Мхи старої садиби

           Shouldyoumeetoneoftheseandguidethemhither,whocantellbutthatImaysitbymyownfiresideagain?"

           Amournfulsmilestrayedacrossthefeaturesofthedyingmanasheinsinuatedthatunfoundedhope,—which,however,wasnotwithoutitseffectonReuben.Nomerelyselfishmotive,noreventhedesolateconditionofDorcas,couldhaveinducedhimtodeserthiscompanionatsuchamoment—buthiswishesseizedonthethoughtthatMalvin’slifemightbepreserved,andhissanguinenatureheightenedalmosttocertaintytheremotepossibilityofprocuringhumanaid.

           "Surelythereisreason,weightyreason,tohopethatfriendsarenotfardistant,"hesaid,halfaloud."Therefledonecoward,unwounded,inthebeginningofthefight,andmostprobablyhemadegoodspeed.Everytruemanonthefrontierwouldshoulderhismusketatthenews;and,thoughnopartymayrangesofarintothewoodsasthis,Ishallperhapsencountertheminoneday’smarch.Counselmefaithfully,"headded,turningtoMalvin,indistrustofhisownmotives."Wereyoursituationmine,wouldyoudesertmewhileliferemained?"

           "Itisnowtwentyyears,"repliedRogerMalvin,—sighing,however,ashesecretlyacknowledgedthewidedissimilaritybetweenthetwocases,-"itisnowtwentyyearssinceIescapedwithonedearfriendfromIndiancaptivitynearMontreal.