the pathfinder-第66部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



〃I　would　rather　you　would　not；　father。　　Let　it　come　of
itself；　come　naturally。〃　　The　smile　that　illuminated　Mabel's
handsome　face　was　angelic；　as　even　her　parent　thought；
though　one　better　practised　in　detecting　the　passing　emo…
tions；　as　they　betray　themselves　in　the　countenance；　might
have　traced　something　wild　and　unnatural　in　it。　　〃No；　no；
_we_　must　let　things　take　their　course；　father；　you　have　my
solemn　promise。〃

〃That　will　do；　that　will　do；　Mabel；　now　kiss　me。　　God
bless　and　protect　you；　girl！　you　are　a　good　daughter。〃

Mabel　threw　herself　into　her　father's　arms　　it　was　the
first　time　in　her　life　　and　sobbed　on　his　bosom　like　an　in…
fant。　　The　stern　soldier's　heart　was　melted；　and　the　tears
of　the　two　mingled；　but　Sergeant　Dunham　soon　started；　as
if　ashamed　of　himself；　and；　gently　forcing　his　daughter　from
him；　he　bade　her　good…night；　and　sought　his　pallet。　　Mabel
went　sobbing　to　the　rude　corner　that　had　been　prepared
for　her　reception；　and　in　a　few　minutes　the　hut　was　un…
disturbed　by　any　sound；　save　the　heavy　breathing　of　the
veteran。



CHAPTER　XX。

Wandering；　I　found　on　my　ruinous　walk；
　　By　the　dial　stone；　aged　and　green；
One　rose　of　the　wilderness；　left　on　its　stalk；
　　To　mark　where　a　garden　had　been。
CAMPBELL。


It　was　not　only　broad　daylight　when　Mabel　awoke；　but
the　sun　had　actually　been　up　some　time。　　Her　sleep　had
beeu　tranquil；　for　she　rested　on　an　approving　conscience；
and　fatigue　contributed　to　render　it　sweet；　and　no　sound
of　those　who　had　been　so　early　in　motion　had　interfered
with　her　rest。　　Springing　to　her　feet　and　rapidly　dressing
herself；　the　girl　was　soon　breathing　the　fragrance　of　the
morning　in　the　open　air。　　For　the　first　time　she　was　sen…
sibly　struck　with　the　singular　beauties；　as　well　as　with　the
profound　retirement；　of　her　present　situation。　　The　day
proved　to　be　one　of　those　of　the　autumnal　glory；　so　com…
mon　to　a　climate　that　is　more　abused　than　appreciated；
and　its　influence　was　every　way　inspiriting　and　genial。
Mabel　was　benefitted　by　this　circumstance；　for；　as　she
fancied；　her　heart　was　heavy　on　account　of　the　dangers　to
which　a　father；　whom　she　now　began　to　love　as　women　love
when　confidence　is　created；　was　exposed。

But　the　island　seemed　absolutely　deserted。　　The　previ…
ous　night；　the　bustle　of　the　arrival　had　given　the　spot　an
appearance　of　life　which　was　now　entirely　gone；　and　our
heroine　had　turned　her　eyes　nearly　around　on　every　object
in　sight；　before　she　caught　a　view　of　a　single　human　being
to　remove　the　sense　of　utter　solitude。　　Then；　indeed；　she
beheld　all　who　were　left　behind；　collected　in　a　group
around　a　fire　which　might　be　said　to　belong　to　the　camp。
The　person　of　her　uncle；　to　whom　she　was　so　much　accus…
tomed；　reassured　Mabel；　and　she　examined　the　remainder
with　a　curiosity　natural　to　her　situation。　　Besides　Cap　and
the　Quartermaster；　there　were　the　Corporal；　the　three　sol…
diers；　and　the　woman　who　was　cooking。　　The　huts　were
silent　and　empty；　and　the　low　but　tower…like　summit　of
the　blockhouse　rose　above　the　bushes；　by　which　it　was　half
concealed；　in　picturesque　beauty。　　The　sun　was　just　cast…
ing　its　brightness　into　the　open　places　of　the　glade；　and
the　vault　over　her　head　was　impending　in　the　soft　sub…
limity　of　the　blue　void。　　Not　a　cloud　was　visible；　and　she
secretly　fancied　the　circumstance　might　be　taken　as　a　har…
binger　of　peace　and　security。

