artifices　of　your　people。〃
  〃Tuscarora　very　cunning；〃　said　June；　in　a　way　to　show
  that　she　rather　approved　of　than　condemned　the　uses　to
  which　the　dead　bodies　had　been　applied。　　〃Do　soldier　no
  harm　now；　do　Iroquois　good；　got　the　scalp　first；　now
  make　bodies　work。　　By　and　by；　burn　'em。
  This　speech　told　Mabel　how　far　she　was　separated　from
  her　friend　in　character；　and　it　was　several　minutes　before
  she　could　again　address　her。　　But　this　temporary　aversion
  was　lost　on　June；　who　set　about　preparing　their　simple
  breakfast；　in　a　way　to　show　how　insensible　she　was　to　feel…
  ings　in　others　which　her　own　habits　taught　her　to　discard。
  Mabel　ate　sparingly；　and　her　companion　as　if　nothing　had
  happened。　　Then　they　had　leisure　again　for　their　thoughts；
  and　for　further　surveys　of　the　island。　　Our　heroine；
  though　devoured　with　a　feverish　desire　to　be　always　at　the
  loops；　seldom　went　that　she　did　not　immediately　quit　them
  in　disgust；　though　compelled　by　her　apprehensions　to　re…
  turn　again　in　a　few　minutes；　called　by　the　rustling　of
  leaves；　or　the　sighing　of　the　wind。　　It　was；　indeed；　a
  solemn　thing　to　look　out　upon　that　deserted　spot；　peopled
  by　the　dead　in　the　panoply　of　the　living；　and　thrown　into
  the　attitudes　and　acts　of　careless　merriment　and　rude　en…
  joyment。　　The　effect　on　our　heroine　was　much　as　if　she
  had　found　herself　an　observer　of　the　revelries　of　demons。
  Throughout　the　livelong　day　not　an　Indian　nor　a
  Frenchman　was　to　be　seen；　and　night　closed　over　the
  frightful　but　silent　masquerade；　with　the　steady　and　unal…
  terable　progress　with　which　the　earth　obeys　her　laws；　in…
  different　to　the　petty　actors　and　petty　scenes　that　are　in
  daily　bustle　and　daily　occurrence　on　her　bosom。　　The
  night　was　far　more　quiet　than　that　which　had　preceded　it；
  and　Mabel　slept　with　an　increasing　confidence；　for　she
  now　felt　satisfied　that　her　own　fate　would　not　be　decided
  until　the　return　of　her　father。　　The　following　day　he　was
  expected；　however；　and　when　our　heroine　awoke；　she　ran
  eagerly　to　the　loops　in　order　to　ascertain　the　state　of　the
  weather　and　the　aspect　of　the　skies；　as　well　as　the　condi…
  tion　of　the　island。　　There　lounged　the　fearful　group　on
  the　grass；　the　fisherman　still　hung　over　the　water；　seem…
  ingly　intent　on　his　sport；　and　the　distorted　countenance
  of　Jennie　glared　from　out　the　hut　in　horrible　contortions。
  But　the　weather　had　changed；　the　wind　blew　fresh　from
  the　southward；　and　though　the　air　was　bland；　it　was　filled
  with　the　elements　of　storm。
  〃This　grows　more　and　more　difficult　to　bear；　June；〃
  Mabel　said；　when　she　left　the　window。　　〃I　could　even
  prefer　to　see　the　enemy　than　to　look　any　longer　on　this
  fearful　array　of　the　dead。〃
  〃Hush！　here　they　come。　　June　thought　hear　a　cry　like
  a　warrior's　shout　when　he　take　a　scalp。〃
  〃What　mean　you？　　There　is　no　more　butchery！　　there
  can　be　no　more。〃
  〃Saltwater！〃　exclaimed　June；　laughing；　as　she　stood
  peeping　through　a　loophole。
  〃My　dear　uncle！　　Thank　God！　he　then　lives！　　Oh；
  June；　June；　_you_　will　not　let　them　harm　_him？_〃
  〃June；　poor　squaw。　　What　warrior　t'ink　of　what　she
