the pathfinder-第21章

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ing；　as　she　stood　on　the　solitary　bastion；　facing　the　air
from　the　lake；　and　experiencing　the　genial　influence　of
its　freshness　pervading　both　her　body　and　her　mind。
〃How　very　beautiful！　and　yet　how　singular！〃

The　words；　and　the　train　of　her　ideas；　were　interrupted
by　a　touch　of　a　finger　on　her　shoulder；　and　turning；　in　the
expectation　of　seeing　her　father；　Mabel　found　Pathfinder
at　her　side。　　He　was　leaning　quietly　on　his　long　rifle；　and
laughing　in　his　quiet　manner；　while；　with　an　outstretched
arm；　he　swept　over　the　whole　panorama　of　land　and　water。

〃Here　you　have　both　our　domains；〃　said　he；　　〃Jasper's
and　mine。　　The　lake　is　for　him；　and　the　woods　are　for
me。　　The　lad　sometimes　boasts　of　the　breadth　of　his
dominions；　but　I　tell　him　my　trees　make　as　broad　a
plain　on　the　face　of　this　'arth　as　all　his　water。　　Well；
Mabel；　you　are　fit　for　either；　for　I　do　not　see　that　fear　of
the　Mingos；　or　night…marches；　can　destroy　your　pretty
looks。〃

〃It　is　a　new　character　for　the　Pathfinder　to　appear　in；
to　compliment　a　silly　girl。〃

〃Not　silly；　Mabel；　no；　not　in　the　least　silly。　　The　Ser…
geant's　daughter　would　do　discredit　to　her　worthy　father；
were　she　to　do　or　say　anything　that　could　be　called　silly。〃

〃Then　she　must　take　care　and　not　put　too　much　faith　in
treacherous；　flattering　words。　　But；　Pathfinder；　I　rejoice　to
see　you　among　us　again；　for；　though　Jasper　did　not　seem
to　feel　much　uneasiness；　I　was　afraid　some　accident　might
have　happened　to　you　and　your　friend　on　that　frightful
rift。〃

〃The　lad　knows　us　both；　and　was　sartain　that　we
should　not　drown；　which　is　scarcely　one　of　my　gifts。　　It
would　have　been　hard　swimming　of　a　sartainty；　with　a
long…barrelled　rifle　in　the　hand；　and　what　between　the
game；　and　the　savages　and　the　French；　Killdeer　and　I
have　gone　through　too　much　in　company　to　part　very
easily。　　No；　no；　we　waded　ashore；　the　rift　being　shallow
enough　for　that　with　small　exceptions；　and　we　landed　with
our　arms　in　our　hands。　　We　had　to　take　our　time　for　it；
on　account　of　the　Iroquois；　I　will　own；　but；　as　soon　as　the
skulking　vagabonds　saw　the　lights　that　the　Sergeant　sent
down　to　your　canoe；　we　well　understood　they　would
decamp；　since　a　visit　might　have　been　expected　from　some
of　the　garrison。　　So　it　was　only　sitting　patiently　on　the
stones　for　an　hour；　and　all　the　danger　was　over。　　Patience
is　the　greatest　of　virtues　in　a　woodsman。〃

〃I　rejoice　to　hear　this；　for　fatigue　itself　could　scarcely
make　me　sleep；　for　thinking　of　what　might　befall　you。〃

〃Lord　bless　your　tender　little　heart；　Mabel！　but　this　is
the　way　with　all　you　gentle　ones。　　I　must　say；　on　my　part；
however；　that　I　was　right　glad　to　see　the　lanterns　come
down　to　the　waterside；　which　I　knew　to　be　a　sure　sign　of
_your_　safety。　　We　hunters　and　guides　are　rude　beings；　but
we　have　our　feelings　and　our　idees；　as　well　as　any　general
in　the　army。　　Both　Jasper　and　I　would　have　died　before
you　should　have　come　to　harm　　we　would。〃

〃I　thank　you　for　all　you　did　for　me；　Pathfinder；　from
the　bottom　of　my　heart；　I　thank　you；　and；　depend　on　it；
my　father　shall　know　it。　　I　have　already　told　him　much；
but　have　still　a　duty　to　perform　on　this　subject。〃

〃Tush；　Mabel！　　The　Sergeant　knows　what　the　woods
be；　and　what　men　　true　red　men　　be；　too。　　There　is　lit…
tle　need　to　tell　him　anything　about　it。　　Well；　now　you
have　met　your　father；　do　you　find　the　honest　old　soldier
the　sort　of　person　you　expected　to　find　？〃

〃He　is　my　own　dear　father；　and　received　me　as　a　soldier
and　a　father　should　receive　a　child。　　Have　you　known　him
long；　Pathfinder？〃

