the pathfinder-第18章

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at　least　as　it　is　ever　heard　in　uproar　and　gales。　　How　is　it
with　you；　Eau…douce？　you　face　the　tempests　as　well　as
Master　Cap；　and　ought　to　know　something　of　the　feelings
of　storms。〃

〃I　fear　that　I　am　too　young　and　too　inexperienced　to
be　able　to　say　much　on　such　a　subject；〃　modestly　answered
Jasper。

〃But　you　have　your　feelings！〃　said　Mabel　quickly。　　〃You
cannot　　no　one　can　live　among　such　scenes　without　feel…
ing　how　much　they　ought　to　trust　in　God！〃

〃I　shall　not　belie　my　training　so　much　as　to　say　I　do
not　sometimes　think　of　these　things；　but　I　fear　it　is　not　so
often　or　so　much　as　I　ought。〃

〃Fresh　water；〃　resumed　Cap　pithily；　〃you　are　not　to
expect　too　much　of　the　young　man；　Mabel。　　I　think　they
call　you　sometimes　by　a　name　which　would　insinuate　all
this：　Eau…de…vie；　is　it　not？〃

〃Eau…douce；〃　quietly　replied　Jasper；　who　from　sailing
on　the　lake　had　acquired　a　knowledge　of　French；　as　well
as　of　several　of　the　Indian　dialects。　　〃It　is　a　name　the　Iro…
quois　have　given　me　to　distinguish　me　from　some　of　my
companions　who　once　sailed　upon　the　sea；　and　are　fond
of　filling　the　ears　of　the　natives　with　stories　of　their　great
salt…water　lakes。〃

〃And　why　shouldn't　they？　　I　daresay　they　do　the　sav…
ages　no　harm。　　Ay；　ay；　Eau…deuce；　that　must　mean　the
white　brandy；　which　may　well　enough　be　called　the　deuce；
for　deuced　stuff　it　is！〃

〃The　signification　of　Eau…douce　is　sweet…water；　and　it
is　the　manner　in　which　the　French　express　fresh…water；〃
rejoined　Jasper；　a　little　nettled。

〃And　how　the　devil　do　they　make　water　out　of　Eau…in…
deuce；　when　it　means　brandy　in　Eau…de…vie？　　Besides；
among　seamen；　Eau　always　means　brandy；　and　Eau…de…
vie；　brandy　of　a　high　proof。　　I　think　nothing　of　your　ig…
norance；　young　man；　for　it　is　natural　to　your　situation；
and　cannot　be　helped。　　If　you　will　return　with　me；　and
make　a　v'y'ge　or　two　on　the　Atlantic；　it　will　serve　you　a
good　turn　the　remainder　of　your　days；　and　Mabel　there；
and　all　the　other　young　women　near　the　coast；　will　think
all　the　better　of　you　should　you　live　to　be　as　old　as　one　of
the　trees　in　this　forest。〃

〃Nay；　nay；〃　interrupted　the　single…hearted　and　generous
guide；　〃Jasper　wants　not　for　friends　in　this　region；　I　can
assure　you；　and　though　seeing　the　world；　according　to　his
habits；　may　do　him　good　as　well　as　another；　we　shall　think
none　the　worse　of　him　if　he　never　quits　us。　　Eau…douce　or
Eau…de…vie；　he　is　a　brave；　true…hearted　youth；　and　I　always
sleep　as　soundly　when　he　is　on　the　watch　as　if　I　was　up　and
stirring　myself；　ay；　and　for　that　matter；　sounder　too。
The　Sergeant's　daughter　here　doesn't　believe　it　necessary
for　the　lad　to　go　to　sea　in　order　to　make　a　man　of　him；
or　one　who　is　worthy　to　be　respected　and　esteemed。〃

Mabel　made　no　reply　to　this　appeal；　and　she　even　looked
towards　the　western　shore；　although　the　darkness　rendered
the　natural　movements　unnecessary　to　conceal　her　face。
But　Jasper　felt　that　there　was　a　necessity　for　his　saying
something；　the　pride　of　youth　and　manhood　revolting　at　the
idea　of　his　being　in　a　condition　not　to　command　the　re…
spect　of　his　fellows　or　the　smiles　of　his　equals　of　the　other
sex。　　Still　he　was　unwilling　to　utter　aught　that　might　be
considered　harsh　to　the　uncle　of　Mabel；　and　his　self…
command　was　perhaps　more　creditable　than　his　modesty
and　spirit。

〃I　pretend　not　to　things　I　don't　possess；〃　he　said；　〃and
lay　no　claim　to　any　knowledge　of　the　ocean　or　of　naviga…
tion。　　We　steer　by　the　stars　and　the　compass　on　these
lakes；　running　from　headland　to　headland；　and　having
little　need　of　figures　and　calculations；　make　no　use　of
them。　　But　we　have　our　claims　notwithstanding；　as　I　have
often　heard　from　those　who　have　passed　years　on　the
ocean。　　In　the　first　place；　we　have　always　the　land　aboard；
and　much　of　the　time　on　a　lee…shore；　and　that　I　have　fre…
quently　heard　makes　hardy　sailors。　　Our　gales　are　sudden
and　severe；　and　we　are　compelled　to　run　for　our　ports　at
all　hours。〃

