the pathfinder-第11部分

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dropped　round　the　next　bend　in　the　river；　in　order　to　get
out　of　sight　of　the　fire。　　His　habits　of　caution　immediately
suggested　the　expediency　of　stepping　into　the　water；　in
order　that　there　might　exist　no　visible　communication
between　the　marks　left　on　the　shore　by　the　party　and　the
place　where　he　believed　them　to　have　taken　refuge　below。
Should　the　Canadian　Indians　return　on　their　own　trail；
and　discover　that　made　by　the　Pathfinder　and　the　Serpent
in　their　ascent　from　and　descent　to　the　river；　the　clue　to
their　movements　would　cease　at　the　shore；　water　leaving
no　prints　of　footsteps。　　The　young　man　had　therefore
waded；　knee…deep；　as　far　as　the　point；　and　was　now　seen
making　his　way　slowly　down　the　margin　of　the　stream；
searching　curiously　for　the　spot　in　which　the　canoes　were
hid。

It　was　in　the　power　of　those　behind　the　bushes；　by　plac…
ing　their　eyes　near　the　leaves；　to　find　many　places　to　look
through　while　one　at　a　little　distance　lost　this　advantage。
To　those　who　watched　his　motions　from　behind　their
cover；　and　they　were　all　in　the　canoes；　it　was　evident　that
Jasper　was　totally　at　a　loss　to　imagine　where　the　Pathfinder
had　secreted　himself。　　When　fairly　round　the　curvature　in
the　shore；　and　out　of　sight　of　the　fire　he　had　lighted　above；
the　young　man　stopped　and　began　examining　the　bank　de…
liberately　and　with　great　care。　　Occasionally　he　advanced
eight　or　ten　paces；　and　then　halted　again；　to　renew　the
search。　　The　water　being　much　shallower　than　common；
he　stepped　aside；　in　order　to　walk　with　greater　ease　to
himself　and　came　so　near　the　artificial　plantation　that　he
might　have　touched　it　with　his　hand。　　Still　he　detected
nothing；　and　was　actually　passing　the　spot　when　Path…
finder　made　an　opening　beneath　the　branches；　and　called
to　him　in　a　low　voice　to　enter。

〃This　is　pretty　well；〃　said　the　Pathfinder；　laughing；
〃though　pale…face　eyes　and　red…skin　eyes　are　as　different
as　human　spy…glasses。　　I　would　wager；　with　the　Sergeant's
daughter　here；　a　horn　of　powder　against　a　wampum…belt
for　her　girdle；　that　her　father's　rijiment　should　march　by
this　embankment　of　ours　and　never　find　out　the　fraud！
But　if　the　Mingoes　actually　get　down　into　the　bed　of　the
river　where　Jasper　passed；　I　should　tremble　for　the　planta…
tion。　　It　will　do　for　their　eyes；　even　across　the　stream；
however；　and　will　not　be　without　its　use。〃

〃Don't　you　think；　Master　Pathfinder；　that　it　would　be
wisest；　after　all；〃　said　Cap；　〃to　get　under　way　at　once；　and
carry　sail　hard　down　stream；　as　soon　as　we　are　satisfied
that　these　rascals　are　fairly　astern　of　us？　　We　seamen　call
a　stern　chase　a　long　chase。〃

〃I　wouldn't　move　from　this　spot　until　we　hear　from　the
Sarpent　with　the　Sergeant's　pretty　daughter　here　in　our
company；　for　all　the　powder　in　the　magazine　of　the　fort
below。　　Sartain　captivity　or　sartain　death　would　follow。
If　a　tender　fa'n；　such　as　the　maiden　we　have　in　charge；
could　thread　the　forest　like　old　deer；　it　might；　indeed；　do
to　quit　the　canoes；　for　by　making　a　circuit　we　could　reach
the　garrison　before　morning。〃

〃Then　let　it　be　done；〃　said　Mabel；　springing　to　her　feet
under　the　sudden　impulse　of　awakened　energy。　　〃I　am
young；　active；　used　to　exercise；　and　could　easily　out…walk
my　dear　uncle。　　Let　no　one　think　me　a　hindrance。　　I
cannot　bear　that　all　your　lives　should　be　exposed　on　my
account。〃

〃No；　no；　pretty　one；　we　think　you　anything　but　a　hin…
drance　or　anything　that　is　unbecoming；　and　would　will…
ingly　run　twice　this　risk　to　do　you　and　the　honest　Ser…
geant　a　service。　　Do　I　not　speak　your　mind；　Eau…
donce？〃

