While up in this unguarded manner, two rifles were discharged by their adversaries. One came from the summit of the block, and an Iroquois fell dead in his tracks, shot through the brain.
The other came from the Scud.
The last was the piece of the Delaware, but, less true than that of his friend, it only maimed an enemy for life.
The people of the Scud shouted, and the savages sank again, to a man, as if it might be into the earth.
"That was the Sarpent's voice," said Pathfinder, as soon as the second piece was discharged.
"I know the crack of his rifle as well as I do that of Killdeer.
'Tis a good barrel, though not sartain death.
Well, well, with Chingachgook and Jasper on the water, and you and I in the block, friend Cap, it will be hard if we don't teach these Mingo scamps the rationality of a fight."
All this time the Scud was in motion.
As soon as he had reached the end of the island, Jasper sent his prizes adrift; and they went down before the wind until they stranded on a point half a mile to leeward.
He then wore, and came stemming the current again, through the other passage.
Those on the summit of the block could now perceive that something was in agitation on the deck of the Scud; and, to their great delight, just as the cutter came abreast of the principal cove, on the spot where most of the enemy lay, the howitzer which composed her sole armament was unmasked, and a shower of case-shot was sent hissing into the bushes.
A bevy of quail would not have risen quicker than this unexpected discharge of iron hail put up the Iroquois; when a second savage fell by a messenger sent from Killdeer, and another went limping away by a visit from the rifle of Chingachgook.
New covers were immediately found, however; and each party seemed to prepare for the renewal of the strife in another form.
But the appearance of June, bearing a white flag, and accompanied by the French officer and Muir, stayed the hands of all, and was the forerunner of another parley.
The negotiation that followed was held beneath the blockhouse; and so near it as at once to put those who were uncovered completely at the mercy of Pathfinder's unerring aim.
Jasper anchored directly abeam; and the howitzer, too, was kept trained upon the negotiators: so that the besieged and their friends, with the exception of the man who held the match, had no hesitation about exposing their persons.
Chingachgook alone lay in ambush; more, however, from habit than distrust.
"You've triumphed, Pathfinder," called out the Quartermaster, "and Captain Sanglier has come himself to offer terms.
You'll no' be denying a brave enemy honorable retreat, when he has fought ye fairly, and done all the credit he could to king and country.
Ye are too loyal a subject yourself to visit loyalty and fidelity with a heavy judgment.
I am authorized to offer, on the part of the enemy, an evacuation of the island, a mutual exchange of prisoners, and a restoration of scalps.
In the absence of baggage and artillery, little more can be done."
As the conversation was necessarily carried on in a high key, both on account of the wind and of the distance, all that was said was heard equally by those in the block and those in the cutter.
"What do you say to that, Jasper?" called out Pathfinder.
"You hear the proposal.
Shall we let the vagabonds go? Or shall we mark them, as they mark their sheep in the settlements, that we may know them again?"
"What has befallen Mabel Dunham?" demanded the young man, with a frown on his handsome face, that was visible even to those on the block.
"If a hair of her head has been touched, it will go hard with the whole Iroquois tribe."
"Nay, nay, she is safe below, nursing a dying parent, as becomes her sex.
We owe no grudge on account of the Sergeant's hurt, which comes of lawful warfare; and as for Mabel -- "
"She is here!" exclaimed the girl herself, who had mounted to the roof the moment she found the direction things were taking, -- "she is here!
And, in the name of our holy religion, and of that God whom we profess to worship in common, let there be no more bloodshed!
Enough has been spilt already; and if these men will go away, Pathfinder -- if they will depart peaceably, Jasper -- oh, do not detain one of them! My poor father is approaching his end, and it were better that he should draw his last breath in peace with the world.
Go, go, Frenchmen and Indians!
We are no longer your enemies, and will harm none of you."
"Tut, tut, Magnet!" put in Cap; "this sounds religious, perhaps, or like a book of poetry; but it does not sound like common sense.
The enemy is just ready to strike; Jasper is anchored with his broadside to bear, and, no doubt, with springs on his cables; Pathfinder's eye and hand are as true as the needle; and we shall get prize-money, head-money, and honor in the bargain, if you will not interfere for the next half-hour."
"Well," said Pathfinder, "I incline to Mabel's way of thinking.
There has been enough blood shed to answer our purpose and to sarve the king; and as for honor, in that meaning, it will do better for young ensigns and recruits than for cool-headed, obsarvant Christian men.
There is honor in doing what's right, and unhonor in doing what's wrong; and I think it wrong to take the life even of a Mingo, without a useful end in view, I do; and right to hear reason at all times.
So, Lieutenant Muir, let us know what your friends the Frenchers and Indians have to say for themselves."
"My friends!" said Muir, starting; "you'll no' be calling the king's enemies my friends, Pathfinder, because the fortune of war has thrown me into their hands?
Some of the greatest warriors, both of ancient and modern times, have been prisoners of war; and yon is Master Cap, who can testify whether we did not do all that men could devise to escape the calamity."
"Ay, ay," drily answered Cap; "escape is the proper word. We ran below aud hid ourselves, and so discreetly, that we might have remained in the hole to this hour, had it not been for the necessity of re-stowing the bread lockers.
You burrowed on that occasion, Quartermaster, as handily as a fox; and how the d---l you knew so well where to find the spot is a matter of wonder to me.
A regular skulk on board ship does not trail aft more readily when the jib is to be stowed, than you went into that same hole."
"And did ye no' follow?
There are moments in a man's life when reason ascends to instinct -- "
"And men descend into holes," interrupted Cap, laughing in his boisterous way, while Pathfinder chimed in, in his peculiar manner.