the pathfinder-第75部分

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had　retired　in　her　alarm；　a　forked　stream　shot　up　through
the　loophole；　the　lid　of　which　she　had　left　open；　and　illu…
minated　the　rude　apartment；　with　Mabel　and　her　desola…
tion。　　Our　heroine　now　naturally　enough　supposed　that　her
hour　was　come；　for　the　door；　the　only　means　of　retreat；
had　been　blocked　up　by　the　brush　aud　fire；　with　hellish　in…
genuity；　and　she　addressed　herself；　as　she　believed；　for　the
last　time　to　her　Maker　in　prayer。　　Her　eyes　were　closed；
and　for　more　than　a　minute　her　spirit　was　abstracted；　but
the　interests　of　the　world　too　strongly　divided　her　feelings
to　be　altogether　suppressed；　and　when　they　involuntarily
opened　again；　she　perceived　that　the　streak　of　flame　was
no　longer　flaring　in　the　room；　though　the　wood　around
the　little　aperture　had　kindled；　and　the　blaze　was　slowly
mounting　under　the　impulsion　of　a　current　of　air　that
sucked　inward。　　A　barrel　of　water　stood　in　a　corner；　and
Mabel；　acting　more　by　instinct　than　by　reason；　caught　up
a　vessel；　filled　it；　and；　pouring　it　on　the　wood　with　a
trembling　hand；　succeeded　in　extinguishing　the　fire　at　that
particular　spot。　　The　smoke　prevented　her　from　looking
down　again　for　a　couple　of　minutes；　but　when　she　did
her　heart　beat　high　with　delight　and　hope　at　finding　that
the　pile　of　blazing　brush　had　been　overturned　and　scat…
tered；　and　that　water　had　been　thrown　on　the　logs　of　the
door；　which　were　still　smoking　though　no　longer　burn…
ing。

〃Who　is　there？〃　said　Mabel；　with　her　mouth　at　the
loop。　　〃What　friendly　hand　has　a　merciful　Providence
sent　to　my　succor？〃

A　light　footstep　was　audible　below；　and　one　of　those
gentle　pushes　at　the　door　was　heard；　which　just　moved　the
massive　beams　on　the　hinges。

〃Who　wishes　to　enter？　　Is　it　you；　dear；　dear　uncle？〃

〃Saltwater　no　here。　　St。　Lawrence　sweet　water；〃　was
the　answer。　　〃Open　quick；　want　to　come　in。〃

The　step　of　Mabel　was　never　lighter；　or　her　movements
more　quick　and　natural；　than　while　she　was　descending
the　ladder　and　turniug　the　bars；　for　all　her　motions　were
earnest　and　active。　　This　time　she　thought　only　of　her
escape；　and　she　opened　the　door　with　a　rapidity　which　did
not　admit　of　caution。　　Her　first　impulse　was　to　rush　into
the　open　air；　in　the　blind　hope　of　quitting　the　blockhouse；
but　June　repulsed　the　attempt；　and　entering；　she　coolly
barred　the　door　again　before　she　would　notice　Mabel's
eager　efforts　to　embrace　her。

〃Bless　you！　bless　you；　June！〃　cried　our　heroine　most
fervently；　〃you　are　sent　by　Providence　to　be　my　guardian
angel！〃

〃No　hug　so　tight；〃　answered　the　Tuscarora　woman。
〃Paleface　woman　all　cry；　or　all　laugh。　　Let　June　fasten
door。〃

Mabel　became　more　rational；　and　in　a　few　minutes　the
two　were　again　in　the　upper　room；　seated　as　before；　hand　in
hand；　all　feeling　of　distrust　between　them　being　banished。

〃Now　tell　me；　June；〃　Mabel　commenced　as　soon　as　she
had　given　and　received　one　warm　embrace；　〃have　you　seen
or　heard　aught　of　my　poor　uncle？〃

〃Don't　know。　　No　one　see　him；　no　one　hear　him；　no
one　know　anyt'ing。　　Saltwater　run　into　river；　I　t'ink；　for
I　no　find　him。　　Quartermaster　gone　too。　　I　look；　and
look；　and　look；　but　no　see'　em；　one；　t'other；　nowhere。〃

〃Blessed　be　God！　　They　must　have　escaped；　though　the
means　are　not　known　to　us。　　I　thought　I　saw　a　French…
man　on　the　island；　June。〃

