oor
brother-in-law: though he is a soldier, we cannot let him slip without a
word of consolation and a leave-taking, in my judgment. This has been
an unlucky affair on every tack; though I suppose it is what one had a
right to expect, considering the state of the times and the nature of
the navigation. We must make the best of it, and try to help the
worthy man to unmoor, without straining his messengers. Death is a
circumstance, after all, Master Pathfinder, and one of a very general
character too, seeing that we must all submit to it, sooner or later."

"You say truth, you say truth; and for that reason I hold it to be
wise to be always ready. I've often thought, Saltwater, that he is the
happiest who has the least to leave behind him when the summons comes.
Now, here am I, a hunter and a scout and a guide, although I do not own
a foot of land on 'arth, yet do I enjoy and possess more than the great
Albany Patroon. With the heavens over my head to keep me in mind of the
last great hunt, and the dried leaves beneath my feet, I tramp over
the ground as freely as if I was its lord and owner; and what more need
heart desire? I do not say that I love nothing that belongs to 'arth;
for I do, though not much, unless it might be Mabel Dunham, that I
can't carry with me. I have some pups at the higher fort that I vally
considerable, though they are too noisy for warfare, and so we are
compelled to live separate for awhile; and then I think it would grieve
me to part with Killdeer; but I see no reason why we should not be
buried in the same grave, for we are as near as can be of the same
length--six feet to a hair's breadth; but, bating these, and a pipe that
the Sarpent gave me, and a few tokens received from travellers, all of
which might be put in a pouch and laid under my head, when the order
comes to march I shall be ready at a minute's warning; and, let me tell
you, Master Cap, that's what I call a circumstance too."

"'Tis just so with me," answered the sailor, as the two walked towards
the block, too much occupied with their respective morality to remember
at the moment the melancholy errand they were on; "that's just my way of
feeling and reasoning. How often have I felt, when near shipwreck, the
relief of not owning the craft! 'If she goes,' I have said to myself,
'why, my life goes with her, but not my property, and there's great
comfort in that.' I've discovered, in the course of boxing about the
world from the Hor