CHAPTER XXIII.
What had the Eternall Maker need of thee, The world in his continuall course to keepe, That doest all things deface? ne lettest see The beautie of his worke? Indeede in sleepe, The slouth full body that doth love to steepe His lustlesse limbs, and drowne his baser mind, Doth praise thee oft, and oft from Stygian deepe, Calles thee his goddesse, in his errour blind, And great dame Nature's hand-maide, chearing every kinde. _Faerie Queene._
The tranquillity of the previous night was not contradicted by themovements of the day. Although Mabel and June went to every loophole,not a sign of the presence of a living being on the island was at firstto be seen, themselves excepted. There was a smothered fire on the spotwhere M'Nab and his comrades had cooked, as if the smoke which curledupwards from it was intended as a lure to the absent; and all around thehuts had been restored to former order and arrangement. Mabel startedinvoluntarily when her eye at length fell on a group of three men,dressed in the scarlet of the 55th, seated on the grass in loungingattitudes, as if they chatted in listless security; and her bloodcurdled as, on a second look, she traced the bloodless faces and glassyeyes of the dead. They were very near the blockhouse, so near indeedas to have been overlooked at the first eager inquiry, and there wasa mocking levity in their postures and gestures, for their limbs werestiffening in different attitudes, intended to resemble life, at whichthe soul revolted. Still, horrible as these objects were to those nearenough to discover the frightful discrepancy between their assumed andtheir real characters, the arrangement had been made with so much artthat it would have deceived a negligent observer at the distance of ahundred yards. After carefully examining the shores of the island, Junepointed out to her companion the fourth soldier, seated, with his feethanging over the water, his back fastened to a sapling, and holding afishing-rod in his hand. The scalpless heads were covered with thecaps, and all appearance of blood had been carefully washed from eachcountenance.
Mabel sickened at this sight, which not only did so much violence to allher notions of propriety, but which was in itself so revolting and soopposed to natural feeling. She withdrew to a seat, and hid her face inher apron for several minutes, until a low call from June again drew herto a loophole. The latter then pointed out the body of Jennie seeminglystanding in the door of a hut, leaning forward as if to look at thegroup of men, her cap fluttering in the wind, and her hand graspinga broom. The distance was too great to distinguish the features veryaccurately; but Mabel fancied that the jaw had been depressed, as if todistort the mouth into a sort of horrible laugh.
"June! June!" she exclaimed; "this exceeds all I have ever heard, orimagined as possible, in the treachery and artifices of your people."
"Tuscarora very cunning," said June, in a way to show that she ratherapproved of than condemned the uses to which the dead bodies had beenapplied. "Do soldier no harm now; do Iroquois good; got the scalp first;now make bodies work. By and by, burn 'em."
This speech told Mabel how far she was separated from her friend incharacter; and it was several minutes before she could again addressher. But this temporary aversion was lost on June, who set aboutpreparing their simple breakfast, in a way to show how insensible shewas to feelings in others which her own habits taught her to discard.Mabel ate sparingly, and her companion, as if nothing had happened. Thenthey had leisure again for their thoughts, and for further surveys ofthe island. Our heroine, though devoured with a feverish desire to bealways at the loops, seldom went that she did not immediately quit themin disgust, though compelled by her apprehensions to return again ina few minutes, called by the rustling of leaves, or the sighing of thewind. It was, indeed, a solemn thing to look out upon that desertedspot, peopled by the dead in the panoply of the living, and thrown intothe attitudes and acts of careless merriment and rude enjoyment. Theeffect on our heroine was much as if she had found herself an observerof the revelries of demons.
Throughout the livelong day not an Indian nor a Frenchman was to beseen, and night closed over the frightful but silent masquerade, withthe steady and unalterable progress with which the earth obeys herlaws, indifferent to the petty actors and petty scenes that are in dailybustle and daily occurrence on her bosom. The night was far more quietthan that which had preceded it, and Mabel slept with an increasingconfidence; for she now felt satisfied that her own fate would notbe decided until the return of her father. The following day he wasexpected, however, and when our heroine awoke, she ran eagerly to theloops in order to ascertain the state of the weather and the aspect ofthe skies, as well as the condition of the island. There lounged thefearful group on the grass; the fisherman still hung over the water,seemingly intent on his sport; and the distorted countenance of Jennieglared from out the hut in horrible contortions. But the weather hadchanged; the wind blew fresh from the southward, and though the air wasbland, it was filled with the elements of storm.
"This grows more and more difficult to bear, June," Mabel said, when sheleft the window. "I could even prefer to see the enemy than to look anylonger on this fearful array of the dead."
"Hush! Here they come. June thought hear a cry like a warrior's shoutwhen he take a scalp."
"What mean you? There is no more butchery!--there can be no more."
"Saltwater!" exclaimed June, laughing, as she stood peeping through aloophole.
"My dear uncle! Thank God! he then lives! Oh, June, June, _you_ will notlet them harm _him?_"
"June, poor squaw. What warrior t'ink of what she say? Arrowhead bringhim here."
