CHAPTER XX.
Wandering, I found on my ruinous walk, By the dial stone, aged and green, One rose of the wilderness, left on its stalk, To mark where a garden had been. CAMPBELL.
It was not only broad daylight when Mabel awoke, but the sun hadactually been up some time. Her sleep had been tranquil, for she restedon an approving conscience, and fatigue contributed to render it sweet;and no sound of those who had been so early in motion had interferedwith her rest. Springing to her feet and rapidly dressing herself, thegirl was soon breathing the fragrance of the morning in the open air.For the first time she was sensibly struck with the singular beauties,as well as with the profound retirement, of her present situation. Theday proved to be one of those of the autumnal glory, so common to aclimate that is more abused than appreciated, and its influencewas every way inspiriting and genial. Mabel was benefitted by thiscircumstance; for, as she fancied, her heart was heavy on account of thedangers to which a father, whom she now began to love as women love whenconfidence is created, was exposed.
But the island seemed absolutely deserted. The previous night, thebustle of the arrival had given the spot an appearance of life which wasnow entirely gone; and our heroine had turned her eyes nearly around onevery object in sight, before she caught a view of a single human beingto remove the sense of utter solitude. Then, indeed, she beheld all whowere left behind, collected in a group around a fire which might be saidto belong to the camp. The person of her uncle, to whom she was somuch accustomed, reassured Mabel; and she examined the remainder with acuriosity natural to her situation. Besides Cap and the Quartermaster,there were the Corporal, the three soldiers, and the woman who wascooking. The huts were silent and empty; and the low but tower-likesummit of the blockhouse rose above the bushes, by which it washalf concealed, in picturesque beauty. The sun was just casting itsbrightness into the open places of the glade, and the vault over herhead was impending in the soft sublimity of the blue void. Not a cloudwas visible, and she secretly fancied the circumstance might be taken asa harbinger of peace and security.
Perceiving that all the others were occupied with that great concern ofhuman nature, a breakfast, Mabel walked, unobserved, towards an end ofthe island where she was completely shut out of view by the trees andbushes. Here she got a stand on the very edge of the water, by forcingaside the low branches, and stood watching the barely perceptible flowand re-flow of the miniature waves which laved the shore; a sort ofphysical echo to the agitation that prevailed on the lake fifty milesabove her. The glimpses of natural scenery that offered were very softand pleasing; and our heroine, who had a quick eye for all that waslovely in nature, was not slow in selecting the most striking bits oflandscape. She gazed through the different vistas formed by the openingsbetween the islands, and thought she had never looked on aught morelovely.
While thus occupied, Mabel was suddenly alarmed by fancying that shecaught a glimpse of a human form among the bushes that lined the shoreof the island which lay directly before her. The distance across thewater was not a hundred yards; and, though she might be mistaken, andher fancy was wandering when the form passed before her sight, stillshe did not think she could be deceived. Aware that her sex would be noprotection against a rifle bullet, should an Iroquois get a view of her,the girl instinctively drew back, taking care to conceal her person asmuch as possible by the leaves, while she kept her own look riveted onthe opposite shore, vainly waiting for some time in the expectation ofthe stranger. She was about to quit her post in the bushes and hasten toher uncle, in order to acquaint him of her suspicions, when she sawthe branch of an alder thrust beyond the fringe of bushes on the otherisland, and waved towards her significantly, and as she fancied intoken of amity. This was a breathless and a trying moment to one asinexperienced in frontier warfare as our heroine and yet she felt thegreat necessity that existed for preserving her recollection, and ofacting with steadiness and discretion.
It was one of the peculiarities of the exposure to which those whodwelt on the frontiers of America were liable, to bring out the moralqualities of the women to a degree which they must themselves, underother circumstances, have believed they were incapable of manifesting;and Mabel well knew that the borderers loved to dwell in their legendson the presence of mind, fortitude, and spirit that their wives andsisters had displayed under circumstances the most trying. Her emulationhad been awakened by what she had heard on such subjects; and it at oncestruck her that now was the moment for her to show that she was trulySergeant Dunham's child. The motion of the branch was such as shebelieved indicated amity; and, after a moment's hesitation, she brokeoff a twig, fastened it to a stick and, thrusting it through an opening,waved it in return, imitating as closely as possible the manner of theother.
