HethoughtofPathfinder，buthedistrustedhisknowl-
edge。HethoughtofMabel，butfortheparenttoappealtothechildforsuchsuccorappearedlikereversingtheorderofnature。Thenitwasthathefeltthefullre-
sponsibilityoftheparentalcharacter，andhadsomeclearglimpseofthemannerinwhichhehimselfhaddischargedthetrusttowardsanorphanchild。Whilethoughtslikethesewererisinginhismind，Mabel，whowatchedtheslightestchangeinhisbreathing，heardaguardedknockatthedoor。SupposingitmightbeChingachgook，sherose，undidtwoofthebars，andheldthethirdinherhand，assheaskedwhowasthere。Theanswerwasinheruncle’svoice，andheimploredhertogivehiminstantadmission。
Withoutaninstantofhesitation，sheturnedthebar，andCapentered。Hehadbarelypassedtheopening，whenMabelclosedthedooragain，andsecureditasbefore，forpracticehadrenderedherexpertinthisportionofherduties。
Thesturdyseaman，whenhehadmadesureofthestateofhisbrother-in-law，andthatMabel，aswellashimself，wassafe，wassoftenednearlytotears。Hisownappear-