you describe well, Lieutenant; and should have been a limner instead of a soldier.""Na, I've been very literal and upright in my exposition of matters.That there is no greater force here to carry out the plan is a fault of his Majesty's ministers, and none of mine.""But should our enemy really appear," asked Mabel, with more interest than she might have shown, had she not remembered the guest in the hut, "what course ought we to pursue?""My advice would be to attempt to achieve that, pretty Mabel, which rendered Xenophon so justly celebrated.""I think you mean a retreat, though I half guess at your allusion.""You've imagined my meaning from the possession of a strong native sense, young lady.I am aware that your worthy father has pointed out to the Corporal certain modes and methods by which he fancies this island could be held, in case the French should discover its position;but the excellent Sergeant, though your father, and as good a man in his duties as ever wielded a spontoon, is not the great Lord Stair, or even the Duke of Marlborough.I'll not deny the Sergeant's merits in his particular sphere;though I cannot exaggerate qualities, however excellent, into those of men who may be in some trifling degree his superiors.Sergeant Dunham has taken counsel of his heart, instead of his head, in resolving to issue such orders;but, if the fort fall, the blame will lie on him that ordered it to be occupied, and not on him whose duty it was to defend it.Whatever may be the determination of the latter, should the French and their allies land, a good commander never neglects the preparations necessary to effect a retreat; and I would advise Master Cap, who is the admiral of our navy, to have a boat in readiness to evacuate the island, if need comes to need.The largest boat that we have left carries a very ample sail; and by hauling it round here, and mooring it under those bushes, there will be a convenient place for a hurried embarka-tion; and then you'll perceive, pretty Mabel, that it is scarcely fifty yards before we shall be in a channel between two other islands, and hid from the sight of those who may happen to be on this.""All that you say is very true, Mr.Muir; but may not the French come from that quarter themselves? If it is so good for a retreat, it is equally good for an advance.""They'll no' have the sense to do so discreet a thing,"returned Muir, looking furtively and a little uneasily around him; "they'll no' have sufficient discretion.Your French are a head-over-heels nation, and usually come forward in a random way; so we may look for them, if they come at all, on the other side of the island."The discourse now became exceedingly desultory, touch-ing principally, however, on the probabilities of an inva-sion, and the best means of meeting it.
To most of this Mabel paid but little attention; though she felt some surprise that Lieutenant Muir, an officer whose character for courage stood well, should openly recommend an abandonment of what appeared to her to be doubly a duty, her father's character being connected with the defence of the island.Her mind, however, was so much occupied with her guest, that, seizing the first favorable moment, she left the table, and was soon in her own hut again.Carefully fastening the door, and seeing that the simple curtain was drawn before the single little window, Mabel next led the Dew-of-June, or June, as she was familiarly termed by those who spoke to her in Eng-lish, into the outer room, making signs of affection and confidence.
"I am glad to see you, June," said Mabel, with one of her sweetest smiles, and in her own winning voice, -- "very glad to see you.What has brought you hither, and how did you discover the island?""Speak slow," said June, returning smile for smile, and pressing the little hand she held with one of her own that was scarcely larger, though it had been hardened by labor;"more slow -- too quick."
Mabel repeated her questions, endeavoring to repress the impetuosity of her feelings; and she succeeded in speak-ing so distinctly as to be understood.
"June, friend," returned the Indian woman.
"I believe you, June -- from my soul I believe you; what has this to do with your visit?""Friend come to see friend," answered June, again smiling openly in the other's face.
"There is some other reason, June, else would you never run this risk, and alone.You are alone, June?""June wid you, no one else.June come alone, paddle canoe.""I hope so, I think so -- nay, I know so.You would not be treacherous with me, June?""What treacherous?"
"You would not betray me, would not give me to the French, to the Iroquois, to Arrowhead?"June shook her head earnestly.
"You would not sell my scalp?"
Here June passed her arm fondly around the slender waist of Mabel and pressed her to her heart with a tender-ness and affection that brought tears into the eyes of our heroine.It was done in the fond caressing manner of a woman, and it was scarcely possible that it should not ob-tain credit for sincerity with a young and ingenuous per-son of the same sex.Mabel returned the pressure, and then held the other off at the length of her arm, looked her steadily in the face, and continued her inquiries.
"If June has something to tell her friend, let her speak plainly," she said."My ears are open.""June 'fraid Arrowhead kill her."
"But Arrowhead will never know it." Mabel's blood mounted to her temples as she said this; for she felt that she was urging a wife to be treacherous to her husband.
"That is, Mabel will not tell him."
"He bury tomahawk in June's head."
