the pathfinder-第39章

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bear　it　in　mind。　　I　trust　supper　is　not　to　be　overlooked；
however；　even　if　we　have　a　hold　full　of　traitors。〃

〃It　will　be　duly　attended　to；　brother　Cap；　but　I　shall
count　on　you　for　aid　in　managing　the　_Scud_；　should　any…
thing　occur　to　induce　me　to　arrest　Jasper。〃

〃I'll　not　fail　you；　Sergeant；　and　in　such　an　event　you'll
probably　learn　what　this　cutter　can　really　perform；　for；　as
yet；　I　fancy　it　is　pretty　much　matter　of　guesswork。〃

〃Well；　for　my　part；〃　said　Pathfinder；　drawing　a　heavy
sigh；　〃I　shall　cling　to　the　hope　of　Jasper's　innocence；　and
recommend　plain　dealing；　by　asking　the　lad　himself；　with…
out　further　delay；　whether　he　is　or　is　not　a　traitor。　　I'll
put　Jasper　Western　against　all　the　presentiments　and　cir…
cumstances　in　the　colony。〃

〃That　will　never　do；〃　rejoined　the　Sergeant。　　〃The　re…
sponsibility　of　this　affair　rests　with　me；　and　I　request　and
enjoin　that　nothing　be　said　to　any　one　without　my　knowl…
edge。　　We　will　all　keep　watchful　eyes　about　us；　and　take
proper　note　of　circumstances。〃

〃Ay；　ay！　circumstances　are　the　things　after　all；〃　re…
turned　Cap。　　〃One　circumstance　is　worth　fifty　facts。　　That
I　know　to　be　the　law　of　the　realm。　　Many　a　man　has　been
hanged　on　circumstances。〃

The　conversation　now　ceased；　and；　after　a　short　delay；
the　whole　party　returned　to　the　deck；　each　individual　dis…
posed　to　view　the　conduct　of　the　suspected　Jasper　in　the
manner　most　suited　to　his　own　habits　and　character。



CHAPTER　XIV。

Even　such　a　man；　so　faint；　so　spiritless；
So　dull；　so　dead　in　look；　so　woe…begone；
Drew　Priam's　Curtain　in　the　dead　of　night；
And　would　have　told　him；　half　his　Troy　was　burned。
SHAKESPEARE。


All　this　time　matters　were　elsewhere　passing　in　their
usual　train。　　Jasper；　like　the　weather　and　his　vessel；　seemed
to　be　waiting　for　the　land…breeze；　while　the　soldiers；　ac…
customed　to　early　rising；　had；　to　a　man；　sought　their　pallets
in　the　main　hold。　　None　remained　on　deck　but　the　people
of　the　cutter；　Mr。　Muir；　and　the　two　females。　　The　Quar…
termaster　was　endeavoring　to　render　himself　agreeable　to
Mabel；　while　our　heroine　herself；　little　affected　by　his　as…
siduities；　which　she　ascribed　partly　to　the　habitual　gallantry
of　a　soldier；　and　partly；　perhaps；　to　her　own　pretty　face；
was　enjoying　the　peculiarities　of　a　scene　and　situation
which；　to　her；　were　full　of　the　charms　of　novelty。

The　sails　had　been　hoisted；　but　as　yet　not　a　breath　of
air　was　in　motion；　and　so　still　and　placid　was　the　lake；
that　not　the　smallest　motion　was　perceptible　in　the　cutter。
She　had　drifted　in　the　river…current　to　a　distance　a　little
exceeding　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　land；　and　there　she
lay；　beautiful　in　her　symmetry　and　form；　but　like　a　fix…
ture。　　Young　Jasper　was　on　the　quarter…deck；　near　enough
to　hear　occasionally　the　conversation　which　passed；　but
too　diffident　of　his　own　claim；　and　too　intent　on　his　duties；
to　attempt　to　mingle　in　it。　　The　fine　blue　eyes　of　Mabel
followed　his　motions　in　curious　expectation；　and　more　than
once　the　Quartermaster　had　to　repeat　his　compliments
before　she　heard　them；　so　intent　was　she　on　the　little　oc…
currences　of　the　vessel；　and；　we　might　add；　so　indifferent
to　the　eloquence　of　her　companion。　　At　length；　even　Mr。
Muir　became　silent；　and　there　was　a　deep　stillness　on　the
water。　　Presently　an　oar…blade　fell　in　a　boat　beneath　the
fort；　and　the　sound　reached　the　cutter　as　distinctly　as　if　it
had　been　produced　on　her　deck。　　Then　came　a　murmur；
like　a　sigh　of　the　night；　a　fluttering　of　the　canvas；　the
creaking　of　the　boom；　and　the　flap　of　the　jib。　　These　well…
known　sounds　were　followed　by　a　slight　heel　in　the　cutter；
and　by　the　bellying　of　all　the　sails。

〃Here's　the　wind；　Anderson；〃　called　out　Jasper　to　the
oldest　of　his　sailors；　〃take　the　helm。〃

