the pathfinder-第33部分

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near　the　competitor　but　his　commanding　officer；　to　whom
he　now　said　in　his　familiar　manner；　

〃Ye　see；　Lundie；　that　something　is　to　be　gained　by　ex…
citing　a　female's　curiosity。　　It's　an　active　sentiment　is
curiosity；　and　properly　improved　may　lead　to　gentler　in…
novations　in　the　end。〃

〃Very　true；　Davy；　but　ye　keep　us　all　waiting　while　ye
make　your　preparations；　and　here　is　Pathfinder　drawing
near　to　catch　a　lesson　from　your　greater　experience。〃

〃Well　Pathfinder；　and　so　_you_　have　come　to　get　an　idea
too；　concerning　the　philosophy　of　shooting？　　I　do　not　wish
to　hide　my　light　under　a　bushel；　and　yer　welcome　to　all
ye'll　learn。　　Do　ye　no'　mean　to　try　a　shot　yersel'；　man？〃

〃Why　should　I；　Quartermaster；　why　should　I？　　I　want
none　of　the　prizes；　and　as　for　honor；　I　have　had　enough
of　that；　if　it's　any　honor　to　shoot　better　than　yourself。
I'm　not　a　woman　to　wear　a　calash。〃

〃Very　true；　but　ye　might　find　a　woman　that　is　precious
in　your　eyes　to　wear　it　for　ye；　as　　　〃

〃Come；　Davy；〃　interrupted　the　Major；　〃your　shot　or　a
retreat。　　The　Adjutant　is　getting　impatient。〃

〃The　Quartermaster's　department　and　the　Adjutant's
department　are　seldom　compliable；　Lundie；　but　I　m　ready。
Stand　a　little　aside；　Pathfinder；　and　give　the　ladies　an　op…
portunity。〃

Lieutenant　Muir　now　took　his　attitude　with　a　good　deal
of　studied　elegance；　raised　his　rifle　slowly；　lowered　it；　raised
it　again；　repeated　the　manmuvres；　and　fired。

〃Missed　the　target　altogether！〃　shouted　the　man　whose
duty　it　was　to　mark　the　bullets；　and　who　had　little　relish
for　the　Quartermaster's　tedious　science。　　〃Missed　the
target！〃

〃It　cannot　be！〃　cried　Muir；　his　face　flushing　equally
with　indignation　and　shame；　〃it　cannot　be；　Adjutant；　for
I　never　did　so　awkward　a　thing　in　my　life。　　I　appeal　to
the　ladies　for　a　juster　judgment。〃

〃The　ladies　shut　their　eyes　when　you　fired！〃　exclaimed
the　regimental　wags。　　〃Your　preparations　alarmed　them。〃

〃I　will　na　believe　such　calumny　of　the　leddies；　nor　sic'
a　reproach　on　my　own　skill；〃　returned　the　Quartermaster；
growing　more　and　more　Scotch　as　he　warmed　with　his
feelings；　〃it's　a　conspiracy　to　rob　a　meritorious　man　of
his　dues。〃

〃It's　a　dead　miss；　Muir；〃　said　the　laughing　Lundie；
〃and　ye'll　jist　sit　down　quietly　with　the　disgrace。〃

〃No；　no；　Major；〃　Pathfinder　at　length　observed；　〃the
Quartermaster　_is_　a　good　shot　for　a　slow　one　and　a　measured
distance；　though　nothing　extr'ornary　for　real　service。　　He
has　covered　Jasper's　bullet；　as　will　be　seen；　if　any　one　will
take　the　trouble　to　examine　the　target。〃

The　respect　for　Pathfinder's　skill　and　for　his　quickness
and　accuracy　of　sight　was　so　profound　and　general；　that；
the　instant　he　made　this　declaration；　the　spectators　began
to　distrust　their　own　opinions；　and　a　dozen　rushed　to　the
target　in　order　to　ascertain　the　fact。　　There；　sure　enough；
it　was　found　that　the　Quartermaster's　bullet　had　gone
through　the　hole　made　by　Jasper's；　and　that；　too；　so　ac…
curately　as　to　require　a　minute　examination　to　be　certain
of　the　circumstance；　which；　however；　was　soon　clearly
established；　by　discovering　one　bullet　over　the　other　in　the
stump　against　which　the　target　was　placed。

