the pathfinder-第44章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


no　more　names　than　a　child　that　dies　before　it　is　chris…
tened。〃

〃Are　you　a　Roman　Catholic？〃　demanded　the　Sergeant
sharply。

〃No；　sir；　nor　anything　else。　　I'm　a　generalizer　about
religion；　never　troubling　that　which　don't　trouble　me。〃

〃Hum！　a　generalizer；　that　is；　no　doubt；　one　of　the　new
sects　that　afflict　the　country；〃　muttered　Mr。　Dunham；
whose　grandfather　had　been　a　New　Jersey　Quaker；　his
father　a　Presbyterian；　and　who　had　joined　the　Church　of
England　himself　after　he　entered　the　army。

〃I　take　it；　John　　〃　resumed　Cap。　　〃Your　name　is　Jack；
I　believe？〃

〃No；　sir；　I　am　called　Robert。〃

〃Ay；　Robert；　it's　very　much　the　same　thing；　Jack　or
Bob；　we　use　the　two　indifferently。　　I　say；　Bob；　it's　good
holding　ground；　is　it；　down　at　this　same　station　for　which
we　are　bound？〃

〃Bless　you；　sir！　　I　know　no　more　about　it　than　one　of　the
Mohawks；　or　a　soldier　of　the　55th。〃

〃Did　you　never　anchor　there？〃

〃Never；　sir。　　Master　Eau…douce　always　makes　fast　to
the　shore。〃

〃But　in　running　in　for　the　town；　you　kept　the　lead
going；　out　of　question；　and　must　have　tallowed　as　usual。〃

〃Tallow！　　and　town；　too！　　Bless　your　heart；　Master
Cap！　there　is　no　more　town　than　there　is　on　your　chin；
and　not　half　as　much　tallow！〃

The　Sergeant　smiled　grimly；　but　his　brother…in…law　did
not　detect　this　proof　of　humor。

〃No　church　tower；　nor　light；　nor　fort；　ha？　　There　is　a
garrison；　as　you　call　it　hereaway；　at　least？〃

〃Ask　Sergeant　Dunham；　sir；　if　you　wish　to　know　that。
All　the　garrison　is　on　board　the　_Scud_。〃

〃But　in　running　in；　Bob；　which　of　the　channels　do　you
think　the　best？　the　one　you　went　last；　or　　or　　or　　ay；　or
the　other？〃

〃I　can't　say；　sir；　I　know　nothing　of　either。〃

〃You　didn't　go　to　sleep；　fellow；　at　the　wheel；　did　you？〃

〃Not　at　the　wheel；　sir；　but　down　in　the　fore…peak　in　my
berth。　　Eau…douce　sent　us　below；　soldiers　and　all；　with　the
exception　of　the　pilot；　and　we　know　no　more　of　the　road
than　if　we　had　never　been　over　it。　　This　he　has　always
done　in　going　in　and　coming　out；　and；　for　the　life　of　me；
I　could　tell　you　nothing　of　the　channel；　or　the　course；　after
we　are　once　fairly　up　with　the　islands。　　No　one　knows
anything　of　either　but　Jasper　and　the　pilot。〃

〃Here　is　a　circumstance　for　you；　Sergeant；〃　said　Cap；
leading　his　brother…in…law　a　little　aside；　〃there　is　no　one
on　board　to　pump；　for　they　all　suck　from　ignorance　at　the
first　stroke　of　the　brake。　　How　the　devil　am　I　to　find　the
way　to　this　station　for　which　we　are　bound？〃

〃Sure　enough；　brother　Cap；　your　question　is　more　easily
put　than　answered。　　Is　there　no　such　thing　as　figuring　it
out　by　navigation？　　I　thought　you　salt…water　mariners
were　able　to　do　as　small　a　thing　as　that。　　I　have　often
read　of　their　discovering　islands；　surely。〃

〃That　you　have；　brother；　that　you　have；　and　this　dis…
covery　would　be　the　greatest　of　them　all；　for　it　would　not
only　be　discovering　one　island；　but　one　island　out　of　a
thousand。〃

〃Still；　the　sailors　of　the　lake　have　a　method　of　finding
the　places　they　wish　to　go　to。〃

〃If　I　have　understood　you；　Sergeant；　this　station　or
block…house　is　particularly　private。〃

〃It　is；　indeed；　the　utmost　care　having　been　taken　to
prevent　a　knowledge　of　its　position　from　reaching　the
enemy。〃

〃And　you　expect　me；　a　stranger　on　your　lake；　to　find
this　place　without　chart；　course；　distance；　latitude；　longi…
tude；　or　soundings；　　ay；　d…　me；　or　tallow！　　Allow　me　to
ask　if　you　think　a　mariner　runs　by　his　nose；　like　one　of
Pathfinder's　hounds？〃

〃Well；　brother；　you　may　yet　learn　something　by　ques…
tioning　the　young　man　at　the　helm；　I　can　hardly　think
that　he　is　as　ignorant　as　he　pretends　to　be。〃

