course　of　the　journey　she　fancied　the　Tuscarora　had　mani…
  fested　towards　herself　an　unpleasant　degree　of　attention；
  and　on　those　occoasions　it　had　struck　her　that　his　wife
  exhibited　sorrow　and　mortification。　　As　Mabel；　however；
  had　more　than　compensated　for　any　pain　she　might　in
  this　way　unintentionally　have　caused　her　companion；　by
  her　own　kindness　of　manner　and　attentions；　the　woman
  had　shown　much　attachment　to　her；　and　they　had　parted；
  with　a　deep　conviction　on　the　mind　of　our　heroine　that　in
  the　Dew…of…June　she　had　lost　a　friend。
  It　is　useless　to　attempt　to　analyze　all　the　ways　by　which
  the　human　heart　is　led　into　confidence。　　Such　a　feeling；
  however；　had　the　young　Tuscarora　woman　awakened　in
  the　breast　of　our　heroine；　and　the　latter；　under　the　im…
  pression　that　this　extraordinary　visit　was　intended　for　her
  own　good；　felt　every　disposition　to　have　a　closer　commu…
  nication。　　She　no　longer　hesitated　about　showing　herself
  clear　of　the　bushes；　and　was　not　sorry　to　see　the　Dew…of…
  June　imitate　her　confidence；　by　stepping　fearlessly　out　of
  her　own　cover。　　The　two　girls；　for　the　Tuscarora；　though
  married；　was　even　younger　than　Mabel；　now　openly　ex…
  changed　signs　of　friendship；　and　the　latter　beckoned　to
  her　friend　to　approach；　though　she　knew　not　the　manner
  herself　in　which　this　object　could　be　effected。　　But　the
  Dew…of…June　was　not　slow　in　letting　it　be　seen　that　it　was
  in　her　power；　for；　disappearing　in　a　moment；　she　soon
  showed　herself　again　in　the　end　of　a　bark　canoe；　the　bows
  of　which　she　had　drawn　to　the　edge　of　the　bushes；　and　of
  which　the　body　still　lay　in　a　sort　of　covered　creek。　　Mabel
  was　about　to　invite　her　to　cross；　when　her　own　name　was
  called　aloud　in　the　stentorian　voice　of　her　uncle。　　Making
  a　hurried　gesture　for　the　Tuscarora　girl　to　conceal　herself；
  Mabel　sprang　from　the　bushes　and　tripped　up　the　glade
  towards　the　sound；　and　perceived　that　the　whole　party　had
  just　seated　themselves　at　breakfast；　Cap　having　barely　put
  his　appetite　under　sufficient　restraint　to　summon　her　to
  join　them。　　That　this　was　the　most　favorable　instant　for
  the　interview　flashed　on　the　mind　of　Mabel；　and；　excusing
  herself　on　the　plea　of　not　being　prepared　for　the　meal；
  she　bounded　back　to　the　thicket；　and　soon　renewed　her
  communications　with　the　young　Indian　woman。
  Dew…of…June　was　quick　of　comprehension；　and　with
  half　a　dozen　noiseless　strokes　of　the　paddles；　her　canoe　was
  concealed　in　the　bushes　of　Station　Island。　　In　another
  minute；　Mabel　held　her　hand；　and　was　leading　her　through
  the　grove　towards　her　own　hut。　　Fortunately　the　latter
  was　so　placed　as　to　be　completely　hid　from　the　sight　of
  those　at　the　fire；　and　they　both　entered　it　unseen。　　Hastily
  explaining　to　her　guest；　in　the　best　manner　she　could；　the
  necessity　of　quitting　her　for　a　short　time；　Mabel；　first　plac…
  ing　the　Dew…of…June　in　her　own　room；　with　a　full　certainty
  that　she　would　not　quit　it　until　told　to　do　so；　went　to　the
  fire　and　took　her　seat　among　the　rest；　with　all　the　com…
  posure　it　was　in　her　power　to　command。
  〃Late　come；　late　served；　Mabel；〃　said　her　uncle；　be…
  tween　mouthfuls　of　broiled　salmon；　for　though　the　cook…
  ery　might　be　very　unsophisticated　on　that　remote　frontier；
  the　viands　were　generally　delicious；　　〃late　come；　late
  served；　it　is　a　good　rule；　and　keeps　laggards　up　to　their
  work。〃
  〃I　am　no　laggard；　uncle；　for　I　have　been　stirring　nearly
  an　hour；　and　exploring　our　island。〃
  〃It's　little　you'll　make　o'　that；　Mistress　Mabel；〃　put　in
  Muir；　〃that's　little　by　nature。　　Lundie　　or　it　might　be
  better　to　style　him　Major　Duncan　in　this　presence〃　（this
  was　said　in　consideration　of　the　corporal　and　the　common
  men；　though　they　were　taking　their　meal　a　little　apart）
  〃has　not　added　an　empire　to　his　Majesty's　dominions　in
  getting　possession　of　this　island；　which　is　likely　to　equal
  that　of　the　celebrated　Sancho　in　revenues　and　profits
  Sancho；　of　whom；　doubtless；　Master　Cap；　you'll　often　have