By this time Mabel was at a loop; and, sure enough, there were Cap andthe Quartermaster in the hands of the Indians, eight or ten of whomwere conducting them to the foot of the block, for, by this capture, theenemy now well knew that there could be no man in the building. Mabelscarcely breathed until the whole party stood ranged directly beforethe door, when she was rejoiced to see that the French officer was amongthem. A low conversation followed, in which both the white leader andArrowhead spoke earnestly to their captives, when the Quartermastercalled out to her in a voice loud enough to be heard.
"Pretty Mabel! Pretty Mabel!" said he; "Look out of one of theloopholes, and pity our condition. We are threatened with instant deathunless you open the door to the conquerors. Relent, then or we'll no' bewearing our scalps half an hour from this blessed moment."
Mabel thought there were mockery and levity in this appeal, and itsmanner rather fortified than weakened her resolution to hold the placeas long as possible.
"Speak to me, uncle," said she, with her mouth at a loop, "and tell mewhat I ought to do."
"Thank God! thank God!" ejaculated Cap; "the sound of your sweet voice,Magnet, lightens my heart of a heavy load, for I feared you had sharedthe fate of poor Jennie. My breast has felt the last four-and-twentyhours as if a ton of kentledge had been stowed in it. You ask me whatyou ought to do, child, and I do not know how to advise you, though youare my own sister's daughter! The most I can say just now, my poor girl,is most heartily to curse the day you or I ever saw this bit of freshwater."
"But, uncle, is your life in danger--do _you_ think I ought to open thedoor?"
"A round turn and two half-hitches make a fast belay; and I wouldcounsel no one who is out of the hands of these devils to unbar orunfasten anything in order to fall into them. As to the Quartermasterand myself, we are both elderly men, and not of much account to mankindin general, as honest Pathfinder would say; and it can make no greatodds to him whether he balances the purser's books this year or thenext; and as for myself, why, if I were on the seaboard, I should knowwhat to do, but up here, in this watery wilderness, I can only say, thatif I were behind that bit of a bulwark, it would take a good deal ofIndian logic to rouse me out of it."
"You'll no' be minding all your uncle says, pretty Mabel," put in Muir,"for distress is obviously fast unsettling his faculties, and he is farfrom calculating all the necessities of the emergency. We are in thehands here of very considerate and gentlemanly pa
irsons, it must beacknowledged, and one has little occasion to apprehend disagreeableviolence. The casualties that have occurred are the common incidents ofwar, and can no' change our sentiments of the enemy, for they are farfrom indicating that any injustice will be done the prisoners. I'm surethat neither Master Cap nor myself has any cause of complaint since wehave given ourselves up to Master Arrowhead, who reminds me of a Romanor a Spartan by his virtues and moderation but ye'll be rememberingthat usages differ, and that our scalps may be lawful sacrifices toappease the manes of fallen foes, unless you save them by capitulation."
"I shall do wiser to keep within the blockhouse until the fate of theisland is settled," returned Mabel. "Our enemies can feel no concernon account of one like me, knowing that I can do them no harm, and Igreatly prefer to remain here as more befitting my sex and years."
"If nothing but your convenience were concerned, Mabel, we should allcheerfully acquiesce in your wishes, but these gentlemen fancy that thework will aid their operations, and they have a strong desire to possessit. To be frank with you, finding myself and your uncle in a verypeculiar situation, I acknowledge that, to avert consequences, I haveassumed the power that belongs to his Majesty's commission, and enteredinto a verbal capitulation, by which I have engaged to give up theblockhouse and the whole island. It is the fortune of war, and must besubmitted to; so open the door, pretty Mabel, forthwith, and confideyourself to the care of those who know how to treat beauty and virtuein distress. There's no courtier in Scotland more complaisant than thischief, or who is more familiar with the laws of decorum."
"No leave blockhouse," muttered June, who stood at Mabel's side,attentive to all that passed. "Blockhouse good--got no scalp."
Our heroine might have yielded but for this appeal; for it began toappear to her that the wisest course would be to conciliate the enemy byconcessions instead of exasperating them by resistance. They must knowthat Muir and her uncle were in their power; that there was no man inthe building, and she fancied they might proceed to batter down thedoor, or cut their way through the logs with axes, if she obstinatelyrefused to give them peaceable admission, since there was no longerany reason to dread the rifle. But the words of June induced her tohesitate, and the earnest pressure of the hand and entreating looks ofher companion strengthened a resolution that was faltering.
"No prisoner yet," whispered June; "let 'em make prisoner before 'eytake prisoner--talk big; June manage 'em."
Mabel now began to parley more resolutely with Muir, for her uncleseemed disposed to quiet his conscience by holding his tongue, and sheplainly intimated that it was not her intention to yield the building.
"You forget the capitulation, Mistress Mabel," said Muir; "the honor ofone of his Majesty's servants is concerned, and the honor of his Majestythrough his servant. You will remember the finesse and delicacy thatbelong to military honor?"
