CHAPTER XXIV.
Then drink my tears, while yet they fall-- Would that my bosom's blood were balm; And--well thou knowest--I'd shed it all, To give thy brow one minute's calm. MOORE.
The eyes of Sergeant Dunham had not ceased to follow the form of hisbeautiful daughter from the moment that the light appeared. He nextexamined the door of the block, to ascertain its security; for he wasleft on the ground below, there being no available means of raising himto the upper floor. Then he sought the face of Mabel; for as life wanesfast the affections resume their force, and we begin to value that mostwhich we feel we are about to lose for ever.
"God be praised, my child! you, at least, have escaped their murderousrifles," he said; for he spoke with strength, and seemingly with noadditional pain. "Give me the history of this sad business, Pathfinder."
"Ah's me, Sergeant! It _has_ been sad, as you say. That there has beentreachery, and the position of the island has been betrayed, is now assartain, in my judgment, as that we still hold the block. But--"
"Major Duncan was right," interrupted Dunham, laying a hand on theother's arm.
"Not in the sense you mean, Sergeant--no, not in that p'int of view;never! At least, not in my opinion. I know that natur' is weak--humannatur', I mean--and that we should none of us vaunt of our gifts,whether red or white; but I do not think a truer-hearted lad lives onthe lines than Jasper Western."
"Bless you! bless you for that, Pathfinder!" burst forth from Mabel'svery soul, while a flood of tears gave vent to emotions that were sovaried while they were so violent. "Oh, bless you, Pathfinder, blessyou! The brave should never desert the brave--the honest should sustainthe honest."
The father's eyes were fastened anxiously on the face of his daughter,until the latter hid her countenance in her apron to conceal her tears;and then they turned with inquiry to the hard features of the guide. Thelatter merely wore their usual expression of frankness, sincerity, anduprightness; and the Sergeant motioned to him to proceed.
"You know the spot where the Sarpent and I left you, Sergeant,"Pathfinder resumed; "and I need say nothing of all that happened afore.It is now too late to regret what is gone and passed; but I do think ifI had stayed with the boats this would not have come to pass. Other menmay be as good guides--I make no doubt they are; but then natur' bestowsits gifts, and some must be better than other some. I daresay poorGilbert, who took my place, has suffered for his mistake."
"He fell at my elbow," the Sergeant answered in a low melancholy tone."We have, indeed, all suffered for our mistakes."
"No, no, Sergeant, I meant no condemnation on you; for men were neverbetter commanded than yourn, in this very expedition. I never behelda prettier flanking; and the way in which you carried your own boat upag'in their howitzer might have teached Lundie himself a lesson."
The eyes of the Sergeant brightened, and his face even wore anexpression of military triumph, though it was of a degree that suitedthe humble sphere in which he had been an actor.
"'Twas not badly done, my friend," said he; "and we carried their logbreastwork by storm."
"'Twas nobly done, Sergeant; though, I fear, when all the truth comes tobe known, it will be found that these vagabonds have got their howitzerback ag'in. Well, well, put a stout heart upon it, and try to forgetall that is disagreeable, and to remember only the pleasant part of thematter. That is your truest philosophy; ay, and truest religion too. Ifthe inimy has got the howitzer ag'in, they've only got what belonged tothem afore, and what we couldn't help. They haven't got the blockhouseyet, nor are they likely to get it, unless they fire it in the dark.Well, Sergeant, the Sarpent and I separated about ten miles down theriver; for we thought it wisest not to come upon even a friendly campwithout the usual caution. What has become of Chingachgook I cannotsay; though Mabel tells me he is not far off, and I make no question thenoble-hearted Delaware is doing his duty, although he is not now visibleto our eyes. Mark my word, Sergeant, before this matter is over we shallhear of him at some critical time and that in a discreet and creditablemanner. Ah, the Sarpent is indeed a wise and virtuous chief! and anywhite man might covet his gifts, though his rifle is not quite as sureas Killdeer, it must be owned. Well, as I came near the island I missedthe smoke, and that put me on my guard; for I knew that the men of the55th were not cunning enough to conceal that sign, notwithstanding allthat has been told them of its danger. This made me more careful, untilI came in sight of this mockfisherman, as I've just told Mabel; and thenthe whole of their infernal arts was as plain before me as if I saw iton a map. I need not tell you, Sergeant, that my first thoughts were ofMabel; and that, finding she was in the block, I came here, in order tolive or die in her company."
