the pathfinder-第45章

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rison；　by　having　confided　it　to　one　of　the　Sergeant's　hum…
ble　station。　　To　return　without　having　even　reached　the
point　of　destination；　therefore；　the　latter　felt　would　be　a
failure　from　which　he　was　not　likely　soon　to　recover；　and
the　measure　would　at　once　be　the　means　of　placing　a　supe…
rior　in　his　shoes。



CHAPTER　XVI。

Thou　glorious　mirror；　where　the　Almighty's　form
Glasses　itself　in　tempests；　in　all　time；
Calm　or　convulsed　　in　breeze；　or　gale；　or　storm；
Icing　the　pole；　or　in　the　torrid　clime
Dark…heaving；　　boundless；　endless；　and　sublime　
The　image　of　eternity；　the　throne
Of　the　Invisible；　even　from　out　thy　slime
The　monsters　of　the　deep　are　made；　each　zone
Obeys　thee；　thou　goest　forth；　dread；　fathomless；　alone。
BYRON。


As　the　day　advanced；　that　portion　of　the　inmates　of　the
vessel　which　had　the　liberty　of　doing　so　appeared　on　deck。
As　yet　the　sea　was　not　very　high；　from　which　it　was　inferred
that　the　cutter　was　still　under　the　lee　of　the　islands；　but
it　was　apparent　to　all　who　understood　the　lake　that　they
were　about　to　experience　one　of　the　heavy　autumnal　gales
of　that　region。　　Land　was　nowhere　visible；　and　the　hori…
zon　on　every　side　exhibited　that　gloomy　void；　which　lends
to　all　views　on　vast　bodies　of　water　the　sublimity　of　mys…
tery。　　The　swells；　or；　as　landsmen　term　them；　the　waves；
were　short　and　curling；　breaking　of　necessity　sooner　than
the　longer　seas　of　the　ocean；　while　the　element　itself；　in…
stead　of　presenting　that　beautiful　hue　which　rivals　the　deep
tint　of　the　southern　sky；　looked　green　and　angry；　though
wanting　in　the　lustre　that　is　derived　from　the　rays　of　the
sun。

The　soldiers　were　soon　satisfied　with　the　prospect；　and
one　by　one　they　disappeared；　until　none　were　left　on　deck
but　the　crew；　the　Sergeant；　Cap；　Pathfinder；　the　Quarter…
master；　and　Mabel。　　There　was　a　shade　on　the　brow　of　the
last；　who　had　been　made　acquainted　with　the　real　state　of
things；　and　who　had　fruitlessly　ventured　an　appeal　in　favor
of　Jasper's　restoration　to　the　command。　　A　night's　rest
and　a　night's　reflection　appeared　also　to　have　confirmed
the　Pathfinder　in　his　opinion　of　the　young　man's　inno…
cence；　and　he；　too；　had　made　a　warm　appeal　on　behalf　of
his　friend；　though　with　the　same　want　of　success。

Several　hours　passed　away；　the　wind　gradually　getting
heavier　and　the　sea　rising；　until　the　motion　of　the　cutter
compelled　Mabel　and　the　Quartermaster　to　retreat　also。
Cap　wore　several　times；　and　it　was　now　evideut　that　the
_Scud_　was　drifting　into　the　broader　and　deeper　parts　of　the
lake；　the　seas　raging　down　upon　her　in　a　way　that　none
but　a　vessel　of　superior　mould　and　build　could　have　long
ridden　and　withstood。　　All　this；　however；　gave　Cap　no
uneasiness；　but；　like　the　hunter　that　pricks　his　ears　at　the
sound　of　the　horn；　or　the　war…horse　that　paws　and　snorts
with　pleasure　at　the　roll　of　the　drum；　the　whole　scene
awakened　all　that　was　man　within　him；　and　instead　of　the
captious；　supercilious；　and　dogmatic　critic；　quarrelling　with
trifles　and　exaggerating　immaterial　things；　he　began　to
exhibit　the　qualities　of　the　hardy　and　experienced　seaman
which　he　truly　was。　　The　hands　soon　imbibed　a　respect
for　his　skill；　and；　though　they　wondered　at　the　disappear…
ance　of　their　old　commander　and　the　pilot；　for　which　no
reason　had　been　publicly　given；　they　soon　yielded　an　im…
plicit　and　cheerful　obedience　to　the　new　one。

〃This　bit　of　fresh　water；　after　all；　brother　Dunham；　has
some　spirit；　I　find；〃　cried　Cap　about　noon；　rubbing　his
hands　in　pure　satisfaction　at　finding　himself　once　more
wrestling　with　the　elements。　　〃The　wind　seems　to　be　an
honest　old…fashioned　gale；　and　the　seas　have　a　fanciful　re…
semblance　to　those　of　the　Gulf　Stream。　　I　like　this；　Ser…
geant；　I　like　this；　and　shall　get　to　respect　your　lake；　if　it
hold　out　twenty…four　hours　longer　in　the　fashion　in　which
it　has　begun。〃

