the pathfinder-第3部分

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shall　return　an　hour　before　the　sun　sets。〃

With　this　permission；　the　girl；　whose　real　name　was
Mabel　Dunham；　prepared　to　be　of　the　party；　while　the
Dew…of…June；　as　the　wife　of　Arrowhead　was　called；　pas…
sively　went　her　way　towards　thie　canoe；　too　much　accus…
tomed　to　obedience；　solitude；　and　the　gloom　of　the　forest
to　feel　apprehension。

The　three　who　remained　in　the　wind…row　now　picked
their　way　around　its　tangled　maze；　and　gained　the　margin
of　the　woods。　　A　few　glances　of　the　eye　sufficed　for　Arrow…
head；　but　old　Cap　deliberately　set　the　smoke　by　a　pocket…
compass；　before　he　trusted　himself　within　the　shadows　of
the　trees。

〃This　steering　by　the　nose；　Magnet；　may　do　well　enough
for　an　Indian；　but　your　thoroughbred　knows　the　virtue　of
the　needle；〃　said　the　uncle；　as　he　trudged　at　the　heels　of
the　light…stepping　Tuscarora。　　〃America　would　never　have
been　discovered；　take　my　word　for　it；　if　Columbus　had
been　nothing　but　nostrils。　　Friend　Arrowhead；　didst　ever
see　a　machine　like　this？〃

The　Indian　turned；　cast　at　glance　at　the　compass；　which
Cap　held　in　a　way　to　direct　his　course；　and　gravely　an…
swered；　〃A　pale…face　eye。　　The　Tuscarora　see　in　his　head。
The　Salt…water　（for　so　the　Indian　styled　his　companion）
all　eye　now；　no　tongue。〃

〃He　means；　uncle；　that　we　had　needs　be　silent；　perhaps
he　distrusts　the　persons　we　are　about　to　meet。〃

〃Ay；　'tis　an　Indian's　fashion　of　going　to　quarters。　　You
perceive　he　has　examined　the　priming　of　his　rifle；　and　it
may　be　as　well　if　I　look　to　that　of　my　own　pistols。〃

Without　betraying　alarm　at　these　preparations；　to　which
she　had　become　accustomed　by　her　long　journey　in　the
wilderness；　Mabel　followed　with　a　step　as　elastic　as　that　of
the　Indian；　keeping　close　in　the　rear　of　her　companions。
For　the　first　half　mile　no　other　caution　beyond　a　rigid
silence　was　observed；　but　as　the　party　drew　nearer　to　the
spot　where　the　fire　was　known　to　be；　much　greater　care
became　necessary。

The　forest；　as　usual；　had　little　to　intercept　the　view
below　the　branches　but　the　tall　straight　trunks　of　trees。
Everything　belonging　to　vegetation　had　struggled　towards
the　light；　and　beneath　the　leafy　canopy　one　walked；　as　it
might　be；　through　a　vast　natural　vault；　upheld　by　myriads
of　rustic　columns。　　These　columns　or　trees；　however；　often
served　to　conceal　the　adventurer；　the　hunter；　or　the　foe；
and；　as　Arrowhead　swiftly　approached　the　spot　where　his
practised　and　unerrimig　senses　told　him　the　strangers　ought
to　be；　his　footstep　gradually　became　lighter；　his　eye　more
vigilant；　and　his　person　was　more　carefully　concealed。

〃See；　Saltwater；〃　said　he　exulting；　pointing　through
the　vista　of　trees；　〃pale…face　fire！〃

〃By　the　Lord；　the　fellow　is　right！〃　muttered　Cap；
〃there　they　are；　sure　enough；　and　eating　their　grub　as
quietly　as　if　they　were　in　the　cabin　of　a　three…decker。〃

〃Arrowhead　is　but　half　right！〃　whispered　Mabel；　〃for
there　are　two　Indians　and　only　one　white　man。〃

〃Pale…faces；〃　said　the　Tuscarora；　holding　up　two　fingers；
〃red　man；〃　holding　up　one。

〃Well；〃　rejoined　Cap；　〃it　is　hard　to　say　which　is　right
and　which　is　wrong。　　One　is　entirely　white；　and　a　fine
comely　lad　he　is；　with　an　air　of　respectability　about　him；
one　is　a　red…skin　as　plain　as　paint　and　nature　can　make
him；　but　the　third　chap　is　half…rigged；　being　neither　brig
nor　schooner。〃

〃Pale…faces；〃　repeated　Arrowhead；　again　raising　two
fingers；　〃red　man；〃　showing　but　one。