The father turned a gratified look upon his child; and Mabel felt asinking of the heart that at such a moment she could not have thoughtpossible, when she wished to believe all her concern centred in thesituation of her parent. As the latter held out his hand, she took itin her own and kissed it. Then, kneeling at his side, she wept as if herheart would break.
"Mabel," said he steadily, "the will of God must be done. It is uselessto attempt deceiving either you or myself; my time has come, and it is aconsolation to me to die like a soldier. Lundie will do me justice; forour good friend Pathfinder will tell him what has been done, and how allcame to pass. You do not forget our last conversation?"
"Nay, father, my time has probably come too," exclaimed Mabel, who feltjust then as if it would be a relief to die. "I cannot hope to escape;and Pathfinder would do well to leave us, and return to the garrisonwith the sad news while he can."
"Mabel Dunham," said Pathfinder reproachfully, though he took her handwith kindness, "I have not desarved this. I know I am wild, and uncouth,and ungainly--"
"Pathfinder!"
"Well, well, we'll forget it; you did not mean it, you could not thinkit. It is useless now to talk of escaping, for the Sergeant cannot bemoved; and the blockhouse must be defended, cost what it will. MaybeLundie will get the tidings of our disaster, and send a party to raisethe siege."
"Pathfinder--Mabel!" said the Sergeant, who had been writhing with painuntil the cold sweat stood on his forehead; "come both to my side. Youunderstand each other, I hope?"
"Father, say nothing of that; it is all as you wish."
"Thank God! Give me your hand, Mabel--here, Pathfinder, take it. I cando no more than give you the girl in this way. I know you will make hera kind husband. Do not wait on account of my death; but there will be achaplain in the fort before the season closes, and let him marry youat once. My brother, if living, will wish to go back to his vessel, andthen the child will have no protector. Mabel, your husband will havebeen my friend, and that will be some consolation to you, I hope."
"Trust this matter to me, Sergeant," put in Pathfinder; "leave it allin my hands as your dying request; and, depend on it, all will go as itshould."
"I do, I do put all confidence in you, my trusty friend, and empower youto act as I could act myself in every particular. Mabel, child,--handme the water,--you will never repent this night. Bless you, my daughter!God bless, and have you in His holy keeping!"
This tenderness was inexpressibly touching to one of Mabel's feelings;and she felt at that moment as if her future union with Pathfinder hadreceived a solemnization that no ceremony of the Church could rendermore holy. Still, a weight, as that of a mountain, lay upon her heart,and she thought it would be happiness to die. Then followed a shortpause, when the Sergeant, in broken sentences, briefly related what hadpassed since he parted with Pathfinder and the Delaware. The wind hadcome more favorable; and, instead of encamping on an island agreeablyto the original intention, he had determined to continue, and reach thestation that night. Their approach would have been unseen, and a portionof the calamity avoided, he thought, had they not grounded on the pointof a neighboring island, where, no doubt, the noise made by the menin getting off the boat gave notice of their approach, and enabled theenemy to be in readiness to receive the
m. They had landed withoutthe slightest suspicion of danger, though surprised at not findinga sentinel, and had actually left their arms in the boat, with theintention of first securing their knapsacks and provisions. The fire hadbeen so close, that, notwithstanding the obscurity, it was very deadly.Every man had fallen, though two or three subsequently arose anddisappeared. Four or five of the soldiers had been killed, or so nearlyso as to survive but a few minutes; though, for some unknown reason, theenemy did not make the usual rush for the scalps. Sergeant Dunham fellwith the others; and he had heard the voice of Mabel, as she rushed fromthe blockhouse. This frantic appeal aroused all his parental feelings,and had enabled him to crawl as far as the door of the building, wherehe had raised himself against the logs in the manner already mentioned.