"I know enough, Mr. Muir, to understand that you have no command in thisexpedition, and therefore can have no right to yield the blockhouse; andI remember, moreover, to have heard my dear father say that a prisonerloses all his authority for the time being."
"Rank sophistry, pretty Mabel, and treason to the king, as well asdishonoring his commission and discrediting his name. You'll no' bepersevering in your intentions, when your better judgment hashad leisure to reflect and to make conclusions on matters andcircumstances."
"Ay," put in Cap, "this is a circumstance, and be d----d to it!"
"No mind what'e uncle say," ejaculated June, who was occupied in a farcorner of the room. "Blockhouse good--got no scalp."
"I shall remain as I am, Mr. Muir, until I get some tidings of myfather. He will return in the course of the next ten days."
"Ah, Mabel, this artifice will no' deceive the enemy, who, by means thatwould be unintelligible, did not our suspicions rest on an unhappy youngman with too much plausibility, are familiar with all our doingsand plans, and well know that the sun will not set before the worthySergeant and his companions will be in their power. Aweel! Submission toProvidence is truly a Christian virtue!"
"Mr. Muir, you appear to be deceived in the strength of this work, andto fancy it weaker than it is. Do you desire to see what I can do in theway of defence, if so disposed?"
"I dinna mind if I do," answered the Quartermaster, who always grewScotch as he grew interested.
"What do you think of that, then? Look at the loop of the upper story!"
As soon as Mabel had spoken, all eyes were turned upward, and beheld themuzzle of a rifle cautiously thrust through a hole, June having resortedagain to a _ruse_ which had already proved so successful. The result didnot disappoint expectation. No sooner did the Indians catch a sight ofthe fatal weapon than they leaped aside, and in less than a minute everyman among them had sought a cover. The French officer kept his eye onthe barrel of the piece in order to ascertain that it was not pointedin his particular direction, and he coolly took a pinch of snuff. Asneither Muir nor Cap had anything to apprehend from the quarter in whichthe others were menaced, they kept their ground.
"Be wise, my pretty Mabel, be wise!" exclaimed the former; "and no' beprovoking useless contention. In the name of all the kings of Albin,who have ye closeted with you in that wooden tower that seemeth sobloody-minded? There is necromancy about this matter, and all ourcharacters may be involved in the explanation."
"What do you think of the Pathfinder, Master Muir, for a garrison toso strong a post?" cried Mabel, resorting to an equivocation which thecircumstances rendered very excusable. "What will your French and Indiancompanions think of the aim of the Pathfinder's rifle?"
"Bear gently on the unfortunate, pretty Mabel, and do not confound theking's servants--may Heaven bless him and all his royal lineage!--withthe king's enemies. If Pathfinder be indeed in the blockhouse, let himspeak, and we will hold our negotiations directly with him. He knowsus as friends, and we fear no evil at his hands, and least of allto myself; for a generous mind is apt to render rivalry in a certaininterest a sure ground of respect and amity, since admiration of thesame woman proves a community of feeling and tastes."
The reliance on Pathfinder's friendship did not extend beyond theQuartermaster and Cap, however, for even the French officer, who hadhitherto stood his ground so well, shrank back at the sound of theterrible name. So unwilling, indeed, did this individual, a man of ironnerves, and one long accustomed to the dangers of the peculiar warfarein which he was engaged, appear to remain exposed to the assaults ofKilldeer, whose reputation throughout all that frontier was as wellestablished as that of Marlborough in Europe, that he did not disdain toseek a cover, insisting that his two prisoners should follow him. Mabelwas too glad to be rid of her enemies to lament the departure of herfriends, though she kissed her hand to Cap through the loop, and calledout to him in terms of affection as he moved slowly and unwillinglyaway.
The enemy now seemed disposed to abandon all attempts on the blockhousefor the present; and June, who had ascended to a trap in the roof,whence the best view was to be obtained, reported that the whole partyhad assembled to eat, on a distant and sheltered part of the island,where Muir and Cap were quietly sharing in the good things which weregoing, as if they had no concern on their minds. This informationgreatly relieved Mabel, and she began to turn her thoughts again to themeans of effecting her own escape, or at least of letting her fatherknow of the danger that awaited him. The Sergeant was expected to returnthat afternoon, and she knew that a moment gained or lost might decidehis fate.
Three or four hours flew by. The island was again buried in a profoundquiet, the day was wearing away, and yet Mabel had decided on nothing.June was in the basement, preparing their frugal meal, and Mabel herselfhad ascended to the roof, which was provided with a trap that allowedher to go out on the top of the building, whence she commanded the bestview of surrounding objects that the island possessed; still it waslimited, and much obstructed by the tops of trees. The anxious girldid not dare to trust her person in sight, knowing well that theunrestraine
d passions of some savage might induce him to send a bulletthrough her brain. She merely kept her head out of the trap, therefore,whence, in the course of the afternoon, she made as many surveys of thedifferent channels about the island as "Anne, sister Anne," took of theenvirons of the castle of Blue Beard.
