, and was the forerunner
of another parley.
    The negotiation that followed was held beneath the block-house, 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 Quarter Master, »and Capt.
Sanglier has come himself to offer terms. You'll no be denying a brave enemy an
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 on account 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
tarms; shall we let the vagabonds go, or shall we mark them, as they mark their
sheep, in the settlements, that we may know them, ag'in?«
    »What has befallen Mabel Dunham?« demanded the young man, with a frown on
his handsome face, that was visible even to those in 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 Sarjeant'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