out,
has been ordered for some special purpose; and it is not for us to fly
in the face of facts and deny their truth. No, no; each color has its
gifts, and its laws, and its traditions; and one is not to condemn
another because he does not exactly comprehend it."

"You must have read a great deal, Pathfinder, to see things so clear as
this," returned Cap, not a little mystified by his companion's simple
creed. "It's all as plain as day to me now, though I must say I never
fell in with these opinions before. What denomination do you belong to,
my friend?"

"Anan?"

"What sect do you hold out for? What particular church do you fetch up
in?"

"Look about you, and judge for yourself. I'm in church now; I eat in
church, drink in church, sleep in church. The 'arth is the temple of the
Lord, and I wait on Him hourly, daily, without ceasing, I humbly hope.
No, no, I'll not deny my blood and color; but am Christian born, and
shall die in the same faith. The Moravians tried me hard; and one of
the King's chaplains has had his say too, though that's a class no ways
strenuous on such matters; and a missionary sent from Rome talked much
with me, as I guided him through the forest, during the last peace; but
I've had one answer for them all--I'm a Christian already, and want to
be neither Moravian, nor Churchman, nor Papist. No, no, I'll not deny my
birth and blood."

"I think a word from you might lighten the Sergeant over the shoals of
death, Master Pathfinder. He has no one with him but poor Mabel; and
she, you know, besides being his daughter, is but a girl and a child
after all."

"Mabel is feeble in body, friend Cap; but in matters of this natur' I
doubt if she may not be stronger than most men. But Sergeant Dunham is
my friend, and he is your brother-in-law; so, now the press of fighting
and maintaining our rights is over, it is fitting we should both go
and witness his departure. I've stood by many a dying man, Master Cap,"
continued Pathfinder, who had a besetting propensity to enlarge on his
experience, stopping and holding his companion by a button,--"I've stood
by many a dying man's side, and seen his last gasp, and heard his last
breath; for, when the hurry and tumult of the battle is over, it is good
to bethink us of the misfortunate, and it is remarkable to witness how
differently human natur' feels at such solemn moments. Some go their
way as stupid and ignorant as if God had never given them reason and an
a