The sun had actually set; no intelligence had been received from theboats, and Mabel ascended to the roof to take a last look, hoping thatthe party would arrive in the darkness; which would at least prevent theIndians from rendering their ambuscade so fatal as it might otherwiseprove, and which possibly might enable her to give some moreintelligible signal, by means of fire, than it would otherwise be in herpower to do. Her eye had turned carefully round the whole horizon, andshe was just on the point of drawing in her person, when an objectthat struck her as new caught her attention. The islands lay grouped soclosely, that six or eight different channels or passages between themwere in view; and in one of the most covered, concealed in a greatmeasure by the bushes of the shore, lay what a second look assuredher was a bark canoe. It contained a human being beyond a question.Confident that if an enemy her signal could do no harm, and; if afriend, that it might do good, the eager girl waved a little flagtowards the stranger, which she had prepared for her father, taking carethat it should not be seen from the island.
Mabel had repeated her signal eight or ten times in vain, and she beganto despair of its being noticed, when a sign was given in return by thewave of a paddle, and the man so far discovered himself as to let hersee it was Chingachgook. Here, then, at last, was a friend; one, too,who was able, and she doubted not would be willing to aid her. From thatinstant her courage and her spirits revived. The Mohican had seen her;must have recognized her, as he knew that she was of the party; andno doubt, as soon as it was sufficiently dark, he would take the stepsnecessary to release her. That he was aware of the presence of theenemy was apparent by the great caution he observed, and she had everyreliance on his prudence and address. The principal difficulty nowexisted with June; for Mabel had seen too much of her fidelity to herown people, relieved as it was by sympathy for herself, to believe shewould consent to a hostile Indian's entering the blockhouse, orindeed to her leaving it, with a view to defeat Arrowhead's plans. Thehalf-hour which succeeded the discovery of the presence of the GreatSerpent was the most painful of Mabel Dunham's life. She saw the meansof effecting all she wished, as it might be within reach of her hand,and yet it eluded her grasp. She knew June's decision and coolness,notwithstanding all her gentleness and womanly feeling; and at lastshe came reluctantly to the conclusion that there was no other way ofattaining her end than by deceiving her tried companion and protector.It was revolting to one so sincere and natural, so pure of heart, and somuch disposed to ingenuousness as Mabel Dunham, to practise deceptionon a friend like June; but her own father's life was at stake, hercompanion would receive no positive injury, and she had feelings andinterests directly touching herself which would have removed greaterscruples.
As soon as it was dark, Mabel's heart began to beat with increasedviolence; and she adopted and changed her plan of proceeding at least adozen times in a single hour. June was always the source of her greatestembarrassment; for she did not well see, first, how she was to ascertainwhen Chingachgook was at the door, where she doubted not he would soonappear; and, secondly, how she was to admit him, without giving thealarm to her watchful companion. Time pressed, however; for the Mohicanmight come and go away again, unless she was ready to receive him. Itwould be too hazardous to the Delaware to remain long on the island; andit became absolutely necessary to determine on some course, even at therisk of choosing one that was indiscreet. After running over variousprojects in her mind, therefore, Mabel came to her companion, and said,with as much calmness as she could assume,--
"Are you not afraid, June, now your people believe Pathfinder is in theblockhouse, that they will come and try to set it on fire?"
"No t'ink such t'ing. No burn blockhouse. Blockhouse good; got noscalp."
"June, we cannot know. They hid because they believed what I told themof Pathfinder's being with us."
"Believe fear. Fear come quick, go quick. Fear make run away; wit makecome back. Fear make warrior fool, as well as young girl."
Here June laughed, as her sex is apt to laugh when anything particularlyludicrous crosses their youthful fancies.
"I feel uneasy, June; and wish you yourself would go up again to theroof and look out upon the island, to make certain that nothing isplotting against us; you know the signs of what your people intend to dobetter than I."
"June go, Lily wish; but very well know that Indian sleep; wait for 'efader. Warrior eat, drink, sleep, all time, when don't fight and go onwar-trail. Den never sleep, eat, drink--never feel. Warrior sleep now."
"God send it may be so! but go up, dear June, and look well about you.Danger may come when we least expect it."
June arose, and prepared to ascend to the roof; but she paused, with herfoot on the first round of the ladder. Mabel's heart beat so violentlythat she was fearful its throbs would be heard; and she fancied thatsome gleamings of her real intentions had crossed the mind of herfriend. She was right in part, the Indian woman having actually stoppedto consider whether there was any indiscretion in what she was about todo. At first the suspicion that Mabel intended to escape flashed acrossher mind; then she rejected it, on the ground that the pale-face had nomeans of getting off the island, and that the blockhouse was much themost secure place she could find. The next thought was, that Mabel haddetected some sign of the near approach of her father. This idea, too,lasted but an instant; for June entertained some such opinion of hercompanion's ability to understand symptoms of this sort--symptoms thathad escaped her own sagacity--as a woman of high fashion entertains ofthe accomplishments of her maid. Nothing else in the same way offering,she began slowly to mount the ladder.