〃Yes：　French　captain　come；　but　he　go　away　too。
Plenty　of　Indian　on　island。〃

〃Oh；　June；　June；　are　there　no　means　to　prevent　my　be…
loved　father　from　falling　into　the　hands　of　his　enemies？〃

〃Don't　know；　t'ink　dat　warriors　wait　in　ambush；　and
Yengeese　must　lose　scalp。〃

〃Surely；　surely；　June；　you；　who　have　done　so　much　for
the　daughter；　will　not　refuse　to　help　the　father？〃

〃Don't　know　fader；　don't　love　fader。　　June　help　her
own　people　help　Arrowhead　　husband　love　scalp。〃

〃June；　this　is　not　yourself。　　I　cannot；　will　not　believe
that　you　wish　to　see　our　men　murdered！〃

June　turned　her　dark　eyes　quietly　on　Mabel；　and　for　a
moment　her　look　was　stern；　though　it　was　soon　changed
into　one　of　melancholy　compassion。

〃Lily；　Yengeese　girl？〃　she　said；　as　one　asks　a　question。

〃Certainly；　and　as　a　Yengeese　girl　I　would　save　my
countrymen　from　slaughter。〃

〃Very　good；　if　can。　　June　no　Yengeese；　June　Tusca…
rora　　got　Tuscarora　husband　　Tuscarora　heart　　Tuscarora
feeling　　all　over　Tuscarora。　　Lily　wouldn't　run　and　tell
French　that　her　fader　was　coming　to　gain　victory？〃

〃Perhaps　not；〃　returned　Mabel；　pressing　a　hand　on　a
brain　that　felt　bewildered；　　〃perhaps　not；　but　you　serve
me；　aid　me　　have　saved　me；　June！　　Why　have　you　done
this；　if　you　only　feel　as　a　Tuscarora？〃

〃Don't　only　feel　as　Tuscarora；　feel　as　girl；　feel　as　squaw。
Love　pretty　Lily；　and　put　it　in　my　bosom。〃

Mabel　melted　into　tears；　and　she　pressed　the　affectionate
creature　to　her　heart。　　It　was　near　a　minute　before　she
could　renew　the　discourse；　but　then　she　succeeded　in
speaking　more　calmly　and　with　greater　coherence。

〃Let　me　know　the　worst；　June；〃　said　she。　　〃To…night
your　people　are　feasting；　what　do　they　intend　to　do　to…
morrow？〃

〃Don't　know；　afraid　to　see　Arrowhead；　afraid　to　ask
question；　t'ink　hide　away　till　Yengeese　come　back。〃

〃Will　they　not　attempt　anything　against　the　block…
house？　　You　have　seen　what　they　can　threaten　if　they
will。〃

〃Too　much　rum。　　Arrowhead　sleep；　or　no　dare；　French
captain　gone　away；　or　no　dare。　　All　go　to　sleep　now。〃

〃And　you　think　I　am　safe　for　this　night；　at　least？〃

〃Too　much　rum。　　If　Lily　like　June；　might　do　much
for　her　people。〃

〃I　am　like　you；　June；　if　a　wish　to　serve　my　countrymen
can　make　a　resemblance　with　one　as　courageous　as　your…
self。〃

〃No；　no；　no！〃　muttered　June　in　a　low　voice；　〃no　got
heart；　and　June　no　let　you；　if　had。　　June's　moder　pris…
oner　once；　and　warriors　got　drunk；　moder　tomahawked
'em　all。　　Such　de　way　red　skin　women　do　when　people　in
danger　and　want　scalp。〃

〃You　say　what　is　true；〃　returned　Mabel；　shuddering；
and　unconsciously　dropping　June's　hand。　　〃I　cannot　do
that。　　I　have　neither　the　strength；　the　courage；　nor　the
will　to　dip　my　hands　in　blood。〃

〃T'ink　that　too；　then　stay　where　you　be　　blockhouse
good　　got　no　scalp。〃

〃You　believe；　then；　that　I　am　safe　here；　at　least　until
my　father　and　his　people　return？〃

〃Know　so。　　No　dare　touch　blockhouse　in　morning。
Hark！　all　still　now　　drink　rum　till　head　fall　down；　and
sleep　like　log。〃

〃Might　I　not　escape？　　Are　there　not　several　canoes　on
the　island？　　Might　I　not　get　one；　and　go　and　give　my
father　notice　of　what　has　happened？〃

〃Know　how　to　paddle？〃　demanded　June；　glancing　her
eye　furtively　at　her　companion。

〃Not　so　well　as　yourself；　perhaps；　but　enough　to　get
out　of　sight　before　morning。〃

