the pathfinder-第47章

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〃I'll　not　say　that；　I'll　not　say　that。　　When　the　danger　is
great；　it　is　my　gift　to　see　it；　and　know　it；　and　to　try　to
avoid　it；　else　would　my　scalp　long　since　have　been　drying
in　a　Mingo　wigwam。　　On　this　lake；　however；　I　can　see　no
trail；　and　I　feel　it　my　duty　to　submit；　though　I　think　we
ought　to　remember　there　is　such　a　person　as　Mabel　Dun…
ham　on　board。　　But　here　comes　her　father；　and　he　will
naturally　feel　for　his　own　child。〃

〃We　are　seriously　situated；　I　believe；　brother　Cap；〃　said
the　Sergeant；　when　he　had　reached　the　spot；　〃by　what　I
can　gather　from　the　two　hands　on　the　forecastle？　　They
tell　me　the　cutter　cannot　carry　any　more　sail；　and　her　drift
is　so　great　we　shall　go　ashore　in　an　hour　or　two。　　I　hope
their　fears　have　deceived　them？〃

Cap　made　no　reply；　but　he　gazed　at　the　land　with　a　rue…
ful　face；　and　then　looked　to　windward　with　an　expression
of　ferocity；　as　if　he　would　gladly　have　quarrelled　with　the
weather。

〃It　may　be　well；　brother；〃　the　Sergeant　continued；　〃to
send　for　Jasper　and　consult　him　as　to　what　is　to　be　done。
There　are　no　French　here　to　dread；　and；　under　all　circum…
stances；　the　boy　will　save　us　from　drowning　if　possible。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　'tis　these　cursed　circumstances　that　have　done
all　the　mischief。　　But　let　the　fellow　come；　let　him　come；
a　few　well…managed　questions　will　bring　the　truth　out　of
him；　I'll　warrant　you。〃

This　acquiescence　on　the　part　of　the　dogmatical　Cap　was
no　sooner　obtained；　than　Jasper　was　sent　for。　　The　young
man　instantly　made　his　appearance；　his　whole　air；　counte…
nance；　and　mien　expressive　of　mortification；　humility；　and；
as　his　observers　fancied；　rebuked　deception。　　When　he　first
stepped　on　deck；　Jasper　cast　one　hurried；　anxious　glance
around；　as　if　curious　to　know　the　situation　of　the　cutter；
and　that　glance　sufficed；　it　would　seem；　to　let　him　into　the
secret　of　all　her　perils。　　At　first　he　looked　to　windward；
as　is　usual　with　every　seaman；　then　he　turned　round　the
horizon；　until　his　eye　caught　a　view　of　the　high　lands　to
leeward；　when　the　whole　truth　burst　upon　him　at　once。

〃I've　sent　for　you；　Master　Jasper；〃　said　Cap；　folding　his
arms；　and　balancing　his　body　with　the　dignity　of　the　fore…
castle；　〃in　order　to　learn　something　about　the　haven　to
leeward。　　We　take　it　for　granted　you　do　not　bear　malice　so
hard　as　to　wish　to　drown　us　all；　especially　the　women；　and
I　suppose　you　will　be　man　enough　to　help　us　run　the　cut…
ter　into　some　safe　berth　until　this　bit　of　a　gale　has　done
blowing！〃

〃I　would　die　myself　rather　than　harm　should　come　to
Mabel　Dunham；〃　the　young　man　earnestly　answered。

〃I　knew　it！　　I　knew　it！〃　cried　the　Pathfinder；　clapping
his　hand　kindly　on　Jasper's　shoulder。　　〃The　lad　is　as　true
as　the　best　compass　that　ever　ran　a　boundary；　or　brought
a　man　off　from　a　blind　trail。　　It　is　a　mortal　sin　to　believe
otherwise。〃

〃Humph！〃　ejaculated　Cap；　〃especially　the　women！
As　if　_they_　were　in　any　particular　danger。　　Never　mind；
young　man；　we　shall　understand　each　other　by　talking
like　two　plain　seamen。　　Do　you　know　of　any　port　under
our　lee？〃

〃None。　　There　is　a　large　bay　at　this　end　of　the　lake；　but
it　is　unknown　to　us　all；　and　not　easy　of　entrance。〃

〃And　this　coast　to　leeward　　it　has　nothing　particular　to
recommend　it；　I　suppose？〃

〃It　is　a　wilderness　until　you　reach　the　mouth　of　the　Ni…
agara　in　one　direction；　and　Frontenac　in　the　other。　　North
and　west；　they　tell　me；　there　is　nothing　but　forest　and
prairies　for　a　thousand　miles。〃

〃Thank　God！　then；　there　can　be　no　French。　　Are　there
many　savages；　hereaway；　on　the　land？〃

〃The　Indians　are　to　be　found　in　all　directions；　though
they　are　nowhere　very　numerous。　　By　accident；　we　might
find　a　party　at　any　point　on　the　shore；　or　we　might　pass
months　there　without　seeing　one。〃