Just as she reached the upper floor, a lucky thought suggested itself toour heroine; and, by expressing it in a hurried but natural manner, shegained a great advantage in executing her projected scheme.
"I will go down," she said, "and listen by the door, June, while you areon the roof; and we will thus be on our guard, at the same time, aboveand below."
Though June thought this savored of unnecessary caution, well knowingthat no one could enter the building unless aided from within, nor anyserious danger menace them from the exterior without giving sufficientwarning, she attributed the proposition to Mabel's ignorance and alarm;and, as it was made apparently with frankness, it was received withoutdistrust. By these means our heroine was enabled to descend to the door,as her friend ascended to the roof. The distance between the two was nowtoo great to admit of conversation and for three or four minutes onewas occupied in looking about her as well as the darkness would allow,and the other in listening at the door with as much intentness as if allher senses were absorbed in the single faculty of hearing.
June discovered nothing from her elevated stand; the obscurity indeedalmost forbade the hope of such a result; but it would not be easy todescribe the sensation with which Mabel thought she perceived a slightand guarded push against the door. Fearful that all might not be asshe wished, and anxious to let Chingachgook know that she was near, shebegan, though in tremulous and low notes, to sing. So profound was thestillness of the moment that the sound of the unsteady warbling ascendedto the roof and in a minute June began to descend. A slight tap at thedoor was heard immediately after. Mabel was bewildered, for there wasno time to lose. Hope proved stronger than fear; and with unsteady handsshe commenced unbarring the door. The moccasin of June was heard onthe floor above her when only a single bar was turned. The second wasreleased as her form reached half-way down the lower ladder.
"What you do?" exclaimed June angrily. "Run away--mad--leave blockhouse;blockhouse good." The hands of both were on the last bar, and it wouldhave been cleared from the fastenings but for a vigorous shove fromwithout, which jammed the wood. A short struggle ensued, though bothwere disin
clined to violence. June would probably have prevailed, hadnot another and a more vigorous push from without forced the bar pastthe trifling impediment that held it, when the door opened. The form ofa man was seen to enter; and both the females rushed up the ladder, asif equally afraid of the consequences. The stranger secured the door;and, first examining the lower room with great care, he cautiouslyascended the ladder. June, as soon as it became dark, had closed theloops of the principal floor, and lighted a candle. By means of this dimtaper, then, the two females stood in expectation, waiting to ascertainthe person of their visitor, whose wary ascent of the ladder wasdistinctly audible, though sufficiently deliberate. It would not be easyto say which was the more astonished on finding, when the stranger hadgot through the trap, that Pathfinder stood before them.
"God be praised!" Mabel exclaimed, for the idea that the blockhousewould be impregnable with such a garrison at once crossed her mind. "OPathfinder! what has become of my father?"
"The Sergeant is safe as yet, and victorious; though it is not in thegift of man to say what will be the ind of it. Is not that the wife ofArrowhead skulking in the corner there?"
"Speak not of her reproachfully, Pathfinder; I owe her my life, mypresent security. Tell me what has happened to my father's party--whyyou are here; and I will relate all the horrible events that have passedupon this island."
"Few words will do the last, Mabel; for one used to Indian devilriesneeds but little explanations on such a subject. Everything turnedout as we had hoped with the expedition for the Sarpent was on thelook-out, and he met us with all the information heart could desire. Weambushed three boats, druv' the Frenchers out of them, got possessionand sunk them, according to orders, in the deepest part of the channel;and the savages of Upper Canada will fare badly for Indian goods thiswinter. Both powder and ball, too, will be scarcer among them than keenhunters and active warriors may relish. We did not lose a man or haveeven a skin barked; nor do I think the inimy suffered to speak of. Inshort, Mabel, it has been just such an expedition as Lundie likes; muchharm to the foe, and little harm to ourselves."
"Ah, Pathfinder, I fear, when Major Duncan comes to hear the wholeof the sad tale, he will find reason to regret he ever undertook theaffair."
"I know what you mean, I know what you mean; but by telling my storystraight you will understand it better. As soon as the Sergeant foundhimself successful, he sent me and the Sarpent off in canoes to tellyou how matters had turned out, and he is following with the two boats,which, being so much heavier, cannot arrive before morning. I partedfrom Chingachgook this forenoon, it being agreed that he should come upone set of channels, and I another, to see that the path was clear. I'venot seen the chief since."
Mabel now explained the manner in which she had discovered the Mohican,and her expectation that he would yet come to the blockhouse.
"Not he, not he! A regular scout will never get behind walls or logs solong as he can keep the open air and find useful employment. I shouldnot have come myself, Mabel, but I promised the Sergeant to comfort youand to look after your safety. Ah's me! I reconnoitred the island witha heavy heart this forenoon and there was a bitter hour when I fanciedyou might be among the slain."