After this simple explanation was made, the Sergeant was so weak as toneed repose, and his companions, while they ministered to his wants,suffered some time to pass in silence. Pathfinder took the occasion toreconnoitre from the loops and the roof, and he examined the conditionof the rifles, of which there were a dozen kept in the building, thesoldiers having used their regimental muskets in the expedition. ButMabel never left her father's side for an instant; and when, by hisbreathing, she fancied he slept, she bent her knees and prayed.
The half-hour that succeeded was awfully solemn and still. The moccasinof Pathfinder was barely heard overhead, and occasionally the soundof the breech of a rifle fell upon the floor, for he was busied inexamining the pieces, with a view to ascertain the state of theircharges and their primings. Beyond this, nothing was so loud asthe breathing of the wounded man. Mabel's heart yearned to be incommunication with the father she was so soon to lose, and yet she wouldnot disturb his apparent repose. But Dunham slept not; he was in thatstate when the world suddenly loses its attractions, its illusions, andits power; and the unknown future fills the mind with its conjectures,its revelations, and its immensity. He had been a moral man for oneof his mode of life, but he had thought little of this all-importantmoment. Had the din of battle been ringing in his ears, his martialardor might have endured to the end; but there, in the silence of thatnearly untenanted blockhouse, with no sound to enliven him, no appealto keep alive factitious sentiment, no hope of victory to impel, thingsbegan to appear in their true colors, and this state of being to beestimated at its just value. He would have given treasures for religiousconsolation, and yet he knew not where to turn to seek it. He thoughtof Pathfinder, but he distrusted his knowledge. He thought of Mabel,but for the parent to appeal to the child for such succor appearedlike reversing the order of nature. Then it was that he felt the fullresponsibility of the parental character, and had some clear glimpseof the manner in which he himself had discharged the trust towards anorphan child. While thoughts like these were rising in his mind, Mabel,who watched the slightest change in his breathing, heard a guarded knockat the door. Supposing it might be Chingachgook, she rose, undid two ofthe bars, and held the third in her hand, as she asked who was there.The answer was in her uncle's voice, and he implored her to give himinstant admission. Without an instant of hesitation, she turned the bar,and Cap entered. He had barely passed the opening, when Mabel closedthe door again, and secured it as before, for practice had rendered herexpert in this portion of her duties.
The sturdy seaman, when he had made sure of the state of hisbrother-in-law, and that Mabel, as well as himself, was safe, wassoftened nearly to tears. His own appearance he explained by saying thathe had been carelessly guarded, under the impression that he and theQuartermaster were sleeping under the fumes of liquor with whichthey had been plied with a view to keep them quiet in the expectedengagement. Muir had been left asleep, or seeming to sleep; but Caphad run into the bushes on the alarm of the attack, and having foundPathfinder's canoe, had only succeeded, at that moment, in getting tothe blockhouse, whither he had come with the kind intent of escapingwith his niece by water. It is scarcely necessary to say that he changedhis plan when he ascertained the state of the Sergeant, and the apparentsecurity of his present quarters.
"If the worst comes to the worst, Master Pathfinder," said he, "we muststrike, and that will entitle us to receive quarter. We owe it to ourmanhood to hold out a reasonable time, and to ourselves to haul down theensign in season to make saving conditions. I wished Master Muir todo the same thing when we were captured by these chaps you callvagabonds--and rightly are they named, for viler vagabonds do not walkthe earth--"
"You've found out their characters?" interrupted Pathfinder, who wasalways as ready to chime in with abuse of the Mingos as with the praisesof his friends. "Now, had you fallen into the hands of the Delawares,you would have learned the difference."
"Well, to me they seem much of a muchness; blackguards fore and aft,always excepting our friend the Serpent, who is a gentleman for anIndian. But, when these savages made the assault on us, killing CorporalM'Nab and his men as if they had been so many rabbits, Lieutenant Muirand myself took refuge in one of the holes of this here island, of whichthere are so many among the rocks, and there we remained stowed awaylike two leaguers in a ship's hold, until we gave out for want of grub.A man may say that grub is the foundation of human nature. I desired theQuartermaster to make terms, for we could have defended ourselves for anhour or two in the place, bad as it was; but he declined, on the groundthat the knaves wouldn't keep faith if any of them were hurt, andso there was no use in asking them to. I consented to strike, on twoprinciples; one, that we might be said to have struck already, forrunning below is generally thought to be giving up the ship; and theother, that we had an enemy in our stomachs that was more formidable inhis attacks than the enemy on deck. Hunger is a d----ble circumstance,as any man who has lived on it eight-and-forty hours will acknowledge."