〃I　told　ye；　ladies；　ye　were　about　to　witness　the　influence
of　science　on　gunnery；〃　said　the　Quartermaster；　advancing
towards　the　staging　occupied　by　the　females。　　〃Major
Duncan　derides　the　idea　of　mathematics　entering　into
target…shooting；　but　I　tell　him　philosophy　colors；　and　en…
larges；　and　improves；　and　dilates；　and　explains　everything
that　belongs　to　human　life；　whether　it　be　a　shooting…match
or　a　sermon。　　In　a　word；　philosophy　is　philosophy；　and
that　is　saying　all　that　the　subject　requires。〃

〃I　trust　you　exclude　love　from　the　catalogue；〃　observed
the　wife　of　a　captain　who　knew　the　history　of　the　Quarter…
master's　marriages；　and　who　had　a　woman's　malice　against
the　monopolizer　of　her　sex；　〃it　seems　that　philosophy　has
little　in　common　with　love。〃

〃You　wouldn't　say　that；　madam；　if　your　heart　had　ex…
perienced　many　trials。　　It's　the　man　or　the　woman　that
has　had　many　occasions　to　improve　the　affections　that　can
best　speak　of　such　matters；　and；　believe　me；　of　all　love；
philosophical　is　the　most　lasting；　as　it　is　the　most　rational。〃

〃You　would　then　recommend　experience　as　an　improve…
ment　on　the　passion？〃

〃Your　quick　mind　has　conceived　the　idea　at　a　glance。
The　happiest　marriages　are　those　in　which　youth　and
beauty　and　confidence　on　one　side；　rely　on　the　sagacity；
moderation；　and　prudence　of　years…middle　age；　I　mean；
madam；　for　I'll　no'　deny　that　there　is　such　a　thing　as　a
husband's　being　too　old　for　a　wife。　　Here　is　Sergeant
Dunham's　charming　daughter；　now；　to　approve　of　such
sentiments；　I'm　certain；　her　character　for　discretion　being
already　well　established　in　the　garrison；　short　as　has　been
her　residence　among　us。〃

〃Sergeant　Dunham's　daughter　is　scarcely　a　fitting　in…
terlocutor　in　a　discourse　between　you　and　me；　Lieutenant
Muir；〃　rejoined　the　captain's　lady；　with　careful　respect　for
her　own　dignity；　〃and　yonder　is　the　Pathfinder　about　to
take　his　chance；　by　way　of　changing　the　subject。〃

〃I　protest；　Major　Duncan；　I　protest；〃　cried　Muir　hur…
rying　back　towards　the　stand；　with　both　arms　elevated　by
way　of　enforcing　his　words；　　〃I　protest　in　the　strongest
terms；　gentlemen；　against　Pathfinder's　being　admitted　into
these　sports　with　Killdeer；　which　is　a　piece；　to　say　nothing
of　long　habit　that　is　altogether　out　of　proportion　for　a
trial　of　skill　against　Government　rifles。〃

〃Killdeer　is　taking　its　rest；　Quartermaster；〃　returned
Pathfinder　calmly；　〃and　no　one　here　thinks　of　disturbing
it。　　I　did　not　think；　myself；　of　pulling　a　trigger　to…day；
but　Sergeant　Dunham　has　been　persuading　me　that　I　shall
not　do　proper　honor　to　his　handsome　daughter；　who　came
in　under　my　care；　if　I　am　backward　on　such　an　occasion。
I'm　using　Jasper's　rifle；　Quartermaster；　as　you　may　see；
and　that　is　no　better　than　your　own。〃