"By what lucky accident were you prevented from paddling up boldly tothe island and from falling into the hands of the enemy?"
"By such an accident, Mabel, as Providence employs to tell the houndwhere to find the deer and the deer how to throw off the hound. No, no!these artifices and devilries with dead bodies may deceive the soldiersof the 55th and the king's officers; but they are all lost upon men whohave passed their days in the forest. I came down the channel in face ofthe pretended fisherman; and, though the riptyles have set up the poorwretch with art, it was not ingenious enough to take in a practysed eye.The rod was held too high, for the 55th have learned to fish at Oswego,if they never knew how before; and then the man was too quiet for onewho got neither prey nor bite. But we never come in upon a post blindly;and I have lain outside a garrison a whole night, because they hadchanged their sentries and their mode of standing guard. Neither theSarpent nor myself would be likely to be taken in by these clumsycontrivances, which were most probably intended for the Scotch, who arecunning enough in some particulars, though anything but witches whenIndian sarcumventions are in the wind."
"Do you think my father and his men may yet be deceived?" said Mabelquickly.
"Not if I can prevent it, Mabel. You say the Sarpent is on the look-outtoo; so there is a double chance of our succeeding in letting him knowhis danger; though it is by no means sartain by which channel the partymay come."
"Pathfinder," said our heroine solemnly, for the frightful scenes shehad witnessed had clothed death with unusual horrors,--"Pathfinder, youhave professed love for me, a wish to make me your wife?"
"I did ventur' to speak on that subject, Mabel, and the Sergeant haseven lately said that you are kindly disposed; but I am not a man topersecute the thing I love."
"Hear me, Pathfinder, I respect you, honor you, revere you; save myfather from this dreadful death, and I can worship you. Here is my hand,as a solemn pledge for my faith, when you come to claim it."
"Bless you, bless you, Mabel; this is more than I desarve--more, Ifear, than I shall know how to profit by as I ought. It was not wanting,however, to make me sarve the Sergeant. We are old comrades, and oweeach other a life; though I fear me, Mabel, being a father's comrade isnot always the best recommendation with a daughter."
"You want no other recommendation than your own acts--your courage, yourfidelity. All that you do and say, Pathfinder, my reason approves, andthe heart will, nay, it _shall_ follow."
"This is a happiness I little expected this night; but we are in God'shands, and He will protect us in His own way. These are sweet words,Mabel; but they were not wanting to make me do all that man can do inthe present circumstances; they will not lessen my endeavors, neither."
"Now we understand each other, Pathfinder," Mabel added hoarsely, "letus not lose one of the precious moments, which may be of incalculablevalue. Can we not get into your canoe and go and meet my father?"
"That is not the course I advise. I don't know by which channel theSergeant will come, and there are twenty; rely on it, the Sarpent willbe winding his way through them all. No, no! my advice is to remainhere. The logs of this blockhouse are still green, and it will notbe easy to set them on fire; and I can make good the place, bating aburning, ag'in a tribe. The Iroquois nation cannot dislodge me from thisfortress, so long as we can keep the flames off it. The Sergeant is now'camped on some island, and will not come in until morning. If wehold the block, we can give him timely warning, by firing rifles, forinstance; and should he determine to attack the savages, as a man of histemper will be very likely to do, the possession of this building willbe of great account in the affair. No, no! my judgment says remain, ifthe object be to sarve the Sergeant, though escape for our two selveswill be no very difficult matter."
"Stay," murmured Mabel, "stay, for God's sake, Pathfinder! Anything,everything to save my father!"
"Yes, that is natur'. I am glad to hear you say this, Mabel, for I own awish to see the Sergeant fairly supported. As the matter now stands,he has gained himself credit; and, could he once drive off thesemiscreants, and make an honorable retreat, laying the huts and blockin ashes, no doubt, Lundie would remember it and sarve him accordingly.Yes, yes, Mabel, we must not only save the Sergeant's life, but we mustsave his reputation."
"No blame can rest on my father on account of the surprise of thisisland."
"There's no telling, there's no telling; military glory is a mostunsartain thing. I've seen the Delawares routed, when they desarved morecredit than at other times when they've carried the day. A man is wrongto set his head on success of any sort, and worst of all on success inwar. I know little of the settlements, or of the notions that men holdin them; but up hereaway even the Indians rate a warrior's characteraccording to his luck. The principal thing with a soldier is never to b
ewhipt; nor do I think mankind stops long to consider how the day was wonor lost. For my part, Mabel, I make it a rule when facing the inimyto give him as good as I can send, and to try to be moderate after adefeat, little need be said on that score, as a flogging is one of themost humbling things in natur'. The parsons preach about humility in thegarrison but if humility would make Christians, the king's troops oughtto be saints, for they've done little as yet this war but take lessonsfrom the French, beginning at Fort du Quesne and ending at Ty."
"My father could not have suspected that the position of the island wasknown to the enemy," resumed Mabel, whose thoughts were running on theprobable effect of the recent events on the Sergeant.
