ave thought the warning so serious," Mabel rejoined, "that I am
about to remove to the blockhouse, and to take the woman with me."

"I do not see the prudence of that, Mabel. The blockhouse will be the
first spot assailed should there really be an attack; and it's no' well
provided for a siege, that must be allowed. If I might advise in so
delicate a contingency, I would recommend your taking refuge in the
boat, which, as you may now perceive, is most favorably placed to
retreat by that channel opposite, where all in it would be hid by the
islands in one or two minutes. Water leaves no trail, as Pathfinder well
expresses it; and there appears to be so many different passages in that
quarter that escape would be more than probable. I've always been
of opinion that Lundie hazarded too much in occupying a post so far
advanced and so much exposed as this."

"It's too late to regret it now, Mr. Muir, and we have only to consult
our own security."

"And the king's honor, pretty Mabel. Yes, his Majesty's arms and his
glorious name are not to be overlooked on any occasion."

"Then I think it might be better if we all turned our eyes towards the
place that has been built to maintain them instead of the boat," said
Mabel, smiling; "and so, Mr. Muir, I am for the blockhouse, intending
to await there the return of my father and his party. He would be sadly
grieved at finding we had fled when he got back successful himself, and
filled with the confidence of our having been as faithful to our duties
as he has been to his own."

"Nay, nay, for heaven's sake, do not misunderstand me, Mabel!" Muir
interrupted, with some alarm of manner; "I am far from intimating that
any but you females ought to take refuge in the boat. The duty of us men
is sufficiently plain, no doubt, and my resolution has been formed from
the first to stand or fall by the blockhouse."

"And did you imagine, Mr. Muir, that two females could row that heavy
boat in a way to escape the bark canoe of an Indian?"

"Ah, my pretty Mabel, love is seldom logical, and its fears and
misgivings are apt to warp the faculties. I only saw your sweet person
in the possession of the means of safety, and overlooked the want of
ability to use them; but you'll not be so cruel, lovely creature, as to
impute to me as a fault my intense anxiety on your own account."

Mabel had heard enough: her mind was too much occupied with what had
passed that morning, and with her fears, to wis