the pathfinder-第13章

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Iroquois　could　not　reload　their　pieces　in　the　water；　and　the
bushes　that　everywhere　fringed　the　shore　rendered　it　diffi…
cult　to　keep　the　fugitive　in　view　when　on　the　land。　　Aided
by　these　circumstances；　and　having　received　the　fire　of　all
his　foes；　the　Pathfinder　was　gaining　fast　in　distance；　both
downwards　and　across　the　current；　when　a　new　danger
suddenly；　if　not　unexpectedly；　presented　itself；　by　the　ap…
pearance　of　the　party　that　had　been　left　in　ambush　below
with　a　view　to　watch　the　river。

These　were　the　savages　alluded　to　in　the　short　dialogue
already　related。　　They　were　no　less　than　ten　in　number；
and；　understanding　all　the　advantages　of　their　bloody　oc…
cupation；　they　had　posted　themselves　at　a　spot　where　the
water　dashed　among　rocks　and　over　shallows；　in　a　way　to
form　a　rapid　which；　in　the　language　of　the　country；　is
called　a　rift。　　The　Pathfinder　saw　that；　if　he　entered　this
rift；　he　should　be　compelled　to　approach　a　point　where　the
Iroquois　had　posted　themselves；　for　the　current　was　irre…
sistible；　and　the　rocks　allowed　no　other　safe　passage；　while
death　or　captivity　would　be　the　probable　result　of　the
attempt。　　All　his　efforts；　therefore；　were　turned　toward
reaching　the　western　shore；　the　foe　being　all　on　the　eastern
side　of　the　river；　but　the　exploit　surpassed　human　power；
and　to　attempt　to　stem　the　stream　would　at　once　have　so
far　diminished　the　motion　of　the　canoe　as　to　render　aim
certain。　　In　this　exigency　the　guide　came　to　a　decision
with　his　usual　cool　promptitude；　making　his　preparations
accordingly。　　Instead　of　endeavoring　to　gain　the　channel；
he　steered　towards　the　shallowest　part　of　the　stream；　on
reaching　which　he　seized　his　rifle　and　pack；　leaped　into
the　water；　and　began　to　wade　from　rock　to　rock；　taking
the　direction　of　the　western　shore。　　The　canoe　whirled
about　in　the　furious　current；　now　rolling　over　some　slip…
pery　stone；　now　filling；　and　then　emptying　itself；　until　it
lodged　on　the　shore；　within　a　few　yards　of　the　spot　where
the　Iroquois　had　posted　themselves。

In　the　meanwhile　the　Pathfinder　was　far　from　being　out
of　danger；　for　the　first　minute；　admiration　of　his　prompti…
tude　and　daring；　which　are　so　high　virtues　in　the　mind　of
an　Indian；　kept　his　enemies　motionless；　but　the　desire　of
revenge；　and　the　cravings　for　the　much…prized　trophy；
soon　overcame　this　transient　feeling；　and　aroused　them
from　their　stupor。　　Rifle　flashed　after　rifle；　and　the　bullets
whistled　around　the　head　of　the　fugitive；　amid　the　roar
of　the　waters。　　Still　he　proceeded　like　one　who　bore　a
charmed　life；　for；　while　his　rude　frontier　garments　were
more　than　once　cut；　his　skin　was　not　razed。

As　the　Pathfinder；　in　several　instances；　was　compelled
to　wade　in　water　which　rose　nearly　to　his　arms；　while　he
kept　his　rifle　and　ammunition　elevated　above　the　raging
current；　the　toil　soon　fatigued　him；　and　he　was　glad　to
stop　at　a　large　stone；　or　a　small　rock；　which　rose　so　high
above　the　river　that　its　upper　surface　was　dry。　　On　this
stone　he　placed　his　powder…horn；　getting　behind　it　him…
self；　so　as　to　have　the　advantage　of　a　partial　cover　for　his
body。　　The　western　shore　was　only　fifty　feet　distant；　but
the　quiet；　swift；　dark　current　that　glanced　through　the
interval　sufficiently　showed　that　here　he　would　be　com…
pelled　to　swim。

A　short　cessation　in　the　firing　now　took　place　on　the
part　of　the　Indians；　who　gathered　about　the　canoe；　and；
having　found　the　paddles；　were　preparing　to　cross　the　river。

〃Pathfinder；〃　called　a　voice　from　among　the　bushes；　at
the　point　nearest　to　the　person　addressed；　on　the　western
shore。

〃What　would　you　have；　Jasper？〃

〃Be　of　good　heart　　friends　are　at　hand；　and　not　a　single
Mingo　shall　cross　without　suffering　for　his　boldness。　　Had
you　not　better　leave　the　rifle　on　the　rock；　and　swim　to　us
before　the　rascals　can　get　afloat？〃