"That is true; nor do I well see how the Frenchers found it out. Thespot is well chosen, and it is not an easy matter, even for one whohas travelled the road to and from it, to find it again. There has beentreachery, I fear; yes, yes, there must have been treachery."
"Oh, Pathfinder! can this be?"
"Nothing is easier, Mabel, for treachery comes as nat'ral to some men aseating. Now when I find a man all fair words I look close to his deeds;for when the heart is right, and really intends to do good, it isgenerally satisfied to let the conduct speak instead of the tongue."
"Jasper Western is not one of these," said Mabel impetuously. "No youthcan be more sincere in his manner, or less apt to make the tongue actfor the head."
"Jasper Western! tongue and heart are both right with that lad, dependon it, Mabel; and the notion taken up by Lundie, and the Quartermaster,and the Sergeant, and your uncle too, is as wrong as it would be tothink that the sun shone by night and the stars shone by day. No, no;I'll answer for Eau-douce's honesty with my own scalp, or, at need, withmy own rifle."
"Bless you, bless you, Pathfinder!" exclaimed Mabel, extending her ownhand and pressing the iron fingers of her companion, under a state offeeling that far surpassed her own consciousness of its strength. "Youare all that is generous, all that is noble! God will reward you forit."
"Ah, Mabel, I fear me, if this be true, I should not covet such a wifeas yourself; but would leave you to be sued for by some gentleman of thegarrison, as your desarts require."
"We will not talk of this any more to-night," Mabel answered in a voiceso smothered as to seem nearly choked. "We must think less of ourselvesjust now, Pathfinder, and more of our friends. But I rejoice frommy soul that you believe Jasper innocent. Now let us talk of otherthings--ought we not to release June?"
"I've been thinking about the woman; for it will not be safe to shut oureyes and leave hers open, on this side of the blockhouse door. If we puther in the upper room, and take away the ladder, she'll be a prisoner atleast."
"I cannot treat one thus who has saved my life. It would be better tolet her depart, for I think she is too much my friend to do anything toharm me."
"You do not know the race, Mabel, you do not know the race. It's trueshe's not a full-blooded Mingo, but she consorts with the vagabonds, andmust have larned some of their tricks. What is that?"
"It sounds like oars; some boat is passing through the channel."
Pathfinder closed the trap that led to the lower room, to prevent Junefrom escaping, extinguished the candle, and went hastily to a loop,Mabel looking over his shoulder in breathless curiosity. These severalmovements consumed a minute or two; and by the time the eye of the scouthad got a dim view of things without, two boats had swept past and shotup to the shore, at a spot some fifty yards beyond the block, wherethere was a regular landing. The obscurity prevented more from beingseen; and Pathfinder whispered to Mabel that the new-comers were aslikely to be foes as friends, for he did not think her father couldpossibly have arrived so soon. A number of men were now seen to quit theboats, and then followed three hearty English cheers, leaving no furtherdoubts of the character of the party. Pathfinder sprang to the trap,raised it, glided down the ladder, and began to unbar the door, withan earnestness that proved how critical he deemed the moment. Mabel hadfollowed, but she rather impeded than aided his exertions, and but asingle bar was turned when a heavy discharge of rifles was heard. Theywere still standing in breathless suspense, as the war-whoop rang in allthe surrounding thickets. The door now opened, and both Pathfinderand Mabel rushed into the open air. All human sounds had ceased. Afterlistening half a minute, however, Pathfinder thought he heard a fewstifled groans near the boats; but the wind blew so fresh, and therustling of the leaves mingled so much with the murmurs of the passingair, that he was far from certain. But Mabel was borne away by herfeelings, and she rushed by him, taking the way towards the boats.
"This will not do, Mabel," said the scout in an earnest but low voice,seizing her by an arm; "this will never do. Sartain death would follow,and that without sarving any one. We must return to the block."
"Father! my poor, dear, murdered father!" said the girl wildly, thoughhabitual caution, even at that trying moment, induced her to speak low."Pathfinder, if you love me, let me go to my dear father."
"This will not do, Mabel. It is singular that no one speaks; no onereturns the fire from the boats; and I have left Killdeer in the block!But of what use would a rifle be when no one is to be seen?"
At that moment the quick eye of Pathfinder, which, while he held Mabelfirmly in his grasp, had never ceased to roam over the dim scene, caughtan indistinct view of five or six dark crouching forms, endeavoring tosteal past him, doubtless with the intention of intercepting the retreatto the blockhouse. Catching up Mabel, and putting her under an arm, asif she were an infant, the sinewy frame of the woodsman was exerted tothe utmost, and he succeeded in entering the building. The tramp ofhis pursuers seemed immediately at his heels. Dropping his burden, heturned, closed the door, and had fastened one bar, as a rush against thesolid mass threatened to force it from the hinges. To secure the otherbars was the work of an instant.