Lieutenant　Muir　was　now　obliged　to　acquiesce；　and　every
eye　turned　towards　the　Pathfinder；　as　he　took　the　required
station。　　The　air　and　attitude　of　this　celebrated　guide　and
hunter　were　extremely　fine；　as　he　raised　his　tall　form　and
levelled　the　piece；　showing　perfect　self…command；　and　a
through　knowledge　of　the　power　of　the　human　frame　as
well　as　of　the　weapon。　　Pathfinder　was　not　what　is　usually
termed　a　handsome　man；　though　his　appearance　excited　so
much　confidence　and　commanded　respect。　　Tall；　and　even
muscular；　his　frame　might　have　been　esteemed　nearly　per…
fect；　were　it　not　for　the　total　absence　of　everything　like
flesh。　　Whipcord　was　scarcely　more　rigid　than　his　arms
and　legs；　or；　at　need；　more　pliable；　but　the　outlines　of　his
person　were　rather　too　angular　for　the　proportion　that　the
eye　most　approves。　　Still；　his　motions；　being　natural；　were
graceful；　and；　being　calm　and　regulated；　they　gave　him　an
air　and　dignity　that　associated　well　with　the　idea；　which
was　so　prevalent；　of　his　services　and　peculiar　merits。　　His
honest；　open　features　were　burnt　to　a　bright　red；　that
comported　well　with　the　notion　of　exposure　and　hardships；
while　his　sinewy　hands　denoted　force；　and　a　species　of　use
removed　from　the　stiffening　and　deforming　effects　of
labor。　　Although　no　one　perceived　any　of　those　gentler　or
more　insinuating　qualities　which　are　apt　to　win　upon　a
woman's　affections；　as　he　raised　his　rifle　not　a　female　eye
was　fastened　on　him　without　a　silent　approbation　of　the
freedom　of　his　movements　and　the　manliness　of　his　air。
Thought　was　scarcely　quicker　than　his　aim；　and；　as　the
smoke　floated　above　his　head；　the　butt…end　of　the　rifle　was
seen　on　the　ground；　the　hand　of　the　Pathfinder　was　lean…
ing　on　the　barrel；　and　his　honest　countenance　was　illu…
minated　by　his　usual　silent；　hearty　laugh。

〃If　one　dared　to　hint　at　such　a　thing；〃　cried　Major
Duncan；　〃I　should　say　that　the　Pathfinder　had　also　missed
the　target。〃

〃No；　no；　Major；〃　returned　the　guide　confidently；　〃that
_would_　be　a　risky　declaration。　　I　didn't　load　the　piece；　and
can't　say　what　was　in　it；　but　if　it　was　lead；　you　will　find
the　bullet　driving　down　those　of　the　Quartermaster　and
Jasper；　else　is　not　my　name　Pathfinder。〃

A　shout　from　the　target　announced　the　truth　of　this
assertion。

〃That's　not　all；　that's　not　all；　boys；〃　called　out　the
guide；　who　was　now　slowly　advancing　towards　the　stage
occupied　by　the　females；　〃if　you　find　the　target　touched
at　all；　I'll　own　to　a　miss。　　The　Quartermaster　cut　the　wood；
but　you'll　find　no　wood　cut　by　that　last　messenger。〃

〃Very　true；　Pathfinder；　very　true；〃　answered　Muir；　who
was　lingering　near　Mabel；　though　ashamed　to　address　her
particularly　in　the　presence　of　the　officers'　wives。　　〃The
Quartermaster　did　cut　the　wood；　and　by　that　means　he
opened　a　passage　for　your　bullet；　which　went　through　the
hole　he　had　made。〃

〃Well；　Quartermaster；　there　goes　the　nail　and　we'll　see
who　can　drive　it　closer；　you　or　I；　for；　though　I　did　not
think　of　showing　what　a　rifle　can　do　to…day；　now　my　hand
is　in；　I'll　turn　my　back　to　no　man　that　carries　King
George's　commission。　　Chingachgook　is　outlying；　or　he
might　force　me　into　some　of　the　niceties　of　the　art；　but；
as　for　you；　Quartermaster；　if　the　nail　don't　stop　you；　the
potato　will。〃

〃You're　over　boastful　this　morning；　Pathfinder；　but
you'll　find　you've　no　green　boy　fresh　from　the　settlements
and　the　towns　to　deal　with；　I　will　assure　ye！〃

〃I　know　that　well；　Quartermaster；　I　know　that　well；
and　shall　not　deny　your　experience。　　You've　lived　many
years　on　the　frontiers；　and　I've　heard　of　you　in　the　col…
onies；　and　among　the　Indians；　too；　quite　a　human　life　ago。〃

〃Na；　na；〃　interrupted　Muir　in　his　broadest　Scotch；
〃this　is　injustice；　man。　　I've　no'　lived　so　very　long；
neither。〃

〃I'll　do　you　justice；　Lieutenant；　even　if　you　get　the　best
in　the　potato　trial。　　I　say　you've　passed　a　good　human　life；
for　a　soldier；　in　places　where　the　rifle　is　daily　used；　and　I
know　you　are　a　creditable　and　ingenious　marksman；　but
then　you　are　not　a　true　rifle…shooter。　　As　for　boasting；　I
hope　I'm　not　a　vain　talker　about　my　own　exploits；　but　a
man's　gifts　are　his　gifts；　and　it's　flying　in　the　face　of　Prov…
idence　to　deny　th