the pathfinder-第62部分

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But　the　situation　of　the　island　itself　formed　its　principal
merit　as　a　military　position。　　Lying　in　the　midst　of　twenty
others；　it　was　not　an　easy　matter　to　find　it；　since　boats
might　pass　quite　near；　and；　by　glimpses　caught　through
the　openings；　this　particular　island　would　be　taken　for　a
part　of　some　other。　　Indeed；　the　channels　between　the
islands　which　lay　around　the　one　we　have　been　describing
were　so　narrow　that　it　was　even　difficult　to　say　which　por…
tions　of　the　land　were　connected；　or　which　separated；　even
as　one　stood　in　the　centre；　with　the　express　desire　of　ascer…
taining　the　truth。　　The　little　bay　in　particular；　which
Jasper　used　as　a　harbor；　was　so　embowered　with　bushes
and　shut　in　with　islands；　that；　the　sails　of　the　cutter　being
lowered；　her　own　people　on　one　occasion　had　searched　for
hours　before　they　could　find　the　_Scud_；　in　their　return　from
a　short　excursion　among　the　adjacent　channels　in　quest　of
fish。　　In　short；　the　place　was　admirably　adapted　to　its
present　objects；　and　its　natural　advantages　had　been　as　in…
geniously　improved　as　economy　and　the　limited　means　of
a　frontier　post　would　very　well　allow。

The　hour　which　succeeded　the　arrival　of　the　_Scud_　was
one　of　hurried　excitement。　　The　party　in　possession　had
done　nothing　worthy　of　being　mentioned；　and；　wearied
with　their　seclusion；　they　were　all　eager　to　return　to　Os…
wego。　　The　Sergeant　and　the　officer　he　came　to　relieve　had
no　sooner　gone　through　the　little　ceremonies　of　transfer…
ring　the　command；　than　the　latter　hurried　on　board　the
_Scud_　with　his　whole　party；　and　Jasper；　who　would　gladly
have　passed　the　day　on　the　island；　was　required　to　get
under　way　forthwith；　the　wind　promising　a　quick　passage
up　the　river　and　across　the　lake。　　Before　separating；　how…
ever；　Lieutenant　Muir；　Cap；　and　the　Sergeant　had　a　private
conference　with　the　ensign　who　had　been　relieved；　in
which　the　last　was　made　acquainted　with　the　suspicions
that　existed　against　the　fidelity　of　the　young　sailor。
Promising　due　caution；　the　officer　embarked；　and　in　less
than　three　hours　from　the　time　when　she　had　arrived　the
cutter　was　again　in　motion。

Mabel　had　taken　possession　of　a　hut；　and　with　female
readiness　and　skill　she　made　all　the　simple　little　domestic
arrangements　of　which　the　circumstances　would　admit；　not
only　for　her　own　comfort；　but　for　that　of　her　father。　　To
save　labor；　a　mess…table　was　prepared　in　a　hut　set　apart
for　that　purpose；　where　all　the　heads　of　the　detachment
were　to　eat；　the　soldier's　wife　performing　the　necessary
labor。　　The　hut　of　the　Sergeant；　which　was　the　best　on
the　island；　being　thus　freed　from　any　of　the　vulgar　offices
of　a　household；　admitted　of　such　a　display　of　womanly
taste；　that；　for　the　first　time　since　her　arrival　on　the　fron…
tier；　Mabel　felt　proud　of　her　home。　　As　soon　as　these　im…
portant　duties　were　discharged；　she　strolled　out　on　the
island；　taking　a　path　which　led　through　the　pretty　glade；
and　which　conducted　to　the　only　point　not　covered　with
bushes。　　Here　she　stood　gazing　at　the　limpid　water；　which
lay　with　scarcely　a　ruffle　on　it　at　her　feet；　musing　on　the
novel　situation　in　which　she　was　placed；　and　permitting　a
pleasing　and　deep　excitement　to　steal　over　her　feelings；
as　she　remembered　the　scenes　through　which　she　had　so
lately　passed；　and　conjectured　those　which　still　lay　veiled
in　the　future。

〃You're　a　beautiful　fixture；　in　a　beautiful　spot；　Mistress
Mabel；〃　said　David　Muir；　suddenly　appearing　at　her　el…
bow；　〃and　I'll　no'　engage　you're　not　just　the　handsomest
of　the　two。〃

