nadulterated Scotch human
nature. A cake, man, to say the truth, is an agreeable morsel, and I
often see the time when I pine for a bite myself."

"If the feeling gets to be troublesome, Major Duncan,--in the men, I
mean, sir, for I would not think of saying so disrespectful a thing to
your honor,--but if the men ever pine seriously for their natural food,
I would humbly recommend that some oatmeal be imported, or prepared in
this country for them, and I think we shall hear no more of it. A very
little would answer for a cure, sir."

"You are a wag, Sergeant; but hang me if I am sure you are not right.
There may be sweeter things in this world, after all, than oatmeal. You
have a sweet daughter, Dunham, for one."

"The girl is like her mother, Major Duncan, and will pass inspection,"
said the Sergeant proudly. "Neither was brought up on anything better
than good American flour. The girl will pass inspection, sir."

"That would she, I'll answer for it. Well, I may as well come to the
point at once, man, and bring up my reserve into the front of the
battle. Here is Davy Muir, the quartermaster, disposed to make your
daughter his wife, and he has just got me to open the matter to you,
being fearful of compromising his own dignity; and I may as well add
that half the youngsters in the fort toast her, and talk of her from
morning till night."

"She is much honored, sir," returned the father stiffly; "but I trust
the gentlemen will find something more worthy of them to talk about ere
long. I hope to see her the wife of an honest man before many weeks,
sir."

"Yes, Davy is an honest man, and that is more than can be said for all
in the quartermaster's department, I'm thinking, Sergeant," returned
Lundie, with a slight smile. "Well, then may I tell the Cupid-stricken
youth that the matter is as good as settled?"

"I thank your honor; but Mabel is betrothed to another."

"The devil she is! That will produce a stir in the fort; though I'm not
sorry to hear it either, for, to be frank with you, Sergeant, I'm no
great admirer of unequal matches."

"I think with your honor, and have no desire to see my daughter an
officer's lady. If she can get as high as her mother was before her, it
ought to satisfy any reasonable woman."

"And may I ask, Sergeant, who is the lucky man that you intend to call
son-in-law?"

"The Pathfinder, your honor."

"Pathfinder!"

"The same, Major Duncan; and in naming him to you, I give you h