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the pathfinder-第80部分
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〃Bless you; bless you; Pathfinder!〃 exclaimed Mabel;
extending her own hand and pressing the iron fingers of
her companion; under a state of feeling that far sur…
passed her own consciousness of its strength。 〃You are
all that is generous; all that is noble! God will reward you
for it。〃
〃Ah; Mabel; I fear me; if this be true; I should not covet
such a wife as yourself; but would leave you to be sued
for by some gentleman of the garrison; as your desarts
require。〃
〃We will not talk of this any more to…night;〃 Mabel
answered in a voice so smothered as to seem nearly choked。
〃We must think less of ourselves just now; Pathfinder;
and more of our friends。 But I rejoice from my soul that
you believe Jasper innocent。 Now let us talk of other
things ought we not to release June?〃
〃I've been thinking about the woman; for it will not
be safe to shut our eyes and leave hers open; on this side
of the blockhouse door。 If we put her in the upper room;
and take away the ladder; she'll be a prisoner at least。〃
〃I cannot treat one thus who has saved my life。 It
would be better to let her depart; for I think she is too
much my friend to do anything to harm me。〃
〃You do not know the race; Mabel; you do not know
the race。 It's true she's not a full…blooded Mingo; but she
consorts with the vagabonds; and must have larned some
of their tricks。 What is that?〃
〃It sounds like oars; some boat is passing through the
channel。〃
Pathfinder closed the trap that led to the lower room;
to prevent June from escaping; extinguished the candle;
and went hastily to a loop; Mabel looking over his shoulder
in breathless curiosity。 These several movements con…
sumed a minute or two; and by the time the eye of the
scout had got a dim view of things without; two boats had
swept past and shot up to the shore; at a spot some fifty
yards beyond the block; where there was a regular landing。
The obscurity prevented more from being seen; and Path…
finder whispered to Mabel that the new…comers were as
likely to be foes as friends; for he did not think her father
could possibly have arrived so soon。 A number of men
were now seen to quit the boats; and then followed three
hearty English cheers; leaving no further doubts of the
character of the party。 Pathfinder sprang to the trap;
raised it; glided down the ladder; and began to unbar the
door; with an earnestness that proved how critical he
deemed the moment。 Mabel had followed; but she rather
impeded than aided his exertions; and but a single bar
was turned when a heavy discharge of rifles was heard。
They were still standing in breathless suspense; as the
war…whoop rang in all the surrounding thickets。 The
door now opened; and both Pathfinder and Mabel rushed
into the open air。 All human sounds had ceased。 After
listening half a minute; however; Pathfinder thought he
heard a few stifled groans near the boats; but the wind
blew so fresh; and the rustling of the leaves mingled so
much with the murmurs of the passing air; that he was far
from certain。 But Mabel was borne away by her feel…
ings; and she rushed by him; taking the way towards the
boats。
〃This will not do; Mabel;〃 said the scout in an earnest
but low voice; seizing her by an arm; 〃this will never do。
Sartain death would follow; and that without sarving any
one。 We must return to the block。〃
〃Father! my poor; dear; murdered father!〃 said the
girl wildly; though habitual caution; even at that trying
moment; induced her to speak low。 〃Pathfinder; if you
love me; let me go to my dear father。〃
〃This will not do; Mabel。 It is singular that no one
speaks; no one returns the fire from the boats; and I have
left Killdeer in the block! But of what use would a rifle
be when no one is to be seen?〃
At that moment the quick eye of Pathfinder; which;
whiel he held Mabel firmly in his grasp; had never ceased
to roam over the dim scene; caught an indistinct view of
five or six dark crouching forms; endeavoring to steal past
him; doubtless with the intention of intercepting the re…
treat to the blockhouse。 Catching up Mabel; and putting
her under an arm; as if she were an infant; the sinewy
frame of the woodsman was exerted to the utmost; and he
succeeded in entering the building。 The tramp of his
pursuers seemed immediately at his heels。 Dropping his
burden; he turned; closed the door; and had fastened one
bar; as a rush against the solid mass threatened to force it
from the hinges。 To secure the other bars was the work
of an instant。
Mabel now ascended to the first floor; while Pathfinder
remained as a sentinel below。 Our heroine was in that
state in which the body exerts itself; apparently without
the control of the mind。 She relighted the candle me…
chanically; as her companion had desired; and returned
with it below; where he was waiting her reappearance。 No
sooner was Pathfinder in possession of the light than he
examined the place carefully; to make certain no one was
concealed in the fortress; ascending to each floor in suc…
