the pathfinder-第37章

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their　qualities；　as　it　might　be。〃

〃A　French　master　is　but　a　poor　instructor　for　a　British
sailor；　notwithstanding。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir：　Jasper　Eau…douce　was　brought
up　under　a　real　English　seaman；　one　that　had　sailed　under
the　king's　pennant；　and　may　be　called　a　thorough…bred；
that　is　to　say；　a　subject　born　in　the　colonies；　but　none　the
worse　at　his　trade；　I　hope；　Major　Duncan；　for　that。〃

〃Perhaps　not；　Sergeant；　perhaps　not；　nor　any　better。
This　Jasper　behaved　well；　too；　when　I　gave　him　the　com…
mand　of　the　_Scud_；　no　lad　could　have　conducted　himself
more　loyally　or　better。〃

〃Or　more　bravely；　Major　Duncan。　　I　am　sorry　to　see；
sir；　that　you　have　doubts　as　to　the　fidelity　of　Jasper。〃

〃It　is　the　duty　of　the　soldier　who　is　entrusted　with　the
care　of　a　distant　and　important　post　like　this；　Dunham；
never　to　relax　in　his　vigilance。　　We　have　two　of　the　most
artful　enemies　that　the　world　has　ever　produced；　in　their
several　ways；　to　contend　with；　　the　Indians　and　the
French；　　and　nothing　should　be　overlooked　that　can　lead
to　injury。〃

〃I　hope　your　honor　considers　me　fit　to　be　entrusted
with　any　particular　reason　that　may　exist　for　doubting
Jasper；　since　you　have　seen　fit　to　entrust　me　with　this
command。〃

〃It　is　not　that　I　doubt　you；　Dunham；　that　I　hesitate　to
reveal　all　I　may　happen　to　know；　but　from　a　strong　re…
luctance　to　circulate　an　evil　report　concerning　one　of
whom　I　have　hitherto　thought　well。　　You　must　think
well　of　the　Pathfinder；　or　you　would　not　wish　to　give　him
your　daughter？〃

〃For　the　Pathfinder's　honesty　I　will　answer　with　my
life；　sir；〃　returned　the　Sergeant　firmly；　and　not　without　a
dignity　of　manner　that　struck　his　superior。　　〃Such　a　man
doesn't　know　how　to　be　false。〃

〃I　believe　you　are　right；　Dunham；　and　yet　this　last　in…
formation　has　unsettled　all　my　old　opinions。　　I　have　re…
ceived　an　anonymous　communication；　Sergeant；　advising
me　to　be　on　my　guard　against　Jasper　Western；　or　Jasper
Eau…douce；　as　he　is　called；　who；　it　alleges；　has　been　bought
by　the　enemy；　and　giving　me　reason　to　expect　that　further
and　more　precise　information　will　soon　be　sent。〃

〃Letters　without　signatures　to　them；　sir；　are　scarcely　to
be　regarded　in　war。〃

〃Or　in　peace；　Dunham。　　No　one　can　entertain　a　lower
opinion　of　the　writer　of　an　anonymous　letter；　in　ordinary
matters；　than　myself；　the　very　act　denotes　cowardice；
meanness；　and　baseness；　and　it　usually　is　a　token　of　false…
hood；　as　well　as　of　other　vices。　　But　in　matters　of　war　it
is　not　exactly　the　same　thing。　　Besides；　several　suspicious
circumstances　have　been　pointed　out　to　me。〃

〃Such　as　is　fit　for　an　orderly　to　hear；　your　honor？〃

〃Certainly；　one　in　whom　I　confide　as　much　as　in　your…
self　Dunham。　　It　is　said；　for　instance；　that　your　daughter
and　her　party　were　permitted　to　escape　the　Iroquois；　when
they　came　in；　merely　to　give　Jasper　credit　with　me。　　I　am
told　that　the　gentry　at　Frontenac　will　care　more　for　the
capture　of　the　_Scud_；　with　Sergeant　Dunham　and　a　party
of　men；　together　with　the　defeat　of　our　favorite　plan；　than
for　the　capture　of　a　girl　and　the　scalp　of　her　uncle。〃

〃I　understand　the　hint；　sir；　but　I　do　not　give　it　credit。
Jasper　can　hardly　be　true；　and　Pathfinder　false；　and；as
for　the　last；　I　would　as　soon　distrust　your　honor　as　distrust
him。〃

〃It　would　seem　so；　Sergeant；　it　would　indeed　seem　so。
But　Jasper　is　not　the　Pathfinder；　after　all；　and　I　will　own；
Dunham；　I　should　put　more　faith　in　the　lad　if　he　didn't
speak　French。〃

〃It's　no　recommendation　in　my　eyes；　I　assure　your
honor；　but　the　boy　learned　it　by　compulsion；　as　it　were；
and　ought　not　to　be　condemned　too　hastily　for　the　cir…
cumstance；　by　your　honor's　leave。〃