Mabel now ascended to the first floor, while Pathfinder remained as asentinel below. Our heroine was in that state in which the body exertsitself, apparently without the control of the mind. She relighted thecandle mechanically, as her companion had desired, and returned with itbelow, where he was waiting her reappearance. No sooner was Pathfinderin possession of the light than he examined the place carefully, to makecertain no one was concealed in the fortress, ascending to each floorin succession, after assuring himself that he left no enemy in his rear.The result was the conviction that the blockhouse now contained no onebut Mabel and himself, June having escaped. When perfectly convinced onthis material point, Pathfinder rejoined our heroine in the principalapartment, setting down the light and examining the priming of Killdeerbefore he seated himself.
"Our worst fears are realized!" said Mabel, to whom the hurry andexcitement of the last five minutes appeared to contain the emotions ofa life. "My beloved father and all his party are slain or captured!"
"We don't know that--morning will tell us all. I do not think the affairso settled as that, or we should hear the vagabond Mingos yelling outtheir triumph around the blockhouse. Of one thing we may be sartain; ifthe inimy has really got the better, he will not be long in callingupon us to surrender. The squaw will let him into the secret of oursituation and, as they well know the place cannot be fired by daylight,so long as Killdeer continues to desarve his reputation, you may dependon it that they will not be backward in making their attempt whiledarkness helps them."
"Surely I hear a groan!"
"'Tis fancy, Mabel; when the mind gets to be skeary, especially awoman's mind, she often concaits things that have no reality. I've knownthem that imagined there was truth in dreams."
"Nay, I am _not_ deceived; there is surely one below, and in pain."
Pathfinder was compelled to own that the quick senses of Mabel had notdeceived her. He cautioned her, however, to repress her feelings; andreminded her that the savages were in the practice of resorting to everyartifice to attain their ends, and that nothing was more likelythan that the groans were feigned with a view to lure them from theblockhouse, or,
at least, to induce them to open the door.
"No, no, no!" said Mabel hurriedly; "there is no artifice in thosesounds, and they come from anguish of body, if not of spirit. They arefearfully natural."
"Well, we shall soon know whether a friend is there or not. Hide thelight again, Mabel, and I will speak the person from a loop."
Not a little precaution was necessary, according to Pathfinder'sjudgment and experience, in performing even this simple act; for he hadknown the careless slain by their want of proper attention to what mighthave seemed to the ignorant supererogatory means of safety. He did notplace his mouth to the loop itself, but so near it that he could beheard without raising his voice, and the same precaution was observed asregards his ear.
"Who is below?" Pathfinder demanded, when his arrangements were madeto his mind. "Is any one in suffering? If a friend, speak boldly, anddepend on our aid."
"Pathfinder!" answered a voice that both Mabel and the person addressedat once knew to be the Sergeant's,--"Pathfinder, in the name of God,tell me what has become of my daughter."
"Father, I am here, unhurt, safe! and oh that I could think the same ofyou!"
The ejaculation of thanksgiving that followed was distinctly audible tothe two, but it was clearly mingled with, a groan of pain.
"My worst forebodings are realized!" said Mabel with a sort of desperatecalmness. "Pathfinder, my father must be brought within the block,though we hazard everything to do it."
"This is natur', and it is the law of God. But, Mabel, be calm, andendivor to be cool. All that can be effected for the Sergeant by humaninvention shall be done. I only ask you to be cool."
"I am, I am, Pathfinder. Never in my life was I more calm, morecollected, than at this moment. But remember how perilous may be everyinstant; for Heaven's sake, what we do, let us do without delay."
Pathfinder was struck with the firmness of Mabel's tones, and perhaps hewas a little deceived by the forced tranquillity and self-possessionshe had assumed. At all events, he did not deem any further explanationsnecessary, but descended forthwith, and began to unbar the door. Thisdelicate process was conducted with the usual caution, but, as he warilypermitted the mass of timber to swing back on the hinges, he felt apressure against it, that had nearly induced him to close it again.But, catching a glimpse of the cause through the crack, the door waspermitted to swing back, when the body of Sergeant Dunham, which waspropped against it, fell partly within the block. To draw in the legsand secure the fastenings occupied the Pathfinder but a moment. Thenthere existed no obstacle to their giving their undivided care to thewounded man.
Mabel, in this trying scene, conducted herself with the sort ofunnatural energy that her sex, when aroused, is apt to manifest. Shegot the light, administered water to the parched lips of her father, andassisted Pathfinder in forming a bed of straw for his body and a pillowof clothes for his head. All this was done earnestly, and almost withoutspeaking; nor did Mabel shed a tear, until she heard the blessings ofher father murmured on her head for this tenderness and care. Allthis time Mabel had merely conjectured the condition of her parent.Pathfinder, however, had shown greater attention to the physical dangerof the Sergeant. He had ascertained that a rifle-ball had passed throughthe body of the wounded man; and he was sufficiently familiar withinjuries of this nature to be certain that the chances of his survivingthe hurt were very trifling, if any.
The Pathfinder; Or, The Inland Sea Page 23