"Uncle," said Mabel in a mournful voice and with an expostulatorymanner, "my poor father is sadly, sadly hurt!"
"True, Magnet, true; I will sit by him, and do my best at consolation.Are the bars well fastened, girl? for on such an occasion the mindshould be tranquil and undisturbed."
"We are safe, I believe, from all but this heavy blow of Providence."
"Well, then, Magnet, do you go up to the floor above and try to composeyourself, while Pathfinder runs aloft and takes a look-out from thecross-trees. Your father may wish to say something to me in private,and it may be well to leave us alone. These are solemn scenes, andinexperienced people, like myself, do not always wish what they say tobe overheard."
Although the idea of her uncle's affording religious consolation by theside of a death-bed certainly never obtruded itself on the imaginationof Mabel, she thought there might be a propriety in the request withwhich she was unacquainted, and she complied accordingly. Pathfinder hadalready ascended to the roof to make his survey, and the brothers-in-lawwere left alone. Cap took a seat by the side of the Sergeant, andbethought him seriously of the grave duty he had before him. A silenceof several minutes succeeded, during which brief space the mariner wasdigesting the substance of his intended discourse.
"I must say, Sergeant Dunham," Cap at length commenced in his peculiarmanner, "that there has been mismanagement somewhere in this unhappyexpedition and, the present being an occasion when truth ought to bespoken, and nothing but the truth, I feel it my duty to be say as muchin plain language. In short, Sergeant, on this point there cannot wellbe two opinions; for, seaman as I am, and no soldier, I can see severalerrors myself, that it needs no great education to detect."
"What would you have, brother Cap?" returned the other in a feeblevoice; "what is done is done; and it is now too late to remedy it."
"Very true, brother Dunham, but not to repent of it; the Good Book tellsus it is never too late to repent; and I've always heard that this isthe precious moment. If you've anything on your mind, Sergeant, hoistit out freely; for, you know, you trust it to a friend. You were my ownsister's husband, and poor little Magnet is my own sister's daughter;and, living or dead, I shall always look upon you as a brother. It's athousand pities that you didn't lie
off and on with the boats, and senda canoe ahead to reconnoitre; in which case your command would have beensaved, and this disaster would not have befallen us all. Well, Sergeant,we are _all_ mortal; that is some consolation, I make no doubt; and ifyou go before a little, why, we must follow. Yes, that _must_ give youconsolation."
"I know all this, brother Cap; and hope I'm prepared to meet a soldier'sfate--there is poor Mabel--"
"Ay, ay, that's a heavy drag, I know; but you wouldn't take her with youif you could, Sergeant; and so the better way is to make as light ofthe separation as you can. Mabel is a good girl, and so was her motherbefore her; she was my sister, and it shall be my care to see that herdaughter gets a good husband, if our lives and scalps are spared; forI suppose no one would care about entering into a family that has noscalps."
"Brother, my child is betrothed; she will become the wife ofPathfinder."
"Well, brother Dunham, every man has his opinions and his manner ofviewing things; and, to my notion, this match will be anything butagreeable to Mabel. I have no objection to the age of the man; I'm notone of them that thinks it necessary to be a boy to make a girl happy,but, on the whole, I prefer a man of about fifty for a husband; stillthere ought not to be any circumstance between the parties to make themunhappy. Circumstances play the devil with matrimony, and I set it downas one that Pathfinder don't know as much as my niece. You've seen butlittle of the girl, Sergeant, and have not got the run of her knowledge;but let her pay it out freely, as she will do when she gets to bethoroughly acquainted, and you'll fall in with but few schoolmastersthat can keep their luffs in her company."
"She's a good child--a dear, good child," muttered the Sergeant, hiseyes filling with tears; "and it is my misfortune that I have seen solittle of her."
"She is indeed a good girl, and knows altogether too much for poorPathfinder, who is a reasonable man and an experienced man in hisown way; but who has no more idea of the main chance than you have ofspherical trigonometry, Sergeant."