  been　reading　in　your　leisure　hours；　more　especially　in
  calms　and　moments　of　inactivity。〃
  〃I　know　the　spot　you　mean；　Quartermaster；　Sancho's
  Island　　coral　rock；　of　new　formation；　and　as　bad　a　land…
  fall；　in　a　dark　night　and　blowing　weather；　as　a　sinner
  could　wish　to　keep　clear　of。　　It's　a　famous　place　for　cocoa…
  nuts　and　bitter　water；　that　Sancho's　Island。〃
  〃It's　no'　very　famous　for　dinners；〃　returned　Muir；　re…
  pressing　the　smile　which　was　struggling　to　his　lips　out　of
  respect　to　Mabel；　〃nor　do　I　think　there'll　be　much　to
  choose　between　its　revenue　and　that　of　this　spot。　　In　my
  judgment；　Master　Cap；　this　is　a　very　unmilitary　position；
  and　I　look　to　some　calamity　befalling　it；　sooner　or　later。〃
  〃It　is　to　be　hoped　not　until　our　turn　of　duty　is　over；〃
  observed　Mabel。　　〃I　have　no　wish　to　study　the　French
  language。〃
  〃We　might　think　ourselves　happy；　did　it　not　prove　to
  be　the　Iroquois。　　I　have　reasoned　with　Major　Duncan　on
  the　occupation　of　this　position；　but　'a　wilfu'　man　maun
  ha'　his　way。'　　My　first　object　in　accompanying　this　party
  was　to　endeavor　to　make　myself　acceptable　and　useful　to
  your　beautiful　niece；　Master　Cap；　and　the　second　was　to
  take　such　an　account　of　the　stores　that　belong　to　my　par…
  ticular　department　as　shall　leave　no　question　open　to　con…
  troversy；　concerning　the　manner　of　expenditure；　when　they
  shall　have　disappeared　by　means　of　the　enemy。〃
  〃Do　you　look　upon　matters　as　so　serious？〃　demanded
  Cap；　actually　suspending　his　mastication　of　a　bit　of　veni…
  son　　for　he　passed　alternately　from　fish　to　flesh　and　back
  again　　in　the　interest　he　took　in　the　answer。　　〃Is　the
  danger　pressing？〃
  〃I'll　no'　say　just　that；　and　I'll　no'　say　just　the　contrary。
  There　is　always　danger　in　war；　and　there　is　more　of　it
  at　the　advanced　posts　than　at　the　main　encampment。　　It
  ought；　therefore；　to　occasion　no　surprise　were　we　to　be
  visited　by　the　French　at　any　moment。〃
  〃And　what　the　devil　is　to　be　done　in　that　case？　　Six
  men　and　two　women　would　make　but　a　poor　job　in　defend…
  ing　such　a　place　as　this；　should　the　enemy　invade　us；　as；
  no　doubt；　Frenchman…like；　they　would　take　very　good　care
  to　come　strong…handed。〃
  〃That　we　may　depend　on　　some　very　formidable　force
  at　the　very　lowest。　　A　military　disposition　might　be　made
  in　defence　of　the　island；　out　of　all　question；　and　accord…
  ing　to　the　art　of　war；　though　we　would　probably　fail　in
  the　force　necessary　to　carry　out　the　design　in　any　very
  creditable　manner。　　In　the　first　place；　a　detachment　should
  be　sent　off　to　the　shore；　with　orders　to　annoy　the　enemy
  in　landing；　a　strong　party　ought　instantly　to　be　thrown
  into　the　blockhouse；　as　the　citadel；　for　on　that　all　the　dif…
  ferent　detachments　would　naturally　fall　back　for　support；
  as　the　French　advanced；　and　an　entrenched　camp　might
  be　laid　out　around　the　stronghold；　as　it　would　be　very　un…
  military　indeed　to　let　the　foe　get　near　enough　to　the　foot
  of　the　walls　to　mine　them。　　Chevaux…de…frise　would　keep
  the　cavalry　in　check；　and　as　for　the　artillery；　redoubts
  should　be　thrown　up　under　cover　of　yon　woods。　　Strong
  skirmishing　parties；　moreover；　would　be　exceedingly　ser…
  viceable　in　retarding　the　march　of　the　enemy；　and　these
  different　huts；　if　properly　piqueted　and　ditched；　would　be
  converted　into　very　eligible　positions　for　that　object。〃
  〃Whe…e…e…w…；　Quartermaster！　　And　who　the　d…l
  is　to　find　all　the　men　to　carry　out　such　a　plan？〃
  〃The　king；　out　of　all　question；　Master　Cap。　　It　is　his
  quarrel；　and　it's　just　he　should　bear　the　burthen　o'　it。〃
  〃And　we　are　only　six！　　This　is　fine　talking；　with　a
  vengeance。　　You　could　be　sent　down　to　the　shore　to　op…
  pose　the　landing；　Mabel　might　skirmish　with　her　tongue
  at　least；　the　soldier's　wife　might　act　chevaux…de…frise　to
  entangle　the　cavalry；　the　corporal　should　command　the
  entrenched　camp；　his　three　men　could　occupy　the　five
  huts；　and　I　would　take　the　blockhouse。　　Whe…e…e…w！
  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；　i