〃Hum！　　this　looks　like　another　circumstance。　　For
that　matter；　the　case　is　getting　to　be　so　full　of　circum…
stances　that　one　hardly　knows　how　to　foot　up　the　evidence。
But　we　will　soon　see　how　much　the　lad　knows。〃

Cap　and　the　Sergeant　now　returned　to　their　station　near
the　helm；　and　the　former　renewed　his　inquiries。

〃Do　you　happen　to　know　what　may　be　the　latitude　and
longitude　of　this　said　island；　my　lad？〃　he　asked。

〃The　what；　sir？〃

〃Why；　the　latitude　or　longitude　　one　or　both；　I'm　not
particular　which；　as　I　merely　inquire　in　order　to　see　how
they　bring　up　young　men　on　this　bit　of　fresh　water。〃

〃I'm　not　particular　about　either　myself；　sir；　and　so　I　do
not　happen　to　know　what　you　mean。〃

〃Not　what　I　mean！　　You　know　what　latitude　is？〃

〃Not　I；　sir！〃　returned　the　man；　hesitating。　　〃Though
I　believe　it　is　French　for　the　upper　lakes。〃

〃Whe…e…e…w…！〃　whistled　Cap；　drawing　out　his
breath　like　the　broken　stop　of　an　organ；　〃latitude；　French
for　upper　lakes！　　Hark'e；　young　man；　do　you　know　what
longitude　means？〃

〃I　believe　I　do；　sir；　that　is；　five　feet　six；　the　regulation
height　for　soldiers　in　the　king's　service。〃

〃There's　the　longitude　found　out　for　you；　Sergeant；　in
the　rattling　of　a　brace…block！　　You　have　some　notion
about　a　degree；　and　minutes　and　seconds；　I　hope？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　degree　means　my　betters；　and　minutes　and
seconds　are　for　the　short　or　long　log…lines。　　We　all　know
these　things　as　well　as　the　salt…water　people。〃

〃D…　me；　brother　Dunham；　if　I　think　even　Faith　can
get　along　on　this　lake；　much　as　they　say　it　can　do　with
mountains。　　Well；　my　lad；　you　understand　the　azimuth；
and　measuring　distances；　and　how　to　box　the　compass。〃

〃As　for　the　first；　sir；　I　can't　say　I　do。　　The　distances　we
all　know；　as　we　measure　them　from　point　to　point；　and
as　for　boxing　the　compass；　I　will　turn　my　back　to　no　ad…
miral　in　his　Majesty's　fleet。　　Nothe；　nothe　and　by　east；
nothe；　nothe…east；　nothe…east　and　by　nothe；　nothe…east；
nothe…east　and　by　east；　east…nothe…east；　east　and　by　nothe…
east　　〃

〃That　will　do；　that　will　do。　　You'll　bring　about　a　shift
of　wind　if　you　go　on　in　this　manner。　　I　see　very　plainly；
Sergeant；〃　walking　away　again；　and　dropping　his　voice；
〃we've　nothing　to　hope　for　from　that　chap。　　I'll　stand
on　two　hours　longer　on　this　tack；　when　we'll　heave…to　and
get　the　soundings；　after　which　we　will　be　governed　by
circumstances。〃

To　this　the　Sergeant　made　no　objections；　and　as　the
wind　grew　lighter；　as　usual　with　the　advance　of　night；　and
there　were　no　immediate　obstacles　to　the　navigation；　he
made　a　bed　of　a　sail　on　deck；　and　was　soon　lost　in　the
sound　sleep　of　a　soldier。　　Cap　continued　to　walk　the　deck；
for　he　was　one　whose　iron　frame　set　fatigue　at　defiance；
and　not　once　that　night　did　he　close　his　eyes。

It　was　broad　daylight　when　Sergeant　Dunham　awoke；
and　the　exclamation　of　surprise　that　escaped　him；　as　he
rose　to　his　feet　and　began　to　look　about　him；　was　stronger
than　it　was　usual　for　one　so　drilled　to　suffer　to　be　heard。
He　found　the　weather　entirely　changed；　the　view　bounded
by　driving　mist　that　limited　the　visible　horizon　to　a　circle
of　about　a　mile　in　diameter；　the　lake　raging　and　covered
with　foam；　and　the　_Scud_　lying…to。　　A　brief　conversation
with　his　brother…in…law　let　him　into　the　secrets　of　all　these
sudden　changes。

According　to　the　account　of　Master　Cap；　the　wind　had
died　away　to　a　calm　about　midnight；　or　just　as　he　was
thinking　of　heaving…to；　to　sound；　for　islands　ahead　were
beginning　to　be　seen。　　At　one　A。M。　it　began　to　blow　from
the　north…east；　accompanied　by　a　drizzle；　and　he　stood　off
to　the　northward　and　westward；　knowing　that　the　coast　of
New　York　lay　in　the　opposite　direction。　　At　half…past
one　he　stowed　the　flying…jib；　reefed　the　mainsail；　and　took
the　bonnet　off　the　jib。　　At　two　he　was　compelled　to　get　a
second　reef　aft；　and　by　half…past　two　he　had　put　a　bal…
ance…reef　in　the　sail；　and　was　lying…to。