〃Land；　ho！〃　shouted　the　man　who　was　stationed　on　the
forecastle。

Cap　hurried　forward；　and　there；　sure　enough；　the　land
was　visible　through　the　drizzle；　at　the　distance　of　about
half　a　mile；　the　cutter　heading　directly　towards　it。　　The
first　impulse　of　the　old　seaman　was　to　give　an　order　to
〃stand　by；　to　ware　off　shore；〃　but　the　cool…headed　soldier
restrained　him。

〃By　going　a　little　nearer；〃　said　the　Sergeant；　〃some　of
us　may　recognize　the　place。　　Most　of　us　know　the　Ameri…
can　shore　in　this　part　of　the　lake；　and　it　will　be　something
gained　to　learn　our　position。〃

〃Very　true；　very　true；　if；　indeed；　there　is　any　chance　of
that　we　will　hold　on。　　What　is　this　off　here；　a　little　on
our　weather…bow？　　It　looks　like　a　low　headland。〃

〃The　garrison；　by　Jove！〃　exclaimed　the　other；　whose
trained　eye　sooner　recognized　the　military　outlines　than
the　less　instructed　senses　of　his　connection。

The　Sergeant　was　not　mistaken。　　There　was　the　fort；
sure　enough；　though　it　looked　dim　and　indistinct　through
the　fine　rain；　as　if　it　were　seen　in　the　dusk　of　evening　or
the　haze　of　morning。　　The　low；　sodded；　and　verdant　ram…
parts；　the　sombre　palisdes；　now　darker　than　ever　with
water；　the　roof　of　a　house　or　two；　the　tall；　solitary　flagstaff；
with　its　halyards　blown　steadily　out　into　a　curve　that　ap…
peared　traced　in　immovable　lines　in　the　air；　were　all　soon
to　be　seen　though　no　sign　of　animated　life　could　be　dis…
covered。　　Even　the　sentinel　was　housed；　and　at　first　it
was　believed　that　no　eye　would　detect　the　presence　of　their
own　vessel。　　But　the　unceasing　vigilance　of　a　border　gar…
rison　did　not　slumber：　one　of　the　look…outs　probably　made
the　interesting　discovery；　a　man　or　two　were　seen　on　some
elevated　stands；　and　then　the　entire　ramparts　next　the　lake
were　dotted　with　human　beings。

The　whole　scene　was　one　in　which　sublimity　was　singu…
larly　relieved　by　the　picturesque。　　The　raging　of　the　tem…
pest　had　a　character　of　duration　that　rendered　it　easy　to
imagine　it　might　be　a　permanent　feature　of　the　spot。　　The
roar　of　the　wind　was　without　intermission；　and　the　raging
water　answered　to　its　dull　but　grand　strains　with　hissing
spray；　a　menacing　wash；　and　sullen　surges。　　The　drizzle
made　a　medium　for　the　eye　which　closely　resembled　that
of　a　thin　mist；　softening　and　rendering　mysterious　the　im…
ages　it　revealed；　while　the　genial　feeling　that　is　apt　to　ac…
company　a　gale　of　wind　on　water　contributed　to　aid　the
milder　influences　of　the　moment。　　The　dark　interminable
forest　hove　up　out　of　the　obscurity；　grand；　sombre；　and
impressive；　while　the　solitary；　peculiar；　and　picturesque
glimpses　of　life　that　were　caught　in　and　about　the　fort；
formed　a　refuge　for　the　eye　to　retreat　to　when　oppressed
with　the　more　imposing　objects　of　nature。

〃They　see　us；〃　said　the　Sergeant；　〃and　think　we　have
returned　on　account　of　the　gale；　and　have　fallen　to　leeward
of　the　port。　　Yes；　there　is　Major　Duncan　himself　on　the
north…eastern　bastion；　I　know　him　by　his　height；　and　by
the　officers　around　him。〃

〃Sergeant；　it　would　be　worth　standing　a　little　jeering；　if
we　could　fetch　into　the　river；　and　come　safely　to　an　anchor。
In　that　case；　too；　we　might　land　this　Master　Eau…douce；
and　purify　the　boat。〃

〃It　would　indeed；　but；　as　poor　a　sailor　as　I　am；　I　well
know　it　cannot　be　done。　　Nothing　that　sails　the　lake　can
turn　to　windward　against　this　gale；　and　there　is　no　an…
chorage　outside　in　weather　like　this。〃

