. On the
contrary, the white man, left the fire, and came forward to meet Mabel.
    The latter saw, as the stranger approached, that she was about to be
addressed by one of her own colour, though his dress was so strange a mixture of
the habits of the two races, that it required a near look to be certain of the
fact. He was of middle age, but there was an open honesty, a total absence of
guile, in his face, which otherwise would not have been thought handsome, that
at once assured Magnet she was in no danger. Still she paused, in obedience to a
law of her habits, if not of nature, which rendered her averse to the appearance
of advancing too freely to meet one of the other sex, under the circumstances in
which she was placed.
    »Fear nothing, young woman,« said the hunter, for such his attire would
indicate him to be, »you have met christian men, in the wilderness, and such as
know how to treat all kindly that are disposed to peace and justice. I'm a man
well known in all these parts, and perhaps one of my names may have reached your
ears. By the Frenchers, and the red-skins on the other side of the Big Lakes, I
am called la Longue Carabine; by the Mohicans, a just-minded and upright tribe,
what is left of them, Hawk Eye; while the troops and rangers along this side of
the water call me Pathfinder, inasmuch as I have never been known to miss one
end of the trail, when there was a Mingo, or a friend, who stood in need of me,
at the other.«
    This was not uttered boastfully, but with the honest confidence of one, who
well knew that by whatever name others might have heard of him, he had no reason
to blush at the reports. The effect on Mabel was instantaneous. The moment she
heard the last soubriquet she clasped her hands eagerly and repeated the word.
    »Pathfinder!«
    »So they call me, young woman, and many a great lord has got a title that he
did not half so well merit, though, if truth be said, I rather pride myself in
finding my way, where there is no path, than in finding it where there is. But
the regular troops be by no means particular, and half the time they do'n't know
the difference atween a trail and a path, though one is a matter for the eye,
while the other is little
