“It was very observable,” answered Pathfinder, drawing a long breath and clenching the barrel of his rifle as if the fingers would bury themselves in the iron.

“It was more than observable —­ it was flagrant; that’s just the word, and the dictionary wouldn’t supply a better, after an hour’s search.  Well, you must know, Pathfinder, —­ for I cannot reasonably deny you the gratification of hearing this, —­ so you must know the minx bounded off in that manner in preference to hearing what I had to say in your justification.”

“And what could you find to say in my behalf, Quartermaster?”

“Why, d’ye understand, my friend, I was ruled by circumstances, and no’ ventured indiscreetly into generalities, but was preparing to meet particulars, as it might be, with particulars.  If you were thought wild, half-savage, or of a frontier formation, I could tell her, ye know, that it came of the frontier, wild and half-savage life ye’d led; and all her objections must cease at once, or there would be a sort of a misunderstanding with Providence.”

“And did you tell her this, Quartermaster?”

“I’ll no’ swear to the exact words, but the idea was prevalent in my mind, ye’ll understand.  The girl was impatient, and would not hear the half I had to say; but away she skipped, as ye saw with your own eyes, Pathfinder, as if her opinion were fully made up, and she cared to listen no longer.  I fear her mind may be said to have come to its conclusion?”

“I fear it has indeed, Quartermaster, and her father, after all, is mistaken.  Yes, yes; the Sergeant has fallen into a grievous error.”

“Well, man, why need ye lament, and undo all the grand reputation ye’ve been so many weary years making?  Shoulder the rifle that ye use so well, and off into the woods with ye, for there’s not the female breathing that is worth a heavy heart for a minute, as I know from experience.  Tak’ the word of one who knows the sax, and has had two wives, that women, after all, are very much the sort of creatures we do not imagine them to be.  Now, if you would really mortify Mabel, here is as glorious an occasion as any rejected lover could desire.”

“The last wish I have, Lieutenant, would be to mortify Mabel.”

“Well, ye’ll come to that in the end, notwithstanding; for it’s human nature to desire to give unpleasant feelings to them that give unpleasant feelings to us.  But a better occasion never offered to make your friends love you, than is to be had at this very moment, and that is the certain means of causing one’s enemies to envy us.”

“Quartermaster, Mabel is not my inimy; and if she was, the last thing I could desire would be to give her an uneasy moment.”

“Ye say so, Pathfinder, ye say so, and I daresay ye think so; but reason and nature are both against you, as ye’ll find in the end.  Ye’ve heard the saying ‘love me, love my dog:’  well, now, that means, read backwards, ‘don’t love me, don’t love my dog.’  Now, listen to what is in your power to do.  You know we occupy an exceedingly precarious and uncertain position here, almost in the jaws of the lion, as it were?”