the pathfinder-第69章

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The　guide　laughed；　promised　to　have　a　care　of　Mabel；
and　in　a　few　minutes　the　father　had　ascended　a　steep　ac…
clivity　and　disappeared　in　the　forest。　　The　others　took　an…
other　direction；　which；　after　a　few　minutes　of　a　sharp　as…
cent　also；　brought　them　to　a　small　naked　point　on　the
promontory；　where　the　eye　overlooked　an　extensive　and
very　peculiar　panorama。　　Here　Mabel　seated　herself　on　a
fragment　of　fallen　rock　to　recover　her　breath　and　strength；
while　her　companion；　on　whose　sinews　no　personal　exertion
seemed　to　make　any　impression；　stood　at　her　side；　leaning
in　his　own　and　not　ungraceful　manner　on　his　long　rifle。
Several　minutes　passed；　and　neither　spoke；　Mabel；　in　par…
ticular；　being　lost　in　admiration　of　the　view。

The　position　the　two　had　obtained　was　sufficiently　ele…
vated　to　command　a　wide　reach　of　the　lake；　which　stretched
away　towards　the　north…east　in　a　boundless　sheet；　glitter…
ing　beneath　the　rays　of　an　afternoon's　sun；　and　yet　betray…
ing　the　remains　of　that　agitation　which　it　had　endured
while　tossed　by　the　late　tempest。　　The　land　set　bounds　to
its　limits　in　a　huge　crescent；　disappearing　in　distance　to…
wards　the　south…east　and　the　north。　　Far　as　the　eye　could
reach；　nothing　but　forest　was　visible；　not　even　a　solitary
sign　of　civilization　breaking　in　upon　the　uniform　and
grand　magnificence　of　nature。　　The　gale　had　driven　the
_Scud_　beyond　the　line　of　those　forts　with　which　the　French
were　then　endeavoring　to　gird　the　English　North　Ameri…
can　possessions；　for；　following　the　channels　of　communi…
cation　between　the　great　lakes；　their　posts　were　on　the
banks　of　the　Niagara；　while　our　adventurers　had　reached
a　point　many　leagues　westward　of　that　celebrated　strait。
The　cutter　rode　at　single　anchor；　without　the　breakers；　re…
sembling　some　well…imagined　and　accurately…executed　toy；
intended　rather　for　a　glass　case　than　for　struggles　with
the　elements　which　she　had　so　lately　gone　through；　while
the　canoe　lay　on　the　narrow　beach；　just　out　of　reach　of
the　waves　that　came　booming　upon　the　land；　a　speck　upon
the　shingles。

〃We　are　very　far　here　from　human　habitations！〃　ex…
claimed　Mabel；　when；　after　a　long　survey　of　the　scene；　its
principal　peculiarities　forced　themselves　on　her　active　and
ever　brilliant　imagination；　〃this　is　indeed　being　on　a
frontier。〃

〃Have　they　more　sightly　scenes　than　this　nearer　the　sea
and　around　their　large　towns？〃　demanded　Pathfinder；　with
an　interest　he　was　apt　to　discover　in　such　a　subject。

〃I　will　not　say　that：　there　is　more　to　remind　one　of　his
fellow…beings　there　than　here；　less；　perhaps；　to　remind　one
of　God。〃

〃Ay；　Mabel；　that　is　what　my　own　feelings　say。　　I　am　but
a　poor　hunter；　I　know；　untaught　and　unlarned；　but　God
is　as　near　me；　in　this　my　home；　as　he　is　near　the　king　in
his　royal　palace。〃

〃Who　can　doubt　it？〃　returned　Mabel；　looking　from　the
view　up　into　the　hard…featured　but　honest　face　of　her　com…
panion；　though　not　without　surprise　at　the　energy　of　his
manner。　　〃One　feels　nearer　to　God　in　such　a　spot；　I　think；
than　when　the　mind　is　distracted　by　the　objects　of　the
towns。〃

〃You　say　all　I　wish　to　say　myself；　Mabel；　but　in　so　much
plainer　speech；　that　you　make　me　ashamed　of　wishing　to
let　others　know　what　I　feel　on　such　matters。　　I　have　coasted
this　lake　in　search　of　skins　afore　the　war；　and　have　been
here　already；　not　at　this　very　spot；　for　we　landed　yonder；
where　you　may　see　the　blasted　oak　that　stands　above　the
cluster　of　hemlocks　　〃

〃How；　Pathfinder；　can　you　remember　all　these　trifles　so
accurately？〃

〃These　are　our　streets　and　houses；　our　churches　and
palaces。　　Remember　them；　indeed！　　I　once　made　an　ap…
pointment　with　the　Big　Sarpent；　to　meet　at　twelve　o'clock
at　noon；　near　the　foot　of　a　certain　pine；　at　the　end　of　six
months；　when　neither　of　us　was　within　three　hundred　miles
of　the　spot。　　The　tree　stood；　and　stands　still；　unless　the
judgment　of　Providence　has　lighted　on　that　too；　in　the
midst　of　the　forest；　fifty　miles　from　any　settlement；　but　in
a　most　extraordinary　neighborhood　for　beaver。〃

