“She is here!” exclaimed the girl herself, who had mounted to the roof the moment she found the direction things were taking, —­ “she is here!  And, in the name of our holy religion, and of that God whom we profess to worship in common, let there be no more bloodshed!  Enough has been spilt already; and if these men will go away, Pathfinder —­ if they will depart peaceably, Jasper —­ oh, do not detain one of them!  My poor father is approaching his end, and it were better that he should draw his last breath in peace with the world.  Go, go, Frenchmen and Indians!  We are no longer your enemies, and will harm none of you.”

“Tut, tut, Magnet!” put in Cap; “this sounds religious, perhaps, or like a book of poetry; but it does not sound like common sense.  The enemy is just ready to strike; Jasper is anchored with his broadside to bear, and, no doubt, with springs on his cables; Pathfinder’s eye and hand are as true as the needle; and we shall get prize-money, head-money, and honor in the bargain, if you will not interfere for the next half-hour.”

“Well,” said Pathfinder, “I incline to Mabel’s way of thinking.  There has been enough blood shed to answer our purpose and to sarve the king; and as for honor, in that meaning, it will do better for young ensigns and recruits than for cool-headed, obsarvant Christian men.  There is honor in doing what’s right, and unhonor in doing what’s wrong; and I think it wrong to take the life even of a Mingo, without a useful end in view, I do; and right to hear reason at all times.  So, Lieutenant Muir, let us know what your friends the Frenchers and Indians have to say for themselves.”

“My friends!” said Muir, starting; “you’ll no’ be calling the king’s enemies my friends, Pathfinder, because the fortune of war has thrown me into their hands?  Some of the greatest warriors, both of ancient and modern times, have been prisoners of war; and yon is Master Cap, who can testify whether we did not do all that men could devise to escape the calamity.”

“Ay, ay,” drily answered Cap; “escape is the proper word.  We ran below and hid ourselves, and so discreetly, that we might have remained in the hole to this hour, had it not been for the necessity of re-stowing the bread lockers.  You burrowed on that occasion, Quartermaster, as handily as a fox; and how the d—–­l you knew so well where to find the spot is a matter of wonder to me.  A regular skulk on board ship does not trail aft more readily when the jib is to be stowed, than you went into that same hole.”

“And did ye no’ follow?  There are moments in a man’s life when reason ascends to instinct —­ "

“And men descend into holes,” interrupted Cap, laughing in his boisterous way, while Pathfinder chimed in, in his peculiar manner.  Even Jasper, though still filled with concern for Mabel, was obliged to smile.  “They say the d—–­l wouldn’t make a sailor if he didn’t look aloft; and now it seems he’ll not make a soldier if he doesn’t look below!”