〃That　is　as　people　count　time。　　I　was　just　twelve　when
the　Sergeant　took　me　on　my　first　scouting；　and　that　is
now　more　than　twenty　years　ago。　　We　had　a　tramping　time
of　it；　and；　as　it　was　before　your　day；　you　would　have　had
no　father；　had　not　the　rifle　been　one　of　my　natural　gifts。〃

〃Explain　yourself。〃

〃It　is　too　simple　for　many　words。　　We　were　ambushed；
and　the　Sergeant　got　a　bad　hurt；　and　would　have　lost　his
scalp；　but　for　a　sort　of　inbred　turn　I　took　to　the　weapon。
We　brought　him　off；　however；　and　a　handsomer　head　of
hair；　for　his　time　of　life；　is　not　to　be　found　in　the　rijiment
than　the　Sergeant　carries　about　with　him　this　blessed　day。〃

〃You　saved　my　father's　life；　Pathfinder！〃　exclaimed
Mabel；　unconsciously；　though　warmly；　taking　one　of　his
hard；　sinewy　hands　into　both　her　own。　　〃God　bless　you
for　this；　too；　among　your　other　good　acts！〃

〃Nay；　I　did　not　say　that　much；　though　I　believe　I　did
save　his　scalp。　　A　man　might　live　without　a　scalp；　and　so
I　cannot　say　I　saved　his　life。　　Jasper　may　say　that　much
consarning　you；　for　without　his　eye　and　arm　the　canoe
would　never　have　passed　the　rift　in　safety　on　a　night　like
the　last。　　The　gifts　of　the　lad　are　for　the　water；　while
mine　are　for　the　hunt　and　the　trail。　　He　is　yonder；　in　the
cove　there；　looking　after　the　canoes；　and　keeping　his　eye
on　his　beloved　little　craft。　　To　my　eye；　there　is　no　likelier
youth　in　these　parts　than　Jasper　Western。〃

For　the　first　time　since　she　had　left　her　room；　Mabel
now　turned　her　eyes　beneath　her；　and　got　a　view　of　what
might　be　called　the　foreground　of　the　remarkable　picture
she　had　been　studying　with　so　much　pleasure。　　The
Oswego　threw　its　dark　waters　into　the　lake；　between　banks
of　some　height；　that　on　its　eastern　side　being　bolder　and
projecting　farther　north　than　that　on　its　western。　　The
fort　was　on　the　latter；　and　immediately　beneath　it　were　a
few　huts　of　logs；　which；　as　they　could　not　interfere　with
the　defence　of　the　place；　had　been　erected　along　the　strand
for　the　purpose　of　receiving　and　containing　such　stores　as
were　landed；　or　were　intended　to　be　embarked；　in　the
communications　between　the　different　ports　on　the　shores
of　Ontario。　　Two　low；　curved；　gravelly　points　had　been
formed　with　surprising　regularity　by　the　counteracting
forces　of　the　northerly　winds　and　the　swift　current；　and；
inclining　from　the　storms　of　the　lake；　formed　two　coves
within　the　river：　that　on　the　western　side　was　the　most
deeply　indented；　and；　as　it　also　had　the　most　water；　it
formed　a　sort　of　picturesque　little　port　for　the　post。　　It
was　along　the　narrow　strand　that　lay　between　the　low
height　of　the　fort　and　the　water　of　this　cove；　that　the　rude
buildings　just　mentioned　had　been　erected。

Several　skiffs；　bateaux；　and　canoes　were　hauled　up　on
the　shore；　and　in　the　cove　itself　lay　the　little　craft　from
which　Jasper　obtained　his　claim　to　be　considered　a　sailor。
She　was　cutter…rigged；　might　have　been　of　forty　tons　bur…
then；　was　so　neatly　constructed　and　painted　as　to　have
something　of　the　air　of　a　vessel　of　war；　though　entirely
without　quarters；　and　rigged　and　sparred　with　so　scrupu…
lous　a　regard　to　proportions　and　beauty；　as　well　as　fitness
and　judgment；　as　to　give　her　an　appearance　that　even
Mabel　at　once　distinguished　to　be　gallant　and　trim。　　Her
mould　was　admirable；　for　a　wright　of　great　skill　had　sent
her　drafts　from　England；　at　the　express　request　of　the
officer　who　had　caused　her　to　be　constructed；　her　paint
dark；　warlike；　and　neat；　and　the　long　coach…whip　pennant
that　she　wore　at　once　proclaimed　her　to　be　the　property
of　the　king。　　Her　name　was　the　_Scud_。

〃That；　then；　is　the　vessel　of　Jasper！〃　said　Mabel；　who
associated　the　master　of　the　little　craft　very　naturally　with
the　cutter　itself。　　〃Are　there　many　others　on　this　lake？〃

〃The　Frenchers　have　three：　one　of　which；　they　tell　me；
is　a　real　ship；　such　as　are　used　on　the　ocean；　another　a
brig；　and　a　third　is　a　cutter；　like　the　_Scud_　here；　which
they　call　the　_Squirrel_；　in　their　own　tongue；　however；　and
which　seems　to　have　a　natural　hatred　of　our　own　pretty
boat；　for　Jasper　seldom　goes　out　that　the　_Squirrel_　is　not
at　his　heels。〃