  say？　　Arrowhead　bring　him　here。〃
  By　this　time　Mabel　was　at　a　loop；　and；　sure　enough；
  there　were　Cap　and　the　Quartermaster　in　the　hands　of　the
  Indians；　eight　or　ten　of　whom　were　conducting　them　to
  the　foot　of　the　block；　for；　by　this　capture；　the　enemy　now
  well　knew　that　there　could　be　no　man　in　the　building。
  Mabel　scarcely　breathed　until　the　whole　party　stood　ranged
  directly　before　the　door；　when　she　was　rejoiced　to　see　that
  the　French　officer　was　among　them。　　A　low　conversation
  followed；　in　which　both　the　white　leader　and　Arrowhead
  spoke　earnestly　to　their　captives；　when　the　Quartermaster
  called　out　to　her　in　a　voice　loud　enough　to　be　heard。
  〃Pretty　Mabel！　pretty　Mabel！〃　said　he；　〃look　out　of
  one　of　the　loopholes；　and　pity　our　condition。　　We　are
  threatened　with　instant　death　uniess　you　open　the　door　to
  the　conquerors。　　Relent；　then　or　we'll　no'　be　wearing　our
  scalps　half　an　hour　from　this　blessed　moment。〃
  Mabel　thought　there　were　mockery　and　levity　in　this
  appeal；　and　its　manner　rather　fortified　than　weakened　her
  resolution　to　hold　the　place　as　long　as　possible。
  〃Speak　to　me；　uncle；〃　said　she；　with　her　mouth　at　a
  loop；　〃and　tell　me　what　I　ought　to　do。〃
  〃Thank　God！　thank　God！〃　ejaculated　Cap；　〃the
  sound　of　your　sweet　voice；　Magnet；　lightens　my　heart　of　a
  heavy　load；　for　I　feared　you　had　shared　the　fate　of　poor
  Jennie。　　My　breast　has　felt　the　last　four…and…twenty　hours
  as　if　a　ton　of　kentledge　had　been　stowed　in　it。　　You　ask
  me　what　you　ought　to　do；　child；　and　I　do　not　know　how
  to　advise　you；　though　you　are　my　own　sister's　daughter！
  The　most　I　can　say　just　now；　my　poor　girl；　is　most　heartily
  to　curse　the　day　you　or　I　ever　saw　this　bit　of　fresh　water。〃
  〃But；　uncle；　is　your　life　in　danger　　do　_you_　think　I
  ought　to；　open　the　door？〃
  〃A　round　turn　and　two　half…hitches　make　a　fast　belay；
  and　I　would　counsel　no　one　who　is　out　of　the　hands　of
  these　devils　to　unbar　or　unfasten　anything　in　order　to　fall
  into　them。　　As　to　the　Quartermhaster　and　myself；　we　are
  both　elderly　men；　and　not　of　much　account　to　mankind　in
  general；　as　honest　Pathfinder　would　say；　and　it　can　make
  no　great　odds　to　him　whether　he　balances　the　purser's
  books　this　year　or　the　next；　and　as　for　myself；　why；　if　I
  were　on　the　seaboard；　I　should　know　what　to　do；　but　up
  here；　in　this　watery　wilderness；　I　can　only　say；　that　if　I
  were　behind　that　bit　of　a　bulwark；　it　would　take　a　good
  deal　of　Indian　logic　to　rouse　me　out　of　it。〃
  〃You'll　no'　be　minding　all　your　uncle　says；　pretty
  Mabel；〃　put　in　Muir；　〃for　distress　is　obviously　fast　unset…
  tling　his　faculties；　and　he　is　far　from　calculating　all　the
  necessities　of　the　emergency。　　We　are　in　the　hands　here
  of　very　considerate　and　gentlemanly　pairsons；　it　must　be
  acknowledged；　and　one　has　little　occasion　to　apprehend
  disagreeable　violence。　　The　casualties　that　have　occurred
  are　the　common　incidents　of　war；　and　can　no'　change　our
  sentiments　of　the　enemy；　for　they　are　far　from　indicating
  that　any　injustice　will　be　done　the　prisoners。　　I'm　sure
