the pathfinder-第34章

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Sergeant's　daughter　is　saying；　and　she　is　much　too　upright；
and　fair…minded；　and　pretty；　not　to　think　what　she　says。
So　long　as　she　is　satisfied　with　me　as　I　am；　I　shall　not　fly
in　the　face　of　the　gifts　of　Provideuce；　by　striving　to　become
anything　else。　　I　may　seem　useless　here　in　a　garrison；　but
when　we　get　down　among　the　Thousand　Islands；　there　may
be　an　opportunity　to　prove　that　a　sure　rifle　is　sometimes　a
Godsend。〃

〃You　are　then　to　be　of　our　party？〃　said　Mabel；　smiling
so　frankly　and　so　sweetly　on　the　guide　that　he　would　have
followed　her　to　the　end　of　the　earth。　　〃I　shall　be　the　only
female；　with　the　exception　of　one　soldier's　wife；　and　shall
feel　none　the　less　secure；　Pathfinder；　because　you　will　be
among　our　protectors。〃

〃The　Sergeant　would　do　that；　Mabel；　though　you　were
not　of　his　kin。　　No　one　will　overlook　you。　　I　should　think
your　uncle　here　would　like　an　expedition　of　this　sort；
where　we　shall　go　with　sails；　and　have　a　look　at　an　inland
sea？〃

〃Your　inland　sea　is　no　great　matter；　Master　Pathfinder；
and　I　expect　nothing　from　it。　　I　confess；　however；　I　should
like　to　know　the　object　of　the　cruise；　for　one　does　not
wish　to　be　idle；　and　my　brother…in…law；　the　Sergeant；　is　as
close…mouthed　as　a　freemason。　　Do　you　know；　Mabel；　what
all　this　means？〃

〃Not　in　the　least；　uncle。　　I　dare　not　ask　my　father　any
questions　about　his　duty；　for　he　thinks　it　is　not　a　woman's
business；　and　all　I　can　say　is；　that　we　are　to　sail　as　soon
as　the　wind　will　permit；　and　that　we　are　to　be　absent　a
month。〃

〃Perhaps　Master　Pathfinder　can　give　me　a　useful　hint；
for　a　v'y'ge　without　an　object　is　never　pleasant　to　an　old
sailor。〃

〃There　is　no　great　secret；　Saltwater；　concerning　our
port　and　object；　though　it　is　forbidden　to　talk　much　about
either　in　the　garrison。　　I　am　no　soldier；　however；　and　can
use　my　tongue　as　I　please；　though　as　little　given　as　another
to　idle　conversation；　I　hope；　still；　as　we　sail　so　soon；　and
you　are　both　to　be　of　the　party；　you　may　as　well　be　told
where　you　are　to　be　carried。　　You　know　that　there　are
such　things　as　the　Thousand　Islands；　I　suppose；　Master
Cap？〃

〃Ay；　what　are　so　called　hereaway；　though　I　take　it　for
granted　that　they　are　not　real　islauds；　such　as　we　fall　in
with　on　the　ocean；　and　that　the　thousand　means　some
such　matter　as　two　or　three。〃

〃My　eyes　are　good；　and　yet　have　I　often　been　foiled　in
trying　to　count　them　very　islands。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　I've　known　people　who　couldn't　count　beyond
a　certain　number。　　Your　real　land…birds　never　know　their
own　roosts；　even　in　a　land…fall　at　sea。　　How　many　times
have　I　seen　the　beach；　and　houses；　and　churches；　when　the
passengers　have　not　been　able　to　see　anything　but　water！
I　have　no　idea　that　a　man　can　get　fairly　out　of　sight　of
land　on　fresh　water。　　The　thing　appears　to　me　to　be　irra…
tional　and　impossible。〃

〃You　don't　know　the　lakes；　Master　Cap；　or　you　would
not　say　that。　　Before　we　get　to　the　Thousand　Islands；　you
will　have　other　notions　of　what　natur'　has　done　in　this
wilderness。〃

〃I　have　my　doubts　whether　you　have　such　a　thing　as　a
real　island　in　all　this　region。〃

〃We'll　show　you　hundreds　of　them；　not　exactly　a　thou…
sand；　perhaps；　but　so　many　that　eye　cannot　see　them　all；
nor　tongue　count　them。〃

〃I'll　engage；　when　the　truth　comes　to　be　known；　they'll
turn　out　to　be　nothing　but　peninsulas；　or　promontories；　or
continents；　though　these　are　matters；　I　daresay；　of　which
you　know　little　or　nothing。　　But；　islands　or　no　islands；
what　is　the　object　of　the　cruise；　Master　Pathfinder？〃

〃There　can　be　no　harm　in　giving　you　some　idea　of　what
we　are　going　to　do。　　Being　so　old　a　sailor；　Master　Cap；
you've　heard；　no　doubt；　of　such　a　port　as　Frontenac？〃

