the pathfinder-第46章

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crossed；　balancing　his　body　with　a　seaman's　instinct；　while
his　eyes　watched　the　caps　of　the　seas；　as　they　broke　and
glanced　past　the　reeling　cutter；　itself　in　such　swift　motion；
as　if　they　were　the　scud　flying　athwart　the　sky。　　At　this
sublime　instant　one　of　the　hands　gave　the　unexpected　cry
of　〃A　sail！〃

There　was　so　much　of　the　wild　and　solitary　character　of
the　wilderness　about　Ontario；　that　one　scarcely　expected
to　meet　with　a　vessel　on　its　waters。　　The　_Scud_　herself；　to
those　who　were　in　her；　resembled　a　man　threading　the
forest　alone；　and　the　meeting　was　like　that　of　two　solitary
hunters　beneath　the　broad　canopy　of　leaves　that　then　cov…
ered　so　many　millions　of　acres　on　the　continent　of　America。
The　peculiar　state　of　the　weather　served　to　increase　the
romantic；　almost　supernatural　appearance　of　the　passage。
Cap　alone　regarded　it　with　practised　eyes；　and　even　he　felt
his　iron　nerves　thrill　under　the　sensations　that　were　awak…
ened　by　the　wild　features　of　the　scene。

The　strange　vessel　was　about　two　cables'　length　ahead　of
the　_Scud_；　standing　by　the　wind　athwart　her　bows；　and
steering　a　course　to　render　it　probable　that　the　latter　would
pass　within　a　few　yards　of　her。　　She　was　a　full…rigged　ship；
and；　seen　through　the　misty　medium　of　the　tempest；　the
most　experienced　eye　could　detect　no　imperfection　in　her
gear　or　construction。　　The　only　canvas　she　had　set　was　a
close…reefed　main…topsail；　and　two　small　storm…staysails；
one　forward　and　the　other　aft。　　Still　the　power　of　the
wind　pressed　so　hard　upon　her　as　to　bear　her　down　nearly
to　her　beam…ends；　whenever　the　hull　was　not　righted　by
the　buoyancy　of　some　wave　under　her　lee。　　Her　spars　were
all　in　their　places；　and　by　her　motion　through　the　water；
which　might　have　equalled　four　knots　in　the　hour；　it　was
apparent　that　she　steered　a　little　free。

〃The　fellow　must　know　his　position　well；〃　said　Cap；　as
the　cutter　flew　down　towards　the　ship　with　a　velocity
almost　equalling　that　of　the　gale；　〃for　he　is　standing　boldly
to　the　southward；　where　he　expects　to　find　anchorage　or　a
haven。　　No　man　in　his　senses　would　run　off　free　in　that
fashion；　that　was　not　driven　to　scudding；　like　ourselves；
who　did　not　perfectly　understand　where　he　was　going。〃

〃We　have　made　an　awful　run；　captain；〃　returned　the
man　to　whom　this　remark　had　been　addressed。　　〃That　is
the　French　king's　ship；　Lee…my…calm　（_Le　Montcalm_）；　and
she　is　standing　in　for　the　Niagara；　where　her　owner　has　a
garrison　and　a　port。　　We've　made　an　awful　run　of　it！〃

〃Ay；　bad　luck　to　him！　　Frenchman…like；　he　skulks　into
port　the　moment　he　sees　an　English　bottom。〃

〃It　might　be　well　for　us　if　we　could　follow　him；〃　re…
turned　the　man；　shaking　his　head　despondingly；　〃for　we
are　getting　into　the　end　of　a　bay　up　here　at　the　head　of
the　lake；　and　it　is　uncertain　whether　we　ever　get　out　of　it
again！〃

〃Pooh；　man；　pooh！　　We　have　plenty　of　sea　room；　and　a
good　English　hull　beneath　us。　　We　are　no　Johnny　Crapauds
to　hide　ourselves　behind　a　point　or　a　fort　on　account　of　a
puff　of　wind。　　Mind　your　helm；　sir！〃

The　order　was　given　on　account　of　the　menacing　appear…
ance　of　the　approaching　passage。　　The　_Scud_　was　now　head…
ing　directly　for　the　fore…foot　of　the　Frenchman；　and；　the
distance　between　the　two　vessels　having　diminished　to　a
hundred　yards；　it　was　momentarily　questionable　if　there
was　room　to　pass。

〃Port；　sir；　port；〃　shouted　Cap。　　〃Port　your　helm　and
pass　astern！〃

The　crew　of　the　Frenchman　were　seen　assembling　to
windward；　and　a　few　muskets　were　pointed；　as　if　to　order
the　people　of　the　_Scud_　to　keep　off。　　Gesticulations　were
observed；　but　the　sea　was　too　wild　and　menacing　to　admit
of　the　ordinary　expedients　of　war。　　The　water　was　drip…
ping　from　the　muzzles　of　two　or　three　light　guns　on　board
the　ship；　but　no　one　thought　of　loosening　them　for　service
in　such　a　tempest。　　Her　black　sides；　as　they　emerged　from
a　wave；　glistened　and　seemed　to　frown；　but　the　wind
howled　through　her　rigging；　whistling　the　thousand　notes
of　a　ship；　and　the　hails　and　cries　that　escape　a　Frenchman
with　so　much　readiness　were　inaudible。

