the pathfinder-第81部分

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speaking；　nor　did　Mabel　shed　a　tear；　until　she　heard　the
blessings　of　her　father　murmured　on　her　head　for　this
tenderness　and　care。　　All　this　time　Mabel　had　merely　con…
jectured　the　condition　of　her　parent。　　Pathfinder；　how…
ever；　had　shown　greater　attention　to　the　physical　danger
of　the　Sergeant。　　He　had　ascertained　that　a　rifle…ball　had
passed　through　the　body　of　the　wounded　man；　and　he　was
sufficiently　familiar　with　injuries　of　this　nature　to　be　cer…
tain　that　the　chances　of　his　surviving　the　hurt　were　very
trifling；　if　any。



CHAPTER　XXIV。

Then　drink　my　tears；　while　yet　they　fall　
Would　that　my　bosom's　blood　were　balm；
And　　well　thou　knowest　　I'd　shed　it　all；
To　give　thy　brow　one　minute's　calm。
MOORE。


The　eyes　of　Sergeant　Dunham　had　not　ceased　to　follow
the　form　of　his　beautiful　daughter　from　the　moment　that
the　light　appeared。　　He　next　examined　the　door　of　the
block；　to　ascertain　its　security；　for　he　was　left　on　the
ground　below；　there　being　no　available　means　of　raising
him　to　the　upper　floor。　　Then　he　sought　the　face　of　Mabel；
for　as　life　wanes　fast　the　affections　resume　their　force；　and
we　begin　to　value　that　most　which　we　feel　we　are　about　to
lose　for　ever。

〃God　be　praised；　my　child！　you；　at　least；　have　escaped
their　murderous　rifles；〃　he　said；　for　he　spoke　with
strength；　and　seemingly　with　no　additional　pain。　　〃Give
me　the　history　of　this　sad　business；　Pathfinder。〃

〃Ah's　me；　Sergeant！　it　_has_　been　sad；　as　you　say。　　That
there　has　been　treachery；　and　the　position　of　the　island
has　been　betrayed；　is　now　as　sartain；　in　my　judgment；　as
that　we　still　hold　the　block。　　But　　〃

〃Major　Duncan　was　right；〃　interrupted　Dunham；　laying
a　hand　on　the　other's　arm。

〃Not　in　the　sense　you　mean；　Sergeant　　no；　not　in　that
p'int　of　view；　never！　　At　least；　not　in　my　opinion。　　I
know　that　natur'　is　weak　　human　natur'；　I　mean　　and
that　we　should　none　of　us　vaunt　of　our　gifts；　whether　red
or　white；　but　I　do　not　think　a　truer…hearted　lad　lives　on
the　lines　than　Jasper　Western。〃

〃Bless　you！　bless　you　for　that；　Pathfinder！〃　burst　forth
from　Mabel's　very　soul；　while　a　flood　of　tears　gave　vent　to
emotions　that　were　so　varied　while　they　were　so　violent。
〃Oh；　bless　you；　Pathfinder；　bless　you！　　The　brave　should
never　desert　the　brave　　the　honest　should　sustain　the
honest。〃

The　father's　eyes　were　fastened　anxiously　on　the　face
of　his　daughter；　until　the　latter　hid　her　countenance　in
her　apron　to　conceal　her　tears；　and　then　they　turned　with
inquiry　to　the　hard　features　of　the　guide。　　The　latter
merely　wore　their　usual　expression　of　frankness；　sincerity；
and　uprightness；　and　the　Sergeant　motioned　to　him　to
proceed。

〃You　know　the　spot　where　the　Sarpent　and　I　left　you；
Sergeant；〃　Pathfinder　resumed；　〃and　I　need　say　nothing
of　all　that　happened　afore。　　It　is　now　too　late　to　regret
what　is　gone　and　passed；　but　I　do　think　if　I　had　stayed
with　the　boats　this　would　not　have　come　to　pass。　　Other
men　may　be　as　good　guides　　I　make　no　doubt　they　are；
but　then　natur'　bestows　its　gifts；　and　some　must　be　better
than　other　some。　　I　daresay　poor　Gilbert；　who　took　my
place；　has　suffered　for　his　mistake。〃

〃He　fell　at　my　elbow；〃　the　Sergeant　answered　in　a　low
melancholy　tone。　　〃We　have；　indeed；　all　suffered　for　our
mistakes。〃

