the pathfinder-第23章

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stantly　told　the　young　Iroquois　that　he　was　alone　with
enemies。　　Dashing　the　water　aside；　he　sprang　at　the　throat
of　Chingachgook；　and　the　two　Indians；　relinquishing　their
hold　of　the　canoe；　seized　each　other　like　tigers。　　In　the
midst　of　the　darkness　of　that　gloomy　night；　and　floating
in　an　element　so　dangerous　to　man　when　engaged　in　deadly
strife；　they　appeared　to　forget　everything　but　their　fell
animosity　and　their　mutual　desire　to　conquer。

Jasper　had　now　complete　command　of　the　canoe；　which
flew　off　like　a　feather　impelled　by　the　breath　under　the　vio…
lent　reaction　of　the　struggles　of　the　two　combatants。　　The
first　impulse　of　the　youth　was　to　swim　to　the　aid　of　the
Delaware；　but　the　importance　of　securing　the　boat　presented
itself　with　tenfold　force；　while　he　listened　to　the　heavy
breathings　of　the　warriors　as　they　throttled　each　other；
and　he　proceeded　as　fast　as　possible　towards　the　western
shore。　　This　he　soon　reached；　and　after　a　short　search　he
succeeded　in　discovering　the　remainder　of　the　party　and
in　procuring　his　clothes。　　A　few　words　sufficed　to　explain
the　situation　in　which　he　had　left　the　Delaware　and　the
manner　in　which　the　canoe　had　been　obtained。

When　those　who　had　been　left　behind　had　heard　the
explanations　of　Jasper；　a　profound　stillness　reigned　among
them；　each　listening　intently　in　the　vain　hope　of　catching
some　clue　to　the　result　of　the　fearful　struggle　that　had
just　taken　place；　if　it　were　not　still　going　on　in　the　water。
Nothing　was　audible　beyond　the　steady　roar　of　the　rush…
ing　river；　it　being　a　part　of　the　policy　of　their　enemies　on
the　opposite　shore　to　observe　the　most　deathlike　stillness。

〃Take　this　paddle；　Jasper；〃　said　Pathfinder　calmly；
though　the　listeners　thought　his　voice　sounded　more　mel…
ancholy　than　usual；　〃and　follow　with　your　own　canoe。　　It
is　unsafe　for　us　to　remain　here　longer。〃

〃But　the　Serpent？〃

〃The　Great　Sarpent　is　in　the　hands　of　his　own　Deity；
and　will　live　or　die；　according　to　the　intentions　of　Provi…
dence。　　We　can　do　him　no　good；　and　may　risk　too　much
by　remaining　here　in　idleness；　like　women　talking　over
their　distresses。　　This　darkness　is　very　precious。〃

A　loud；　long；　piercing　yell　came　from　the　shore；　and　cut
short　the　words　of　the　guide。

〃What　is　the　meaning　of　that　uproar；　Master　Path…
finder？〃　demanded　Cap。　　〃It　sounds　more　like　the　out…
cries　of　devils　than　anything　that　can　come　from　the
throats　of　Christians　and　men。〃

〃Christians　they　are　not；　and　do　not　pretend　to　be；　and
do　not　wish　to　be；　and　in　calling　them　devils　you　have
scarcely　misnamed　them。　　That　yell　is　one　of　rejoicing；
and　it　is　as　conquerors　they　have　given　it。　　The　body　of
tbe　Sarpent；　no　doubt；　dead　or　alive；　is　in　their　power。

〃And　we！〃　exclaimed　Jasper；　who　felt　a　pang　of　gen…
erous　regret；　as　the　idea　that　he　might　have　averted　the
calamity　presented　itself　to　his　mind；　had　he　not　deserted
his　comrade。

〃We　can　do　the　chief　no　good；　lad；　and　must　quit　this
spot　as　fast　as　possible。〃

〃Without　one　attempt　to　rescue　him？　　without　even
knowing　whether　he　be　dead　or　living？〃

〃Jasper　is　right；〃　said　Mabel；　who　could　speak；　though
her　voice　sounded　huskily　and　smothered；　〃I　have　no
fears；　uncle；　and　will　stay　here　until　we　know　what　has
become　of　our　friend。〃

〃This　seems　reasonable；　Pathfinder；〃　put　in　Cap。　　〃Your
true　seaman　cannot　well　desert　a　messmate；　and　I　am
glad　to　find　that　motives　so　correct　exist　among　those
fresh…water　people。〃

〃Tut！　tut！〃　returned　the　impatient　guide；　forcing　the
canoe　into　the　stream　as　he　spoke；　〃ye　know　nothing　and
ye　fear　nothing。　　If　ye　value　your　lives；　think　of　reaching
the　garrison；　and　leave　the　Delaware　in　the　hands　of
Providence。　　Ah's　me！　the　deer　that　goes　too　often　to　the
lick　meets　the　hunter　at　last！〃



CHAPTER　VII。

And　is　this　　Yarrow？　　this　the　stream
　　　Of　which　my　fancy　cherish'd
So　faithfully　a　waking　dream？
　　　An　image　that　hath　perish'd？
Oh　that　some　minstrel's　harp　were　near；
　　　To　utter　notes　of　gladness；
And　chase　this　silence　from　the　air；
　　　That　fills　my　heart　with　sadness。
WORDSWORTH。