〃You　have　your　leads；〃　interrupted　Cap。

〃They　are　of　little　use；　and　are　seldom　cast。〃

〃The　deep…seas。〃

〃I　have　heard　of　such　things；　but　confess　I　never　saw
one。〃

〃Oh！　deuce；　with　a　vengeance。　　A　trader；　and　no　deep…
sea！　　Why；　boy；　you　cannot　pretend　to　be　anything　of　a
mariner。　　Who　the　devil　ever　heard　of　a　seaman　without
his　deep…sea？〃

〃I　do　not　pretend　to　any　particular　skill；　Master　Cap。〃

〃Except　in　shooting　falls；　Jasper；　except　in　shooting
falls　and　rifts；〃　said　Pathfinder；　coming　to　the　rescue；
〃in　which　business　even　you；　Master　Cap；　must　allow　he
has　some　handiness。　　In　my　judgment；　every　man　is　to　be
esteemed　or　condemned　according　to　his　gifts；　and　if
Master　Cap　is　useless　in　running　the　Oswego　Falls；　I　try
to　remember　that　he　is　useful　when　out　of　sight　of　land；
and　if　Jasper　be　useless　when　out　of　sight　of　land；　I　do
not　forget　that　he　has　a　true　eye　and　steady　hand　when
running　the　falls。〃

〃But　Jasper　is　not　useless　　would　not　be　useless　when
out　of　sight　of　land；〃　said　Mabel；　with　a　spirit　and　energy
that　caused　her　clear　sweet　voice　to　be　startling　amid　the
solemn　stillness　of　that　extraordinary　scene。　　〃No　one
can　be　useless　there　who　can　do　so　much　here；　is　what　I
mean；　though；　I　daresay；　he　is　not　as　well　acquainted　with
ships　as　my　uncle。〃

〃Ay；　bolster　each　other　up　in　your　ignorance；〃　returned
Cap　with　a　sneer。　　〃We　seamen　are　so　much　out…
numbered　when　ashore　that　it　is　seldom　we　get　our　dues；
but　when　you　want　to　be　defended；　or　trade　is　to　be　carried
on；　there　is　outcry　enough　for　us。〃

〃But；　uncle；　landsmen　do　not　come　to　attack　our　coasts；
so　that　seamen　only　meet　seamen。〃

〃So　much　for　ignorance！　　Where　are　all　the　enemies
that　have　landed　in　this　country；　French　and　English；　let
me　inquire；　niece？〃

〃Sure　enough；　where　are　they？〃　ejaculated　Pathfinder。
〃None　can　tell　better　than　we　who　dwell　in　the　woods；
Master　Cap。　　I　have　often　followed　their　line　of　march　by
bones　bleaching　in　the　rain；　and　have　found　their　trail　by
graves；　years　after　they　and　their　pride　had　vanished　to…
gether。　　Generals　and　privates；　they　lay　scattered　through…
out　the　land；　so　many　proofs　of　what　men　are　when　led
on　by　their　love　of　great　names　and　the　wish　to　be　more
than　their　fellows。〃

〃I　must　say；　Master　Pathfinder；　that　you　sometimes
utter　opinions　that　are　a　little　remarkable　for　a　man　who
lives　by　the　rifle；　seldom　snuffing　the　air　but　he　smells
gunpowder；　or　turning　out　of　his　berth　but　to　bear　down
on　an　enemy。〃

〃If　you　think　I　pass　my　days　in　warfare　against　my
kind；　you　know　neither　me　nor　my　history。　　The　man
that　lives　in　the　woods　and　on　the　frontiers　must　take　the
chances　of　the　things　among　which　he　dwells。　　For　this　I
am　not　accountable；　being　but　an　humble　and　powerless
hunter　and　scout　and　guide。　　My　real　calling　is　to　hunt
for　the　army；　on　its　marches　and　in　times　of　peace；　al…
though　I　am　more　especially　engaged　in　the　service　of　one
officer；　who　is　now　absent　in　the　settlements；　where　I　never
follow　him。　　No；　no；　bloodshed　and　warfare　are　not　my
real　gifts；　but　peace　and　mercy。　　Still；　I　must　face　the
enemy　as　well　as　another；　and　as　for　a　Mingo；　I　look　upon
him　as　man　looks　on　a　snake；　a　creatur'　to　be　put　beneath
the　heel　whenever　a　fitting　occasion　offers。〃

