“You must have read a great deal, Pathfinder, to see things so clear as this,” returned Cap, not a little mystified by his companion’s simple creed.  “It’s all as plain as day to me now, though I must say I never fell in with these opinions before.  What denomination do you belong to, my friend?”

“Anan?”

“What sect do you hold out for?  What particular church do you fetch up in?”

“Look about you, and judge for yourself.  I’m in church now; I eat in church, drink in church, sleep in church.  The ’arth is the temple of the Lord, and I wait on Him hourly, daily, without ceasing, I humbly hope.  No, no, I’ll not deny my blood and color; but am Christian born, and shall die in the same faith.  The Moravians tried me hard; and one of the King’s chaplains has had his say too, though that’s a class no ways strenuous on such matters; and a missionary sent from Rome talked much with me, as I guided him through the forest, during the last peace; but I’ve had one answer for them all —­ I’m a Christian already, and want to be neither Moravian, nor Churchman, nor Papist.  No, no, I’ll not deny my birth and blood.”

“I think a word from you might lighten the Sergeant over the shoals of death, Master Pathfinder.  He has no one with him but poor Mabel; and she, you know, besides being his daughter, is but a girl and a child after all.”

“Mabel is feeble in body, friend Cap; but in matters of this natur’ I doubt if she may not be stronger than most men.  But Sergeant Dunham is my friend, and he is your brother-in-law; so, now the press of fighting and maintaining our rights is over, it is fitting we should both go and witness his departure.  I’ve stood by many a dying man, Master Cap,” continued Pathfinder, who had a besetting propensity to enlarge on his experience, stopping and holding his companion by a button, —­ “I’ve stood by many a dying man’s side, and seen his last gasp, and heard his last breath; for, when the hurry and tumult of the battle is over, it is good to bethink us of the misfortunate, and it is remarkable to witness how differently human natur’ feels at such solemn moments.  Some go their way as stupid and ignorant as if God had never given them reason and an accountable state; while others quit us rejoicing, like men who leave heavy burthens behind them.  I think that the mind sees clearly at such moments, my friend, and that past deeds stand thick before the recollection.”

“I’ll engage they do, Pathfinder.  I have witnessed something of this myself, and hope I’m the better man for it.  I remember once that I thought my own time had come, and the log was overhauled with a diligence I did not think myself capable of until that moment.  I’ve not been a very great sinner, friend Pathfinder; that is to say, never on a large scale; though I daresay, if the truth were spoken, a considerable amount of small matters might be raked up against me, as well as against another man; but then, I’ve never committed piracy, nor high treason, nor arson, nor any of them sort of things.  As to smuggling, and the like of that, why, I’m a seafaring man, and I suppose all callings have their weak spots.  I daresay your trade is not altogether without blemish, honorable and useful as it seems to be?”