cession; after assuring himself that he left no enemy in his
rear。 The result was the conviction that the blockhouse
now contained no one but Mabel and himself; June having
escaped。 When perfectly convinced on this material point;
Pathfinder rejoined our heroine in the principal apart…
ment; setting down the light and examining the priming
of Killdeer before he seated himself。
〃Our worst fears are realized!〃 said Mabel; to whom
the hurry and excitement of the last five minutes appeared
to contain the emotions of a life。 〃My beloved father and
all his party are slain or captured!〃
〃We don't know that morning will tell us all。 I do
not think the affair so settled as that; or we should hear
the vagabond Mingos yelling out their triumph around
the blockhouse。 Of one thing we may be sartain; if the
inimy has really got the better; he will not be long in call…
ing upon us to surrender。 The squaw will let him into
the secret of our situation; and; as they well know the
place cannot be fired by daylight; so long as Killdeer con…
tinues to desarve his reputation; you may depend on it that
they will not be backward in making their attempt while
darkness helps them。〃
〃Surely I hear a groan!〃
〃'Tis fancy; Mabel; when the mind gets to be skeary;
especially a woman's mind; she often concaits things that
have no reality。 I've known them that imagined there was
truth in dreams。〃
〃Nay; I am _not_ deceived; there is surely one below; and
in pain。〃
Pathfinder was compelled to own that the quick senses
of Mabel had not deceived her。 He cautioned her; how…
ever; to repress her feelings; and reminded her that the
savages were in the practice of resorting to every artifice
to attain their ends; and that nothing was more likely than
that the groans were feigned with a view to lure them from
the blockhouse; or; at least; to induce them to open the
door。
〃No; no; no!〃 said Mabel hurriedly; 〃there is no arti…
fice in those sounds; and they come from anguish of body;
if not of spirit。 They are fearfully natural。〃
〃Well; we shall soon know whether a friend is there or
not。 Hide the light again; Mabel; and I will speak the
person from a loop。〃
Not a little precaution was necessary; according to Path…
finder's judgment and experience; in performing even this
simple act; for he had known the careless slain by their
want of proper attention to what might have seemed to
the ignorant supererogatory means of; safety。 He did not
place his mouth to the loop itself; but so near it that he
could be heard without raising his voice; and the same
precaution was observed as regards his ear。
〃Who is below?〃 Pathfinder demanded; when his ar…
rangements were made to his mind。 〃Is any one in suf…
fering? If a friend; speak boldly; and depend on our aid。〃
〃Pathfinder!〃 answered a voice that both Mabel and
the person addressed at once knew to be the Sergeant's;
〃Pathfinder; in the name of God; tell me what has become
of my daughter。〃
〃Father; I am here; unhurt; safe! and oh that I could
think the same of you!〃
The ejaculation of thanksgiving that followed was dis…
tinctly audible to the two; but it was clearly mingled with;
a groan of pain。
〃My worst forebodings are realized!〃 said Mabel with
a sort of desperate calmness。 〃Pathfinder; my father must
be brought within the block; though we hazard everything
to do it。〃
〃This is natur'; and it is the law of God。 But; Mabel;
be calm; and endivor to be cool。 All that can be effected
for the Sergeant by human invention shall be done。 I
only ask you to be cool。〃
〃I am; I am; Pathfinder。 Never in my life was I more
calm; more collected; than at this moment。 But remem…
ber how perilous may be every instant; for Heaven's sake;
what we do; let us do without delay。〃
Pathfinder was struck with the firmnesss of Mabel's
tones; and perhaps he was a little deceived by the forced
tranquillity and self…possession she had assumed。 At all
events; he did not deem any further explanations neces…
sary; but descended forthwith; and began to unbar the
door。 This delicate process was conducted with the usual
caution; but; as he warily permitted the mass of timber to
swing back on the hinges; he felt a pressure against it; that
had nearly induced him to close it again。 But; catching a
glimpse of the cause through the crack; the door was per…
mitted to swing back; when the body of Sergeant Dunham;
which was propped against it; fell partly within the block。
To draw in the legs and secure the fastenings occupied the
Pathfinder but a moment。 Then there existed no obstacle
to their giving their undivided care to the wounded man。
Mabel; in this trying scene; conducted herself with the
sort of unnatural energy that her sex; when aroused; is apt
to manifest。 She got the light; administered water to the
parched lips of her father; and assisted Pathfinder in form…
ing a bed of straw for his body and a pillow of clothes for
his head。 All this was done earnestly; and almost without
speaking; nor did Mabel shed a tear; until she heard the
blessings of her father murmured on her head for this
tenderness and
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