〃I　can't　say　but　the　boat　behaves　well；　Sergeant；〃　the
old　sailor　added；　〃but　it　blows　forty…two　pounders。　　I　had
no　idea　there　were　any　such　currents　of　air　up　here　on
this　bit　of　fresh　water；　though　I　care　not　the　knotting　of
a　yarn　for　it；　as　your　lake　has　now　somewhat　of　a　natural
look；　and　if　this　dd　water　had　a　savor　of　salt　about　it；
one　might　be　comfortable。〃

〃How　long　have　you　been　heading　in　this　direction；
brother　Cap？〃　inquired　the　prudent　soldier；　〃and　at
what　rate　may　we　be　going　through　the　water？〃

〃Why；　two　or　three　hours；　mayhap；　and　she　went　like　a
horse　for　the　first　pair　of　them。　　Oh；　we've　a　fine　offing
now！　for；　to　own　the　truth；　little　relishing　the　neighbor…
hood　of　them　said　islands；　although　they　are　to　windward；
I　took　the　helm　myself；　and　run　her　off　free　for　some
league　or　two。　　We　are　well　to　leeward　of　them；　I'll　engage
…　I　say　to　leeward；　for　though　one　might　wish　to　be　well
to　windward　of　one　island；　or　even　half　a　dozen；　when　it
comes　to　a　thousand；　the　better　way　is　to　give　it　up　at
once；　and　to　slide　down　under　their　lee　as　fast　as　possible。
No；　no；　there　they　are　up　yonder　in　the　dingle；　and　there
they　may　stay；　for　anything　Charles　Cap　cares。〃

〃As　the　north　shore　lies　only　some　five　or　six　leagues
from　us；　brother；　and　I　know　there　is　a　large　bay　in　that
quarter；　might　it　not　be　well　to　consult　some　of　the　crew
concerning　our　position；　if；　indeed；　we　do　not　call　up　Jas…
per　Eau…douce；　and　tell　him　to　carry　us　back　to　Oswego？
For　it　is　quite　impossible　we　should　ever　reach　the　station
with　this　wind　directly　in　our　teeth。〃

〃There　are　several　serious　professional　reasons；　Sergeant；
against　all　your　propositions。　　In　the　first　place；　an　ad…
mission　of　ignorance　on　the　part　of　a　commander　would
destroy　discipline。　　No　matter；　brother；　I　understand
your　shake　of　the　head；　but　nothing　capsizes　discipline　so
much　as　to　confess　ignorance。　　I　once　knew　a　master　of　a
vessel　who　went　a　week　on　a　wrong　course　rather　than
allow　he　had　made　a　mistake；　and　it　was　surprising　how
much　he　rose　in　the　opinions　of　his　people；　just　because
they　could　not　understand　him。〃

〃That　may　do　on　salt　water；　brother　Cap；　but　it　will
hardly　do　on　fresh。　　Rather　than　wreck　my　command　on
the　Canada　shore；　I　shall　feel　it　a　duty　to　take　Jasper　out
of　arrest。〃

〃And　make　a　haven　in　Frontenac。　　No；　Sergeant；　the
_Scud_　is　in　good　hands；　and　will　now　learn　something　of
seamanship。　　We　have　a　fine　offing；　and　no　one　but　a　mad…
man　would　think　of　going　upon　a　coast　in　a　gale　like　this。
I　shall　ware　every　watch；　and　then　we　shall　be　safe　against
all　dangers　but　those　of　the　drift；　which；　in　a　light　low
craft　like　this；　without　top…hamper；　will　be　next　to　noth…
ing。　　Leave　it　all　to　me；　Sergeant；　and　I　pledge　you　the
character　of　Charles　Cap　that　all　will　go　well。〃

Sergeant　Dunham　was　fain　to　yield。　　He　had　great　con…
fidence　in　his　connection's　professional　skill；　and　hoped
that　he　would　take　such　care　of　the　cutter　as　would　amply
justify　his　opinion　of　him。　　On　the　other　hand；　as　dis…
trust；　like　care；　grows　by　what　it　feeds　on；　he　entertained
so　much　apprehension　of　treachery；　that　he　was　quite　will…
ing　any　one　but　Jasper　should　just　then　have　the　control
of　the　fate　of　the　whole　party。　　Truth；　moreover；　compels
us　to　admit　another　motive。　　The　particular　duty　on　which
he　was　now　sent　of　right　should　have　been　confided　to　a
commissioned　officer；　and　Major　Duncan　had　excited　a
good　deal　of　discontent　among　the　subalterns　of　the　gar…
rison；　by　having　confided　it　to　one　of　the　Sergeant's　hum…
ble　station。　　To　return