〃I　know　it；　I　see　it；　Sergeant；　and　pleasant　as　is　that
sight　to　you　landsmen；　we　must　leave　it。　　For　myself；　I
am　never　so　happy　in　heavy　weather　as　when　I　am　certain
that　the　land　is　behind　me。〃

The　_Scud_　had　now　forged　so　near　in；　that　it　became　in…
dispensable　to　lay　her　head　off　shore　again；　and　the　neces…
sary　orders　were　given。　　The　storm…staysail　was　set　forward；
the　gaff　lowered；　the　helm　put　up；　and　the　light　craft；　that
seemed　to　sport　with　the　elements　like　a　duck；　fell　off　a
little；　drew　ahead　swiftly；　obeyed　her　rudder；　and　was　soon
flying　away　on　the　top　of　the　surges；　dead　before　the　gale。
While　making　this　rapid　flight；　though　the　land　still　re…
mained　in　view　on　her　larboard　beam；　the　fort　and　the
groups　of　anxious　spectators　on　its　rampart　were　swallowed
up　in　the　mist。　　Then　followed　the　evolutions　necessary
to　bring　the　head　of　the　cutter　up　to　the　wind；　when　she
again　began　to　wallow　her　weary　way　towards　the　north
shore。

Hours　now　passed　before　any　further　change　was　made；
the　wind　increasing　in　force；　until　even　the　dogmatical
Cap　fairly　admitted　it　was　blowing　a　thorough　gale　of
wind。　　About　sunset　the　_Scud_　wore　again　to　keep　her　off
the　north　shore　during　the　hours　of　darkness；　and　at　mid…
night　her　temporary　master；　who；　by　questioning　the　crew
in　an　indirect　manner；　had　obtained　some　general　knowl…
edge　of　the　size　and　shape　of　the　lake；　believed　himself　to
be　about　midway　between　the　two　shores。　　The　height　and
length　of　the　seas　aided　this　impression；　and　it　must　be
added　that　Cap　by　this　time　began　to　feel　a　respect　for
fresh　water　which　twenty…four　hours　earlier　he　would　have
derided　as　impossible。　　Just　as　the　night　turned；　the　fury
of　the　wind　became　so　great　that　he　found　it　impossible　to
bear　up　against　it；　the　water　falling　on　the　deck　of　the　lit…
tle　craft　in　such　masses　as　to　cause　it　to　shake　to　the　cen…
tre；　and；　though　a　vessel　of　singularly　lively　qualities；　to
threaten　to　bury　it　beneath　its　weight。　　The　people　of　the
_Scud_　averred　that　never　before　had　they　been　out　in　such
a　tempest；　which　was　true；　for；　possessing　a　perfect　knowl…
edge　of　all　the　rivers　and　headlands　and　havens；　Jasper
would　have　carried　the　cutter　in　shore　long　ere　this；　and
placed　her　in　safety　in　some　secure　anchorage。　　But　Cap
still　disdained　to　consult　the　young　master；　who　continued
below；　determining　to　act　like　a　mariner　of　the　broad
ocean。

It　was　one　in　the　morning　when　the　storm…staysail　was
again　got　on　the　_Scud_；　the　head　of　the　mainsail　lowered；
and　the　cutter　put　before　the　wind。　　Although　the　canvas
now　exposed　was　merely　a　rag　in　surface；　the　little　craft
nobly　justified　the　use　of　the　name　she　bore。　　For　eight
hours　did　she　scud　in　truth；　and　it　was　almost　with　the
velocity　of　the　gulls　that　wheeled　wildly　over　her　in　the
tempest；　apparently　afraid　to　alight　in　the　boiling　caldron
of　the　lake。　　The　dawn　of　day　brought　little　change；　for
no　other　horizon　became　visible　than　the　little　circle　of
drizzling　sky　and　water　already　described；　in　which　it
seemed　as　if　the　elements　were　rioting　in　a　sort　of　chaotic
confusion。　　During　this　time　the　crew　and　passengers　of
the　cutter　were　of　necessity　passive。　　Jasper　and　the　pilot
remained　below；　but；　the　motion　of　the　vessel　having　be…
come　easier；　nearly　all　the　rest　were　on　deck。　　The　morn…
ing　meal　had　been　taken　in　silence；　and　eye　met　eye；　as　if
their　owners　asked　each　other；　in　dumb　show；　what　was　to
be　the　end　of　this　strife　in　the　elements。　　Cap；　however；
was　perfectly　composed；　and　his　face　brightened；　his　step
grew　firmer；　and　his　whole　air　more　assured；　as　the　storm
increased；　making　larger　demands　on　his　professional　skill
and　personal　spirit。　　He　stood　on　the　forecastle；　his　arms
crossed；　balancing　his　body　with　a　seaman's　instinct；　while
his　eyes　watched　the　caps　of　the　seas；　as　they　broke　and
glanced　past　t