〃We　must　take　our　chauce；　then；　as　to　the　blackguards；
but；　to　be　frank　with　you；　Master　Western；　if　this　little
unpleasant　matter　about　the　French　had　not　come　to　pass；
what　would　you　now　do　with　the　cutter？〃

〃I　am　a　much　younger　sailor　than　yourself；　Master　Cap；〃
said　Jasper　modestly；　〃and　am　hardly　fitted　to　advise　you。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　we　all　know　that。　　In　a　common　case；　perhaps
not。　　But　this　is　an　uncommon　case；　and　a　circumstance；
and　on　this　bit　of　fresh　water　it　has　what　may　be　called　its
peculiarities；　and　so；　everything　considered；　you　may　be
fitted　to　advise　even　your　own　father。　　At　all　events；　you
can　speak；　and　I　can　judge　of　your　opinions；　agreeably　to
my　own　experience。〃

〃I　think；　sir；　before　two　hours　are　over；　the　cutter　will
have　to　anchor。〃

〃Anchor！　　not　out　here　in　the　lake？〃

〃No；　sir；　but　in　yonder；　near　the　land。〃

〃You　do　not　mean　to　say；　Master　Eau…douce；　you　would
anchor　on　a　lee　shore　in　a　gale　of　wind？〃

〃If　I　would　save　my　vessel；　that　is　exactly　what　I　would
do；　Master　Cap。〃

〃Whe…e…e…w！　　this　is　fresh　water；　with　a　vengeance！
Hark'e；　young　man；　I've　been　a　seafaring　animal；　boy　and
man；　forty…one　years；　and　I　never　yet　heard　of　such　a
thing。　　I'd　throw　my　ground…tackle　overboard　before　I
would　be　guilty　of　so　lubberly　an　act！〃

〃That　is　what　we　do　on　this　lake；〃　modestly　replied
Jasper；　〃when　we　are　hard　pressed。　　I　daresay　we　might
do　better；　had　we　been　better　taught。〃

〃That　you　might；　indeed！　　No；　no　man　induces　me　to
commit　such　a　sin　against　my　own　bringing　up。　　I　should
never　dare　show　my　face　inside　of　Sandy　Hook　again；　had
I　committed　so　know…nothing　an　exploit。　　Why；　Path…
finder；　here；　has　more　seamanship　in　him　than　that　comes
to。　　You　can　go　below　again；　Master　Eau…douce。〃

Jasper　quietly　bowed　and　withdrew；　still；　as　he　passed
down　the　ladder；　the　spectators　observed　that　he　cast　a
lingering　anxious　look　at　the　horizon　to　windward　and　the
land　to　leeward；　and　then　disappeared　with　concern　strongly
expressed　in　every　lineament　of　his　face。



CHAPTER　XVII。

His　still　refuted　quirks　he　still　repeats；
New…raised　objections　with　new　quibbles　meets；
Till　sinking　in　the　quicksand　he　defends；
He　dies　disputing；　and　the　contest　ends。
COWPER。


As　the　soldier's　wife　was　sick　in　her　berth；　Mabel　Dun…
ham　was　the　only　person　in　the　outer　cabin　when　Jasper
returned　to　it；　for；　by　an　act　of　grace　in　the　Sergeant；　he
had　been　permitted　to　resume　his　proper　place　in　this　part
of　the　vessel。　　We　should　be　ascribing　too　much　simplicity
of　character　to　our　heroine；　if　we　said　that　she　had　felt
no　distrust　of　the　young　man　in　consequence　of　his　arrest；
but　we　should　also　be　doing　injustice　to　her　warmth　of
feeling　and　generosity　of　disposition；　if　we　did　not　add；
that　this　distrust　was　insignificant　and　transient。　　As　he
now　took　his　seat　near　her；　his　whole　countenance　clouded
with　the　uneasiness　he　felt　concerning　the　situation　of　the
cutter；　everything　like　suspicion　was　banished　from　her
mind；　and　she　saw　in　him　only　an　injured　man。

〃You　let　this　affair　weigh　too　heavily　on　your　mind；
Jasper；〃　said　she　eagerly；　or　with　that　forgetfuluess　of　self
with　which　the　youthful　of　her　sex　are　wont　to　betray
their　feelings　when　a　strong　and　generous　interest　has
attained　the　ascendency；　〃no　one　who　knows　you　can；　or
does；　believe　you　guilty。　　Pathfinder　says　he　will　pledge
his　life　for　you。〃

〃Then　you；　Mabel；〃　returned　the　youth；　his　eyes　flashing
fire；　〃do　not　look　upon　me　as　the　traitor　your　father
seems　to　believe　me　to　be？〃

〃My　dear　father　is　a　soldier；　and　is　obliged　to　act　as　one。
My　father's　daughter　is　not；　and　will　think　of　you　as　she
ought　to　think　of　a　man　who　has　done　so　much　to　serve
her　already。〃