〃And　did　you　meet　at　that　very　spot　and　hour？〃

〃Does　the　sun　rise　and　set？　　When　I　reached　the　tree；
I　found　the　Sarpent　leaning　against　its　trunk　with　torn
leggings　and　muddied　moecassins。　　The　Delaware　had　got
into　a　swamp；　and　it　worried　him　not　a　little　to　find　his
way　out　of　it；　but　as　the　sun　which　comes　over　the　eastern
hills　in　the　morning　goes　down　behind　the　western　at
night；　so　was　he　true　to　time　and　place。　　No　fear　of　Chin…
gachgook　when　there　is　either　a　friend　or　an　enemy　in　the
case。　　He　is　equally　sartain　with　each。〃

〃And　where　is　the　Delaware　now？　why　is　he　not　with
us　to…day？〃

〃He　is　scouting　on　the　Mingo　trail；　where　I　ought　to
have　been　too；　but　for　a　great　human　infirmity。〃

〃You　seem　above；　beyond；　superior　to　all　infirmity；　Path…
finder；　I　never　yet　met　with　a　man　who　appeared　to　be　so
little　liable　to　the　weaknesses　of　nature。〃

〃If　you　mean　in　the　way　of　health　and　strength；　Mabel；
Providence　has　been　kind　to　me；　though　I　fancy　the　open
air；　long　hunts；　active　scoutings；　forest　fare；　and　the　sleep
of　a　good　conscience；　may　always　keep　the　doctors　at　a　dis…
tance。　　But　I　am　human　after　all；　yes；　I　find　I'm　very
human　in　some　of　my　feelings。〃

Mabel　looked　surprised；　and　it　would　be　no　more　than
delineating　the　character　of　her　sex；　if　we　added　that　her
sweet　countenance　expressed　a　good　deal　of　curiosity；　too；
though　her　tongue　was　more　discreet。

〃There　is　something　bewitching　in　this　wild　life　of
yours；　Pathfinder；〃　she　exclaimed；　a　tinge　of　enthusiasm
mantling　her　cheeks。　　〃I　find　I'm　fast　getting　to　be　a
frontier　girl；　and　am　coming　to　love　all　this　grand　silence
of　the　woods。　　The　towns　seem　tame　to　me；　and；　as　my
father　will　probably　pass　the　remainder　of　his　days　here；
where　he　has　already　lived　so　long；　I　begin　to　feel　that　I
should　be　happy　to　continue　with　him；　and　not　to　return
to　the　sea…shore。〃

〃The　woods　are　never　silent；　Mabel；　to　such　as　under…
stand　their　meaning。　　Days　at　a　time　have　I　travelled
them　alone；　without　feeling　the　want　of　company；　and；
as　for　conversation；　for　such　as　can　comprehend　their　lan…
guage；　there　is　no　want　of　rational　and　instructive　dis…
course。〃

〃I　believe　you　are　happier　when　alone；　Pathfinder；　than
when　mingling　with　your　fellow…creatures。〃

〃I　will　not　say　that；　I　will　not　say　exactly　that。　　I　have
seen　the　time　when　I　have　thought　that　God　was　sufficient
for　me　in　the　forest；　and　that　I　have　craved　no　more　than
His　bounty　and　His　care。　　But　other　feelings　have　got
uppermost；　and　I　suppose　natur'　will　have　its　way。　　All
other　creaturs　mate；　Mabel；　and　it　was　intended　man　should
do　so　too。〃

〃And　have　you　never　bethought　you　of　seeking　a　wife；
Pathfinder；　to　share　your　fortunes？〃　inquired　the　girl；
with　the　directness　and　simplicity　that　the　pure　of　heart
and　the　undesigning　are　the　most　apt　to　manifest；　and　with
that　feeling　of　affection　which　is　inbred　in　her　sex。　　〃To
me　it　seems　you　only　want　a　home　to　return　to　from　your
wanderings　to　render　your　life　completely　happy。　　Were
I　a　man；　it　would　be　my　delight　to　roam　through　these
forests　at　will；　or　to　sail　over　this　beautiful　lake。〃

〃I　understand　you；　Mabel；　and　God　bless　you　for　think…
ing　of　the　welfare　of　men　as　humble　as　we　are。　　We　have
our　pleasures；　it　is　true；　as　well　as　our　gifts；　but　we　might
be　happier；　yes；　I　do　think　we　might　be　happier。〃

〃Happier！　in　what　way；　Pathfinder？　　In　this　pure　air；
with　these　cool　and　shaded　forests　to　wander　through；　this
lovely　lake　to　gaze　at　and　sail　upon；　with　clear　consciences；
and　abundance　for　all　their　real　wants；　men　ought　to　be
nothing　less　than　as　perfectly　happy　as　their　infirmities
will　allow。〃

〃Every　creatur'　has　its　gifts；　Mabel；　and　men　have
theirs；〃　answered　the　guide；　looking　stealthily　at　his　beau…
tiful　companion；　whose　cheeks　had　flushed　and　eyes　bright…
ened　under　the　ardor　of　feelings　excited　by　the　novelty　of
her　striking　situation；　〃and　all　must　obey　them。　　Do　you
see　yonder　pigeon　that　is　just　alightin'　on　the　beach　
here　in　a　line　with　the　fallen　chestnut？〃

〃Certainly；　it　is　the　only　thing　stirring　with　life　in　it；
be