〃Well；　well；　I　have　mistaken　your　calling；　which　I　had
thought　as　regularly　warlike　as　that　of　a　ship's　gunner。
There　is　my　brother…in…law；　now；　he　has　been　a　soldier
since　he　was　sixteen；　and　he　looks　upon　his　trade　as　every
way　as　respectable　as　that　of　a　seafaring　man；　a　point　I
hardly　think　it　worth　while　to　dispute　with　him。〃

〃My　father　has　been　taught　to　believe　that　it　is　honor…
able　to　carry　arms；〃　said　Mabel；　〃for　his　father　was　a
soldier　before　him。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　resumed　the　guide；　〃most　of　the　Sergeant's
gifts　are　martial；　and　he　looks　at　most　things　in　this　world
over　the　barrel　of　his　musket。　　One　of　his　notions；　now；
is　to　prefer　a　king's　piece　to　a　regular；　double…sighted；
long…barrelled　rifle。　　Such　conceits　will　come　over　men
from　long　habit；　and　prejudice　is；　perhaps；　the　commonest
failing　of　human　natur'。〃

While　the　desultory　conversation　just　related　had　been
carried　on　in　subdued　voices；　the　canoes　were　dropping
slowly　down　with　the　current　within　the　deep　shadows　of
the　western　shore；　the　paddles　being　used　merely　to　pre…
serve　the　desired　direction　and　proper　positions。　　The
strength　of　the　stream　varied　materially；　the　water　being
seemingly　still　in　places；　while　in　other　reaches　it　flowed
at　a　rate　exceeding　two　or　even　three　miles　in　the　hour。
On　the　rifts　it　even　dashed　forward　with　a　velocity　that
was　appalling　to　the　unpractised　eye。　　Jasper　was　of
opinion　that　they　might　drift　down　with　the　current　to
the　mouth　of　the　river　in　two　hours　from　the　time　they
left　the　shore；　and　he　and　the　Pathfinder　had　agreed　on
the　expediency　of　suffering　the　canoes　to　float　of　them…
selves　for　a　time；　or　at　least　until　they　had　passed　the　first
dangers　of　their　new　movement。　　The　dialogue　had　been
carried　on　in　voices；　too；　guardedly　low；　for　though　the
quiet　of　deep　solitude　reigned　in　that　vast　and　nearly
boundless　forest；　nature　was　speaking　with　her　thousand
tongues　in　the　eloquent　language　of　night　in　a　wilderness。
The　air　sighed　through　ten　thousand　trees；　the　water
rippled；　and　at　places　even　roared　along　the　shores；　and
now　and　then　was　heard　the　creaking　of　a　branch　or　a
trunk；　as　it　rubbed　against　some　object　similar　to　itself；
under　the　vibrations　of　a　nicely　balanced　body。　　All　living
sounds　had　ceased。　　Once；　it　is　true；　the　Pathfinder　fancied
he　heard　the　howl　of　a　distant　wolf；　of　which　a　few　prowled
through　these　woods；　but　it　was　a　transient　and　doubtful
cry；　that　might　possibly　have　been　attributed　to　the　imag…
ination。　　When　he　desired　his　companions；　however；　to
cease　talking；　his　vigilant　ear　had　caught　the　peculiar
sound　which　is　made　by　the　parting　of　a　dried　branch　of
a　tree　and　which；　if　his　senses　did　not　deceive　him；　came
from　the　western　shore。　　All　who　are　accustomed　to　that
particular　sound　will　understand　how　reaily　the　ear　re…
ceives　it；　and　how　easy　it　is　to　distinguish　the　tread　which
breaks　the　branch　from　every　other　noise　of　the　forest。

〃There　is　the　footstep　of　a　man　on　the　bank；〃　said
Pathfinder　to　Jasper；　speaking　in　neither　a　whisper　nor
yet　in　a　voice　loud　enough　to　be　heard　at　any　distance。
〃Can　the　accursed　Iroquois　have　crossed　the　river　already；
with　their　arms；　and　without　a　boat？〃

〃It　may　be　the　Delaware。　　He　would　follow　us；　of
course　down　this　bank；　and　would　know　where　to　look　for
us。　　Let　me　draw　closer　into　the　shore；　and　reconnoitre。〃

〃Go　boy　but　be　light　with　the　paddle；　and　on　no　ac…
count　venture　ashore　on　an　onsartainty。〃

〃Is　this　prudent？〃　demanded　Mabel；　with　an　impetu…
osity　that　rendered　her　incautious　in　modulating　her　sweet
voice。

〃Very　imprudent；　if　you　speak　so　loud；　fair　one。　　I　like
your　voice；　which　is　soft　and　pleasing；　after　the　listening　so
long　to　the　tones　of　men；　but　it　must　not　be　heard　too
much；　or　too　freely；　just　now。　　Your　father；　the　honest
Sergeant；　will　tell　you；　when　you　meet　him；　that　silence　is
a　double　virtue　on　a　trail。　　Go；　Jasper；　and　do　justice　to
yo