〃To　do　_her_　a　service！〃　said　Jasper　with　emphasis。
〃Nothing　shall　tempt　me　to　desert　Mabel　Dunham　until
she　is　safe　in　her　father's　arms。〃

〃Well　said；　lad；　bravely　and　honestly　said；　too；　and　I
join　in　it；　heart　and　hand。　　No；　no！　you　are　not　the　first
of　your　sex　I　have　led　through　the　wilderness；　and　never
but　once　did　any　harm　befall　any　of　them：　　that　was　a　sad
day；　certainly　but　its　like　may　never　come　again。〃

Mabel　looked　from　one　of　her　protectors　to　the　other；
and　her　fine　eyes　swam　in　tears。　　Frankly　placing　a　hand
in　that　of　each；　she　answered　them；　though　at　first　her
voice　was　choked；　〃I　have　no　right　to　expose　you　on　my
account。　　My　dear　father　will　thank　you；　I　thank　you；　God
will　reward　you；　but　let　there　be　no　unnecessary　risk。　　I
can　walk　far；　and　have　often　gone　miles　on　some　girlish
fancy；　why　not　now　exert　myself　for　my　life？　　nay；　for
your　precious　lives？〃

〃She　is　a　true　dove；　Jasper〃　said　the　Pathfinder；　neither
relinquishing　the　hand　he　held　until　the　girl　herself；　in
native　modesty；　saw　fit　to　withdraw　it；　〃and　wonderfully
winning！　　We　get　to　be　rough；　and　sometimes　even　hard…
hearted；　in　the　woods；　Mabel；　but　the　sight　of　one　like
you　brings　us　back　again　to　our　young　feelings；　and　does
us　good　for　the　remainder　of　our　days。　　I　daresay　Jasper
here　will　tell　you　the　same；　for；　like　me　in　the　forest；　the
lad　sees　but　few　such　as　yourself　on　Ontario；　to　soften　his
heart　and　remind　him　of　love　for　his　kind。　　Speak　out
now；　Jasper；　and　say　if　it　is　not　so？〃

〃I　question　if　many　like　Mabel　Dunham　are　to　be　found
anywhere；〃　returned　the　young　man　gallantly；　an　honest
sincerity　glowing　in　his　face　that　spoke　more　eloquently
than　his　tongue；　〃you　need　not　mention　the　woods　and　lakes
to　challenge　her　equals；　but　I　would　go　into　settle…
ments　and　towns。〃

〃We　had　better　leave　the　canoes；〃　Mabel　hurriedly　re…
joined；　〃for　I　feel　it　is　no　longer　safe　to　be　here。〃

〃You　can　never　do　it；　you　can　never　do　it。　　It　would
be　a　march　of　more　than　twenty　miles；　and　that；　too；　of
tramping　over　brush　and　roots；　and　through　swamps；　in
the　dark；　the　trail　of　such　a　party　would　be　wide；　and　we
might　have　to　fight　our　way　into　the　garrison　after　all。
We　will　wait　for　the　Mohican。〃

Such　appearing　to　be　the　decision　of　him　to　whom　all；
in　their　present　strait；　looked　up　for　counsel；　no　more　was
said　on　tbe　subject。　　The　whole　party　now　broke　up　into
groups：　Arrowhead　and　his　wife　sitting　apart　under　the
bushes；　conversing　in　a　low　tone；　though　the　man　spoke
sternly；　and　the　woman　answered　with　the　subdued　mild…
ness　that　marks　the　degraded　condition　of　a　savage's　wife。
Pathfinder　and　Cap　occupied　one　canoe；　chatting　of　their
different　adventures　by　sea　and　land；　while　Jasper　and
Mabel　sat　in　the　other；　making　greater　progress　in　in…
timacy　in　a　single　hour　than　might　have　been　effected
under　other　circumstances　in　a　twelvemonth。　　Notwith…
standing　their　situation　as　regards　the　enemy；　the　time
flew　by　swiftly；　and　the　young　people；　in　particular；　were
astonished　when　Cap　informed　them　how　long　they　had
been　thus　occupied。