"Ah, brother Cap, had Pathfinder been with us in the boats this sadaffair might not have happened!"
"That is quite likely; for his worst enemy will allow that the man isa good guide; but then, Sergeant, if the truth must be spoken, youhave managed this expedition in a loose way altogether. You should havehove-to off your haven, and sent in a boat to reconnoitre, as I toldyou before. That is a matter to be repented of, and I tell it to you,because truth, in such a case, ought to be spoken."
"My errors are dearly paid for, brother; and poor Mabel, I fear, willbe the sufferer. I think, however, that the calamity would not havehappened had there not been treason. I fear me, brother, that JasperEau-douce has played us false."
"That is just my notion for this fresh-water life must sooner or laterundermine any man's morals. Lieutenant Muir and myself talked thismatter over while we lay in a bit of a hole out here, on this island;and we both came to the conclusion that nothing short of Jasper'streachery could have brought us all into this infernal scrape. Well,Sergeant, you had better compose your mind, and think of other matters;for, when a vessel is about to enter a strange port, it is more prudentto think of the anchorage inside than to be under-running all the eventsthat have turned up during the v'y'ge. There's the log-book expressly tonote all these matters in; and what stands there must form the column offigures that's to be posted up for or against us. How now, Pathfinder!is there anything in the wind, that you come down the ladder like anIndian in the wake of a scalp?"
The guide raised a finger for silence and then beckoned to Cap to ascendthe first ladder, and to allow Mabel to take his place at the side ofthe Sergeant.
"We must be prudent, and we must be bold too," said he in a low voice."The riptyles are in earnest in their intention to fire the block; forthey know there is now nothing to be gained by letting it stand. I hearthe voice of that vagabond Arrowhead among them, and he is urgingthem to set about their devilry this very night. We must be stirring,Saltwater, and doing too. Luckily there are four or five barrelsof water in the block, and these are something towards a siege. Myreckoning is wrong, too, or we shall yet reap some advantage from thathonest fellow's, the Sarpent, being at liberty."
Cap did not wait for a second invitation but, stealing away, he wassoon in the upper room with Pathfinder, while Mabel took his post at theside of her father's humble bed. Pathfinder had opened a loop, havingso far concealed the light that it would not expose him to a treacherousshot; and, expecting a summons, he stood with his face near the hole,ready to answer. The stillness that succeeded was at length broken bythe voice of Muir.
"Master Pathfinder," called out the Scotchman, "a friend summons you toa parley. Come freely to one of the loops; for you've nothing to fear solong as you are in converse with an officer of the 55th."
"What is your will, Quartermaster? what is your will? I know the 55th,and believe it to be a brave regiment; though I rather incline to the60th as my favorite, and to the Delawares more than to either; but whatwould you have, Quartermaster? It must be a pressing errand that bringsyou under the loops of a blockhouse at this hour of the night, with thesartainty of Killdeer being inside of it."
"Oh, you'll no' harm a friend, Pathfinder, I'm certain; and that's mysecurity. You're a man of judgment, and have gained too great a nameon this frontier for bravery to feel the necessity of foolhardiness toobtain a character. You'll very well understand, my good friend, thereis as much credit to be gained by submitting gracefully, when resistancebecomes impossible, as by obstinately holding out contrary to the rulesof war. The enemy is too strong for us, my brave comrade, and I cometo counsel you to give up the block, on condition of being treated as aprisoner of war."
"I thank you for this advice, Quartermaster, which is the moreacceptable as it costs nothing; but I do not think it belongs to mygifts to yield a place like this while food and water last."
"Well, I'd be the last, Pathfinder, to recommend anything against sobrave a resolution, did I see the means of maintaining it. But ye'llremember that Master Cap has fallen."
"Not he, not he!" roared the individual in question through anotherloop; "and so far from that, Lieutenant, he has risen to the height ofthis here fortification, and has no mind to put his head of hair intothe hands of such barbers again, so long as he can help it. I look uponthis blockhouse as a circumstance, and have no mind to throw it away."