This dumb show lasted two or three minutes on both sides, when Mabelperceived that the bushes opposite were cautiously pushed aside, and ahuman face appeared at an opening. A glance sufficed to let Mabel seethat it was the countenance of a red-skin, as well as that of a woman.A second and a better look satisfied her that it was the face of theDew-of-June, the wife of Arrowhead. During the time she had travelled incompany with this woman, Mabel had been won by the gentleness of manner,the meek simplicity, and the mingled awe and affection with which sheregarded her husband. Once or twice in the course of the journey shefancied the Tuscarora had manifested towards herself an unpleasantdegree of attention and on those occasions it had struck her that hiswife exhibited sorrow and mortification. As Mabel, however, had morethan compensated for any pain she might in this way unintentionally havecaused her companion, by her own kindness of manner and attentions, thewoman had shown much attachment to her, and they had parted, with a deepconviction on the mind of our heroine that in the Dew-of-June she hadlost a friend.
It is useless to attempt to analyze all the ways by which the humanheart is led into confidence. Such a feeling, however, had the youngTuscarora woman awakened in the breast of our heroine; and the latter,under the impression that this extraordinary visit was intended for herown good, felt every disposition to have a closer communication. She nolonger hesitated about showing herself clear of the bushes, and wasnot sorry to see the Dew-of-June imitate her confidence, by steppingfearlessly out of her own cover. The two girls, for the Tuscarora,though married, was even younger than Mabel, now openly exchanged signsof friendship, and the latter beckoned to her friend to approach, thoughshe knew not the manner herself in which this object could be effected.But the Dew-of-June was not slow in letting it be seen that it was inher power; for, disappearing in a moment, she soon showed herself againin the end of a bark canoe, the bows of which she had drawn to the edgeof the bushes, and of which the body still lay in a sort of coveredcreek. Mabel was about to invite her to cross, when her own name wascalled aloud in the stentorian voice of her uncle. Making a hurriedgesture for the Tuscarora girl to conceal herself, Mabel sprang from thebushes and tripped up the glade towards the sound, and perceived thatthe whole party had just seated themselves at breakfast; Cap havingbarely put his appetite under sufficient restraint to summon her to jointhem. That this was the most favorable instant for the interview flashedon the mind of Mabel; and, excusing herself on the plea of not beingprepared for the meal, she bounded back to the thicket, and soon renewedher communications with the young Indian woman.
Dew-of-June was quick of comprehension and with half a dozen noiselessstrokes of the paddles, her canoe was concealed in the bushes of StationIsland. In another minute, Mabel held her hand, and was leading herthrough the grove towards her own hut. Fortunately the latter was soplaced as to be completely hid from the sight of those at the fire, andthey both entered it unseen. Hastily explaining to her guest, in thebest manner she could, the necessity of quitting her for a short time,Mabel, first placing the Dew-of-June in her own room, with a fullcertainty that she would not quit it until told to do so, went to thefire and took her seat among the rest, with all the composure it was inher power to command.
"Late c
ome, late served, Mabel," said her uncle, between mouthfuls ofbroiled salmon for though the cookery might be very unsophisticated onthat remote frontier, the viands were generally delicious,--"late come,late served; it is a good rule, and keeps laggards up to their work."
"I am no laggard, Uncle; for I have been stirring nearly an hour, andexploring our island."
"It's little you'll make o' that, Mistress Mabel," put in Muir; "that'slittle by nature. Lundie--or it might be better to style him MajorDuncan in this presence" (this was said in consideration of thecorporal and the common men, though they were taking their meal a littleapart)--"has not added an empire to his Majesty's dominions in gettingpossession of this island, which is likely to equal that of thecelebrated Sancho in revenues and profits--Sancho, of whom, doubtless,Master Cap, you'll often have been reading in your leisure hours, moreespecially in calms and moments of inactivity."
"I know the spot you mean, Quartermaster; Sancho's Island--coral rock,of new formation, and as bad a landfall, in a dark night and blowingweather, as a sinner could wish to keep clear of. It's a famous placefor cocoanuts and bitter water, that Sancho's Island."
"It's no' very famous for dinners," returned Muir, repressing the smilewhich was struggling to his lips out of respect to Mabel; "nor do Ithink there'll be much to choose between its revenue and that of thisspot. In my judgment, Master Cap, this is a very unmilitary position,and I look to some calamity befalling it, sooner or later."
"It is to be hoped not until our turn of duty is over," observed Mabel."I have no wish to study the French language."
