes；　and　she　could　not　look　at　them。　　No！
leave　June　to　starve　over　the　grave　of　her　husband。〃

〃This　will　never　do　　this　will　never　do。　　'Tis　ag'in　rea…
son　and　right。　　You　believe　in　the　Manitou；　June？〃

〃He　has　hid　his　face　from　June　because　he　is　angry。
He　has　left　her　alone　to　die。〃

〃Listen　to　one　who　has　had　a　long　acquaintance　with
red　natur'；　though　he　has　a　white　birth　and　white　gifts。
When　the　Manitou　of　a　pale…face　wishes　to　produce　good
in　a　pale…face　heart　He　strikes　it　with　grief；　for　it　is　in
our　sorrows；　June；　that　we　look　with　the　truest　eyes　into
ourselves；　and　with　the　farthest…sighted　eyes　too；　as　re…
spects　right。　　The　Great　Spirit　wishes　you　well；　and　He
has　taken　away　the　chief；　lest　you　should　be　led　astray　by
his　wily　tongue；　and　get　to　be　a　Mingo　in　your　disposition；
as　you　were　already　in　your　company。〃

〃Arrowhead　was　a　great　chief；〃　returned　the　woman
proudly。

〃He　had　his　merits；　he　had；　and　he　had　his　demerits；
too。　　But　June　you　are　not　desarted；　nor　will　you　be　soon。
Let　you；　grief　out　　let　it　out；　accordiug　to　natur'；　and
when　the　proper　time　comes　I　shall　have　more　to　say　to
you。〃

Pathfinder　now　went　to　his　own　canoe；　and　he　left　the
island。　　In　the　course　of　the　day　June　heard　the　crack　of
his　rifle　once　or　twice；　and　as　the　sun　was　setting　he　re…
appeared；　bringing　her　birds　ready　cooked；　and　of　a　deli…
cacy　and　flavor　that　might　have　tempted　the　appitite　of
an　epicure。　　This　species　of　intercourse　lasted　a　month；
June　obstinately　refusing　to　abandon　the　grave　of　her　hus…
band　all　that　time；　though　she　still　accepted　the　friendly
offerings　of　her　protector。　　Occasionally　they　met　and　con…
versed；　Pathfinder　sounding　the　state　of　the　woman's　feel…
ings；　but　the　interviews　were　short；　and　far　from　frequent。
June　slept　in　one　of　the　huts；　and　she　laid　down　her　head
in　security；　for　she　was　conscious　of　the　protection　of　a
friend；　though　Pathfinder　invariably　retired　at　night　to　an
adjacent　island；　where　he　had　built　himself　a　hut。

At　the　end　of　the　month；　however；　the　season　was　getting
to　be　too　far　advanced　to　render　her　situation　pleasant　to
June。　　The　trees　had　lost　their　leaves；　and　the　nights　were
becoming　cold　and　wintry。　　It　was　time　to　depart。

At　this　moment　Chingachgook　reappeared。　　He　had　a
long　and　confidential　interview　on　the　island　with　his
friend。　　June　witnessed　their　movements；　and　she　saw　that
her　guardian　was　distressed。　　Stealing　to　his　side；　she　en…
deavored　to　soothe　his　sorrow　with　a　woman's　gentleness
and　with　a　woman's　instinct。

〃Thank　you；　June；　thank　you！〃　he　said；　〃'tis　well
meant；　though　it's　useless。　　But　it　is　time　to　quit　this
place。　　To…morrow　we　shall　depart。　　You　will　go　with　us；
for　now　you've　got　to　feel　reason。〃

June　assented　in　the　meek　manner　of　an　Indian　woman；
and　she　withdrew　to　pass　the　remainder　of　her　time　near
the　grave　of　Arrowhead。　　Regardless　of　the　hour　and　the
season；　the　young　widow　did　not　pillow　her　head　during
the　whole　of　that　autumnal　night。　　She　sat　near　the　spot
that　held　the　remains　of　her　husband；　and　prayed；　in　the
manner　of　her　people；　for　his　success　on　the　endless　path
on　which　he　had　so　lately　gone；　and　for　their　reunion　in
the　land　of　the　just。　　Humble　and　degraded　as　she　would
have　seemed　in　the　eyes　of　the　sophisticated　and　unreflect…
ing；　the　image　of　God　was　on　her　soul；　and　it　vindicated
its　divine　origin　by　aspirations　and　feelings　that　would
have　surprised　those　who；　feigning　more；　feel　less。

In　the　morning　the　three　departed；　Pathfinder　earnest
and　intelligent　in　all　he　did；　the　Great　Serpent　silent　and
imitative；　and　June　meek；　resigned；　but　sorrowful。　　They
went　in　two　canoes；　that　of　the　woman　being　abandoned：
Chingachgook　led　the　way；　and　Pathfinder　followed；　the
course　being　up　stream。　　Two　days　they　paddled　westward；
and　as　many　nights　they　encamped　on　islands。　　Fortu…
nately　the　weather　became　mild；　and　when　they　reached
the　lake　it　was　found　smooth　and　glassy　as　a　pond。　　It　was
the　Indian　summer；　and　the　calms；　and　almost　the　bland…
ness　of　June；　slept　in　the　hazy　atmosphere。

On　the　morning　of　the　third　day　they　passed　the　mouth
of　the　Oswego；　where　the　fort　and　the　sleeping　ensign　in…
vited　them　in　vain　to　enter。　　Without　casting　a　look　aside；
Chingachgook　paddled　past　the　dark　waters　of　the　river；
and　Pathfinder　still　followed　in　silent　industry。　　The
ramparts　were　crowded　with　spectators；　but　Lundie；　who
knew　the　persons　of　his　old　friends；　refused　to　allow　them
to　be　even　hailed。

It　was　noon　when　Chingachgook　entered　a　little　bay
where　the　_Scud_　lay　at　anchor；　in　a　sort　of　roadstead。　　A
small　ancient　clearing　was　on　the　shore；　and　near　the
margin　of　the　lake　was　a　log　dwelling；　recently　and　com…
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