"If that is a living voice," returned Muir, "I am glad to hear it; forwe all thought the man had fallen in the late fearful confusion. But,Master Pathfinder, although ye're enjoying the society of our friendCap,--and a great pleasure do I know it to be, by the experience oftwo days and a night passed in a hole in the earth,--we've lost that ofSergeant Dunham, who has fallen, with all the brave men he led in thelate expedition. Lundie would have it so, though it would have been morediscreet and becoming to send a commissioned officer in command. Dunhamwas a brave man, notwithstanding, and shall have justice done hismemory. In short, we have all acted for the best, and that is as much ascould be said in favor of Prince Eugene, the Duke of Marlborough, or thegreat Earl of Stair himself."
"You're wrong ag'in, Quartermaster, you're wrong ag'in," answeredPathfinder, resorting to a ruse to magnify his force. "The Sergeantis safe in the block too, where one might say the whole family iscollected."
"Well I rejoice to hear it, for we had certainly counted the Sergeantamong the slain. If pretty Mabel is in the block still, let her notdelay an instant, for heaven's sake, in quitting it, for the enemy isabout to put it to the trial by fire. Ye know the potency of that dreadelement, and will be acting more like the discreet and experiencedwarrior ye're universally allowed to be, in yielding a place you canna'defend, than in drawing down ruin on yourself and companions."
"I know the potency of fire, as you call it, Quartermaster; and am notto be told, at this late hour, that it can be used for something elsebesides cooking a dinner. But I make no doubt you've heard of thepotency of Killdeer, and the man who attempts to lay a pile of brushagainst these logs
will get a taste of his power. As for arrows, it isnot in their gift to set this building on fire, for we've no shingleson our roof, but good solid logs and green bark, and plenty of waterbesides. The roof is so flat, too, as you know yourself, Quartermaster,that we can walk on it, and so no danger on that score while waterlasts. I'm peaceable enough if let alone; but he who endivors to burnthis block over my head will find the fire squinched in his own blood."
"This is idle and romantic talk, Pathfinder, and ye'll no maintain ityourself when ye come to meditate on the realities. I hope ye'll no'gainsay the loyalty or the courage of the 55th, and I feel convincedthat a council of war would decide on the propriety of a surrenderforthwith. Na, na, Pathfinder, foolhardiness is na mair like the braveryo' Wallace or Bruce than Albany on the Hudson is like the old town ofEdinbro'."
"As each of us seems to have made up his mind, Quartermaster, more wordsare useless. If the riptyles near you are disposed to set about theirhellish job, let them begin at once. They can burn wood, and I'll burnpowder. If I were an Indian at the stake, I suppose I could brag as wellas the rest of them; but, my gifts and natur' being both white, my turnis rather for doing than talking. You've said quite enough, consideringyou carry the king's commission and should we all be consumed, none ofus will bear you any malice."
"Pathfinder, ye'll no' be exposing Mabel, pretty Mabel Dunham, to sic' acalamity!"
"Mabel Dunham is by the side of her wounded father, and God will carefor the safety of a pious child. Not a hair of her head shall fall,while my arm and sight remain true; and though _you_ may trust theMingos, Master Muir, I put no faith in them. You've a knavish Tuscarorain your company there, who has art and malice enough to spoil thecharacter of any tribe with which he consorts, though he found theMingos ready ruined to his hands, I fear. But enough said; now let eachparty go to the use of his means and his gifts."
Throughout this dialogue Pathfinder had kept his body covered, lest atreacherous shot should be aimed at the loop; and he now directed Capto ascend to the roof in order to be in readiness to meet the firstassault. Although the latter used sufficient diligence, he found no lessthan ten blazing arrows sticking to the bark, while the air was filledwith the yells and whoops of the enemy. A rapid discharge of riflesfollowed, and the bullets came pattering against the logs, in a way toshow that the struggle had indeed seriously commenced.
These were sounds, however, that appalled neither Pathfinder nor Cap,while Mabel was too much absorbed in her affliction to feel alarm. Shehad good sense enough, too, to understand the nature of the defences,and fully to appreciate their importance. As for her father, thefamiliar noises revived him; and it pained his child, at such a moment,to see that his glassy eye began to kindle, and that the blood returnedto a cheek it had deserted, as he listened to the uproar. It was nowMabel first perceived that his reason began slightly to wander.