"We might think ourselves happy, did it not prove to be the Iroquois. Ihave reasoned with Major Duncan on the occupation of this position, but'a wilfu' man maun ha' his way.' My first object in accompanying thisparty was to endeavor to make myself acceptable and useful to yourbeautiful niece, Master Cap; and the second was to take such an accountof the stores that belong to my particular department as shall leave noquestion open to controversy, concerning the manner of expenditure, whenthey shall have disappeared by means of the enemy."
"Do you look upon matters as so serious?" demanded Cap, actuallysuspending his mastication of a bit of venison--for he passedalternately from fish to flesh and back again--in the interest he tookin the answer. "Is the danger pressing?"
"I'll no' say just that; and I'll no' say just the contrary. There isalways danger in war, and there is more of it at the advanced posts thanat the main encampment. It ought, therefore, to occasion no surprisewere we to be visited by the French at any moment."
"And what the devil is to be done in that case? Six men and two womenwould make but a poor job in defending such a place as this, should theenemy invade us; as, no doubt, Frenchman-like, they would take very goodcare to come strong-handed."
"That we may depend on--some very formidable force at the very lowest. Amilitary disposition might be made in defence of the island, out of allquestion, and according to the art of war, though we would probably failin the force necessary to carry out the design in any very creditablemanner. In the first place, a detachment should be sent off to theshore, with orders to annoy the enemy in landing; a strong party oughtinstantly to be thrown into the blockhouse, as the citadel, for on thatall the different detachments would naturally fall back for support, asthe French advanced; and an entrenched camp might be laid out aroundthe stronghold, as it would be very unmilitary indeed to let the foeget near enough to the foot of the walls to mine them. Chevaux-de-frisewould keep the cavalry in check; and as for the artillery, redoubtsshould be thrown up under cover of yon woods. Strong skirmishingparties, moreover, would be exceedingly serviceable in retarding themarch of the enemy; and these different huts, if properly piquetedand ditched, would be converted into very eligible positions for thatobject."
"Whe-e-e-w-, Quartermaster! And who the d---l is to find all the men tocarry out such a plan?"
"The king, out of all question, Master Cap. It is his quarrel, and it'sjust he should bear the burthen o' it."
"And we are only six! This is fine talking, with a vengeance. You couldbe sent down to the shore to oppose the landing, Mabel might skirmishwith her tongue at least, the soldier's wife might act chevaux-de-friseto entangle the cavalry, the corporal should command the entrenchedcamp, his three men could occupy the five huts, and I would take theblockhouse. Whe-e-e-w! you describe well, Lieutenant; and should havebeen a limner instead of a soldier."
"Na, I've been very literal and upright in my exposition of matters.That there is no greater force here to carry out the plan is a fault ofhis Majesty's ministers, and none of mine."
"But should our enemy really appear," asked Mabel, with more interestthan she might have shown, had she not remembered the guest in the hut,"what course ought we to pursue?"
"My advice would be to attempt to achieve that, pretty Mabel, whichrendered Xenophon so justly celebrated."
"I think you mean a retreat, though I half guess at your allusion."
"You've imagined my meaning from the possession of a strong nativesense, young lady. I am aware that your worthy father has pointed out tothe Corporal certain modes and methods by which he fancies this islandcould be held, in case the French should discover its position but theexcellent Sergeant, though your father, and as good a man in his dutiesas ever wielded a spontoon, is not the great Lord Stair, or eventhe Duke of Marlborough. I'll not deny the Sergeant's merits in hisparticular sphere; though I cannot exaggerate qualities, howeverexcellent, into those of men who may be in some trifling degree hissuperiors. Sergeant Dunham has taken counsel of his heart, instead ofhis head, in resolving to issue such orders; but, if the fort fall, theblame will lie on him that ordered it to be occupied, and not on himwhose duty it was to defend it. Whatever may be the determination of thelatter, should the French and their allies land, a good commander neverneglects the preparations necessary to effect a retreat; and I wouldadvise Master Cap, who is the admiral of our navy, to have a boat inreadiness to evacuate the island, if need comes to need. The largestboat that we have left carries a very ample sail; and by haulingit round here, and mooring it under those bushes, there will be aconvenient place for a hurried embarkation and then you'll perceive,pretty Mabel, that it is scarcely fifty yards before we shall be in achannel between two other islands, and hid from the sight of those whomay happen to be on this."
"All that you say is very true, Mr. Muir; but may not the French comefrom that quarter themselves? If it is so good for a retreat, it isequally good for an advance."