〃He　must　be　right；　uncle；　for　his　eye　seems　never　to
fail。　　But　it　is　now　urgent　to　know　whether　we　meet　as
friends　or　foes。　　They　may　be　French。〃

〃One　hail　will　soon　satisfy　us　on　that　head；〃　returned
Cap。　　〃Stand　you　behind　the　tree；　Magnet；　lest　the　knaves
take　it　into　their　heads　to　fire　a　broadside　without　a　parley；
and　I　will　soon　learn　what　colors　they　sail　under。〃

The　uncle　had　placed　his　two　hands　to　his　mouth　to
form　a　trumpet；　and　was　about　to　give　the　promised　hail；
when　a　rapid　movement　from　the　hand　of　Arrowhead　de…
feated　the　intention　by　deranging　the　instrument。

〃Red　man；　Mohican；〃　said　the　Tuscarora；　〃good；　pale…
faces；　Yengeese。〃

〃These　are　heavenly　tidings；〃　murmured　Mabel；　who
little　relished　the　prospect　of　a　deadly　fray　in　that　remote
wilderness。　　〃Let　us　approach　at　once；　dear　uncle；　and
proclaim　ourselves　friends。〃

〃Good；〃　said　the　Tuscarora　〃red　man　cool；　and　know；
pale…face　hurried；　and　fire。　　Let　the　squaw　go。〃

〃What！〃　said　Cap　in　astonishment；　〃send　little　Mag…
net　ahead　as　a　lookout；　while　two　lubbers；　like　you　and
me；　lie…to　to　see　what　sort　of　a　land…fall　she　will　make！
If　I　do；　I　　〃

〃It　is　wisest；　uncle；〃　interrupted　the　generous　girl；
〃and　I　have　no　fear。　　No　Christian；　seeing　a　woman　ap…
proach　alone；　would　fire　upon　her；　and　my　presence　will
be　a　pledge　of　peace。　　Let　me　go　forward；　as　Arrowhead
wishes；　and　all　will　be　well。　　We　are；　as　yet；　unseen；　and
the　surprise　of　the　strangers　will　not　partake　of　alarm。〃

〃Good；〃　returned　Arrowhead；　who　did　not　conceal　his
approbation　of　Mabel's　spirit。

〃It　has　an　unseaman…like　look；〃　answered　Cap；　〃but；
being　in　the　woods；　no　one　will　know　it。　　If　you　think；
Mabel　　〃

〃Uncle；　I　know。　　There　is　no　cause　to　fear　for　me；　and
you　are　always　nigh　to　protect　me。〃

〃Well；　take　one　of　the　pistols；　then　　〃

〃Nay；　I　had　better　rely　on　my　youth　and　feebleness；〃
said　the　girl；　smiling；　while　her　color　heightened　under
her　feelings。　　〃Among　Christian　men；　a　woman's　best
guard　is　her　claim　to　their　protection。　　I　know　nothing　of
arms；　and　wish　to　live　in　ignorance　of　them。〃

The　uncle　desisted；　and；　after　receiving　a　few　cautious
instructions　from　the　Tuscarora；　Mabel　rallied　all　her
spirit；　and　advanced　alone　towards　the　group　seated　near
the　fire。　　Although　the　heart　of　the　girl　beat　quick；　her
step　was　firm；　and　her　movements；　seemingly；　were　with…
out　reluctance。　　A　death…like　silence　reigned　in　the　forest；
for　they　towards　whom　she　approached　were　too　much　oc…
cupied　in　appeasing　their　hunger　to　avert　their　looks　for
an　instant　from　the　important　business　in　which　they
were　all　engaged。　　When　Mabel；　however；　had　got　within
a　hundred　feet　of　the　fire；　she　trod　upon　a　dried　stick；　and
the　trifling　noise　produced　by　her　light　footstep　caused
the　Mohican；　as　Arrowhead　had　pronounced　the　Indian
to　be；　and　his　companion；　whose　character　had　been
thought　so　equivocal；　to　rise　to　their　feet；　as　quick　as
thought。　　Both　glanced　at　the　rifles　that　leaned　against　a
tree；　and　then　each　stood　without　stretching　out　an　arm；
as　his　eyes　fell　on　the　form　of　the　girl。　　The　Indian　uttered
a　few　words　to　his　companion；　and　resumed　his　seat　and
his　meal　as　calmly　as　if　no　interruption　had　occurred。　　On
the　contrary；　the　white　man　left　the　fire；　and　came　forward
to　meet　Mabel。