〃Who　hasn't？　　I　will　not　say　I've　ever　been　inside　the
harbor；　but　I've　frequently　been　off　the　place。〃

〃Then　you　are　about　to　go　upon　ground　with　which
you　are　acquainted。　　These　great　lakes；　you　must　know；
make　a　chain；　the　water　passing　out　of　one　into　the　other；
until　it　reaches　Erie；　which　is　a　sheet　off　here　to　the　west…
ward；　as　large　as　Ontario　itself。　　Well；　out　of　Erie　the　water
comes；　until　it　reaches　a　low　mountain　like；　over　the　edge
of　which　it　passes。〃

〃I　should　like　to　know　how　the　devil　it　can　do　that？〃

〃Why；　easy　enough；　Master　Cap；〃　returned　Pathfinder；
laughing；　〃seeing　that　it　has　only　to　fall　down　hill。　　Had
I　said　the　water　went　_up_　the　mountain；　there　would　have
been　natur'　ag'in　it；　but　we　hold　it　no　great　matter　for
water　to　run　down　hill　　that　is；　_fresh_　water。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　but　you　speak　of　the　water　of　a　lake's　coming
down　the　side　of　a　mountain；　it's　in　the　teeth　of　reason；
if　reason　has　any　teeth。〃

〃Well；　well；　we　will　not　dispute　the　point；　but　what
I've　seen　I've　seen。　　After　getting　into　Ontario；　all　the
water　of　_all_　the　lakes　passes　down　into　the　sea　by　a　river；
and　in　the　narrow　part　of　the　sheet；　where　it　is　neither
river　nor　lake；　lie　the　islands　spoken　of。　　Now　Frontenac
is　a　post　of　the　Frenchers　above　these　same　islands；　and；
as　they　hold　the　garrison　below；　their　stores　and　ammuni…
tion　are　sent　up　the　river　to　Frontenac；　to　be　forwarded
along　the　shores　of　this　and　the　other　lakes；　in　order　to
enable　the　enemy　to　play　his　devilries　among　the　savages；
and　to　take　Christian　scalps。〃

〃And　will　our　presence　prevent　these　horrible　acts？〃
demanded　Mabel；　with　interest。

〃It　may　or　it　may　not；　as　Providence　wills。　　Lundie；　as
they　call　him；　he　who　commands　this　garrison；　sent　a　party
down　to　take　a　station　among　the　islands；　to　cut　off　some
of　the　French　boats；　and　this　expedition　of　ours　will　be
the　second　relief。　　As　yet　they've　not　done　much；　though
two　bateaux　loaded　with　Indian　goods　have　been　taken；
but　a　runner　came　in　last　week；　and　brought　such　tidings
that　the　Major　is　about　to　make　a　last　effort　to　circumvent
the　knaves。　　Jasper　knows　the　way；　and　we　shall　be　in
good　hands；　for　the　Sergeant　is　prudent；　and　of　the　first
quality　at　an　ambushment；　yes；　he　is　both　prudent　and
alert。〃

〃Is　this　all？〃　said　Cap　contemptuously；　〃by　the　prep…
arations　and　equipments；　I　had　thought　there　was　a　forced
trade　in　the　wind；　and　that　an　honest　penny　might　be
turned　by　taking　an　adventure。　　I　suppose　there　are　no
shares　in　your　fresh…water　prize…money？〃

〃Anan？〃

〃I　take　it　for　granted　the　king　gets　all　in　these　soldier…
ing　parties；　and　ambushments；　as　you　call　them。〃

〃I　know　nothing　about　that；　Master　Cap。　　I　take　my
share　of　the　lead　and　powder　if　any　falls　into　our　hands；
and　say　nothing　to　the　king　about　it。　　If　any　one　fares
better；　it　is　not　I；　though　it　is　time　I　did　begin　to　think
of　a　house　and　furniture　and　a　home。〃

Although　the　Pathfinder　did　not　dare　to　look　at　Mabel
while　he　made　this　direct　allusion　to　his　change　of　life；　he
would　have　given　the　world　to　know　whether　she　was　lis…
tening；　and　what　was　the　expression　of　her　countenance。
Mabel　little　suspected　the　nature　of　the　allusion；　however；
and　her　countenance　was　perfectly　unembarrassed　as　she
turned　her　eyes　towards　the　river；　where　the　appearance
of　some　movement　on　board　the　_Scud_　began　to　be　visible。

〃Jasper　is　bringing　the　cutter　out；〃　observed　the　guide；
whose　look　was　drawn　in　the　same　direction　by　the　fall　of
some　heavy　article　on　the　deck。　　〃The　lad　sees　the　signs
of　wind；　no　doubt；　and　wishes　to　be　ready　for　it。〃

