the pathfinder-第123章

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versed；　Pathfinder　sounding　the　state　of　the　woman's　feel…
ings；　but　the　interviews　were　short；　and　far　from　frequent。
June　slept　in　one　of　the　huts；　and　she　laid　down　her　head
in　security；　for　she　was　conscious　of　the　protection　of　a
friend；　though　Pathfinder　invariably　retired　at　night　to　an
adjacent　island；　where　he　had　built　himself　a　hut。

At　the　end　of　the　month；　however；　the　season　was　getting
to　be　too　far　advanced　to　render　her　situation　pleasant　to
June。　　The　trees　had　lost　their　leaves；　and　the　nights　were
becoming　cold　and　wintry。　　It　was　time　to　depart。

At　this　moment　Chingachgook　reappeared。　　He　had　a
long　and　confidential　interview　on　the　island　with　his
friend。　　June　witnessed　their　movements；　and　she　saw　that
her　guardian　was　distressed。　　Stealing　to　his　side；　she　en…
deavored　to　soothe　his　sorrow　with　a　woman's　gentleness
and　with　a　woman's　instinct。

〃Thank　you；　June；　thank　you！〃　he　said；　〃'tis　well
meant；　though　it's　useless。　　But　it　is　time　to　quit　this
place。　　To…morrow　we　shall　depart。　　You　will　go　with　us；
for　now　you've　got　to　feel　reason。〃

June　assented　in　the　meek　manner　of　an　Indian　woman；
and　she　withdrew　to　pass　the　remainder　of　her　time　near
the　grave　of　Arrowhead。　　Regardless　of　the　hour　and　the
season；　the　young　widow　did　not　pillow　her　head　during
the　whole　of　that　autumnal　night。　　She　sat　near　the　spot
that　held　the　remains　of　her　husband；　and　prayed；　in　the
manner　of　her　people；　for　his　success　on　the　endless　path
on　which　he　had　so　lately　gone；　and　for　their　reunion　in
the　land　of　the　just。　　Humble　and　degraded　as　she　would
have　seemed　in　the　eyes　of　the　sophisticated　and　unreflect…
ing；　the　image　of　God　was　on　her　soul；　and　it　vindicated
its　divine　origin　by　aspirations　and　feelings　that　would
have　surprised　those　who；　feigning　more；　feel　less。

In　the　morning　the　three　departed；　Pathfinder　earnest
and　intelligent　in　all　he　did；　the　Great　Serpent　silent　and
imitative；　and　June　meek；　resigned；　but　sorrowful。　　They
went　in　two　canoes；　that　of　the　woman　being　abandoned：
Chingachgook　led　the　way；　and　Pathfinder　followed；　the
course　being　up　stream。　　Two　days　they　paddled　westward；
and　as　many　nights　they　encamped　on　islands。　　Fortu…
nately　the　weather　became　mild；　and　when　they　reached
the　lake　it　was　found　smooth　and　glassy　as　a　pond。　　It　was
the　Indian　summer；　and　the　calms；　and　almost　the　bland…
ness　of　June；　slept　in　the　hazy　atmosphere。

On　the　morning　of　the　third　day　they　passed　the　mouth
of　the　Oswego；　where　the　fort　and　the　sleeping　ensign　in…
vited　them　in　vain　to　enter。　　Without　casting　a　look　aside；
Chingachgook　paddled　past　the　dark　waters　of　the　river；
and　Pathfinder　still　followed　in　silent　industry。　　The
ramparts　were　crowded　with　spectators；　but　Lundie；　who
knew　the　persons　of　his　old　friends；　refused　to　allow　them
to　be　even　hailed。

It　was　noon　when　Chingachgook　entered　a　little　bay
where　the　_Scud_　lay　at　anchor；　in　a　sort　of　roadstead。　　A
small　ancient　clearing　was　on　the　shore；　and　near　the
margin　of　the　lake　was　a　log　dwelling；　recently　and　com…
pletely；　though　rudely　fitted　up。　　There　was　an　air　of　fron…
tier　comfort　and　of　frontier　abundance　around　the　place；
though　it　was　necessarily　wild　and　solitary。　　Jasper　stood
on　the　shore；　and　when　Pathfinder　landed；　he　was　the
first　to　take　him　by　the　hand。　　The　meeting　was　simple；
but　very　cordial。　　No　questions　were　asked；　it　being　ap…
parent　that　Chingachgook　had　made　the　necessary　expla…
nantions。　　Pathfinder　never　squeezed　his　friend's　hand
more　cordially　than　in　this　interview；　and　he　even　laughed
cordially　in　his　face　as　he　told　him　how　happy　and　well　he
appeared。

〃Where　is　she；　Jasper？　where　is　she？〃　the　guide　at
length　whispered；　for　at　first　he　had　seemed　to　be　afraid
to　trust　himself　with　the　question。

〃She　is　waiting　for　us　in　the　house；　my　dear　friend；
where　you　see　that　June　has　already　hastened　before　us。〃

〃June　may　use　a　lighter　step　to　meet　Mabel；　but　she　can…
not　carry　a　lighter　heart。　　And　so；　lad；　you　found　the　chap…
lain　at　the　garrison；　and　all　was　soon　settled？〃

〃We　were　married　within　a　week　after　we　left　you；　and
Master　Cap　departed　next　day。　　You　have　forgotten　to　in…
quire　about　your　friend　Saltwater。〃