〃It's　a　dd　lingo；　and　never　did　any　one　good　　at　least
no　British　subject；　for　I　suppose　the　French　themselves
must　talk　together　in　some　language　or　other。　　I　should
have　much　more　faith　in　this　Jasper；　did　he　know　nothing
of　their　language。　　This　letter　has　made　me　uneasy；　and；
were　there　another　to　whom　I　could　trust　the　cutter；　I
would　devise　some　means　to　detain　him　here。　　I　have
spoken　to　you　already　of　a　brother…in…law；　who　goes　with
you；　Sergeant；　and　who　is　a　sailor？〃

〃A　real　seafaring　man；　your　honor；　and　somewhat　preju…
diced　against　fresh　water。　　I　doubt　if　he　could　be　induced
to　risk　his　character　on　a　lake；　and　I'm　certain　he　never
could　find　the　station。〃

〃The　last　is　probably　true；　and　then；　the　man　cannot
know　enough　of　this　treacherous　lake　to　be　fit　for　the　em…
ployment。　　You　will　have　to　be　doubly　vigilant；　Dunham。
I　give　you　full　powers；　and　should　you　detect　this　Jasper
in　any　treachery；　make　him　a　sacrifice　at　once　to　offended
justice。〃

〃Being　in　the　service　of　the　crown；　your　honor；　he　is
amenable　to　martial　law。〃

〃Very　true；　then　iron　him；　from　his　head　to　his　heels；
and　send　him　up　here　in　his　own　cutter。　　That　brother…
in…law　of　yours　must　be　able　to　find　the　way　back；　after
he　has　once　travelled　the　road。〃

〃I　make　no　doubt；　Major　Duncan；　we　shall　be　able　to
do　all　that　will　be　necessary　should　Jasper　turn　out　as　you
seem　to　anticipate；　though　I　think　I　would　risk　my　life
on　his　truth。〃

〃I　like　your　confidence　　it　speaks　well　for　the　fellow；
but　that　infernal　letter！　there　is　such　an　air　of　truth
about　it；　nay；　there　is　so　much　truth　in　it；　touching　other
matters。〃

〃I　think　your　honor　said　it　wanted　the　name　at　the
bottom；　a　great　omission　for　an　honest　man　to　make。〃

〃Quite　right；　Dunham；　and　no　one　but　a　rascal；　and　a
cowardly　rascal　in　the　bargain；　would　write　an　anonymous
letter　on　private　affairs。　　It　is　different；　however；　in　war；
despatches　are　feigned；　and　artifice　is　generally　allowed　to
be　justifiable。〃

〃Military　manly　artifices；　sir；　if　you　will；　such　as　am…
bushes；　surprises；　feints；　false　attacks；　and　even　spies；　but
I　never　heard　of　a　true　soldier　who　could　wish　to　under…
mine　the　character　of　an　honest　young　man　by　such　means
as　these。〃

〃I　have　met　with　many　strange　events；　and　some
stranger　people；　in　the　course　of　my　experience。　　But　fare
you　well；　Sergeant；　I　must　detain　you　no　longer。　　You
are　now　on　your　guard；　and　I　recommend　to　you　untiring
vigilance。　　I　think　Muir　means　shortly　to　retire；　and；
should　you　fully　succeed　in　this　enterprise；　my　influence
will　not　be　wanting　in　endeavoring　to　put　you　in　the
vacancy；　to　which　you　have　many　claims。〃

〃I　humbly　thank　your　honor；〃　coolly　returned　the　Ser…
geant；　who　had　been　encouraged　in　this　manner　any　time
for　the　twenty　preceding　years；　〃and　hope　I　shall　never
disgrace　my　station；　whatever　it　may　be。　　I　am　what　nature
and　Providence　have　made　me；　and　hope　I'm　satisfied。〃

〃You　have　not　forgotten　the　howitzer？〃

〃Jasper　took　it　on　board　this　morning；　sir。〃

〃Be　wary；　and　do　not　trust　that　man　unnecessarily。
Make　a　confidant　of　Pathfinder　at　once；　he　may　be　of
service　in　detecting　any　villainy　that　may　be　stirring。　　His
simple　honesty　will　favor　his　observation　by　concealing　it。
He　_must_　be　true。〃

〃For　him；　sir；　my　own　head　shall　answer；　or　even　my
rank　in　the　regiment。　　I　have　seen　him　too　often　tried　to
doubt　him。〃

〃Of　all　wretched　sensations；　Dunham；　distrust；　where
one　is　compelled　to　confide；　is　the　most　painful。　　You
have　bethought　you　of　the　spare　flints？〃

