the pathfinder-第95章
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the subject； she listened with an intentness which almost
suspended respiration。
In this manner the hours passed away unheeded； for
both were too much interested to think of rest。 Nature
asserted her rights； however； towards morning； and Mabel
was persuaded to lie down on one of the straw beds pro…
vided for the soldiers； where she soon fell into a deep sleep。
June lay near her and a quiet reigned on the whole island
as profound as if the dominion of the forest had never
been invaded by man。
When Mabel awoke the light of the sun was streaming
in through the loopholes； and she found that the day was
considerably advanced。 June still lay near her； sleeping
as tranquilly as if she reposed on we will not say
〃down；〃 for the superior civilization of our own times re…
pudiates the simile but on a French mattress； and as pro…
foundly as if she had never experienced concern。 The
movements of Mabel； notwithstanding； soon awakened one
so accustomed to vigilance； and then the two took a sur…
vey of what was passing around them by means of the
friendly apertures。
CHAPTER XXIII。
What had the Eternall Maker need of thee；
The world in his continuall course to keepe；
That doest all things deface？ ne lettest see
The beautie of his worke？ Indeede in sleepe；
The slouth full body that doth love to steepe
His lustlesse limbs； and drowne his baser mind；
Doth praise thee oft； and oft from Stygian deepe；
Calles thee his goddesse； in his errour blind；
And great dame Nature's hand…maide； chearing every kinde。
_Faerie Queene。_
The tranquillity of the previous night was not contra…
dicted by the movements of the day。 Although Mabel
and June went to every loophole； not a sign of the pres…
ence of a living being on the island was at first to be seen；
themselves excepted。 There was a smothered fire on the
spot where M'Nab and his comrades had cooked； as if the
smoke which curled upwards from it was intended as a
lure to the absent； and all around the huts had been re…
stored to former order and arrangement。 Mabel started
involuntarily when her eye at length fell on a group of
three men； dressed in the scarlet of the 55th； seated on the
grass in lounging attitudes； as if they chatted in listless
security； and her blood curdled as； on a second look； she
traced the bloodless faces and glassy eyes of the dead。
They were very near the blockhouse； so near indeed as to
have been overlooked at the first eager inquiry； and there
was a mocking levity in their postures and gestures； for
their limbs were stiffening in different attitudes； intended
to resemble life； at which the soul revolted。 Still； horri…
ble as these objects were to those near enough to discover
the frightful discrepancy between their assumed and their
real characters； the arrangement had been made with so
much art that it would have deceived a negligent observer
at the distance of a hundred yards。 After carefully ex…
amining the shores of the island； June pointed out to her
companion the fourth soldier； seated； with his feet hang…
ing over the water； his back fastened to a sapling； and
holding a fishing…rod in his hand。 The scalpless heads
were covered with the caps； and all appearance of blood
had been carefufly washed from each countenance。
Mabel sickened at this sight； which not only did so
much violence to all her notions of propriety； but which
was in itself so revolting and so opposed to natural feeling。
She withdrew to a seat； and hid her face in her apron for
several minutes； until a low call from June again drew her to
a loophole。 The latter then pointed out the body of Jen…
nie seemingly standing in the door of a hut； leaning for…
ward as if to look at the group of men； her cap fluttering
in the wind； and her hand grasping a broom。 The dis…
tance was too great to distinguish the features very accu…
rately； but Mabel fancied that the jaw had been depressed；
as if to distort the mouth into a sort of horrible laugh。
〃June！ June！〃 she exclaimed； 〃this exceeds all I have
ever heard； or imagined as possible； in the treachery and
artifices of your people。〃
〃Tuscarora very cunning；〃 said June； in a way to show
that she rather approved of than condemned the uses to
which the dead bodies had been applied。 〃Do soldier no
harm now； do Iroquois good； got the scalp first； now
make bodies work。 By and by； burn 'em。
This speech told Mabel how far she was separated from
her friend in character； and it was several minutes before
she could again address her。 But this temporary aversion
was lost on June； who set about preparing their simple
breakfast； in a way to show how insensible she was to feel…
ings in others which her own habits taught her to discard。
Mabel ate sparingly； and her companion as if nothing had
happened。 Then they had leisure again for their thoughts；
and for further surveys of the island。 Our heroine；
though devoured with a feverish desire to be always at the
loops； seldom went that she did not immediately quit them
in disgust； though compelled by her apprehensions to re…
turn again in a few minutes； called by the rustling of
leaves； or the sighing of the wind。 It was； indeed； a
solemn thing to look out upon that deserted spot； peopled
by the dead in the panoply of the living； and thrown into
the attitudes and acts of careless merriment and rude en…
joyment。 The effect on our heroine was much as if she
had found herself an observer of the revelries of demons。
Throughout the livelong day not an Indian nor a
Frenchman was to be seen； and night closed over the
frightful but silent masquerade； with the steady and unal…
terable progress with which the earth obeys her laws； in…
different to the petty actors and petty scenes that are in
daily bustle and daily occurrence on her bosom。 The
night was far more quiet than that which had preceded it；
and Mabel slept with an increasing confidence； for she
now felt satisfied that her own fate would not be decided
until the return of her father。 The following day he was
expected； however； and when our heroine awoke； she ran
eagerly to the loops in order to ascertain the state of the
weather and the aspect of the skies； as well as the condi…
tion of the island。 There lounged the fearful group on
the grass； the fisherman still hung over the water； seem…
ingly intent on his sport； and the distorted countenance
of Jennie glared from out the hut in horrible contortions。
But the weather had changed； the wind blew fresh from
the southward； and though the air was bland； it was filled
with the elements of storm。
〃This grows more and more difficult to bear； June；〃
Mabel said； when she left the window。 〃I could even
prefer to see the enemy than to look any longer on this
fearful array of the dead。〃
〃Hush！ here they come。 June thought hear a cry like
a warrior's shout when he take a scalp。〃
〃What mean you？ There is no more butchery！ there
can be no more。〃
〃Saltwater！〃 exclaimed June； laughing； as she stood
peeping through a loophole。
〃My dear uncle！ Thank God！ he then lives！ Oh；
June； June； _you_ will not let them harm _him？_〃
〃June； poor squaw。 What warrior t'ink of what she
say？ Arrowhead bring him here。〃
By this time Mabel was at a loop； and； sure enough；
there were Cap and the Quartermaster in the hands of the
Indians； eight or ten of whom were conducting them to
the foot of the block； for； by this capture； the enemy now
well knew that there could be no man in the building。
Mabel scarcely breathed until the whole party stood ranged
directly before the door； when she was rejoiced to see that
the French officer was among them。 A low conversation
followed； in which both the white leader and Arrowhead
spoke earnestly to their captives； when the Quartermaster
called out to her in a voice loud enough to be heard。
〃Pretty Mabel！ pretty Mabel！〃 said he； 〃look out of
one of the loopholes； and pity our condition。 We are
threatened with instant death uniess you open the door to
the conquerors。 Relent； then or we'll no' be wearing our
scalps half an hour from this blessed moment。〃
Mabel thought there were mockery and levity in this
appeal； and its manner