"They'll no' have the sense to do so discreet a thing," returned Muir,looking furtively and a little uneasily around him; "they'll no' havesufficient discretion. Your French are a head-over-heels nation, andusually come forward in a random way; so we may look for them, if theycome at all, on the other side of the island."
The discourse now became exceedingly desultory, touching principally,however, on the probabilities of an invasion, and the best means ofmeeting it.
To most of this Mabel paid but little attention though she felt somesurprise that Lieutenant Muir, an officer whose character for couragestood well, should openly recommend an abandonment of what appeared toher to be doubly a duty, her father's character being connected with thedefence of the island. Her mind, however, was so much occupied with herguest, that, seizing the first favorable moment, she left the table, andwas soon in her own hut again. Carefully fastening the door, and seeingthat the simple curtain was drawn before the single little window, Mabelnext led the Dew-of-June, or June, as she was familiarly termed bythose who spoke to her in English, into the outer room, making signs ofaffection and confidence.
"I am glad to see you, June," said Mabel, with one of her sweetestsmiles, and in her own winning voice,--"very glad to see you. What hasbrought you hither, and how did you discover the island?"
"Speak slow," said June, returning smile for smile, and pressing thelittle hand she held with one of her own that was scarcely larger,though it had been hardened by labor; "more slow--too quick."
Mabel repeated her questions, endeavoring to repress the impetuosityof her feelings; and she succeeded in speaking so distinctly as to beunderstood.
"June, friend," returned the Indian woman.
"I believe you, June--from my soul I believe you; what has this to dowith your visit?"
"Friend come to see friend," answered June, again smiling openly in theother's face.
"There is some other reason, June, else would you never run this risk,and alone. You are alone, June?"
"June wid you, no one else. June come alone, paddle canoe."
"I hope so, I think so--nay, I know so. You would not be treacherouswith me, June?"
"What treacherous?"
"You would not betray me, would not give me to the French, to theIroquois, to Arrowhead?"
June shook her head earnestly.
"You would not sell my scalp?"
Here June passed her arm fondly around the slender waist of Mabel andpressed her to her heart with a tenderness and affection that broughttears into the eyes of our heroine. It was done in the fond caressingmanner of a woman, and it was scarcely possible that it should notobtain credit for sincerity with a young and ingenuous person of thesame sex. Mabel returned the pressure, and then held the other off atthe length of her arm, looked her steadily in the face, and continuedher inquiries.
"If June has something to tell her friend, let her speak plainly," shesaid. "My ears are open."
"June 'fraid Arrowhead kill her."
"But Arrowhead will never know it." Mabel's blood mounted to hertemples as she said this; for she felt that she was urging a wife to betreacherous to her husband. "That is, Mabel will not tell him."
"He bury tomahawk in June's head."
"That must never be, dear June; I would rather you should say no morethan run this risk."
"Blockhouse good place to sleep, good place to stay."
"Do you mean that I may save my life by keeping in the blockhouse, June?Surely, surely, Arrowhead will not hurt you for telling me that. Hecannot wish me any great harm, for I never injured him."
"Arrowhead wish no harm to handsome pale-face," returned June, avertingher face; and, though she always spoke in the soft, gentle voice of anIndian girl, now permitting its notes to fall so low as to cause them tosound melancholy and timid. "Arrowhead love pale-face girl."
Mabel blushed, she knew not why, and for a moment her questions wererepressed by a feeling of inherent delicacy. But it was necessary toknow more, for her apprehensions had been keenly awakened, and sheresumed her inquiries.
"Arrowhead can have no reason to love or to hate _me_," she said. "Is henear you?"
"Husband always near wife, here," said June, laying her hand on herheart.
"Excellent creature! But tell me, June, ought I to keep in theblockhouse to-day--this morning--now?"
"Blockhouse very good; good for women. Blockhouse got no scalp."
"I fear I understand you only too well, June. Do you wish to see myfather?"
"No here; gone away."
"You cannot know that, June; you see the island is full of hissoldiers."
"No full; gone away,"--here June held up four of her fingers,--"so manyred-coats."
"And Pathfinder? would you not like to see the Pathfinder? He can talkto you in the Iroquois tongue."
"Tongue gone wid him," said June, laughing; "keep tongue in his mout'."
There was something so sweet and contagious in the infantile laugh ofan Indian girl, that Mabel could not refrain from joining in it, much asher fears were aroused by all that had passed.