〃I　will　not　say；　Mr。　Muir；　that　compliments　on　my　per…
son　are　altogether　unwelcome；　for　I　should　not　gain　credit
for　speaking　the　truth；　perhaps；〃　answered　Mabel　with
spirit；　〃but　I　will　say　that　if　you　would　condescend　to
address　to　me　some　remarks　of　a　different　nature；　I　may
be　led　to　believe　you　think　I　have　sufficient　faculties　to
understand　them。〃

〃Hoot！　your　mind；　beautiful　Mabel；　is　polished　just　like
the　barrel　of　a　soldier's　musket；　and　your　conversation　is
only　too　discreet　and　wise　for　a　poor　d…l　who　has　been
chewing　birch　up　here　these　four　years　on　the　lines；　instead
of　receiving　it　in　an　application　that　has　the　virtue　of
imparting　knowledge。　　But　you　are　no'　sorry；　I　take　it；
young　lady；　that　you've　got　your　pretty　foot　on　_terra　firma_
once　more。〃

〃I　thought　so　two　hours　since；　Mr。　Muir；　but　the　_Scud_
looks　so　beautiful　as　she　sails　through　these　vistas　of　trees；
that　I　almost　regret　I　am　no　longer　one　of　her　passengers。〃

As　Mabel　ceased　speaking；　she　waved；　her　handkerchief
in　return　to　a　salutation　from　Jasper；　who　kept　his　eyes
fastened　on　her　form　until　the　white　sails　of　the　cutter
had　swept　round　a　point；　and　were　nearly　lost　behind　its
green　fringe　of　leaves。

〃There　they　go；　and　I'll　no'　say　'joy　go　with　them；'　but
may　they　have　the　luck　to　return　safely；　for　without　them
we　shall　be　in　danger　of　passing　the　winter　on　this　island；
unless；　indeed；　we　have　the　alternative　of　the　castle　at
Quebec。　　Yon　Jasper　Eau…douce　is　a　vagrant　sort　of　a　lad；
and　they　have　reports　of　him　in　the　garrison　that　it　pains
my　very　heart　to　hear。　　Your　worthy　father；　and　almost
as　worthy　uncle；　have　none　of　the　best　opinion　of　him。〃

〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　it；　Mr。　Muir；　I　doubt　not　that　time
will　remove　all　their　distrust。〃

〃If　time　would　only　remove　mine；　pretty　Mabel；〃　re…
joined　the　Quartermaster　in　a　wheedling　tone；　〃I　should
feel　no　envy　of　the　commander…in…chief。　　I　think　if　I　were
in　a　condition　to　retire；　the　Sergeant　would　just　step　into
my　shoes。〃

〃If　my　dear　father　is　worthy　to　step　into　your　shoes；　Mr。
Muir；〃　returned　the　girl；　with　malicious　pleasure；　〃I'm
sure　that　the　qualification　is　mutual；　and　that　you　are　every
way　worthy　to　step　into　his。〃

〃The　deuce　is　in　the　child！　you　would　not　reduce　me
to　the　rank　of　a　non…commissioned　officer；　Mabel？〃

〃No；　indeed；　sir；　I　was　not　thinking　of　the　army　at　all
as　you　spoke　of　retiring。　　My　thoughts　were　more　egotis…
tical；　and　I　was　thinking　how　much　you　reminded　me　of
my　dear　father；　by　your　experience；　wisdom；　ana　suitable…
ness　to　take　his　place　as　the　head　of　a　family。〃

〃As　its　bridegroom；　pretty　Mabel；　but　not　as　its　parent
or　natural　chief。　　I　see　how　it　is　with　you；　loving　your　re…
partee；　and　brilliant　with　wit。　　Well；　I　like　spirit　in　a
young　woman；　so　it　be　not　the　spirit　of　a　scold。　　This
Pathfinder　is　all　extraordinair；　Mabel；　if　truth　may　be　said
of　the　man。〃

〃Truth　should　be　said　of　him　or　nothing。　　Pathfinder
is　my　friend　　my　very　particular　friend；　Mr。　Muir；　and　no
evil　can　be　said　of　him　in　my　presence　that　I　shall　not
deny。〃

〃I　shall　say　nothing　evil　of　him；　I　can　assure　you；　Ma…
bel；　but；　at　the　same　time；　I　doubt　if　much　good　can　be
said　in　his　favor。〃

〃He　is　at　least　expert　with　the　rifle；〃　returned　Mabel；
smiling。　　〃That　you　cannot　deny。〃