Perceiving　that　all　the　others　were　occupied　with　that
great　concern　of　human　nature；　a　breakfast；　Mabel　walked；
unobserved；　towards　an　end　of　the　island　where　she　was
completely　shut　out　of　view　by　the　trees　and　bushes。　　Here
she　got　a　stand　on　the　very　edge　of　the　water；　by　forcing
aside　the　low　branches；　and　stood　watching　the　barely
perceptible　flow　and　re…flow　of　the　miniature　waves　which
laved　the　shore；　a　sort　of　physical　echo　to　the　agitation
that　prevailed　on　the　lake　fifty　miles　above　her。　　The
glimpses　of　natural　scenery　that　offered　were　very　soft　and
pleasing；　and　our　heroine；　who　had　a　quick　eye　for　all
that　was　lovely　in　nature；　was　not　slow　in　selecting　the
most　striking　bits　of　landscape。　　She　gazed　through　the
different　vistas　formed　by　the　openings　between　the
islands；　and　thought　she　had　never　looked　on　aught　more
lovely。

While　thus　occupied；　Mabel　was　suddenly　alarmed　by
fancying　that　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　human　form　among
the　bushes　that　lined　the　shore　of　the　island　which　lay
directly　before　her。　　The　distance　across　the　water　was
not　a　hundred　yards；　and；　though　she　might　be　mistaken；
and　her　fancy　was　wandering　when　the　form　passed　be…
fore　her　sight；　still　she　did　not　think　she　could　be　deceived。
Aware　that　her　sex　would　be　no　protection　against　a　rifle
bullet；　should　an　Iroquois　get　a　view　of　her；　the　girl　in…
stinctively　drew　back；　taking　care　to　conceal　person　as
much　as　possible　by　the　leaves；　while　she　kept　her　own　look
riveted　on　the　opposite　shore；　vainly　waiting　for　some
time　in　the　expectation　of　the　stranger。　　She　was　about
to　quit　her　post　in　the　bushes　and　hasten　to　her　uncle；　in
order　to　acquaint　him　of　her　suspicions；　when　she　saw　the
branch　of　an　alder　thrust　beyond　the　fringe　of　bushes　on
the　other　island；　and　waved　towards　her　significantly；　and
as　she　fancied　in　token　of　amity。　　This　was　a　breathless
and　a　trying　moment　to　one　as　inexperienced　in　frontier
warfare　as　our　heroine　and　yet　she　felt　the　great　necessity
that　existed　for　preserving　her　recollection；　and　of　acting
with　steadiness　and　discretion。

It　was　one　of　the　peculiarities　of　the　exposure　to　which
those　who　dwelt　on　the　frontiers　of　America　were　liable；
to　bring　out　the　moral　qualities　of　the　women　to　a　degree
which　they　must　themselves；　under　other　circumstances；
have　believed　they　were　incapable　of　manifesting；　and
Mabel　well　knew　that　the　borderers　loved　to　dwell　in　their
legends　on　the　presence　of　mind；　fortitude；　and　spirit　that
their　wives　and　sisters　had　displayed　under　circumstances
the　most　trying。　　Her　emulation　had　been　awakened　by
what　she　had　heard　on　such　subjects；　and　it　at　once　struck
her　that　now　was　the　moment　for　her　to　show　that　she
was　truly　Sergeant　Dunham's　child。　　The　motion　of　the
branch　was　such　as　she　believed　indicated　amity；　and；
after　a　moment's　hesitation；　she　broke　off　a　twig；　fastened
it　to　a　stick　and；　thrusting　it　through　an　opening；　waved
it　in　return；　imitating　as　closely　as　possible　the　manner　of
the　other。