"You appear to know, or to think you know, all about us, June. But ifPathfinder be gone, Eau-douce can speak French too. You know Eau-douce;shall I run and bring him to talk with you?"
"Eau-douce gone too, all but heart; that there." As June said this,she laughed again; looked in different directions, as if unwilling toconfuse the other, and laid her hand on Mabel's bosom.
Our heroine had often heard of the wonderful sagacity of the Indians,and of the surprising manner in which they noted all things, while theyappeared to regard none; but she was scarcely prepared for the directionthe discourse had so singularly taken. Willing to change it, and at thesame time truly anxious to learn how great the danger that impended overthem might really be, she rose from the camp-stool on which she had beenseated; and, by assuming an attitude of less affectionate confidence,she hoped to hear more of that she really desired to learn, and to avoidallusions to that which she found so embarrassing.
"You know how much or how little you ought to tell me, June," she said;"and I hope you love me well enough to give me the information I oughtto hear. My dear uncle, too, is on the island, and you are, or oughtto be, his friend as well as mine; and both of us will remember yourconduct when we get back to Oswego."
"Maybe, never get back; who know?" This was said doubtingly, or asone who lays down an uncertain proposition, and not with a taunt, or adesire to alarm.
"No one knows what will happen but God. Our lives are in His hands.Still, I think you are to be His instrument in saving us."
This passed June's comprehension, and she only looked her ignorance; forit was evident she wished to be of use.
"Blockhouse very good," she repeated, as soon as her countenance ceasedto express uncertainty, laying strong emphasis on the last two words.
"Well, I understand this, June, and will sleep in it to-night. Of courseI am to tell my uncle what you have said?"
The Dew-of-June started, and she discovered a very manifest uneasinessat the interrogatory.
"No, no, no, no!" she answered, with a volubility and vehemence that wasimitated from the French of the Canadas; "no good to tell Saltwater. Hemuch talk and long tongue. Thinks woods all water, understand not'ing.Tell Arrowhead, and June die."
"You do my dear uncle injustice, for he would be as little likely tobetray you as any one."
"No understand. Saltwater got tongue, but no eyes, no ears, nonose--not'ing but tongue, tongue, tongue!"
Although Mabel did not exactly coincide in this opinion, she saw thatCap had not the confidence of the young Indian woman, and that itwas idle to expect she would consent to his being admitted to theirinterview.
"You appear to think you know our situation pretty well, June," Mabelcontinued; "have you been on the island before this visit?"
"Just come."
"How then do you know that what you say is true? My father, thePathfinder, and Eau-douce may all be here within sound of my voice, if Ichoose to call them."
"All gone," said June positively, smiling good-humoredly at the sametime.
"Nay, this is more than you can say certainly, not having been over theisland to examine it."
"Got good eyes; see boat with men go away--see ship with Eau-douce."
"Then you have been some time watching us: I think, however, you havenot counted them that remain."
June laughed, held up her four fingers again, and then pointed to hertwo thumbs; passing a finger over the first, she repeated thewords "red-coats;" and touching the last, she added, "Saltwater,""Quartermaster." All this was being very accurate, and Mabel beganto entertain serious doubts as to the propriety of her permitting hervisitor to depart without her becoming more explicit. Still it wasso repugnant to her feelings to abuse the confidence this gentle andaffectionate creature had evidently reposed in her, that Mabel had nosooner admitted the thought of summoning her uncle, than she rejectedit as unworthy of herself and unjust to her friend. To aid this goodresolution, too, there was the certainty that June would reveal nothing,but take refuge in a stubborn silence, if any attempt were made tocoerce her.
"You think, then, June," Mabel continued, as soon as these thoughts hadpassed through her mind, "that I had better live in the blockhouse?"
"Good place for woman. Blockhouse got no scalp. Logs t'ick."
"You speak confidently, June; as if you had been in it, and had measuredits walls."
June laughed; and she looked knowing,
though she said nothing.
"Does any one but yourself know how to find this island? Have any of theIroquois seen it?"
June looked sad, and she cast her eyes warily about her, as ifdistrusting a listener.
"Tuscarora, everywhere--Oswego, here, Frontenac, Mohawk--everywhere. Ifhe see June, kill her."
"But we thought that no one knew of this island, and that we had noreason to fear our enemies while on it."
"Much eye, Iroquois."
"Eyes will not always do, June, This spot is hid from ordinary sight,and few of even our own people know how to find it."
"One man can tell; some Yengeese talk French."