〃Mabel；　I'm　not　used　to　talking　with　one　like　you；　or
saying　all　I　think　and　feel　with　any。　　I　never　had　a　sister；
and　my　mother　died　when　I　was　a　child；　so　that　I　know
little　what　your　sex　most　likes　to　hear　　〃

Mabel　would　have　given　the　world　to　know　what　lay　be…
hind　the　teeming　word　at　which　Jasper　hesitated；　but　the
indefinable　and　controlliug　sense　of　womanly　diffidence
made　her　suppress　her　curiosity。　　She　waited　in　silence
for　him　to　explain　his　own　meaning。

〃I　wish　to　say；　Mabel；〃　the　young　man　continued；　after
a　pause　which　he　found　sufficiently　embarrassing；　〃that
I　am　unused　to　the　ways　and　opinions　of　one　like　you；　and
that　you　must　imagine　all　I　would　add。〃

Mabel　had　imagination　enough　to　fancy　anything；　but
there　are　ideas　and　feelings　that　her　sex　prefer　to　have　ex…
pressed　before　they　yield　them　all　their　own　sympathies；
and　she　had　a　vague　consciousness　that　these　of　Jasper
might　properly　be　enumerated　in　the　class。　　With　a　readi…
ness　that　belonged　to　her　sex；　therefore；　she　preferred
changing　the　discourse　to　permitting　it　to　proceed　any
further　in　a　manner　so　awkward　and　so　unsatisfactory。

〃Tell　me　one　thing；　Jasper；　and　I　shall　be　content；〃　said
she；　speaking　now　with　a　firinness　which　denoted　confi…
dence；　not　only　in　herself；　but　in　her　companion：　〃you　do
not　deserve　this　cruel　suspicion　which　rests　upon　you？〃

〃I　do　not；　Mabel！〃　answered　Jasper；　looking　into　her
full　blue　eyes　with　an　openness　and　simplicity　that　might
have　shaken　stronger　distrust。　　〃As　I　hope　for　mercy
hereafter；　I　do　not！〃

〃I　knew　it　　I　could　have　sworn　it！〃　returned　the　girl
warmly。　　〃And　yet　my　father　means　well；　　but　do　not　let
this　matter　disturb　you；　Jasper。〃

〃There　is　so　much　more　to　apprehend　from　another
quarter　just　now；　that　I　scarcely　think　of　it。〃

〃Jasper！〃

〃I　do　not　wish　to　alarm　you；　Mabel；　but　if　your　uncle
could　be　persuaded　to　change　his　notions　about　handling
the　_Scud_：　and　yet　he　is　so　much　more　experienced　than
I　am；　that　he　ought；　perhaps；　to　place　more　reliance　on　his
own　judgment　than　on　mine。〃

〃Do　you　think　the　cutter　in　any　danger？〃　demanded
Mabel；　quick　as　thought。

〃I　fear　so；　at　least　she　would　have　been　thought　in　great
danger　by　us　of　the　lake；　perhaps　an　old　seaman　of　the
ocean　may　have　means　of　his　own　to　take　care　of　her。〃

〃Jasper；　all　agree　in　giving　you　credit　for　skill　in　man…
aging　the　_Scud_。　　You　know　the　lake；　you　know　the　cut…
ter；　you　_must_　be　the　best　judge　of　our　real　situation。〃

〃My　concern　for　you；　Mabel；　may　make　me　more　cow…
ardly　than　common；　but；　to　be　frank；　I　see　but　one　method
of　keeping　the　cutter　from　being　wrecked　in　the　course　of
the　next　two　or　three　hours；　and　that　your　uncle　refuses　to
take。　　After　all；　this　may　be　my　ignorance；　for；　as　he　says；
Ontario　is　merely　fresh　water。〃

〃You　cannot　believe　this　will　make　any　difference。
Think　of　my　dear　father；　Jasper！　　Think　of　yourself；　of
all　the　lives　that　depend　on　a　timely　word　from　you　to　save
them。〃

〃I　think　of　you；　Mabel；　and　that　is　more；　much　more；
than　all　the　rest　put　together！〃　returned　the　young　man；
with　a　strength　of　expression　and　an　earnestness　of　look
that　uttered　infinitely　more　than　the　words　themselves。

Mabel's　heart　beat　quickly；　and　a　gleam　of　grateful　sat…
isfaction　shot　across　her　blushing　features；　but　the　alarm
was　too　vivid　and　too　serious　to　admit　of　much　relief　from
happier　thoughts。　　She　did　not　attempt　to　repress　a　look
of　gratitude；　and　then　she　returned　to　the　feeling　which
was　naturally　uppermost。

〃My　uncle's　obstinacy　must　not　be　permitted　to　occa…
sion　this　disaster。　　Go　once　more　on　deck；　Jasper；　and
ask　my　father　to　come　into　the