〃A　true　woodsman　never　quits　his　piece　while　he　has
any　powder　in　his　horn　or　a　bullet　in　his　pouch。　　I　have
not　drawn　a　trigger　this　day；　Eau…douce；　and　shouldn't
relish　the　idea　of　parting　with　those　reptiles　without　caus…
ing　them　to　remember　my　name。　　A　little　water　will　not
harm　my　legs；　and　I　see　that　blackguard；　Arrowhead；
among　the　scamps；　and　wish　to　send　him　the　wages　he　has
so　faithfully　earned。　　You　have　not　brought　the　Sergeant's
daughter　down　here　in　a　range　with　their　bullets；　I　hope；
Jasper？〃

〃She　is　safe　for　the　present　at　least；　though　all　depends
on　our　keeping　tne　river　between　us　and　the　enemy。　　They
must　know　our　weakness　now；　and；　should　they　cross；　no
doubt　some　of　their　party　will　be　left　on　the　other　side。〃

〃This　canoeing　touches　your　gifts　rather　than　mine；
boy；　though　I　will　handle　a　paddle　with　the　best　Mingo
that　ever　struck　a　salmon。　　If　they　cross　below　the　rift；
why　can't　we　cross　in　the　still　water　above；　and　keep　play…
ing　at　dodge　and　turn　with　the　wolves？〃

〃Because；　as　I　have　said；　they　will　leave　a　party　on　the
other　shore；　and　then；　Pathfinder；　would　you　expose　Mabel；
to　the　rifles　of　the　Iroquois？〃

〃The　Sergeant's　daughter　must　be　saved；〃　returned　the
guide；　with　calm　energy。　　〃You　are　right；　Jasper；　she
has　no　gift　to　authorize　her　in　offering　her　sweet　face　and
tender　body　to　a　Mingo　rifle。　　What　can　be　done；　then？
They　must　be　kept　from　crossing　for　an　hour　or　two；　if
possible；　when　we　must　do　our　best　in　the　darkness。〃

〃I　agree　with　you；　Pathfinder；　if　it　can　be　effected；　but
are　we　strong　enough　for　such　a　purpose？〃

〃The　Lord　is　with　us；　boy；　the　Lord　is　with　us；　and　it
is　unreasonable　to　suppose　that　one　like　the　Sergeant's
daughter　will　be　altogether　abandoned　by　Providence　in
such　a　strait。　　There　is　not　a　boat　between　the　falls　and
the　garrison；　except　these　two　canoes；　to　my　sartain　knowl…
edge；　and　I　think　it　will　go　beyond　red…skin　gifts　to　cross
in　the　face　of　two　rifles　like　these　of　yourn　and　mine。　　I
will　not　vaunt；　Jasper；　but　it　is　well　known　on　all　this
frontier　that　Killdeer　seldom　fails。〃

〃Your　skill　is　admitted　by　all；　far　and　near；　Pathfinder；
but　a　rifle　takes　time　to　be　loaded；　nor　are　you　on　the
land；　aided　by　a　good　cover；　where　you　can　work　to　the
advantage　you　are　used　to。　　If　you　had　our　canoe；　might
you　not　pass　to　the　shore　with　a　dry　rifle？〃

〃Can　an　eagle　fly；　Jasper？〃　returned　the　other；　laugh…
ing　in　his　usual　manner；　and　looking　back　as　he　spoke。
But　it　would　be　unwise　to　expose　yourself　on　the　water；
for　them　miscreants　are　beginning　to　bethink　them　again
of　powder　and　bullets。〃

〃It　can　be　done　without　any　such　chances。　　Master　Cap
has　gone　up　to　the　canoe；　and　will　cast　the　branch　of　a
tree　into　the　river　to　try　the　current；　which　sets　from　the
point　above　in　the　direction　of　your　rock。　　See；　there　it
comes　already；　if　it　float　fairly；　you　must　raise　your　arm；
when　the　canoe　will　follow。　　At　all　events；　if　the　boat
should　pass　you；　the　eddy　below　will　bring　it　up；　and　I　can
recover　it。〃

While　Jasper　was　still　speaking；　the　floating　branch
came　in　sight；　and；　quickening　its　progress　with　the　in…
creasing　velocity　of　the　current；　it　swept　swiftly　down
towards　the　Pathfinder；　who　seized　it　as　it　was　passing；
and　held　it　in　the　air　as　a　sign　of　success。　　Cap　understood
the　signal；　and　presently　the　canoe　was　launched　into　the
stream；　with　a　caution　and　an　intelligence　that　the　habits
of　the　mariner　had　fitted　him　to　observe。　　It　floated　in
the　same　direction　as　the　branch；　and　in　a　minute　was　ar…
rested　by　the　Pathfinder。