Mabel felt a chill at her heart. All the suspicions against Jasper,which she had hitherto disdained entertaining, crowded in a body on herthoughts; and the sensation that they brought was so sickening, that foran instant she imagined she was about to faint. Arousing herself, andremembering her promise to her father, she arose and walked up and downthe hut for a minute, fancying that Jasper's delinquencies were naughtto her, though her inmost heart yearned with the desire to think himinnocent.
"I understand your meaning, June," she then said; "you wish me to knowthat some one has treacherously told your people where and how to findthe island?"
June laughed, for in her eyes artifice in war was oftener a merit thana crime; but she was too true to her tribe herself to say more than theoccasion required. Her object was to save Mabel, and Mabel only; andshe saw no sufficient reason for "travelling out of the record," as thelawyers express it, in order to do anything else.
"Pale-face know now," she added. "Blockhouse good for girl, no matterfor men and warriors."
"But it is much matter with me, June; for one of those men is my uncle,whom I love, and the others are my countrymen and friends. I must tellthem what has passed."
"Then June be kill," returned the young Indian quietly, though sheevidently spoke with concern.
"No; they shall not know that you have been here. Still, they must be ontheir guard, and we can all go into the blockhouse."
"Arrowhead know, see everything, and June be kill. June come to tellyoung pale-face friend, not to tell men. Every warrior watch his ownscalp. June woman, and tell woman; no tell men."
Mabel was greatly distressed at this declaration of her wild friend, forit was now evident the young creature understood that her communicationwas to go no further. She was ignorant how far these people consider thepoint of honor interested in her keeping the secret; and most of allwas she unable to say how far any indiscretion of her own might actuallycommit June and endanger her life. All these considerations flashed onher mind, and reflection only rendered their influence more painful.June, too, manifestly viewed the matter gravely; for she began to gatherup the different little articles she had dropped in taking Mabel's hand,and was preparing to depart. To attempt detaining her was out of thequestion and to part from her, after all she had hazarded to serve her,was repugnant to all the just and kind feelings of our heroine's nature.
"June," said she eagerly, folding her arms round the gentle butuneducated being, "we are friends. From me you have nothing to fear, forno one shall know of your visit. If you could give me some signal justbefore the danger comes, some sign by which to know when to go into theblockhouse, how to take care of myself."
June paused, for she had been in earnest in her intention to depart; andthen she said quietly, "Bring June pigeon."
"A pigeon! Where shall I find a pigeon to bring you?"
"Next hut; bring old one; June go to canoe."
"I think I understand you, June; but had I not better lead you back tothe bushes, lest you meet some of the men?"
"Go out first; count men, one, two, t'ree, four, five, six"--here Juneheld up her fingers, and laughed--"all out of the way--good; all butone, call him one side. Then sing, and fetch pigeon."
Mabel smiled at the readiness and ingenuity of the girl, and prepared toexecute her requests. At the door, however, she stopped, and looked backentreatingly at the Indian woman. "Is there no hope of your telling memore, June?" she said.
"Know all now, blockhouse good, pigeon tell, Arrowhead kill."
The last words sufficed; for Mabel could not urge furthercommunications, when her companion herself told her that the penalty ofher revelations might be death by the hand of her husband. Throwing openthe door, she made a sign of adieu to June, and went out of the hut.Mabel resorted to the simple expedient of the young Indian girl toascertain the situation of the different individuals on the island.Instead of looking about her with the intention of recognizing faces anddresses, she merely counted them; and found that three still remained atthe fire, while two had gone to the boat, one of whom was Mr. Muir. Thesixth man was her uncle; and he was coolly arranging some fishing-tackleat no great distance from the fire. The woman was just entering her ownhut; and this accounted for the whole party. Mabel now, affectingto have dropped something, returned nearly to the hut she had left,warbling an air, stooped as if to pick up some object from the ground,and hurried towards the hut June had mentioned. This was a dilapidatedstructure, and it had been converted by the soldiers of the lastdetachment into a sort of storehouse for their live stock. Among otherthings, it contained a few dozen pigeons, which were regaling on a pileof wheat that had been brought off from one of the farms plundered onthe Canada shore. Mabel had not much difficulty in catching one of thesepigeons, although they fluttered and flew about the hut with a noiselike that of drums; and, concealing it in her dress, she stole backtowards her own hut with the prize. It was empty; and, without doingmore than cast a glance in at the door, the eager girl hurried down tothe shore. She had no difficulty in escaping observation, for the treesand bushes made a complete cover to her person. At the canoe shefound June, who took the pigeon, placed it in a basket of her ownmanufacturing, and, repeating the words, "blockhouse good," she glidedout of the bushes and across the narrow passage, as noiselessly as shehad come. Mabel waited some time to catch a signal of leave-taking oramity after her friend had landed, but none was given. The adjacentislands, without exception, were as quiet as if no one had everdisturbed the sublime repose of nature, and nowhere could any sign orsymptom be discovered, as Mabel then thought, that might denote theproximity of the sort of danger of which June had given notice.