〃Let　him　halloo　himself　hoarse！〃　growled　Cap。　　〃This
is　no　weather　to　whisper　secrets　in。　　Port；　sir；　port！〃

The　man　at　the　helm　obeyed；　and　the　next　send　of　the
sea　drove　the　_Scud_　down　upon　the　quarter　of　the　ship；　so
near　her　that　the　old　mariner　himself　recoiled　a　step；　in　a
vague　expectation　that；　at　the　next　surge　ahead；　she　would
drive　bows　foremost　directly　into　the　planks　of　the　other
vessel。　　But　this　was　not　to　be：　rising　from　the　crouching
posture　she　had　taken；　like　a　panther　about　to　leap；　the
cutter　dashed　onward；　and　at　the　next　instant　she　was
glancing　past　the　stern　of　her　enemy；　just　clearing　the　end
of　her　spanker…boom　with　her　own　lower　yard。

The　young　Frenchman　who　commanded　the　_Montcalm_
leaped　on　the　taffrail；　and；　with　that　high…toned　courtesy
which　relieves　even　the　worst　acts　of　his　countrymen；　he
raised　his　cap　and　smiled　a　salutation　as　the　_Scud_　shot
past。　　There　were　_bonhomie_　and　good　taste　in　this　act　of
courtesy；　when　circumstances　allowed　of　no　other　commu…
nications；　but　they　were　lost　on　Cap；　who；　with　an　instinct
quite　as　true　to　his　race；　shook　his　fist　menacingly；　and
muttered　to　himself；　

〃Ay；　ay；　it's　dd　lucky　for　you　I've　no　armament　on
board　here；　or　I'd　send　you　in　to　get　new　cabin…windows
fitted。　　Sergeant；　he's　a　humbug。〃

〃'Twas　civil；　brother　Cap；〃　returned　the　other；　lowering
his　hand　from　the　military　salute　which　his　pride　as　a　sol…
dier　had　induced　him　to　return；　　〃'twas　civil；　and　that's
as　much　as　you　can　expect　from　a　Frenchman。　　What　he
really　meant　by　it　no　one　can　say。〃

〃He　is　not　heading　up　to　this　sea　without　an　object；
neither。　　Well；　let　him　run　in；　if　he　can　get　there；　we　will
keep　the　lake；　like　hearty　English　mariners。〃

This　sounded　gloriously；　but　Cap　eyed　with　envy　the
glittering　black　mass　of　the　_Montcalm's_　hull；　her　waving
topsail；　and　the　misty　tracery　of　her　spars；　as　she　grew　less
and　less　distinct；　and　finally　disappeared　in　the　drizzle；　in
a　form　as　shadowy　as　that　of　some　unreal　image。　　Gladly
would　he　have　followed　in　her　wake　had　he　dared；　for；　to
own　the　truth；　the　prospect　of　another　stormy　night　in　the
midst　of　the　wild　waters　that　were　raging　around　him
brought　little　consolation。　　Still　he　had　too　much　profes…
sional　pride　to　betray　his　uneasiness；　and　those　under　his
care　relied　on　his　knowledge　and　resources；　with　the　im…
plicit　and　blind　confidence　that　the　ignorant　are　apt　to　feel。

A　few　hours　succeeded；　and　darkness　came　again　to
increase　the　perils　of　the　_Scud_。　　A　lull　in　the　gale；　how…
ever；　had　induced　Cap　to　come　by　the　wind　once　more；　and
throughout　the　night　the　cutter　was　lying…to　as　before；
head…reaching　as　a　matter　of　course；　and　occasionally　war…
ing　to　keep　off　the　land。　　It　is　unnecessary　to　dwell　on　the
incidents　of　this　night；　which　resembled　those　of　any　other
gale　of　wind。　　There　were　the　pitching　of　the　vessel；　the
hissing　of　the　waters；　the　dashing　of　spray；　the　shocks
that　menaced　annihilation　to　the　little　craft　as　she　plunged
into　the　seas；　the　undying　howl　of　the　wind；　and　the　fear…
ful　drift。　　The　last　was　the　most　serious　danger；　for；
though　exceedingly　weatherly　under　her　canvas；　and　to…
tally　without　top…hamper；　the　_Scud_　was　so　light；　that　the
combing　of　the　swells　would　seem　at　times　to　wash　her
down　to　leeward　with　a　velocity　as　great　as　that　of　the
surges　themselves。

