“That is not the course I advise.  I don’t know by which channel the Sergeant will come, and there are twenty; rely on it, the Sarpent will be winding his way through them all.  No, no! my advice is to remain here.  The logs of this blockhouse are still green, and it will not be easy to set them on fire; and I can make good the place, bating a burning, ag’in a tribe.  The Iroquois nation cannot dislodge me from this fortress, so long as we can keep the flames off it.  The Sergeant is now ’camped on some island, and will not come in until morning.  If we hold the block, we can give him timely warning, by firing rifles, for instance; and should he determine to attack the savages, as a man of his temper will be very likely to do, the possession of this building will be of great account in the affair.  No, no! my judgment says remain, if the object be to sarve the Sergeant, though escape for our two selves will be no very difficult matter.”

“Stay,” murmured Mabel, “stay, for God’s sake, Pathfinder!  Anything, everything to save my father!”

“Yes, that is natur’.  I am glad to hear you say this, Mabel, for I own a wish to see the Sergeant fairly supported.  As the matter now stands, he has gained himself credit; and, could he once drive off these miscreants, and make an honorable retreat, laying the huts and block in ashes, no doubt, Lundie would remember it and sarve him accordingly.  Yes, yes, Mabel, we must not only save the Sergeant’s life, but we must save his reputation.”

“No blame can rest on my father on account of the surprise of this island.”

“There’s no telling, there’s no telling; military glory is a most unsartain thing.  I’ve seen the Delawares routed, when they desarved more credit than at other times when they’ve carried the day.  A man is wrong to set his head on success of any sort, and worst of all on success in war.  I know little of the settlements, or of the notions that men hold in them; but up hereaway even the Indians rate a warrior’s character according to his luck.  The principal thing with a soldier is never to be whipt; nor do I think mankind stops long to consider how the day was won or lost.  For my part, Mabel, I make it a rule when facing the inimy to give him as good as I can send, and to try to be moderate after a defeat, little need be said on that score, as a flogging is one of the most humbling things in natur’.  The parsons preach about humility in the garrison; but if humility would make Christians, the king’s troops ought to be saints, for they’ve done little as yet this war but take lessons from the French, beginning at Fort du Quesne and ending at Ty.”

“My father could not have suspected that the position of the island was known to the enemy,” resumed Mabel, whose thoughts were running on the probable effect of the recent events on the Sergeant.

“That is true; nor do I well see how the Frenchers found it out.  The spot is well chosen, and it is not an easy matter, even for one who has travelled the road to and from it, to find it again.  There has been treachery, I fear; yes, yes, there must have been treachery.”