On returning, however, from the shore, Mabel was struck with a littlecircumstance, that, in an ordinary situation, would have attracted noattention, but which, now that her suspicions had been aroused, did notpass before her uneasy eye unnoticed. A small piece of red bunting, suchas is used in the ensigns of ships, was fluttering at the lower branchof a small tree, fastened in a way to permit it to blow out, or to drooplike a vessel's pennant.
Now that Mabel's fears were awakened, June herself could not havemanifested greater quickness in analyzing facts that she believed mightaffect the safety of the party. She saw at a glance that this bit ofcloth could be observed from an adjacent island; that it lay so near theline between her own hut and the canoe as to leave no doubt that Junehad passed near it, if not directly under it; and that it might be asignal to communicate some important fact connected with the mode ofattack to those who were probably lying in ambush near them. Tearingthe little strip of bunting from the tree, Mabel hastened on, scarcelyknowing what her duty next required of her. June might be false to her,but her manner, her looks, her affection, and her disposition as Mabelhad known it in the journey, forbade the idea. Then came the allusion toArrowhead's admiration of the pale-face beauties, some dim recollectionsof the looks of the Tuscarora, and a painful consciousness that fewwives could view with kindness one who had estranged a husband'saffections. None of these images were distinct and clear, but theyrather gleamed over the mind of our heroine than rested in it, and theyquickened her pulses, as they did her step, without bringing with themthe prompt and clear decisions that usually followed her reflections.She had hurried onwards towards the hut occupied by the soldier's wife,intending to remove at once to the blockhou
se with the woman, thoughshe could persuade no other to follow, when her impatient walk wasinterrupted by the voice of Muir.
"Whither so fast, pretty Mabel?" he cried; "and why so given tosolitude? The worthy Sergeant will deride my breeding, if he hear thathis daughter passes the mornings alone and unattended to, though hewell knows it is my ardent wish to be her slave and companion from thebeginning of the year to its end."
"Surely, Mr. Muir, you must have some authority here?" Mabel suddenlyarrested her steps to say. "One of your rank would be listened to, atleast, by a corporal?"
"I don't know that, I don't know that," interrupted Muir, with animpatience and appearance of alarm that might have excited Mabel'sattention at another moment. "Command is command; discipline,discipline; and authority, authority. Your good father would be soregrieved did he find me interfering to sully or carry off the laurelshe is about to win; and I cannot command the Corporal without equallycommanding the Sergeant. The wisest way will be for me to remain in theobscurity of a private individual in this enterprise; and it is so thatall parties, from Lundie down, understand the transaction."
"This I know, and it may be well, nor would I give my dear father anycause of complaint; but you may influence the Corporal to his own good."
"I'll no' say that," returned Muir in his sly Scotch way; "it would befar safer to promise to influence him to his injury. Mankind, prettyMabel, have their peculiarities; and to influence a fellow-being to hisown good is one of the most difficult tasks of human nature, while theopposite is just the easiest. You'll no' forget this, my dear, but bearit in mind for your edification and government. But what is that you'retwisting round your slender finger as you may be said to twist hearts?"
"It is nothing but a bit of cloth--a sort of flag--a trifle that ishardly worth our attention at this grave moment. If--"
"A trifle! It's no' so trifling as ye may imagine, Mistress Mabel,"taking the bit of bunting from her, and stretching it at full lengthwith both his arms extended, while his face grew grave and his eyewatchful. "Ye'll no' ha' been finding this, Mabel Dunham, in thebreakfast?"
Mabel simply acquainted him with the spot where and the manner in whichshe had found the bit of cloth. While she was speaking, the eye of theQuartermaster was not quiet for a moment, glancing from the rag to theface of our heroine, then back again to the rag. That his suspicionswere awakened was easy to be seen, nor was he long in letting it beknown what direction they had taken.
"We are not in a part of the world where our ensigns and gauds ought tobe spread abroad to the wind, Mabel Dunham!" he said, with an ominousshake of the head.