〃What　do　then？　　couldn't　paddle　six　　ten　　eight
mile！〃

〃I　do　not　know；　I　would　do　much　to　warn　my　father；
and　the　excellent　Pathfinder；　and　all　the　rest；　of　the　dan…
ger　they　are　in。〃

〃Like　Pathfinder？〃

〃All　like　him　who　know　him　　you　would　like　him；　nay；
love　him；　if　you　only　knew　his　heart！〃

〃No　like　him　at　all。　　Too　good　rifle　　too　good　eye　
too　much　shoot　Iroquois　and　June's　people。　　Must　get　his
scalp　if　can。〃

〃And　I　must　save　it　if　I　can；　June。　　In　this　respect；
then；　we　are　opposed　to　each　other。　　I　will　go　and　find　a
canoe　the　instant　they　are　all　asleep；　and　quit　the　island。〃

〃No　can　　June　won't　let　you。　　Call　Arrowhead。〃

〃June！　you　would　not　betray　me　　you　could　not　give
me　up　after　all　you　have　done　for　me？〃

〃Just　so；〃　returned　June；　making　a　backward　gesture
with　her　hand；　and　speaking　with　a　warmth　and　earnest…
ness　Mabel　had　never　witnessed　in　her　before。　　〃Call
Arrowhead　in　loud　voice。　　One　call　from　wife　wake　a　war…
rior　up。　　June　no　let　Lily　help　enemy　　no　let　Indian　hurt
Lily。〃

〃I　understand　you；　June；　and　feel　the　nature　and　jus…
tice　of　your　sentiments；　and；　after　all；　it　were　better　that
I　should　remain　here；　for　I　have　most　probably　overrated
my　strength。　　But　tell　me　one　thing：　if　my　uncle　comes
in　the　night；　and　asks　to　be　admitted；　you　will　let　me　open
the　door　of　the　blockhouse　that　he　may　enter？〃

〃Sartain　　he　prisoner　here；　and　June　like　prisoner　bet…
ter　than　scalp；　scalp　good　for　honor；　prisoner　good　for
feeling。　　But　Saltwater　hide　so　close；　he　don't　know　where
he　be　himself。〃

Here　June　laughed　in　her　girlish；　mirthful　way；　for　to
her　scenes　of　violence　were　too　familiar　to　leave　impres…
sions　sufficiently　deep　to　change　her　natural　character。　　A
long　and　discursive　dialogue　now　followed；　in　which　Mabel
endeavored　to　obtain　clearer　notions　of　her　actual　situa…
tion；　under　a　faint　hope　that　she　might　possibly　be　enabled
to　turn　some　of　the　facts　she　thus　learned　to　advantage。
June　answered　all　her　interrogatories　simply；　but　with　a
caution　which　showed　she　fully　distinguished　between
that　which　was　immaterial　and　that　which　might　endanger
the　safety　or　embarrass　the　future　operations　of　her
friends。　　The　substance　of　the　information　she　gave　may
be　summed　up　as　follows。

Arrowhead　had　long　been　in　communication　with　the
French；　though　this　was　the　first　occasion　on　which　he
had　entirely　thrown　aside　the　mask。　　He　no　longer　in…
tended　to　trust　himself　among　the　English；　for　he　had
discovered　traces　of　distrust；　particularly　in　Pathfinder；
and；　with　Indian　bravado；　he　now　rather　wished　to　blazon
than　to　conceal　his　treachery。　　He　had　led　the　party　of
warriors　in　the　attack　on　the　island；　subject；　however；　to
the　supervision　of　the　Frenchman　who　has　been　men…
tioned；　though　June　declined　saying　whether　he　had　been
the　means　of　discovering　the　position　of　a　place　which　had
been　thought　to　be　so　concealed　from　the　enemy　or　not。
On　this　point　she　would　say　nothing；　but　she　admitted
that　she　and　her　husband　had　been　watching　the　depar…
ture　of　the　_Scud_　at　the　time　they　were　overtaken　and　cap…
tured　by　the　cutter。　　The　French　had　obtained　their　in…
formation　of　the　precise　position　of　the　station　but　very
recently；　and　Mabel　felt　a　pang　when　she　thought　that
there　were　covert　allusions　of　the　Indian　woman　which
would　convey　the　meaning　that　the　intelligence　had　come
from　a　pale…face　in　the　employment　of　Duncan　of　Lundie。
This　was　intimated；　however；　rather　than　said；　and　when
Mabel　had　tim