“Then I desire this.  Here I stand, a man of the forest and of little larning, though I fear with an ambition beyond my desarts, and I’ll do my endivors to do justice to both sides.  In the first place, it is allowed that, so far as feelings in your behalf are consarned, we love you just the same; Jasper thinks his feelings must be the strongest, but this I cannot say in honesty, for it doesn’t seem to me that it can be true, else I would frankly and freely confess it, I would.  So in this particular, Mabel, we are here before you on equal tarms.  As for myself, being the oldest, I’ll first say what little can be produced in my favor, as well as ag’in it.  As a hunter, I do think there is no man near the lines that can outdo me.  If venison, or bear’s meat, or even birds and fish, should ever be scarce in our cabin, it would be more likely to be owing to natur’ and Providence than to any fault of mine.  In short, it does seem to me that the woman who depended on me would never be likely to want for food.  But I’m fearful ignorant!  It’s true I speak several tongues, such as they be, while I’m very far from being expart at my own.  Then, my years are greater than your own, Mabel; and the circumstance that I was so long the Sergeant’s comrade can be no great merit in your eyes.  I wish, too, I was more comely, I do; but we are all as natur’ made us, and the last thing that a man ought to lament, except on very special occasions, is his looks.  When all is remembered, age, looks, learning, and habits, Mabel, conscience tells me I ought to confess that I’m altogether unfit for you, if not downright unworthy; and I would give up the hope this minute, I would, if I didn’t feel something pulling at my heart-strings which seems hard to undo.”

“Pathfinder!  Noble, generous Pathfinder!” cried our heroine, seizing his hand and kissing it with a species of holy reverence; “You do yourself injustice —­ you forget my poor father and your promise —­ you do not know me!”

“Now, here’s Jasper,” continued the guide, without allowing the girl’s caresses to win him from his purpose, “with him the case is different.  In the way of providing, as in that of loving, there’s not much to choose ’atween us; for the lad is frugal, industrious, and careful.  Then he is quite a scholar, knows the tongue of the Frenchers, reads many books, and some, I know, that you like to read yourself, can understand you at all times, which, perhaps, is more than I can say for myself.”

“What of all this?” interrupted Mabel impatiently; “Why speak of it now —­ why speak of it at all?”