〃This　has　been　done　with　a　frontier　man's　judgment
Jasper；〃　said　the　guide；　laughing；　〃but　you　have　your
gifts；　which　incline　most　to　the　water；　as　mine　incline　to
the　woods。　　Now　let　them　Mingo　knaves　cock　their　rifles
and　get　rests；　for　this　is　the　last　chance　they　are　likely　to
have　at　a　man　without　a　cover。〃

〃Nay；　shove　the　canoe　towards　the　shore；　quartering　the
current；　and　throw　yourself　into　it　as　it　goes　off；〃　said
Jasper　eagerly。　　〃There　is　little　use　in　running　any　risk。〃

〃I　love　to　stand　up　face　to　face　with　my　enemies　like　a
man；　while　they　set　me　the　example；〃　returned　the　Path…
finder　proudly。　　〃I　am　not　a　red…skin　born；　and　it　is　more
a　white　man's　gifts　to　fight　openly　than　to　lie　in　ambush…
ment。〃

〃And　Mabel？〃

〃True；　boy；　true；　the　Sergeant's　daughter　must　be　saved；
and；　as　you　say；　foolish　risks　only　become　boys。　　Think　you
that　you　can　catch　the　canoe　where　you　stand？〃

〃There　can　be　no　doubt；　if　you　give　a　vigorous　push。〃

Pathfinder　made　the　necessary　effort；　the　light　bark
shot　across　the　intervening　space；　and　Jasper　seized　it　as
it　came　to　land。　　To　secure　the　canoe；　and　to　take　proper
positions　in　the　cover；　occupied　the　friends　but　a　moment；
when　they　shook　hands　cordially；　like　those　who　had　met
after　a　long　separation。

〃Now；　Jasper；　we　shall　see　if　a　Mingo　of　them　all　dares
cross　the　Oswego　in　the　teeth　of　Kildeer！　　You　are　handier
with　the　oar　and　the　paddle　and　the　sail　than　with　the
rifle；　perhaps；　but　you　have　a　stout　heart　and　a　steady
hand；　and　them　are　things　that　count　in　a　fight。〃

〃Mabel　will　find　me　between　her　and　her　enemies；〃　said
Jasper　calmly。

〃Yes；　yes；　the　Sergeant's　daughter　must　be　protected。
I　like　you；　boy；　on　your　own　account；　but　I　like　you　all
the　better　that　you　think　of　one　so　feeble　at　a　moment
when　there　is　need　of　all　your　manhood。　　See；　Jasper！　three
of　the　knaves　are　actually　getting　into　the　canoe！　　They
must　believe　we　have　fled；　or　they　would　not　surely　ven…
ture　so　much；　directly　in　the　very　face　of　Killdeer。〃

Sure　enough　the　Iroquois　did　appear　bent　on　venturing
across　the　stream；　for；　as　the　Pathfinder　and　his　friends
now　kept　their　persons　strictly　concealed；　their　enemies
began　to　think　that　the　latter　had　taken　to　flight。　　Such
a　course　was　that　which　most　white　men　would　have　fol…
lowed；　but　Mabel　was　under　the　care　of　those　who　were
much　too　well　skilled　in　forest　warfare　to　neglect　to　de…
fend　the　only　pass　that；　in　truth；　now　offered　even　a
probable　chance　for　protection。

As　the　Pathfinder　had　said；　three　warriors　were　in　the
canoe；　two　holding　their　rifles　at　a　poise；　as　they　knelt　in
readiness　to　aim　the　deadly　weapons；　and　the　other　stand…
ing　erect　in　the　stern　to　wield　the　paddle。　　In　this　man…
ner　they　left　the　shore；　having　had　the　precaution　to　haul
the　canoe；　previously　to　entering　it；　so　far　up　the　stream　as
to　have　got　into　the　comparatively　still　water　above　the　rift。
It　was　apparent　at　a　glance　that　the　savage　who　guided
the　boat　was　skilled　in　the　art；　for　the　long　steady　sweep　of
his　paddle　sent　the　light　bark　over　the　glassy　surface　of
the　tranquil　river　as　if　it　were　a　feather　floating　in　air。

〃Shall　I　fire？〃　demanded　Jasper　in　a　whisper；　trem…
bling　with　eagerness　to　engage。

〃Not　yet；　boy；　not　yet。　　There　are　but　three　of　them；
and　if　Master　Cap　yonder　knows　how　to　use　the　popguns
he　carries　in　his　belt；　we　may　even　let　them　land；　and　then
we　shall　recover　the　canoe。〃

〃But　Mabel　　？〃

〃No　fear　for　the　Sergeant's　daughter。　　She　is　safe　in
the　hollow　stump；　you　say；　with　the　opening　judgmatically
hid　by　the　brambles。　　If　what　you　tell　me　of　the　manner
in　which　you　concealed　the　trail　be　true；　the　sweet　one
might　lie　there　a　month　and　laugh　at　the　Mingos。〃

〃