"I thought as much myself, Mr. Muir, and brought away the little flaglest it might be the means of betraying our presence here to the enemy,even though nothing is intended by its display. Ought not my uncle to bemade acquainted with the circumstance?"
"I no' see the necessity for that, pretty Mabel; for, as you justlysay, it is a circumstance, and circumstances sometimes worry the worthymariner. But this flag, if flag it can be called, belongs to a seaman'scraft. You may perceive that it is made of what is called bunting, andthat is a description of cloth used only by vessels for such purposes,_our_ colors being of silk, as you may understand, or painted canvas.It's surprisingly like the fly of the _Scud's_ ensign. And now Irecollect me to have observed that a piece had been cut from that veryflag."
Mabel felt her heart sink, but she had sufficient self-command not toattempt an answer.
"It must be looked to," Muir continued, "and, after all, I think it maybe well to hold a short consultation with Master Cap, than whom a moreloyal subject does not exist in the British empire."
"I have thought the warning so serious," Mabel rejoined, "that I amabout to remove to the blockhouse, and to take the woman with me."
"I do not see the prudence of that, Mabel. The blockhouse will be thefirst spot assailed should there really be an attack; and it's no' wellprovided for a siege, that must be allowed. If I might advise in sodelicate a contingency, I would recommend your taking refuge in theboat, which, as you may now perceive, is most favorably placed toretreat by that channel opposite, where all in it would be hid by theislands in one or two minutes. Water leaves no trail, as Pathfinder wellexpresses it; and there appears to be so many different passages in thatquarter that escape would be more than probable. I've always beenof opinion that Lundie hazarded too much in occupying a post so faradvanced and so much exposed as this."
"It's too late to regret it now, Mr. Muir, and we have only to consultour own security."
"And the king's honor, pretty Mabel. Yes, his Majesty's arms and hisglorious name are not to be overlooked on any occasion."
"Then I think it might be better if we all turned our eyes towards theplace that has been built to maintain them instead of the boat," saidMabel, smiling; "and so, Mr. Muir, I am for the blockhouse, intendingto await there the return of my father and his party. He would be sadlygrieved at finding we had fled when he got back successful himself, andfilled with the confidence of our having been as faithful to our dutiesas he has been to his own."
"Nay, nay, for heaven's sake, do not misunderstand me, Mabel!" Muirinterrupted, with some alarm of manner; "I am far from intimating thatany but you females ought to take refuge in the boat. The duty of us menis sufficiently plain, no doubt, and my resolution has been formed fromthe first to stand or fall by the blockhouse."
"And did you imagine, Mr. Muir, that two females could row that heavyboat in a way to escape the bark canoe of an Indian?"
"Ah, my pretty Mabel, love is seldom logical, and its fears andmisgivings are apt to warp the faculties. I only saw your sweet personin the possession of the means of safety, and overlooked the want ofability to use them; but you'll not be so cruel, lovely creature, as toimpute to me as a fault my intense anxiety on your own account."
Mabel had heard enough: her mind was too much occupied with what hadpassed that morning, and with her fears, to wish to linger longer tolisten to love speeches, which in her most joyous and buoyant momentsshe would have found unpleasant. She took a hasty leave of hercompanion, and was about to trip away towards the hilt of the otherwoman, when Muir arrested the movement by laying a hand on her arm.
"One word, Mabel," said he, "before you leave me. This little flag may,or it may not, have a particular meaning; if it has, now that we areaware of its being shown, may it not be better to put it backagain, while we watch vigilantly for some answer that may betray theconspiracy; and if it mean nothing, why, nothing will follow."
"This may be all right, Mr. Muir, though, if the whole is accidental,the flag might be the occasion of the fort's being discovered."
Mabel stayed to utter no more; but she was soon out of sight,running into the hut towards which she had been first proceeding. TheQuartermaster remained on the very spot and in the precise attitude inwhich she had left him for quite a minute, first looking at the boundingfigure of the girl and then at the bit of bunting, which he still heldbefore him in a way to denote indecision. His irresolution lasted butfor this minute, however; for he was soon beneath the tree, where hefastened the mimic flag to a branch again, though, from his ignoranceof the precise spot from which it had been taken by Mabel, he left itfluttering from a part of the oak where it was still more exposed thanbefore to the eyes of any passenger on the river, though less in viewfrom the island itself.
The Pathfinder; Or, The Inland Sea Page 20