THE　scene　was　not　without　its　sublimity；　and　the　ardent；
generous…minded　Mabel　felt　her　blood　thrill　in　her　veins
and　her　cheeks　flush；　as　the　canoe　shot　into　the　strength
of　the　stream；　to　quit　the　spot。　　The　darkness　of　the　night
had　lessened；　by　the　dispersion　of　the　clouds；　but　the
overhanging　woods　rendered　the　shore　so　obscure；　that　the
boats　floated　down　the　current　in　a　belt　of　gloom　that　ef…
fectually　secured　them　from　detection。　　Still；　there　was
necessarily　a　strong　feeling　of　insecurity　in　all　on　board
them；　and　even　Jasper；　who　by　this　time　began　to　tremble；
in　behalf　of　the　girl；　at　every　unusual　sound　that　arose
from　the　forest；　kept　casting　uneasy　glances　around　him
as　he　drifted　on　in　company。　　The　paddle　was　used　lightly；
and　only　with　exceeding　care；　for　the　slightest　sound　in
the　breathing　stillness　of　that　hour　and　place　might　ap…
prise　the　watchful　ears　of　the　Iroquois　of　their　position。

All　these　accessories　added　to　the　impressive　grandeur
of　her　situation；　and　contributed　to　render　the　moment
much　the　most　exciting　which　had　ever　occurred　in　the
brief　existence　of　Mabel　Dunham。　　Spirited；　accustomed
to　self…reliance；　and　sustained　by　the　pride　of　considering
herself　a　soldier's　daughter；　she　could　hardly　be　said　to　be
under　the　influence　of　fear；　yet　her　heart　often　beat　quicker
than　common；　her　fine　blue　eye　lighted　with　an　exhibition
of　a　resolution　that　was　wasted　in　the　darkness；　and　her
quickened　feelings　came　in　aid　of　the　real　sublimity　that
belonged　to　the　scene　and　to　the　incidents　of　the　night。

〃Mabel！〃　said　the　suppressed　voice　of　Jasper；　as　the
two　canoes　floated　so　near　each　other　that　the　hand　of　the
young　man　held　them　together；　〃you　have　no　dread？　you
trust　freely　to　our　care　and　willingness　to　protect　you？〃

〃I　am　a　soldier's　daughter；　as　you　know；　Jasper　Western；
and　ought　to　be　ashamed　to　confess　fear。〃

〃Rely　on　me　　on　us　all。　　Your　uncle；　Pathfinder；　the
Delaware；　were　the　poor　fellow　here；　I　myself；　will　risk
everything　rather　than　harm　should　reach　you。〃

〃I　believe　you；　Jasper；〃　returned　the　girl；　her　hand　un…
consciously　playing　in　the　water。　　〃I　know　that　my　uncle
loves　me；　and　will　never　think　of　himself　until　he　has　first
thought　of　me；　and　I　believe　you　are　all　my　father's
friends；　and　would　willingly　assist　his　child。　　But　I　am
not　so　feeble　and　weak…minded　as　you　may　think；　for；
though　only　a　girl　from　the　towns；　and；　like　most　of　that
class；　a　little　disposed　to　see　danger　where　there　is　none；　I
promise　you；　Jasper；　no　foolish　fears　of　mine　shall　stand
in　the　way　of　your　doing　your　duty。〃

〃The　Sergeant's　daughter　is　right；　and　she　is　worthy　of
being　honest　Thomas　Dunham's　child；〃　put　in　the　Path…
finder。　　〃Ah's　me；　pretty　one！　many　is　the　time　that　your
father　and　I　have　scouted　and　marched　together　on　the
flanks　and　rear　of　the　enemy；　in　nights　darker　than　this；
and　that；　too；　when　we　did　not　know　but　the　next　momemt
would　lead　us　into　a　bloody　ambushment。　　I　was　at　his
side　when　he　got　the　wound　in　his　shoulder；　and　the
honest　fellow　will　tell　you；　when　you　meet；　the　manner　in
which　we　contrived　to　cross　the　river　which　lay　in　our　rear；
in　order　to　save　his　scalp。〃

〃He　has　told　me；〃　said　Mabel；　with　more　energy　perhaps
than　her　situation　rendered　prudent。　　〃I　have　his　letters；
in　which　he　has　mentioned　all　that；　and　I　thank　you　from
the　bottom　of　my　heart　for　the　service。　　God　will　remem…
ber　it；　Pathfinder；　and　there　is　no　gratitude　that　you　can
ask　of　the　daughter　which　she　will　not　cheerfully　repay
for　her　father's　life。〃

〃Ay；　that　is　the　way　with　all　your　gentle　and　pure…
hearted　creatures。　　I　have　seen　some　of　you　before；　and
have　heard　of　others。　　The　Sergeant　himself　has　talked　to
me　of　his　own　young　days；　and　of　your　mother；　and　of　the
manner　in　which　he　courted　her；　and　of　all　the　crossings
and　disappointments；　until　he　succeeded　at　last。〃

〃My　mother　did　not　live　long　to　repay　him　for　what
he　did　to　win　her；〃　said　Mabel；　with　a　trembling　lip。

〃So　he　tells　me。　　The　honest　Sergeant　has　kept　nothing
bac