〃Ay；　now　we　shall　have　an　opportunity　of　learning
seamanship；〃　returned　Cap；　with　a　sneer。　　〃There　is　a
nicety　in　getting　a　craft　under　her　canvas　that　shows　the
thoroughbred　mariner　as　much　as　anything　else。　　It's　like
a　soldier　buttoning　his　coat；　and　one　can　see　whether　he
begins　at　the　top　or　the　bottom。〃

〃I　will　not　say　that　Jasper　is　equal　to　your　seafarers
below；〃　observed　Pathfinder；　across　whose　upright　mind
an　unworthy　feeling　of　envy　or　of　jealousy　never　passed；
〃but　he　is　a　bold　boy；　and　manages　his　cutter　as　skillfully
as　any　man　can　desire；　on　this　lake　at　least。　　You　didn't
find　him　backwards　at　the　Oswego　Falls；　Master　Cap；
where　fresh　water　contrives　to　tumble　down　hill　with　little
difficulty。〃

Cap　made　no　other　answer　than　a　dissatisfied　ejaculation；
and　then　a　general　silence　followed；　all　on　the　bastion
studying　the　movements　of　the　cutter　with　the　interest
that　was　natural　to　their　own　future　connection　with　the
vessel。　　It　was　still　a　dead　calm；　the　surface　of　the　lake
literally　glittering　with　the　last　rays　of　the　sun。　　The
_Scud_　had　been　warped　up　to　a　kedge　that　lay　a　hundred
yards　above　the　points　of　the　outlet；　where　she　had　room
to　manoeuvre　in　the　river　which　then　formed　the　harbor　of
Oswego。　　But　the　total　want　of　air　prevented　any　such　at…
tempt；　and　it　was　soon　evident　that　the　light　vessel　was　to
be　taken　through　the　passage　under　her　sweeps。　　Not　a　sail
was　loosened；　but　as　soon　as　the　kedge　was　tripped；　the
heavy　fall　of　the　sweeps　was　heard；　when　the　cutter；　with
her　head　up　stream；　began　to　sheer　towards　the　centre　of
the　current；　on　reaching　which；　the　efforts　of　the　men
ceased；　and　she　drifted　towards　the　outlet。　　In　the　narrow
pass　itself　her　movement　was　rapid；　and　in　less　than　five
minutes　the　_Scud_　was　floating　outside　of　the　two　low
gravelly　points　which　intercepted　the　waves　of　the　lake。
No　anchor　was　let　go；　but　the　vessel　continued　to　set　off
from　the　land；　until　her　dark　hull　was　seen　resting　on　the
glossy　surface　of　the　lake；　full　a　quarter　of　a　mile　beyond
the　low　bluff　which　formed　the　eastern　extremity　of　what
might　be　called　the　outer　harbor　or　roadstead。　　Here　the
influence　of　the　river　current　ceased；　and　she　became；　vir…
tually；　stationary。

〃She　seems　very　beautiful　to　me；　uncle；〃　said　Mabel；
whose　gaze　had　not　been　averted　from　the　cutter　for　a
single　moment　while　it　had　thus　been　changing　its　posi…
tion；　〃I　daresay　you　can　find　faults　in　her　appearance；
and　in　the　way　she　is　managed；　but　to　my　ignorance　both
are　perfect。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　she　drops　down　with　a　current　well　enough；
girl；　and　so　would　a　chip。　　But　when　you　come　to　niceties；
all　old　tar　like　myself　has　no　need　of　spectacles　to　find
fault。〃

〃Well；　Master　Cap；〃　put　in　the　guide；　who　seldom　heard
anything　to　Jasper's　prejudice　without　manifesting　a　dis…
position　to　interfere；　〃I've　heard　old　and　experienced　salt…
water　mariners　confess　that　the　_Scud_　is　as　pretty　a　craft
as　floats。　　I　know　nothing　of　such　matters　myself；　but
one　may　have　his　own　notions　about　a　ship；　even　though
they　be　wrong　notions；　and　it　would　take　more　than　one
witness　to　persuade　me　Jasper　does　not　keep　his　boat　in
good　order。〃

〃I　do　not　say　that　the　cutter　is　downright　lubberly；
Master　Pathfinder；　but　she　has　faults；　and　great　faults。〃

〃And　what　are　they；　uncle？　　If　he　knew　them；　Jasper
would　be　glad　to　mend　them。〃

〃What　are　they？　　Why；　fifty；　ay；　for　that　matter　a
hundred。　　Very　material　and　manifest　faults。〃

〃Do　name　them；　sir；　and　Pathfinder　will　mention　them
to　his　friend。〃

〃Name　them！　it　is　no　easy　matter　to　call　off　the　stars；
for　the　simple　reason　that　they　are　so　numerous。　　Name
them；　indeed！　　Why；　my　pretty　niece；　Miss　Magnet；　what
do　you　think　of　that　main…boom　now？　　To　my　ignorant
eyes；　it　is　topped　at　least　a　foot　too　high；　and　then　the
pennant　is　foul；　and　　and