  that　neither　Master　Cap　nor　myself　has　any　cause　of　com…
  plaint　since　we　have　given　ourselves　up　to　Master　Arrow…
  head；　who　reminds　me　of　a　Roman　or　a　Spartan　by　his
  virtues　and　moderation；　but　ye'll　be　remembering　that
  usages　differ；　and　that　our　scalps　may　be　lawful　sacrifices
  to　appease　the　manes　of　fallen　foes；　unless　you　save　them
  by　capitulation。〃
  〃I　shall　do　wiser　to　keep　within　the　blockhouse　until
  the　fate　of　the　island　is　settled；〃　returned　Mabel。　　〃Our
  enemies　can　feel　no　concern　on　account　of　one　like　me；
  knowing　that　I　can　do　them　no　harm；　and　I　greatly　prefer
  to　remain　here　as　more　befitting　my　sex　and　years。〃
  〃If　nothing　but　your　convenience　were　concerned；
  Mabel；　we　should　all　cheerfully　acquiesce　in　your　wishes；
  but　these　gentlemen　fancy　that　the　work　will　aid　their
  operations；　and　they　have　a　strong　desire　to　possess　it。
  To　be　frank　with　you；　finding　myself　and　your　uncle　in　a
  very　peculiar　situation；　I　acknowledge　that；　to　avert　con…
  sequences；　I　have　assumed　the　power　that　belongs　to　his
  Majesty's　commission；　and　entered　into　a　verbal　capitula…
  tion；　by　which　I　have　engaged　to　give　up　the　blockhouse
  and　the　whole　island。　　It　is　the　fortune　of　war；　and　must
  be　submitted　to；　so　open　the　door；　pretty　Mabel；　forth…
  with；　and　confide　yourself　to　the　care　of　those　who　know
  how　to　treat　beauty　and　virtue　in　distress。　　There's　no
  courtier　in　Scotland　more　complaisant　than　this　chief；　or
  who　is　more　familiar　with　the　laws　of　decorum。〃
  〃No　leave　blockhouse；〃　muttered　June；　who　stood　at
  Mabel's　side；　attentive　to　all　that　passed。　　〃Blockhouse
  good　　got　no　scalp。〃
  Our　heroine　might　have　yielded　but　for　this　appeal；　for
  it　began　to　appear　to　her　that　the　wisest　course　would　be
  to　conciliate　the　enemy　by　concessions　instead　of　exasper…
  ating　them　by　resistance。　　They　must　know　that　Muir　and
  her　uncle　were　in　their　power；　that　there　was　no　man　in
  the　building；　and　she　fancied　they　might　proceed　to　batter
  down　the　door；　or　cut　their　way　through　the　logs　with
  axes；　if　she　obstinately　refused　to　give　them　peaceable　ad…
  mission；　since　there　was　no　longer　any　reason　to　dread　the
  rifle。　　But　the　words　of　June　induced　her　to　hesitate；　and
  the　earnest　pressure　of　the　hand　and　entreating　looks　of
  her　companion　strengthened　a　resolution　that　was　falter…
  ing。
  〃No　prisoner　yet；〃　whispered　June；　〃let　'em　make
  prisoner　before　'ey　take　prisoner　　talk　big；　June　manage
  'em。〃
  Mabel　now　began　to　parley　more　resolutely　with　Muir；
  for　her　uncle　seemed　disposed　to　quiet　his　conscience　by
  holding　his　tongue；　and　she　plainly　intimated　that　it　was
  not　her　intention　to　yield　the　building。
  〃You　forget　the　capitulation；　Mistress　Mabel；〃　said
  Muir；　〃the　honor　of　one　of　his　Majesty's　servants　is　con…
  cerned；　and　the　honor　of　his　Majesty　through　his　servant。
  You　will　remeinber　the　finesse　and　delicacy　that　belong　to
  military　honor？〃
  〃I　know　enough；　Mr。　Muir；　to　understand　that　you　have
  no　command　in　this　expedition；　and　therefore　can　have　no
  right　to　yield　the　blockhouse；　and　I　remember；　moreover；
  to　have　heard　my　dear　fath