〃Not　I；　not　I；　the　Sarpent　has　told　me　all　that：　and
then　I　love　to　hear　so　much　of　Mabel　and　her　happiness；
I　do。　　Did　the　child　smile　or　did　she　weep　when　the　cere…
mony　was　over？〃

〃She　did　both；　my　friend；　but　　〃

〃Yes；　that's　their　natur'；　tearful　and　cheerful。　　Ah's
me！　they　are　very　pleasant　to　us　of　the　woods；　and　I　do
believe　I　should　think　all　right；　whatever　Mabel　might　do。
And　do　you　think；　Jasper；　that　she　thought　of　me　at　all
on　that　joyful　occasion？〃

〃I　know　she　did；　Pathfinder；　and　she　thinks　of　you　and
talks　of　you　daily；　almost　hourly。　　None　love　you　as　we
do。〃

〃I　know　few　love　me　better　than　yourself；　Jasper：
Chingachgook　is　perhaps；　now；　the　only　creatur'　of　whom
I　can　say　that。　　Well；　there's　no　use　in　putting　it　off　any
longer；　it　must　be　done；　and　may　as　well　be　done　at　once；
so；　Jasper；　lead　the　way；　and　I'll　endivor　to　look　upon　her
sweet　countenance　once　more。〃

Jasper　did　lead　the　way；　and　they　were　soon　in　the　pres…
ence　of　Mabel。　　The　latter　met　her　late　suitor　with　a　bright
blush；　and　her　limbs　trembled　so；　she　could　hardly　stand；
still　her　manner　was　affectionate　and　frank。　　During　the
hour　of　Pathfinder's　visit　（for　it　lasted　no　longer；　though
he　ate　in　the　dwelling　of　his　friends）；　one　who　was　expert
in　tracing　the　working　of　the　human　mind　might　have　seen
a　faithful　index　to　the　feelings　of　Mabel　in　her　manner　to
Pathfinder　and　her　husband。　　With　the　latter　she　still　had
a　little　of　the　reserve　that　usually　accompanies　young　wed…
lock；　but　the　tones　of　her　voice　were　kinder　even　than
common；　the　glance　of　her　eye　was　tender；　and　she　sel…
dom　looked　at　him　without　the　glow　that　tinged　her　cheeks
betraying　the　existence　of　feelings　that　habit　and　time　had
not　yet　soothed　into　absolute　tranquillity。　　With　Path…
finder；　all　was　earnest；　sincere；　even　anxious；　but　the　tones
never　trembled；　the　eye　never　fell；　and　if　the　cheek　flushed；
it　was　with　the　emotions　that　are　connected　with　concern。

At　length　the　moment　came　when　Pathfinder　must　go
his　way。　　Chingachgook　had　already　abandoned　the　canoes；
and　was　posted　on　the　margin　of　the　woods；　where　a　path
led　into　the　forest。　　Here　he　calmly　waited　to　be　joined
by　his　friend。　　As　soon　as　the　latter　was　aware　of　this　fact；
he　rose　in　a　solemn　manner　and　took　his　leave。

〃I've　sometimes　thought　that　my　own　fate　has　been　a
little　hard；〃　he　said；　〃but　that　of　this　woman；　Mabel；　has
shamed　me　into　reason。〃

〃June　remains；　and　lives　with　me；〃　eagerly　interrupted
our　heroine。

〃So　I　comprehend　it。　　If　anybody　can　bring　her　back
from　her　grief；　and　make　her　wish　to　live；　you　can　do　it；
Mabel；　though　I've　misgivings　about　even　your　success。
The　poor　creatur'　is　without　a　tribe；　as　well　as　without　a
husband；　and　it's　not　easy　to　reconcile　the　feelings　to　both
losses。　　Ah's　me！　　what　have　I　to　do　with　other　people's
miseries　and　marriages；　as　if　I　hadn't　affliction　enough　of
my　own？　　Don't　speak　to　me；　Mabel；　　don't　speak　to　me；
Jasper；　　let　me　go　my　way　in　peace；　and　like　a　man。　　I've
seen　your　happiness；　and　that　is　a　great　deal；　and　I　shall
be　able　to　bear　my　own　sorrow　all　the　better　for　it。　　No；
…　I'll　never　kiss　you　ag'in；　Mabel；　I'll　never　kiss　you　ag'in。
Here's　my　hand；　Jasper；　　squeeze　it；　boy；　squeeze　it；　no
fear　of　its　giving　way；　for　it's　the　hand　of　a　man；　　and
now；　Mabel；　do　you　take　it；　　nay；　you　must　not　do　this；〃
…　preventing　Mabel　from　kissing　it　and　bathing　it　in　her
tears；　　〃you　must　not　do　this　　〃

〃Pathfinder；〃　asked　Mabel；　〃when　shall　we　see　you
again？〃

〃I've　thought　of　that；　too；　yes；　I've　thought　of　that；　I
have。　　If　the　time　should　ever　come　when　I　can　look　upon
you　altogether　as　a　sister；　Mabel；　or　a　child；　　it　might　be
better　to　say　a　child；　since　you're　young　enough　to　be　my
daughter；　　depend　on　it　I'll　come　back；　for　it　would
lighten　my　very　heart　to　witness　your　gladness。　　But　if　I
cannot；　　farewell　　farewell；　　the　Sergeant　was　wrong；