"Order up the light companies," he muttered, "and let the grenadierscharge! Do they dare to attack us in our fort? Why does not theartillery open on them?"
At that instant the heavy report of a gun burst on the night; and thecrashing of rending wood was heard, as a heavy shot tore the logs inthe room above, and the whole block shook with the force of a shell thatlodged in the work. The Pathfinder narrowly escaped the passage of thisformidable missile as it entered; but when it exploded, Mabel could notsuppress a shriek, for she supposed all over her head, whether animateor inanimate, destroyed. To increase her horror, her father shouted in afrantic voice to "charge!"
"Mabel," said Pathfinder, with his head at the trap, "this is true Mingowork--more noise than injury. The vagabonds have got the howitzerwe took from the French, and have discharged it ag'in the block; butfortunately they have fired off the only shell we had, and there is anind of its use for the present. There is some confusion among the storesup in this loft, but no one is hurt. Your uncle is still on the roof;and, as for myself, I've run the gauntlet of too many rifles to beskeary about such a thing as a howitzer, and that in Indian hands."
Mabel murmured her thanks, and tried to give all her attention to herfather, whose efforts to rise were only counteracted by his debility.During the fearful minutes that succeeded, she was so much occupied withthe care of the invalid that she scarcely heeded the clamor that reignedaround her. Indeed, the uproar was so great, that, had not her thoughtsbeen otherwise employed, confusion of faculties rather than alarm wouldprobably have been the consequence.
Cap preserved his coolness admirably. He had a profound and increasingrespect for the power of the savages, and even for the majesty of freshwater, it is true; but his apprehensions of the former proceeded morefrom his dread of being scalped and tortured than from any unmanly fearof death; and, as he was now on the deck of a house, if not on the deckof a ship, and knew that there was little danger of boarders, hemoved about with a fearlessness and a rash exposure of his person thatPathfinder, had he been aware of the fact, would have been the first tocondemn. Instead of keeping his body covered, agreeably to the usages ofIndian warfare, he was seen on every part of the roof, dashing the waterright and left, with the apparent steadiness and unconcern he would havemanifested had he been a sail trimmer exercising his art in a battleafloat. His appearance was one of the causes of the extraordinary clamoramong the assailants; who, unused to see their enemies so reckless,opened upon him with their tongues, like a pack that has the fox inview. Still he appeared to possess a charmed life; for, though thebullets whistled around him on every side, and his clothes were severaltimes torn, nothing cut his skin. When the shell passed through the logsbelow, the old sailor dropped his bucket, waved his hat, and gave threecheers; in which heroic act he was employed as the dangerous missileexploded. This characteristic feat probably saved his life; for fromthat instant the Indians ceased to fire at him, and even to shoot theirflaming arrows at the block, having taken up the notion simultaneously,and by common consent, that the "Saltwater" was mad; and it was asingular effect of their magnanimity never to lift a hand against thosewhom they imagined devoid of reason.
The conduct of Pathfinder was very different. Everything he did wasregulated by the most exact calculation, the result of long experienceand habitual thoughtfulness. His person was kept carefully out of a linewith the loops, and the spot that he selected for his look-out was onequite removed from danger. This celebrated guide had often been known tolead forlorn hopes: he had once stood at the stake, suffering under thecruelties and taunts of savage ingenuity and savage ferocity withoutquailing; and legends of his exploits, coolness, and daring were to beheard all along that extensive frontier, or wherever men dwelt and mencontended. But on this occasion, one who did not know his history andcharacter might have thought his exceeding care and studied attentionto self-preservation proceeded from an unworthy motive. But such a judgewould not have understood his subject; the Pathfinder bethought him ofMabel, and of what might possibly be the consequences to that poorgirl should any casualty befall himself. But the recollection ratherquickened his intellect than changed his customary prudence. He was,in fact, one of those who was so unaccustomed to fear, that he neverbethought him of the constructions others might put upon his conduct.But while in moments of danger he acted with the wisdom of the serpent,it was also with the simplicity of a child.