〃No；　no；　Sergeant；　I　meant　no　condemnation　on　you；
for　men　were　never　better　commanded　than　yourn；　in　this
very　expedition。　　I　never　beheld　a　prettier　flanking；　and
the　way　in　which　you　carried　your　own　boat　up　ag'in　their
howitzer　might　have　teached　Lundie　himself　a　lesson。〃

The　eyes　of　the　Sergeant　brightened；　and　his　face　even
wore　an　expression　of　military　triumph；　though　it　was　of
a　degree　that　suited　the　humble　sphere　in　which　he　had
been　an　actor。

〃'Twas　not　badly　done；　my　friend；〃　said　he；　〃and　we
carried　their　log　breastwork　by　storm。〃

〃'Twas　nobly　done；　Sergeant；　though；　I　fear；　when　all
the　truth　comes　to　be　known；　it　will　be　found　that　these
vagabonds　have　got　their　howitzer　back　ag'in。　　Well；　well；
put　a　stout　heart　upon　it；　and　try　to　forget　all　that　is　dis…
agreeable；　and　to　remember　only　the　pleasant　part　of　the
matter。　　That　is　your　truest　philosophy；　ay；　and　truest
religion　too。　　If　the　inimy　has　got　the　howitzer　ag'in；
they've　only　got　what　belonged　to　them　afore；　and　what
we　couldn't　help。　　They　haven't　got　the　blockhouse　yet；
nor　are　they　likely　to　get　it；　unless　they　fire　it　in　the　dark。
Well；　Sergeant；　the　Sarpent　and　I　separated　about　ten
miles　down　the　river；　for　we　thought　it　wisest　not　to　come
upon　even　a　friendly　camp　without　the　usual　caution。
What　has　become　of　Chingachgook　I　cannot　say；　though
Mabel　tells　me　he　is　not　far　off；　and　I　make　no　question
the　noble…hearted　Delaware　is　doing　his　duty；　although　he
is　not　now　visible　to　our　eyes。　　Mark　my　word；　Sergeant；
before　this　matter　is　over　we　shall　hear　of　him　at　some
critical　time　and　that　in　a　discreet　and　creditable　manner。
Ah；　the　Sarpent　is　indeed　a　wise　and　virtuous　chief！　and
any　white　man　might　covet　his　gifts；　though　his　rifle　is
not　quite　as　sure　as　Killdeer；　it　must　be　owned。　　Well；　as
I　came　near　the　island　I　missed　the　smoke；　and　that　put
me　on　my　guard；　for　I　knew　that　the　men　of　the　55th
were　not　cunning　enough　to　conceal　that　sign；　notwith…
standing　all　that　has　been　told　them　of　its　danger。　　This
made　me　more　careful；　until　I　came　in　sight　of　this　mock…
fisherman；　as　I've　just　told　Mabel；　and　then　the　whole　of
their　infernal　arts　was　as　plain　before　me　as　if　I　saw　it　on
a　map。　　I　need　not　tell　you；　Sergeant；　that　my　first
thoughts　were　of　Mabel；　and　that；　finding　she　was　in　the
block；　I　came　here；　in　order　to　live　or　die　in　her　company。〃

The　father　turned　a　gratified　look　upon　his　child；　and
Mabel　felt　a　sinking　of　the　heart　that　at　such　a　moment
she　could　not　have　thought　possible；　when　she　wished　to
believe　all　her　concern　centred　in　the　situation　of　her
parent。　　As　the　latter　held　out　his　hand；　she　took　it　in　her
own　and　kissed　it。　　Then；　kneeling　at　his　side；　she　wept
as　if　her　heart　would　break。

〃Mabel；〃　said　he　steadily；　〃the　will　of　God　must　be
done。　　It　is　useless　to　attempt　deceiving　either　you　or　my…
self；　my　time　has　come；　and　it　is　a　consolation　to　me　to
die　like　a　soldier。　　Lundie　will　do　me　justice；　for　our　good
friend　Pathfinder　will　tell　him　what　has　been　done；　and
how　all　came　to　pass。　　You　do　not　forget　our　last　con…
versation？〃

〃Nay；　father；　my　time　has　probably　come　too；〃　exclaimed
Mabel；　who　felt　just　then　as　if　it　would　be　a　relief　to　die。
〃I　cannot　hope　to　escape；　and　Pathfinder　would　do　well
to　leave　us；　and　return　to　the　garrison　with　the　sad　news
while　he　can。〃

〃Mabel　Dunham；〃　said　Pathfinder　reproachfully；　though
he　took　her　hand　with　kindness；　〃I　have　not　desarved　this。
I　know　I　am　wild；　and　uncouth；　and　ungainly　　〃