This　brief　order　was　obeyed；　the　helm　was　put　up；　the
cutter's　bows　fell　off；　and　in　a　few　minutes　the　water　was
heard　murmuring　under　her　head；　as　the　_Scud_　glanced
through　the　lake　at　the　rate　of　five　miles　in　the　hour。　　All
this　passed　in　profound　silence；　when　Jasper　again　gave
the　order　to　〃ease　off　the　sheets　a　little　and　keep　her
along　the　land。〃

It　was　at　this　instant　that　the　party　from　the　after…cabin
reappeared　on　the　quarter…deck。

〃You've　no　inclination；　Jasper　lad；　to　trust　yourself　too
near　our　neighbours　the　French；〃　observed　Muir；　who　took
that　occasion　to　recommence　the　discourse。　　〃Well；　well；
your　prudence　will　never　be　questioned　by　me；　for　I　like
the　Canadas　as　little　as　you　can　possibly　like　them　yourself。〃

〃I　hug　this　shore；　Mr。　Muir；　on　account　of　the　wind。
The　land…breeze　is　always　freshest　close　in；　provided　you
are　not　so　near　as　to　make　a　lee　of　the　trees。　　We　have
Mexico　Bay　to　cross；　and　that；　on　the　present　course；　will
give　us　quite　offing　enough。〃

〃I'm　right　glad　it's　not　the　Bay　of　Mexico；〃　put　in　Cap；
〃which　is　a　part　of　the　world　I　would　rather　not　visit　in
one　of　your　inland　craft。　　Does　your　cutter　bear　a　weather
helm；　master　Eau…douce？〃

〃She　is　easy　on　her　rudder；　master　Cap；　but　likes　look…
ing　up　at　the　breeze　as　well　as　another；　when　in　lively
motion。〃

〃I　suppose　you　have　such　things　as　reefs；　though　you
can　hardly　have　occasion　to　use　them？〃

Mabel's　bright　eye　detected　the　smile　that　gleamed　for
an　instant　on　Jasper's　handsome　face；　but　no　one　else　saw
that　momentary　exhibition　of　surprise　and　contempt。

〃We　have　reefs；　and　often　have　occasion　to　use　them；〃
quietly　returned　the　young　man。　　〃Before　we　get　in；　Mas…
ter　Cap；　an　opportunity　may　offer　to　show　you　the　manner
in　which　we　do　so；　for　there　is　easterly　weather　brewing；
and　the　wind　cannot　chop；　even　on　the　ocean　itself；　more
readily　than　it　flies　round　on　Lake　Ontario。〃

〃So　much　for　knowing　no　better！　　I　have　seen　the　wind
in　the　Atlantic　fly　round　like　a　coach…wheel；　in　a　way　to
keep　your　sails　shaking　for　an　hour；　and　the　ship　would
become　perfectly　motionless　from　not　knowing　which　way
to　turn。〃

〃We　have　no　such　sudden　changes　here；　certainly；〃
Jasper　mildly　answered；　〃though　we　think　ourselves　liable
to　unexpected　shifts　of　wind。　　I　hope；　however；　to　carry
this　land…breeze　as　far　as　the　first　islands；　after　which
there　will　be　less　danger　of　our　being　seen　and　followed　by
any　of　the　look…out　boats　from　Frontenac。〃

〃Do　you　thiuk　the　French　keep　spies　out　on　the　broad
lake；　Jasper？〃　inquired　the　Pathfinder。

〃We　know　they　do；　one　was　off　Oswego　during　the
night　of　Monday　last。　　A　bark　canoe　came　close　in　with
the　eastern　point；　and　landed　an　Indian　and　an　officer。
Had　you　been　outlying　that　night；　as　usual；　we　should　have
secured　one；　if　not　both　of　them。〃

It　was　too　dark　to　betray　the　color　that　deepened　on　the
weather…burnt　features　of　the　guide；　for　he　felt　the　con…
sciousness　of　having　lingered　in　the　fort　that　night；　listen…
ing　to　the　sweet　tones　of　Mabel's　voice　as　she　sang　ballads
to　her　father；　and　gazing　at　the　countenance　which；　to
him；　was　radiant　with　charms。　　Probity　in　thought　and
deed　being　the　distinguishing　quality　of　this　extraordinary
man's　mind；　while　he　felt　that　a　sort　of　disgrace　ought　to
attach　to　his　idleness　on　the　occasion　mentioned；　the　last
thought　that　could　occur　would　be　to　attempt　to　palliate
or　deny　his　negligence。

〃I　confess　it；　Jasper；　I　confess　it；〃　said　he　humbly。
〃Had　I　been　out　that　night；　　and　I　now　recollect　no　suffi…
cient　reason　why　I　was　not；　　it　might；　indeed；　have　turned
out　as　you　say。〃

〃It　was　the　evening　you　passed　with　us；　Pathfinder；〃
Mabel　innocently　remarked；　〃surely　one　who　lives　so　much
of　his　time　in　the　forest；　in　front　of　the　enemy；　may　be
excused　for　giving　a　few　hours　of　his　time　to　an　old　friend
and　his　daughter。〃