〃And　is　Jasper　one　to　run　from　a　Frenchman；　though
he　appears　in　the　shape　of　a　squirrel；　and　that；　too；　on　the
water？〃

〃Of　what　use　would　valor　be　without　the　means　of
turning　it　to　account？　　Jasper　is　a　brave　boy；　as　all　on　this
frontier　know；　but　he　has　no　gun　except　a　little　howitzer；
and　then　his　crew　consists　only　of　two　men　besides　him…
self；　and　a　boy。　　I　was　with　him　in　one　of　his　trampooses；
and　the　youngster　was　risky　enough；　for　he　brought　us
so　near　the　enemy　that　rifles　began　to　talk；　but　the
Frenchers　carry　cannon　and　ports；　and　never　show　their
faces　outside　of　Frontenac；　without　having　some　twenty
men；　besides　their　_Squirrel_；　in　their　cutter。　　No；　no；　this
_Scud_　was　built　for　flying；　and　the　major　says　he　will　not
put　her　in　a　fighting　humor　by　giving　her　men　and　arms；
lest　she　should　take　him　at　his　word；　and　get　her　wings
clipped。　　I　know　little　of　these　things；　for　my　gifts　are
not　at　all　in　that　way；　but　I　see　the　reason　of　the　thing　
I　see　its　reason；　though　Jasper　does　not。〃

〃Ah！　here　is　my　uncle；　none　the　worse　for　his　swim；
coming　to　look　at　this　inland　sea。〃

Sure　enough；　Cap；　who　had　announced　his　approach　by
a　couple　of　lusty　hems；　now　made　his　appearance　on　the
bastion；　where；　after　nodding　to　his　neice　and　her　com…
panion；　he　made　a　deliberate　survey　of　the　expanse　of
water　before　him。　　In　order　to　effect　this　at　his　ease；　the
mariner　mounted　on　one　of　the　old　iron　guns；　folded　his
arms　across　his　breast；　and　balanced　his　body；　as　if　he　felt
the　motion　of　a　vessel。　　To　complete　the　picture；　he　had
a　short　pipe　in　his　mouth。

〃Well；　Master　Cap；〃　asked　the　Pathfinder　innocently；　for
he　did　not　detect　the　expression　of　contempt　that　was
gradually　settling　on　the　features　of　the　other；　〃is　it　not
a　beautiful　sheet；　and　fit　to　be　named　a　sea？〃

〃This；　then；　is　what　you　call　your　lake？〃　demanded
Cap；　sweeping　the　northern　horizon　with　his　pipe。　　〃I
say；　is　this　really　your　lake？〃

〃Sartain；　and；　if　the　judgment　of　one　who　has　lived　on
the　shores　of　many　others　can　be　taken；　a　very　good　lake
it　is。〃

〃Just　as　I　expected。　　A　pond　in　dimensions；　and　a
scuttle…butt　in　taste。　　It　is　all　in　vain　to　travel　inland；　in
the　hope　of　seeing　anything　either　full…grown　or　useful。
I　knew　it　would　turn　out　just　in　this　way。〃

〃What　is　the　matter…with　Ontario；　Master　Cap？　　It　is
large；　and　fair　to　look　at；　and　pleasant　enough　to　drink；
for　those　who　can't　get　at　the　water　of　the　springs。〃

〃Do　you　call　this　large？〃　asked　Cap；　again　sweeping
the　air　with　the　pipe。　　〃I　will　just　ask　you　what　there　is
large　about　it？　　Didn't　Jasper　himself　confess　that　it　was
only　some　twenty　leagues　from　shore　to　shore？〃

〃But；　uncle；〃　interposed　Mabel；　〃no　land　is　to　be　seen；
except　here　on　our　own　coast。　　To　me　it　koks　exactly　like
the　ocean。〃

〃This　bit　of　a　pond　look　like　the　ocean！　　Well；　Magnet；
that　from　a　girl　who　has　had　real　seamen　in　her　family　is
downright　nonsense。　　What　is　there　about　it；　pray；　that
has　even　the　outline　of　a　sea　on　it？〃

〃Why；　there　is　water　　water　　water　　nothing　but
water；　for　miles　on　miles　　far　as　the　eye　can　see。〃

〃And　isn't　there　water　　water　　water　　nothing　but
water　for　miles　on　miles　in　your　rivers；　that　you　have　been
canoeing　through；　too？　　ay；　and　'as　far　as　the　eye　can　see；'
in　the　bargain？〃

〃Yes；　uncle；　but　the　rivers　have　their　banks；　and　there
are　trees　along　them；　and　they　are　narrow。〃

〃And　isn't　this　a　bank　where　we　stand？　do