The　latter　saw；　as　the　stranger　approached　that　she　was
about　to　be　addressed　by　one　of　her　own　color；　though　his
dress　was　so　strange　a　mixture　of　the　habits　of　the　two
races；　that　it　required　a　near　look　to　be　certain　of　the　fact。
He　was　of　middle　age；　but　there　was　an　open　honesty；　a
total　absence　of　guile；　in　his　face；　which　otherwise　would
not　have　been　thought　handsome；　that　at　once　assured
Magnet　she　was　in　no　danger。　　Still　she　paused。

〃Fear　nothing；　young　woman；〃　said　the　hunter；　for
such　his　attire　would　indicate　him　to　be；　〃you　have　met
Christian　men　in　the　wilderness；　and　such　as　know　how　to
treat　all　kindly　who　are　disposed　to　peace　and　justice。　　I
am　a　man　well　known　in　all　these　parts；　and　perhaps　one
of　my　names　may　have　reached　your　ears。　　By　the
Frenchers　and　the　red…skins　on　the　other　side　of　the　Big
Lakes；　I　am　called　La　Longue　Carabine；　by　the　Mohicans；
a　just…minded　and　upright　tribe；　what　is　left　of　them；
Hawk　Eye；　while　the　troops　and　rangers　along　this　side　of
the　water　call　me　Pathfinder；　inasmuch　as　I　have　never
been　known　to　miss　one　end　of　the　trail；　when　there　was　a
Mingo；　or　a　friend　who　stood　in　need　of　me；　at　the　other。〃

This　was　not　uttered　boastfully；　but　with　the　honest
confidence　of　one　who　well　knew　that　by　whatever　name
others　might　have　heard　of　him；　ho　had　no　reason　to　blush
at　the　reports。　　The　effect　on　Mabel　was　instantaneous。
The　moment　she　heard　the　last　_sobriquet_　she　clasped　her
hands　eagerly　and　repeated　the　word　〃Pathfinder！〃

〃So　they　call　me；　young　woman；　and　many　a　great　lord
has　got　a　title　that　he　did　not　half　so　well　merit；　though；
if　truth　be　said；　I　rather　pride　myself　in　finding　my　way
where　there　is　no　path；　than　in　finding　it　where　there　is。
But　the　regular　troops　are　by　no　means　particular；　and
half　the　time　they　don't　know　the　difference　between　a
trail　and　a　path；　though　one　is　a　matter　for　the　eye；　while
the　other　is　little　more　than　scent。〃

〃Then　you　are　the　friend　my　father　promised　to　send
to　meet　us？〃

〃If　you　are　Sergeant　Dunham's　daughter；　the　great
Prophet　of　the　Delawares　never　uttered　more　truth。〃

〃I　am　Mabel；　and　yonder；　hid　by　the　trees；　are　my
uncle；　whose　name　is　Cap；　and　a　Tuscarora　called　Arrow…
head。　　We　did　not　hope　to　meet　you　until　we　had　nearly
reached　the　shores　of　the　lake。〃

〃I　wish　a　juster…minded　Indian　had　been　your　guide；〃
said　Pathfinder；　〃for　I　am　no　lover　of　the　Tuscaroras；　who
have　travelled　too　far　from　the　graves　of　their　fathers
always　to　remember　the　Great　Spirit；　and　Arrowhead　is
an　ambitious　chief。　　Is　the　Dew…of…June　with　him？〃

〃His　wife　accompanies　us；　and　a　humble　and　mild　crea…
ture　she　is。〃

〃Ay；　and　true…hearted；　which　is　more　than　any　who
know　him　will　say　of　Arrowhead。　　Well；　we　must　take
the　fare　that　Providence　bestows；　while　we　follow　the　trail
of　life。　　I　suppose　worse　guides　might　have　been　found
than　the　Tuscarora；　though　he　has　too　much　Mingo　blood
for　one　who　consorts　altogether　with　the　Delawares。〃

〃It　is；　then；　perhaps；　fortunate　we　have　met；〃　said
Mabel。

〃It　is　not　misfortunate；　at　any　rate；　for　I　promised　the
Sergeant　I　would　see　his　child　safe　to　the　garrison；　though
I　died　for　it。　　We　expected　to　meet　you　before　you　reached
the　Falls；　where　we　have　left　our　own　canoe；　while　we
thought　it　might　do　no　harm　to　come　up　a　few　miles；　in
order　to　be　of　service　if　wanted。　　It　is　lucky　we　did；　for　I
doubt　if　Arrowhead　be　the