and he who consorts with them that are not strictly and altogether of his own kind had better leave natur' and use to govern his comrades. A king's soldier will swear, and he will drink, and it is of little use to try to prevent him; a gentleman likes his delicacies and a lady her feathers, and it does not avail much to struggle agin either; whereas an Indian's natur' and gifts are much stronger than these, and no doubt were bestowed by the Lord for wise ends, though neither you nor me can follow them in all their windings.'

"What does this mean? See, the Delaware is swimming towards the body that is lodged on the rock. does he risk this?"

Why

"For honor and glory and renown, as great gentlemen quit their quiet homes beyond seas, where, as they tell me, heart has nothing left to wish for, - that is, such hearts as can be satisfied in a clearin', - to come hither to live on game and fight the Frenchers."

"I understand you; your friend has gone to secure the scalp."

"Tis his gift, and let him enjoy it. We are white men, and cannot mangle a dead enemy; but it is honor in the eyes of a redskin to do so. It may seem singular to you, Eau-douce, but I've known white men of great name and character manifest as remarkable ideas consarning their honor, I have."

"A savage will be a savage, Pathfinder, let him keep what company he may.

or to

"It is well for us to say so, lad, but, as I tell you, white honor will not always conform to reason the will of God. I have passed days thinking of them matters, out in the silent woods, and I have come to the opinion, boy, that, as Providence rules all things, no gift is bestowed without some wise and reasonable end. If Injins are of no use, Injins would not have been created; and I do suppose, could one dive to the bottom of things, it would be found that even the Mingo tribes were produced for some rational and proper purpose, though I confess it surpasses my means to say what it is.”

"The Serpent greatly exposes himself to the enemy, in order to get his scalp! This may lose us the day."

"Not in his mind, Jasper. That one scalp has more honor in it, according to the Sarpent's notions of warfare, than a field covered with slain that kept the hair on their heads. Now, there was the fine young captain of the 60th that threw away his life. in trying to bring off a three-pounder from among the Frenchers, in the last scrimmage we had; he thought he was sarving honor; and I have known a young ensign wrap himself up in his colors, and go to sleep in his blood, fancying that he was lying on something softer even than buffalo-skins!"

"Yes, yes; one can understand the merit of not hauling down an ensign."

"And these are Chingachgook's colors; he will keep them to show his children's children " Here the Pathfinder interrupted himself, shook his head in melancholy, and slowly added, "Ah 's me! no shoot of the old Mohiçan stem remains! He has no children to delight with his trophies, no tribe to honor by his deeds; he is a lone man in this world, and yet he stands true to his training and his gifts! There is something honest and respectable in these, you must allow, Jasper; yes, there is something decent in that."

Here a great outcry from among the Iroquois was succeeded by the quick reports of their rifles; and so eager did the enemy become, in the desire to drive the Delaware back from his victim, that a dozen rushed into the river, several of whom even advanced near a hundred feet into the foaming current, as if they actually meditated a serious sortie. But Chingachgook continued as unmoved as he remained unhurt by the missiles, -accomplishing his task with the dexterity of long habit. Flourishing his reeking trophy, he gave the war-whoop in its most frightful intonations, and for a minute the arches of the silent woods, and the deep vista formed by the course of the river, echoed with cries so terrific that Mabel bowed her head in irrepressible fear, while her uncle for a single instant actually meditated flight.

"This surpasses all I have heard from the wretches," Jasper exclaimed, stopping his ears, equally in horror and disgust.

"Tis their music, boy,- their drum and fife, their trumpets and clarions. No doubt they love them sounds, for they stir up in them fierce feelings and a desire for blood," returned the Pathfinder, totally unmoved. "I thought them rather frightful when a mere youngster, but they have got to be like the whistle of the whippoorwill, or the song of the catbird in my ear now. All the screeching riptyles that could stand atween the falls and the garrison would have no effect on my narves at this time of day. I say it not in boasting, Jasper, for the man that lets in cowardice through the ears must have but a weak heart, at the best; sounds and outcries being more intended to alarm women and children than such as scout the forest and face the foe. I hope the Sarpent is now satisfied, for here he comes with the scalp at his belt."