〃A　sergeant　is　a　safe　commander　for　all　such　details；
your　honor。〃

〃Well；　then；　give　me　your　hand；　Dunham。　　God　bless
you！　and　may　you　be　successful！　　Muir　means　to　retire；　
by　the　way；　let　the　man　have　an　equal　chance　with　your
daughter；　for　it　may　facilitate　future　operations　about　the
promotion。　　One　would　retire　more　cheerfully　with　such
a　companion　as　Mabel；　than　in　cheerless　widowhood；　and
with　nothing　but　oneself　to　love；　　and　such　a　self；　too；　as
Davy's！〃

〃I　hope；　sir；　my　child　will　make　a　prudent　choice；　and
I　think　her　mind　is　already　pretty　much　made　up　in　favor
of　Pathfinder。　　Still　she　shall　have　fair　play；　though　dis…
obedience　is　the　next　crime　to　mutiny。〃

〃Have　all　the　ammunition　carefully　examined　and　dried
as　soon　as　you　arrive；　the　damp　of　the　lake　may　affect　it。
And　now；　once　more；　farewell；　Sergeant。　　Beware　of　that
Jasper；　and　consult　with　Muir　in　any　difficulty。　　I　shall
expect　you　to　return；　triumphant；　this　day　month。〃

〃God　bless　your　honor！　　If　anything　should　happen　to
me；　I　trust　to　you；　Major　Duncan；　to　care　for　an　old　sol…
dier's　character。〃

〃Rely　on　me；　Dunham　　you　will　rely　on　a　friend。　　Be
vigilant：　remember　you　will　be　in　the　very　jaws　of　the
lion；　　pshaw！　of　no　lion　neither；　but　of　treacherous　tigers：
in　their　very　jaws；　and　beyond　support。　　Have　the　flints
counted　and　examined　in　the　morning　　and　　farewell；
Dunham；　farewell！〃

The　Sergeant　took　the　extended　hand　of　his　superior
with　proper　respect；　and　they　finally　parted；　Lundie　has…
tening　into　his　own　movable　abode；　while　the　other　left
the　fort；　descended　to　the　beach；　and　got　into　a　boat。

It　is　not　to　be　supposed　that　Sergeant　Dunham；　after
he　had　parted　from　his　commanding　officer；　was　likely　to
forget　the　injunctions　he　had　received。　He　thought　highly
of　Jasper　in　general；　but　distrust　had　been　insinuated　be…
tween　his　former　confidence　and　the　obligations　of　duty；
and；　as　he　now　felt　that　everything　depended　on　his　own
vigilance；　by　the　time　the　boat　reached　the　side　of　the　_Scud_
he　was　in　a　proper　humor　to　let　no　suspicious　circumstance
go　unheeded；　or　any　unusual　movement　in　the　young　sailor
pass　without　its　comment。　　As　a　matter　of　course；　he
viewed　things　in　the　light　suited　to　his　peculiar　mood；
and　his　precautions；　as　well　as　his　distrust；　partook　of　the
habits；　opinions；　and　education　of　the　man。

The　_Scud's_　kedge　was　lifted　as　soon　as　the　boat　with　the
Sergeant；　who　was　the　last　person　expected；　was　seen　to
quit　the　shore；　and　the　head　of　the　cutter　was　cast　to　the
eastward　by　means　of　the　sweeps。　　A　few　vigorous　strokes
of　the　latter；　in　which　the　soldiers　aided；　now　sent　the
light　craft　into　the　line　or　the　current　that　flowed　from
the　river；　when　she　was　suffered　to　drift　into　the　offing
again。　　As　yet　there　was　no　wind；　the　light　and　almost
imperceptible　air　from　the　lake；　that　had　existed　previ…
ously　to　the　setting　of　the　sun；　having　entirely　failed。

All　this　time　an　unusual　quiet　prevailed　in　the　cutter。
It　appeared　as　if　those　on　board　of　her　felt　that　they　were
entering　upon　an　uncertain　enterprise；　in　the　obscurity　of
night；　and　that　their　duty；　the　hour；　and　the　manner　of
their　departure　lent　a　solemnity　to　their　movements。　　Dis…
cipline　also　came　in　aid　of　these　feelings。　　Most　were　silent；
and　those　who　did　speak　spoke　seldom　and　in　low　voices。
In　this　manner　the　cutter　set　slowly　out　into　the　lake；　until
she　had　got　as　far　as　the　river　current　would　carry　her；
when　she　became　stationary；　waiting　for　the　usual　land…
breeze。　　An　interval　of　half　an　hour　followed；　during　the
whole　of　which　time　the　_Scud_　lay　as　motionless　as　a　log；
floating　on　the　water。　　While　the　little　changes　just　men…
tioned　were　occurring　in　the　situation　of　the　vessel；　not…
withstanding　the　general　quiet　that　prevailed；　all　conversa…
tion　had　not　been　repressed；　for　Sergeant　Dunham；　having
first　ascertained　that　both　his　daughter　and　her　female
com