The words, and the train of her ideas, were interrupted by a
touch of a finger on her shoulder, and turning, in the expectation
of seeing her father, Mabel found Pathfinder at her side. He was
leaning quietly on his long rifle, and laughing in his quiet manner,
while, with an outstretched arm, he swept over the whole panorama
of land and water.

"Here you have both our domains," said he, -- "Jasper's and mine.
The lake is for him, and the woods are for me. The lad sometimes
boasts of the breadth of his dominions; but I tell him my trees
make as broad a plain on the face of this 'arth as all his water.
Well, Mabel, you are fit for either; for I do not see that fear of
the Mingos, or night-marches, can destroy your pretty looks."

"It is a new character for the Pathfinder to appear in, to compliment
a silly girl."

"Not silly, Mabel; no, not in the least silly. The Sergeant's
daughter would do discredit to her worthy father, were she to do
or say anything that could be called silly."

"Then she must take care and not put too much faith in treacherous,
flattering words. But, Pathfinder, I rejoice to see you among us
again; for, though Jasper did not seem to feel much uneasiness, I
was afraid some accident might have happened to you and your friend
on that frightful rift."

"The lad knows us both, and was sartain that we should not drown,
which is scarcely one of my gifts. It would have been hard swimming