Jasper turned away his head as the Delaware rose from the water, in pure disgust at his late errand, but the Pathfinder regarded his friend with the philosophical coolness of one who had made up his mind to be indifferent to things he deemed immaterial. As the Delaware passed deeper into the bushes, with a view to wring his trifling calico dress and to prepare his rifle for service, he gave one glance of triumph at his companions, and then all emotion connected with the recent exploit seemed to cease.

"Jasper," resumed the guide, "step down to the station of Master Cap, and ask him to join us; we have little time for a council, and yet our plans must be laid quickly, for it will not be long before them Mingos will be plotting our ruin."

The young man complied, and in a few minutes the four were assembled near the shore, completely concealed from the view of their enemies, while they kept a vigilant watch over the proceedings of the latter, in order to consult on their own future movements.

By this time the day had so far advanced, as to leave but a few minutes between the passing light and an obscurity that promised to be even deeper than common. The sun had already set, and the twilight of a low latitude would soon pass into the darkness of deep night. Most of the hopes of the party rested on this favorable circumstance, though it was not without its dangers also,

as the very obscurity which would favor their escape would be as likely to conceal the movements of their wily enemies.

"The moment has come, men," Pathfinder commenced, "when our plans must be coolly laid, in order that we may act together and with a right understanding of our errand and gifts. In an hour's time these woods will be as dark as midnight, and if we are ever to gain the garrison it must be done under favor of this advantage. What say you, Master Cap? For though none of the most exper'enced in combats and retreats in the woods, your years entitle you to speak first, in a matter like this, and in a council."

"And my near relationship to Mabel, Pathfinder, ought to count for something

I

"I don't know that—I don't know that. Regard is regard, and liking liking, whether it be a gift of natur' or come from one's own judgment and inclinations. will say nothing for the Sarpent, who is past placing his mind on the women; but as for Jasper and myself, we are as ready to stand atween the sergeant's daughter and the Mingos as her own brave father himself could be. Do I say more than the truth, lad?"

"Mabel may count on me to the last drop of my blood," said Jasper, speaking low, but with intense feeling.

"Well, well," rejoined the uncle, "we will not discuss this matter, as all seem willing to serve the girl, and deeds are better than words. In my judgment all we have to do is to go on board the canoe, when it gets to be so dark the enemy's lookouts can't see us, and run for the haven as wind and tide will allow."

"That is easily said, but not so easily done," returned the guide. "We shall be more exposed in the river than by following the woods, and then there is the Oswego rift below us, and I am far from sartain that Jasper himself can carry a boat safely through it in the dark. What say you, lad, as to your own skill and judgment?"

"I am of Master Cap's opinion about using the canoe. Mabel is too tender to walk through swamps, and among roots of trees, in such a night as this promises to be, and then I always feel myself stouter of heart and truer of eye when afloat than when ashore."

Stout of heart you always be, lad, and I think tolerably true of eye for one who has lived so much in broad sunshine, and so little in the woods. Ah's me! the Ontario has no trees, or it would be a plain to delight a hunter's heart! As to your opinion, friends, there is much for, and much ag'inst it. For it, it may be said water leaves no trail"

"What do you call the wake?" interrupted the pertinacious and dogmatical Cap.

"Anan?"

"Go on," said Jasper; "Master Cap thinks he is on the ocean; water leaves no trail".

"It leaves none, Eau-douce, hereaway, though I do not pretend to say what it may leave on the sea. Then a canoe is both swift and easy, when it floats with the current, and the tender limbs of the sergeant's daughter will be favored by its motion. But, on the other hand, the river will have no cover but the clouds in the heavens, the rift is a ticklish thing for boats to venture into, even by daylight, and it is six fairly measured miles, by water, from this spot to the garrison. Then a trail on land is not easy to be found in the dark. I am troubled, Jasper, to say which way we ought to counsel and advise."

"If the Serpent and myself could swim into the river, and bring off the other canoe," the young sailor replied, "it would seem to me that our safest course would be the water."