Sergeant's daughter
would do discredit to her worthy father, were she to do or say anything
that could be called silly."

"Then she must take care and not put too much faith in treacherous,
flattering words. But, Pathfinder, I rejoice to see you among us again;
for, though Jasper did not seem to feel much uneasiness, I was afraid
some accident might have happened to you and your friend on that
frightful rift."

"The lad knows us both, and was sartain that we should not drown, which
is scarcely one of my gifts. It would have been hard swimming of a
sartainty, with a long-barrelled rifle in the hand; and what between the
game, and the savages and the French, Killdeer and I have gone through
too much in company to part very easily. No, no; we waded ashore, the
rift being shallow enough for that with small exceptions, and we landed
with our arms in our hands. We had to take our time for it, on account
of the Iroquois, I will own; but, as soon as the skulking vagabonds saw
the lights that the Sergeant sent down to your canoe, we well understood
they would decamp, since a visit might have been expected from some
of the garrison. So it was only sitting patiently on the stones for an
hour, and all the danger was over. Patience is the greatest of virtues
in a woodsman."

"I rejoice to hear this, for fatigue itself could scarcely make me
sleep, for thinking of what might befall you."

"Lord bless your tender little heart, Mabel! but this is the way with
all you gentle ones. I must say, on my part, however, that I was right
glad to see the lanterns come down to the waterside, which I knew to be
a sure sign of _your_ safety. We hunters and guides are rude beings; but
we have our feelings and our idees, as well as any general in the
army. Both Jasper and I would have died before you should have come to
harm--we would."

"I thank you for all you did for me, Pathfinder; from the bottom of my
heart, I thank you; and, depend on it, my father shall know it. I
have already told him much, but have still a duty to perform on this
subject."

"Tush, Mabel! The Sergeant knows what the woods be, and what men--true
red men--be, too. There is little need to tell him anything about it.
Well, now you have met your father, do you find the honest old soldier
the sort of person you expected to find?"

"He is my own dear father, and received me as a soldier and a father
should receive a child. Have you known him long, Pathfinder?"

"That is