For the first ten minutes of the assault, Pathfinder never raised thebreech of his rifle from the floor, except when he changed his ownposition, for he well knew that the bullets of the enemy were thrownaway upon the massive logs of the work; and as he had been at thecapture of the howitzer he felt certain that the savages had no othershell than the one found in it when the piece was taken. There existedno reason, therefore, to dread the fire of the assailants, except asa casual bullet might find a passage through a loophole. One or twoof these accidents did occur, but the balls entered at an angle thatdeprived them of all chance of doing any injury so long as the Indianskept near the block; and if discharged from a distance, there wasscarcely the possibility of one in a hundred's striking the apertures.But
when Pathfinder heard the sound of mocassined feet and the rustlingof brush at the foot of the building, he knew that the attempt to builda fire against the logs was about to be renewed. He now summoned Capfrom the roof, where, indeed, all the danger had ceased, and directedhim to stand in readiness with his water at a hole immediately over thespot assailed.
One less trained than our hero would have been in a hurry to repelthis dangerous attempt also, and might have resorted to his meansprematurely; not so with Pathfinder. His aim was not only to extinguishthe fire, about which he felt little apprehension, but to give the enemya lesson that would render him wary during the remainder of the night.In order to effect the latter purpose, it became necessary to wait untilthe light of the intended conflagration should direct his aim, whenhe well knew that a very slight effort of his skill would suffice. TheIroquois were permitted to collect their heap of dried brush, to pileit against the block, to light it, and to return to their covers withoutmolestation. All that Pathfinder would suffer Cap to do, was to rolla barrel filled with water to the hole immediately over the spot, inreadiness to be used at the proper instant. That moment, however, didnot arrive, in his judgment, until the blaze illuminated the surroundingbushes, and there had been time for his quick and practised eye todetect the forms of three or four lurking savages, who were watching theprogress of the flames, with the cool indifference of men accustomed tolook on human misery with apathy. Then, indeed, he spoke.
"Are you ready, friend Cap?" he asked. "The heat begins to strikethrough the crevices; and although these green logs are not of the fierynatur' of an ill-tempered man, they may be kindled into a blaze if oneprovokes them too much. Are you ready with the barrel? See that it hasthe right cut, and that none of the water is wasted."
"All ready!" answered Cap, in the manner in which a seaman replies tosuch a demand.
"Then wait for the word. Never be over-impatient in a critical time, norfool-risky in a battle. Wait for the word."
While the Pathfinder was giving these directions, he was also makinghis own preparations; for he saw it was time to act. Killdeer wasdeliberately raised, pointed, and discharged. The whole process occupiedabout half a minute, and as the rifle was drawn in the eye of themarksman was applied to the hole.
"There is one riptyle the less," Pathfinder muttered to himself; "I'veseen that vagabond afore, and know him to be a marciless devil. Well,well! the man acted according to his gifts, and he has been rewardedaccording to his gifts. One more of the knaves, and that will sarve theturn for to-night. When daylight appears, we may have hotter work."
All this time another rifle was being got ready; and as Pathfinderceased, a second savage fell. This indeed sufficed; for, indisposed towait for a third visitation from the same hand, the whole band, whichhad been crouching in the bushes around the block, ignorant of who wasand who was not exposed to view, leaped from their covers and fled todifferent places for safety.
"Now, pour away, Master Cap," said Pathfinder; "I've made my mark on theblackguards; and we shall have no more fires lighted to-night."
"Scaldings!" cried Cap, upsetting the barrel, with a care that at onceand completely extinguished the flames.
This ended the singular conflict; and the remainder of the night passedin peace. Pathfinder and Cap watched alternately, though neither can besaid to have slept. Sleep indeed scarcely seemed necessary to them, forboth were accustomed to protracted watchings; and there were seasons andtimes when the former appeared to be literally insensible to the demandsof hunger and thirst and callous to the effects of fatigue.
Mabel watched by her father's pallet, and began to feel how much ourhappiness in this world depends even on things that are imaginary.Hitherto she had virtually lived without a father, the connection withher remaining parent being ideal rather than positive; but now that shewas about to lose him, she thought for the moment that the world wouldbe a void after his death, and that she could never be acquainted withhappiness again.
The Pathfinder; Or, The Inland Sea Page 24
