“All your wives, Quartermaster, have been likely to feel this consolation.”

“Out upon ye, man!  I’d no’ thought ye such a wag.  Well, well; pleasant words make no heart-burnings between auld fri’nds.  If I cannot espouse Mabel, ye’ll no object to my esteeming her, and speaking well of her, and of yoursal’, too, on all suitable occasions and in all companies.  But, Pathfinder, ye’ll easily understan’ that a poor deevil who loses such a bride will probably stand in need of some consolation?”

“Quite likely, quite likely, Quartermaster,” returned the simple-minded guide; “I know the loss of Mabel would be found heavy to be borne by myself.  It may bear hard on your feelings to see us married; but the death of the Sergeant will be likely to put it off, and you’ll have time to think more manfully of it, you will.”

“I’ll bear up against it; yes, I’ll bear up against it, though my heart-strings crack!  And ye might help me, man, by giving me something to do.  Ye’ll understand that this expedition has been of a very peculiar nature; for here am I, bearing the king’s commission, just a volunteer, as it might be; while a mere orderly has had the command.  I’ve submitted for various reasons, though my blood has boiled to be in authority, while ye war’ battling, for the honor of the country and his Majesty’s rights —­ "

“Quartermaster,” interrupted the guide, “you fell so early into the enemy’s hands that your conscience ought to be easily satisfied on that score; so take my advice, and say nothing about it.”

“That’s just my opinion, Pathfinder; we’ll all say nothing about it.  Sergeant Dunham is hors de combat —­ "

“Anan?” said the guide.

“Why, the Sergeant can command no longer, and it will hardly do to leave a corporal at the head of a victorious party like this; for flowers that will bloom in a garden will die on a heath; and I was just thinking I would claim the authority that belongs to one who holds a lieutenant’s commission.  As for the men, they’ll no dare to raise any objaction; and as for yoursal’, my dear friend, now that ye’ve so much honor, and Mabel, and the consciousness of having done yer duty, which is more precious than all, I expect to find an ally rather than one to oppose the plan.”

“As for commanding the soldiers of the 55th, Lieutenant, it is your right, I suppose, and no one here will be likely to gainsay it; though you’ve been a prisoner of war, and there are men who might stand out ag’in giving up their authority to a prisoner released by their own deeds.  Still no one here will be likely to say anything hostile to your wishes.”

“That’s just it, Pathfinder; and when I come to draw up the report of our success against the boats, and the defence of the block, together with the general operations, including the capitulation, ye’ll no’ find any omission of your claims and merits.”

“Tut for my claims and merits, Quartermaster!  Lundie knows what I am in the forest and what I am in the fort; and the General knows better than he.  No fear of me; tell your own story, only taking care to do justice by Mabel’s father, who, in one sense, is the commanding officer at this very moment.”