〃If　one　could　smoke；　Master　Pathfinder；〃　observed　the
old　sailor；　〃this　berth　would　be　snug　enough；　for；　to　give
the　devil　his　due；　you　have　got　the　canoes　handsomely　land…
locked；　and　into　moorings　that　would　defy　a　monsoon。
The　only　hardship　is　the　denial　of　the　pipe。〃

〃The　scent　of　the　tobacco　would　betray　us；　and　where
is　the　use　of　taking　all　these　precautions　against　the
Mingo's　eyes；　if　we　are　to　tell　him　where　the　cover　is　to　be
found　through　the　nose？　　No；　no；　deny　your　appetites；
and　learn　one　virtue　from　a　red…skin；　who　will　pass　a　week
without　eating　even；　to　get　a　single　scalp。　　Did　you　hear
nothing；　Jasper？〃

〃The　Serpent　is　coming。〃

〃Then　let　us　see　if　Mohican　eyes　are　better　than　them
of　a　lad　who　follows　the　water。〃

The　Mohican　had　indeed　made　his　appearance　in　the
same　direction　as　that　by　which　Jasper　had　rejoined　his
friends。　　Instead　of　coming　directly　on；　however；　no　sooner
did　he　pass　the　bend；　where　he　was　concealed　from　any
who　might　be　higher　up　stream；　than　he　moved　close
under　the　bank；　and；　using　the　utmost　caution；　got　a
position　where　he　could　look　back；　with　his　person　suffi…
ciently　concealed　by　the　bushes　to　prevent　its　being　seen
by　any　in　that　quarter。

〃The　Sarpent　sees　the　knaves！〃　whispered　Pathfinder。
〃As　I'm　a　Christian　white　man；　they　have　bit　at　the　bait；
and　have　ambushed　the　smoke！〃

Here　a　hearty　but　silent　laugh　interrupted　his　words；
and　nudging　Cap　with　his　elbow；　they　all　continued　to
watch　the　movements　of　Chingachgook　in　profound　still…
ness。　　The　Mohican　remained　stationary　as　the　rock　on
which　he　stood　full　ten　minutes；　and　then　it　was　apparent
that　something　of　interest　had　occurred　within　his　view；
for　he　drew　back　with　a　hurried　manner；　looked　anxiously
and　keenly　along　the　margin　of　the　stream；　and　moved
quickly　down　it；　taking　care　to　lose　his　trail　in　the　shallow
water。　　He　was　evidently　in　a　hurry　and　concerned；　now
looking　behind　him；　and　then　casting　eager　glances　towards
every　spot　on　the　shore　where　he　thought　a　canoe　might
be　concealed。

〃Call　him　in；〃　whispered　Jasper；　scarcely　able　to　re…
strain　his　impatience；　　〃call　him　in；　or　it　will　be　too　late！
See！　he　is　actually　passing　us。〃

〃Not　so；　not　so；　lad；　nothing　presses；　depend　on　it；〃
returned　his　companion；　〃or　the　Sarpent　would　begin　to
creep。　　The　Lord　help　us　and　teach　us　wisdom！　　I　_do_　be…
lieve　even　Chingachgook；　whose　sight　is　as　faithful　as　the
hound's　scent；　overlooks　us；　and　will　not　find　out　the　am…
bushment　we　have　made！〃

This　exultation　was　untimely；　for　the　words　were　no
sooner　spoken　than　the　Indian；　who　had　actually　got　sev…
eral　feet　lower　down　the　stream　than　the　artificial　cover；
suddenly　stopped；　fastened　a　keen…riveted　glance　among
the　transplanted　bushes；　made　a　few　hasty　steps　back…
ward；　and；　bending　his　body　and　carefully　separating　the
branches；　he　appeared　among　them。

〃The　accursed　Mingos！〃　said　Pathfinder；　as　soon　as　his
friend　was　near　enough　to　be　addressed　with　prudence。

〃Iroquois；〃　returned　the　sententious　Indian。

〃No　matter；　no　matter；　Iroquois；　devil；　Mingo；　Meng…
wes；　or　furies　　all　are　pretty　much　the　same。　　I　call　all
rascals　Mingos。　　Come　hither；　chief；　and　let　us　convarse
rationally。〃

When　their　private　communication　was　over；　Pathfinder
rejoined　the　rest；　and　made　them　acquainted　with　all　he
had　learned。

The　Mohican　had　followed　the　trail　of　their　enemies
some　distance　towards　the　fort；　until　the　latter　caught　a
sight　of　the　smoke　of　Jasper's　fire；