the arbiter, because he admired her, and
because, in his eyes, rank had little or no value, but Lt. Muir shrunk at such a
reference in the presence of the wives of officers. He would gladly keep himself
constantly before the eyes and the imagination of the object of his wishes, but
he was still too much under the influence of old prejudices, and perhaps too
wary, to appear openly as her suitor, unless he saw something very like a
certainty of success. On the discretion of Major Duncan he had a full reliance;
and he apprehended no betrayal from that quarter; but he was quite aware, should
it ever get abroad that he had been refused by the child of a non-commissioned
officer, he would find great difficulty in making his approaches to any other
woman of a condition to which he might reasonably aspire. Notwithstanding these
doubts and misgivings, Mabel looked so prettily, blushed so charmingly, smiled
so sweetly, and altogether presented so winning a picture of youth, spirit,
modesty and beauty, that he found it exceedingly tempting to be kept so
prominently before her imagination, and to be able to address her freely.
    »You shall have it your own way, Pathfinder,« he answered as soon as his
doubts had settled down into determination - »Let the Serjeant's daughter - his
charming daughter, I should have termed her - be the umpire then, and to her we
will both dedicate the prize, that one or the other must certainly win.
Pathfinder must be humored, ladies, as you perceive, else, no doubt, we should
have had the honor to submit ourselves to one of your charming society.«
    A call for the competitors, now drew the Quarter Master and his adversary
away, and in a few moments the second trial of skill commenced. A common wrought
nail was driven lightly into the target, its head having been first touched with
paint, and the marksman was required to hit it, or he lost his chances in the
succeeding trials. No one was permitted to enter, on this occasion, who had
already failed in the essay against the bull's eye.
    There might have been half a dozen aspirants for the honors of this trial,
one or two who had barely succeeded in touching the spot of paint, in the
previous strife, preferring to rest their reputations there, feeling certain
that they could not succeed, in the greater effort that was now exacted of them.
The three first adventurers failed, all coming quite near the mark, but neither
touching it. The fourth person who presented himself