〃Let　him　have　all　the　credit　of　his　exploits　in　that　way
if　you　please；　but　he　is　as　illiterate　as　a　Mohawk。〃

〃He　may　not　understand　Latin；　but　his　knowledge　of
Iroquois　is　greater　than　that　of　most　men；　and　it　is　the
more　useful　language　of　the　two　in　this　part　of　the　world。〃

〃If　Lundie　himself　were　to　call　on　me　for　an　opinion
which　I　admire　more；　your　person　or　your　wit；　beautiful
and　caustic　Mabel；　I　should　be　at　a　loss　to　answer。　　My
admiration　is　so　nearly　divided　between　them；　that　I　often
fancy　this　is　the　one　that　bears　off　the　palm；　and　then　the
other！　　Ah！　　the　late　Mrs。　Muir　was　a　paragon　in　that
way　also。〃

〃The　latest　Mrs。　Muir；　did　you　say；　sir？〃　asked　Mabel；
looking　up　innocently　at　her　companion。

〃Hoot；　hoot！　　That　is　some　of　Pathfinder's　scandal。
Now　I　daresay　that　the　fellow　has　been　trying　to　persuade
you；　Mabel；　that　I　have　had　more　than　one　wife　already。〃

〃In　that　case　his　time　would　have　been　thrown　away；　sir；
as　everybody　knows　that　you　have　been　so　unfortunate　as
to　have　had　four。〃

〃Only　three；　as　sure　as　my　name　is　David　Muir。　　The
fourth　is　pure　scandal　　or　rather；　pretty　Mabel；　she　is　yet
_in　petto_；　as　they　say　at　Rome；　and　that　means；　in　matters
of　love；　in　the　heart；　my　dear。〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　I'm　not　that　fourth　person；　_in　petto_；　or
in　anything　else；　as　I　should　not　like　to　be　a　scandal。〃

〃No　fear　of　that；　charming　Mabel；　for　were　you　the
fourth；　all　the　others　would　be　forgotten；　and　your　won…
derful　beauty　and　merit　would　at　once　elevate　you　to　be
the　first。　　No　fear　of　your　being　the　fourth　in　any
thing。〃

There　is　consolation　in　that　assurance；　Mr。　Muir；〃　said
Mabel；　laughing；　〃whatever　there　may　be　in　your　other
assurance；　for　I　confess　I　should　prefer　being　even　a
fourth…rate　beauty　to　being　a　fourth　wife。〃

So　saying　she　tripped　away；　leaving　the　Quartermaster
to　meditate　on　his　success。　　Mabel　had　been　induced　to
use　her　female　means　of　defence　thus　freely；　partly　be…
cause　her　suitor　had　of　late　been　so　pointed　as　to　stand　in
need　of　a　pretty　strong　repulse；　and　partly　on　account　of
his　innuendoes　against　Jasper　and　the　Pathfinder。
Though　full　of　spirit　and　quick　of　intellect；　she　was　not
naturally　pert；　but　on　the　present　occasion　she　thought
circumstances　called　for　more　than　usual　decision。　　When
she　left　her　companion；　therefore；　she　believed　she　was　now
finally　released　from　attentions　which　she　thought　as　ill…
bestowed　as　they　were　certainly　disagreeable。　　Not　so；
however；　with　David　Muir；　accustomed　to　rebuffs；　and
familiar　with　the　virtue　of　perseverance；　he　saw　no　reason
to　despair；　though　the　half…menacing；　half…self…satisfied
manner　in　which　he　shook　his　head　towards　the　retreating
girl　might　have　betrayed　designs　as　sinister　as　they　were
determined。　　While　he　was　thus　occupied；　the　Pathfinder
approached；　and　got　within　a　few　feet　of　him　unseen。

〃'Twill　never　do；　Quartermaster；　'twill　never　do；〃　com…
menced　the　latter；　laughing　in　his　noiseless　way；　〃she　is
young　and　active；　and　none　but　a　quick　foot　can　overtake
her。　　They　tell　me　you　are　her　suitor；　if　you　are　not　her
follower。〃

〃And　I　hear　the　same　of　yourself；　man；　though　the　pre…
sumption　would　be　so　great　that　I　scarcely　can　think　it
true。〃

〃I　fear　you're　right；　I　do；　yes；　I　fear　you're　right；　
when　I　consider　mysel