〃Nay；　nay；　I've　done　little　else　but　idle　since　we　reached
the　garrison；〃　returned　the　other；　sighing；　〃and　it　is　well
that　the　lad　should　tell　me　of　it：　the　idler　needs　a　rebuke
…　yes；　he　needs　a　rebuke。〃

〃Rebuke；　Pathfinder！　　I　never　dreamt　of　saying　any…
thing　disagreeable；　and　least　of　all　would　I　think　of　re…
buking　you；　because　a　solitary　spy　and　an　Indian　or　two
have　escaped　us。　　Now　I　know　where　you　were；　I　think
your　absence　the　most　natural　thing　in　the　world。〃

〃I　think　nothing　of　what　you　said；　Jasper；　since　it　was
deserved。　　We　are　all　human；　and　all　do　wrong。〃

〃This　is　unkind；　Pathfinder。〃

〃Give　me　your　hand；　lad；　give　me　your　hand。　　It　wasn't
you　that　gave　the　lesson；　it　was　conscience。〃

〃Well；　well；〃　interrupted　Cap；　〃now　this　latter　matter
is　settled　to　the　satisfaction　of　all　parties；　perhaps　you　will
tell　us　how　it　happened　to　be　known　that　there　were　spies
near　us　so　lately。　　This　looks　amazingly　like　a　circum…
stance。〃

As　the　mariner　uttered　the　last　sentence；　he　pressed　a
foot　slily　on　that　of　the　Sergeant；　and　nudged　the　guide
with　his　elbow；　winking　at　the　same　time；　though　this　sign
was　lost　in　the　obscurity。

〃It　is　known；　because　their　trail　was　found　next　day　by
the　Serpent；　and　it　was　that　of　a　military　boot　and　a　moc…
cassin。　　One　of　our　hunters；　moreover；　saw　the　canoe　cross…
ing　towards　Frontenac　next　morning。〃

〃Did　the　trail　lead　near　the　garrison；　Jasper？〃　Path…
finder　asked　in　a　manner　so　meek　and　subdued　that　it　re…
sembled　the　tone　of　a　rebuked　schoolboy。　　〃Did　the　trail
lead　near　the　garrison；　lad？〃

〃We　thought　not；　though；　of　course；　it　did　not　cross
the　river。　　It　was　followed　down　to　the　eastern　point；　at
the　river's　mouth；　where　what　was　doing　in　port；　might　be
seen；　but　it　did　not　cross；　as　we　could　discover。〃

〃And　why　didn't　you　get　under　weigh；　Master　Jasper；〃
Cap　demanded；　〃and　give　chase？　　On　Tuesday　morning
it　blew　a　good　breeze；　one　in　which　this　cutter　might　have
run　nine　knots。〃

〃That　may　do　on　the　ocean；　Master　Cap；〃　put　in　Path…
finder；　〃but　it　would　not　do　here。　　Water　leaves　no　trail；
and　a　Mingo　and　a　Frenchman　are　a　match　for　the　devil
in　a　pursuit。〃

〃Who　wants　a　trail　when　the　chase　can　be　seen　from
the　deck；　as　Jasper　here　said　was　the　case　with　this　canoe？
and　it　mattered　nothing　if　there　were　twenty　of　your　Mingos
and　Frenchmen；　with　a　good　British…built　bottom　in　their
wake。　　I'll　engage；　Master　Eau…douce；　had　you　given　me　a
call　that　said　Tuesday　morning；　that　we　should　have　over…
hauled　the　blackguards。〃

〃I　daresay；　Master　Cap；　that　the　advice　of　as　old　a　sea…
man　as　you　might　have　done　no　harm　to　as　young　a　sailor
as　myself；　but　it　is　a　long　and　a　hopeless　chase　that　has　a
bark　canoe　in　it。〃

〃You　would　have　had　only　to　press　it　hard；　to　drive　it
ashore。〃

〃Ashore；　master　Cap！　　You　do　not　understand　our　lake
navigation　at　all；　if　you　suppose　it　an　easy　matter　to　force
a　bark　canoe　ashore。　　As　soon　as　they　find　themselves
pressed；　these　bubbles　paddle　right　into　the　wind's　eye；　and
before　you　know　it；　you　find　yourself　a　mile　or　two　dead
under　their　lee。〃

〃You　don't　wish　me　to　believe；　Master　Jasper；　that　any
one　is　so　heedless　of　drowning　as　to　put　off　into　this　lake
in　one　of　them　eggshells　when　there　is　any　wind？〃

〃I　have　often　crossed　Ontario　in　a　bark　canoe；　even
when　there　has　been　a　good　deal　of　sea　on。　　Well　managed；
they　are　the　driest　boats　of　which　we　have　any　knowl…
edge。〃

Cap　now　led　his　brother…in…law　and　Pathfinder　aside；
when　he