During　this　night　Cap　slept　soundly；　and　for　several
hours。　　The　day　was　just　dawning　when　he　felt　himself
shaken　by　the　shoulder；　and　arousing　himself；　he　found
the　Pathfinder　standing　at　his　side。　　During　the　gale　the
guide　had　appeared　little　on　deck；　for　his　natural　modesty
told　him　that　seamen　alone　should　interfere　with　the　man…
agement　of　the　vessel；　and　he　was　willing　to　show　the
same　reliance　on　those　who　had　charge　of　the　_Scud_；　as　he
expected　those　who　followed　through　the　forest　to　mani…
fest　in　his　own　skill；　but　he　now　thought　himself　justified
in　interfering；　which　he　did　in　his　own　unsophisticated
and　peculiar　manner。

〃Sleep　is　sweet；　Master　Cap；〃　said　he；　as　soon　as　the　eyes
of　the　latter　were　fairly　open；　and　his　consciousness　had
sufficiently　returned；　　〃sleep　is　sweet；　as　I　know　from　ex…
perience；　but　life　is　sweeter　still。　　Look　about　you；　and　say
if　this　is　exactly　the　moment　for　a　commander　to　be　off
his　feet。〃

〃How　now？　how　now；　Master　Pathfinder？〃　growled
Cap；　in　the　first　moments　of　his　awakened　faculties。　　〃Are
you；　too；　getting　on　the　side　of　the　grumblers？　　When
ashore　I　admired　your　sagacity　in　running　through　the
worst　shoals　without　a　compass；　and　since　we　have　been
afloat；　your　meekness　and　submission　have　been　as　pleas…
ant　as　your　confidence　on　your　own　ground。　　I　little　ex…
pected　such　a　summons　from　you。〃

〃As　for　myself；　Master　Cap；　I　feel　I　have　my　gifts；　and
I　believe　they'll　interfere　with　those　of　no　other　man；　but
the　case　may　be　different　with　Mabel　Dunham。　　She　has
her　gifts；　too；　it　is　true；　but　they　are　not　rude　like　ours；
but　gentle　and　womanish；　as　they　ought　to　be。　　It's　on
her　account　that　I　speak；　and　not　on　my　own。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　I　begin　to　understand。　　The　girl　is　a　good　girl；
my　worthy　friend；　but　she　is　a　soldier's　daughter　and　a
sailor's　niece；　and　ought　not　to　be　too　tame　or　too　tender
in　a　gale。　　Does　she　show　any　fear？〃

〃Not　she！　not　she！　　Mabel　is　a　woman；　but　she　is　rea…
sonable　and　silent。　　Not　a　word　have　I　heard　from　her
concerning　our　doings；　though　I　do　think；　Master　Cap；
she　would　like　it　better　if　Jasper　Eau…douce　were　put　into
his　proper　place；　and　things　were　restored　to　their　old　sit…
uation；　like。　　This　is　human　natur'。〃

〃I'll　warrant　it　　girl…like；　and　Dunham…like；　too。　　Any…
thing　is　better　than　an　old　uncle；　and　everybody　knows
more　than　an　old　seaman。　　_This_　is　human　natur'；　Master
Pathfinder；　and　d…　me　if　I'm　the　man　to　sheer　a　fathom；
starboard　or　port；　for　all　the　human　natur'　that　can　be
found　in　a　minx　of　twenty　　ay；　or〃　（lowering　his　voice　a
little）　〃for　all　that　can　be　paraded　in　his　Majesty's　55th
regiment　of　foot。　　I've　not　been　at　sea　forty　years；　to　come
up　on　this　bit　of　fresh　water　to　be　taught　human　natur'。
How　this　gale　holds　out！　　It　blows　as　hard　at　this　moment
as　if　Boreas　had　just　clapped　his　hand　upon　the　bellows。
And　what　is　all　this　to　leeward？〃　（rubbing　his　eyes）　
〃land！　as　sure　as　my　name　is　Cap　　and　high　land；　too。〃

The　Pathfinder　made　no　immediate　answer；　but；　shak…
ing　his　head；　he　watched　the　expression　of　his　companion's
face；　with　a　look　of　strong　anxiety　in　his　own。

〃Land；　as　certain　as　this　is　the　_Scud！_〃　repeated　Cap；
〃a　lee　shore；　and　that；　too；　within　a　league　of　us；　with　as
pretty　a　line　of　breakers　as　one　could　find　on　the　beach　of
all　Long　Island！〃

〃And　is　that　encouraging？　or　is　it　disheartening？〃　in…
quired　the　Pathfinder。

〃Ha！　encouraging　　disheartening！　　why；　neither。　　No；
no；　there　is　nothing　encouraging　about　it；　and　as　for　dis…
heartening；　nothing　ought　to　dishearten　a　seaman。　　You
never　get　disheartened　or　afraid　in　the　woods；　my　friend？〃

〃I'll　not　say　that；　I'll　not　say　that。　　When　the　danger　i