This　dumb　show　lasted　two　or　three　minutes　on　both
sides；　when　Mabel　perceived　that　the　bushes　opposite　were
cautiously　pushid　aside；　and　a　human　face　appeared　at　an
opening。　　A　glance　sufficed　to　let　Mabel　see　that　it　was　the
countenance　of　a　red…skin；　as　well　as　that　of　a　woman。　　A
second　and　a　better　look　satisfied　her　that　it　was　the　face
of　the　Dew…of…June；　the　wife　of　Arrowhead。　　During　the
time　she　had　travelled　in　company　with　this　woman；
Mabel　had　been　won　by　the　gentleness　of　manner；　the
meek　simplicity；　and　the　mingled　awe　and　affection　with
which　she　regarded　her　husband。　　Once　or　twice　in　the
course　of　the　journey　she　fancied　the　Tuscarora　had　mani…
fested　towards　herself　an　unpleasant　degree　of　attention；
and　on　those　occoasions　it　had　struck　her　that　his　wife
exhibited　sorrow　and　mortification。　　As　Mabel；　however；
had　more　than　compensated　for　any　pain　she　might　in
this　way　unintentionally　have　caused　her　companion；　by
her　own　kindness　of　manner　and　attentions；　the　woman
had　shown　much　attachment　to　her；　and　they　had　parted；
with　a　deep　conviction　on　the　mind　of　our　heroine　that　in
the　Dew…of…June　she　had　lost　a　friend。

It　is　useless　to　attempt　to　analyze　all　the　ways　by　which
the　human　heart　is　led　into　confidence。　　Such　a　feeling；
however；　had　the　young　Tuscarora　woman　awakened　in
the　breast　of　our　heroine；　and　the　latter；　under　the　im…
pression　that　this　extraordinary　visit　was　intended　for　her
own　good；　felt　every　disposition　to　have　a　closer　commu…
nication。　　She　no　longer　hesitated　about　showing　herself
clear　of　the　bushes；　and　was　not　sorry　to　see　the　Dew…of…
June　imitate　her　confidence；　by　stepping　fearlessly　out　of
her　own　cover。　　The　two　girls；　for　the　Tuscarora；　though
married；　was　even　younger　than　Mabel；　now　openly　ex…
changed　signs　of　friendship；　and　the　latter　beckoned　to
her　friend　to　approach；　though　she　knew　not　the　manner
herself　in　which　this　object　could　be　effected。　　But　the
Dew…of…June　was　not　slow　in　letting　it　be　seen　that　it　was
in　her　power；　for；　disappearing　in　a　moment；　she　soon
showed　herself　again　in　the　end　of　a　bark　canoe；　the　bows
of　which　she　had　drawn　to　the　edge　of　the　bushes；　and　of
which　the　body　still　lay　in　a　sort　of　covered　creek。　　Mabel
was　about　to　invite　her　to　cross；　when　her　own　name　was
called　aloud　in　the　stentorian　voice　of　her　uncle。　　Making
a　hurried　gesture　for　the　Tuscarora　girl　to　conceal　herself；
Mabel　sprang　from　the　bushes　and　tripped　up　the　glade
towards　the　sound；　and　perceived　that　the　whole　party　had
just　seated　themselves　at　breakfast；　Cap　having　barely　put
his　appetite　under　sufficient　restraint　to　summon　her　to
join　them。　　That　this　was　the　most　favorable　instant　for
the　interview　flashed　on　the　mind　of　Mabel；　and；　excusing
herself　on　the　plea　of　not　being　prepared　for　the　meal；
she　bounded　back　to　the　thicket；　and　soon　renewed　her
communications　with　the　young　Indian　woman。

Dew…of…June　was　quick　of　comprehension；　and　with
half　a　dozen　noiseless　strokes　of　the　paddles；　her　canoe　was
concealed　in　the　bushes　of　Station　Island。　　In　another
minute；　Mabel　held　her　hand；　and　was　leading　her　through
the　grove　towards　her　own　hut。　　Fortunately　the　latter
was　so　placed　as　to　be　completely　hid　from　the　sight　of
those　at　the　fire；　and　they　both　entered　it　unseen。　　Hastily
explaining　to　her　guest；　in　the　best　manner　she　could；　the
necessity　of　quitting　her　for　a　short　time；　Mabel；　first　plac…
ing　the　Dew…of…June　in　her　own　room；　with　a　full　certainty
that　she　would　not　quit　it　until　told　to　do　so；　went　to　the
fire　and　took　her　seat　among　the　rest；　with　all　the　com…
posure　it　was　in　her　power　to　command。

〃Late　come；　late　served；　Mabel；〃　said　her　uncle；　be…
tween　mouthfuls　of　broiled　salmon；　for　though　the　cook…
ery