〃Pathfinder！〃

〃Well；　well；　we'll　forget　it；　you　did　not　mean　it；　you
could　not　think　it。　　It　is　useless　now　to　talk　of　escaping；
for　the　Sergeant　cannot　be　moved；　and　the　blockhouse
must　be　defended；　cost　what　it　will。　　Maybe　Lundie　will
get　the　tidings　of　our　disaster；　and　send　a　party　to　raise
the　siege。〃

〃Pathfinder　　Mabel！〃　said　the　Sergeant；　who　had　been
writhing　with　pain　until　the　cold　sweat　stood　on　his　fore…
head；　〃come　both　to　my　side。　　You　understand　each
other；　I　hope？〃

〃Father；　say　nothing　of　that；　it　is　all　as　you　wish。〃

〃Thank　God！　　Give　me　your　hand；　Mabel　　here；　Path…
finder；　take　it。　　I　can　do　no　more　than　give　you　the　girl
in　this　way。　　I　know　you　will　make　her　a　kind　husband。
Do　not　wait　on　account　of　my　death；　but　there　will　be　a
chaplain　in　the　fort　before　the　season　closes；　and　let　him
marry　you　at　once。　　My　brother；　if　living；　will　wish。to　go
back　to　his　vessel；　and　then　the　child　will　have　no　pro…
tector。　　Mabel；　your　husband　will　have　been　my　friend；
and　that　will　be　some　consolation　to　you；　I　hope。〃

〃Trust　this　matter　to　me；　Sergeant；〃　put　in　Pathfinder；
〃leave　it　all　in　my　hands　as　your　dying　request；　and；　de…
pend　on　it；　all　will　go　as　it　should。〃

〃I　do；　I　do　put　all　confidence　in　you；　my　trusty　friend；
and　empower　you　to　act　as　I　could　act　myself　in　every
particular。　　Mabel；　child；　　hand　me　the　water；　　you　will
never　repent　this　night。　　Bless　you；　my　daughter！　　God
bless；　and　have　you　in　His　holy　keeping！〃

This　tenderness　was　inexpressibly　touching　to　one　of
Mabel's　feelings；　and　she　felt　at　that　moment　as　if　her
feuture　union　with　Pathfinder　had　received　a　solemnization
that　no　ceremony　of　the　Church　could　render　more　holy。
Still；　a　weight；　as　that　of　a　mountain；　lay　upon　her　heart；
and　she　thought　it　would　be　happiness　to　die。　　Then　fol…
lowed　a　short　pause；　when　the　Sergeant；　in　broken　sen…
tences；　briefly　related　what　had　passed　since　he　parted
with　Pathfinder　and　the　Delaware。　　The　wind　had　come
more　favorable；　and；　instead　of　encamping　on　an　island
agreeably　to　the　original　intention；　he　had　determined　to
continue；　and　reach　the　station　that　night。　　Their　approach
would　have　been　unseen；　and　a　portion　of　the　calamity
avoided；　he　thought；　had　they　not　grounded　on　the　point
of　a　neighboring　island；　where；　no　doubt；　the　noise　made
by　the　men　in　getting　off　the　boat　gave　notice　of　their　ap…
proach；　and　enabled　the　enemy　to　be　in　readiness　to　receive
them。　　They　had　landed　without　the　slightest　suspicion　of
danger；　though　surprised　at　not　finding　a　sentinel；　and　had
actually　left　their　arms　in　the　boat；　with　the　intention　of
first　securing　their　knapsacks　and　provisions。　　The　fire
had　been　so　close；　that；　notwithstanding　the　obscurity；　it
was　very　deadly。　　Every　man　had　fallen；　though　two　or
three　subsequently　arose　and　disappeared。　　Four　or　five　of
the　soldiers　had　been　killed；　or　so　nearly　so　as　to　survive
but　a　few　minutes；　though；　for　some　unknown　reason；　the
enemy　did　not　make　the　usual　rush　for　the　scalps。　　Ser…
geant　Dunham　fell　with　the　others；　and　he　had　heard　the
voice　of　Mabel；　as　she　rushed　from　the　blockhouse。　　This
frantic　appeal　aroused　all　his　parental　feelings；　and　had
enabled　him　to　crawl　as　far　as　the　door　of　the　building；
where　he　had　raised　himself　against　the　logs　in　the　manner
already　mentioned。

After　this　simple　explanation　was