the pathfinder-第54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！


stance　too。　　If　it　were　not　that　Mabel　is　to　be　your　wife；
I　would　advise　you　to　remain　single。　　But　here　is　the　girl
herself；　and　discretion　is　the　word。〃

〃Ah's　me；　Sergeant；　I　fear　you　are　mistaken！〃



CHAPTER　XIX。

Thus　was　this　place
A　happy　rural　seat　of　various　view。
MILTON。


Mabel　was　in　waiting　on　the　beach；　and　the　canoe　was
soon　launched。　　Pathfinder　carried　the　party　out　through
the　surf　in　the　same　skillful　manner　that　he　had　brought
it　in；　and　though　Mabel's　color　heightened　with　excite…
ment；　and　her　heart　seemed　often　ready　to　leap　out　of　her
mouth　again；　they　reached　the　side　of　the　_Scud_　without
having　received　even　a　drop　of　spray。

Ontario　is　like　a　quick…tempered　man；　sudden　to　be　an…
gered；　and　as　soon　appeased。　　The　sea　had　already　fallen；
and　though　the　breakers　bounded　the　shore；　far　as　the　eye
could　reach；　it　was　merely　in　lines　of　brightness；　that　ap…
peared　and　vanished　like　the　returning　waves　produced　by
a　stone　which　had　been　dropped　into　a　pool。　　The　cable
of　the　_Scud_　was　scarcely　seen　above　the　water；　and　Jasper
had　already　hoisted　his　sails；　in　readiness　to　depart　as　soon
as　the　expected　breeze　from　the　shore　should　fill　the　can…
vas。

It　was　just　sunset　as　the　cutter's　mainsail　flapped　and
its　stem　began　to　sever　the　water。　　The　air　was　light　and
southerly；　and　the　head　of　the　vessel　was　kept　looking　up
along　the　south　shore；　it　being　the　intention　to　get　to　the
eastward　again　as　fast　as　possible。　　The　night　that　suc…
ceeded　was　quiet；　and　the　rest　of　those　who　slept　deep　and
tranquil。

Some　difficulty　occurred　concerning　the　command　of
the　vessel；　but　the　matter　had　been　finally　settled　by　an
amicable　compromise。　　As　the　distrust　of　Jasper　was　far
from　being　appeased；　Cap　retained　a　supervisory　power；
while　the　young　man　was　allowed　to　work　the　craft；　sub…
ject；　at　all　times；　to　the　control　and　interference　of　the　old
seaman。　　To　this　Jasper　consented；　in　preference　to　ex…
posing　Mabel　any　longer　to　tbe　dangers　of　their　present
situation；　for；　now　that　the　violence　of　the　elements　had
ceased；　he　well　knew　that　the　_Montcalm_　would　be　in　search
of　them。　　He　had　the　discretion；　however；　not　to　reveal
his　apprehensions　on　this　head；　for　it　happened　that　the
very　means　he　deemed　the　best　to　escape　the　enemy　were
those　which　would　be　most　likely　to　awaken　new　suspi…
cions　of　his　honesty　in　the　minds　of　those　who　held　the
power　to　defeat　his　intentions。　　In　other　words；　Jasper
believed　that　the　gallant　young　Frenchman；　who　com…
manded　the　ship　of　the　enemy；　would　quit　his　anchorage
under　the　fort　at　Niagara；　and　stand　up　the　lake；　as　soon
as　the　wind　abated；　in　order　to　ascertain　the　fate　of　the
_Scud_；　keeping　midway　between　the　two　shores　as　the　best
means　of　commanding　a　broad　view；　and　that；　on　his　part；
it　would　be　expedient　to　hug　one　coast　or　the　other；　not
only　to　avoid　a　meeting；　but　as　affording　a　chance　of　pass…
ing　without　detection　by　blending　his　sails　and　spars　with
objects　on　the　land。　　He　preferred　the　south　because　it
was　the　weather　shore；　and　because　he　thought　it　was　that
which　the　enemy　would　the　least　expect　him　to　take；
though　it　necessarily　led　near　his　settlements；　and　in　front
of　one　of　the　strongest　posts　he　held　in　that　part　of　the
world。

Of　all　this；　however；　Cap　was　happily　ignorant；　and　the
Sergeant's　mind　was　too　much　occupied　with　the　details
of　his　military　trust　to　enter　into　these　niceties；　which　so
properly　belonged　to　another　profession。　　No　opposition
was　made；　therefore；　and　before　morning　Jasper　had　ap…
parently　dropped　quietly　into　all　his　former　authority；　is…
suing　his　orders　freely；　and　meeting　with　obedience　with…
out　hesitation　or　cavil。

The　appearance　of　day　brought　all　on　board　on　deck
again；　and；　as　is　usual　with　adventurers　on　the　water；　the
opening　horizon　was　curiously　examined；　as　objects　started
out　of　the　obscurity；　and　the　panorama　brightened　under
the　growing　light。　　East；　west；　and　north　nothing　was　visi…
ble　but　water　glittering　in　the　rising　sun；　but　southward
stretched　the　endless　belt　of　woods　that　then　held　Ontario
in　a　setting　of　forest　verdure。　　Suddenly　an　opening　ap…
peared　ahead；　and　then　the　massive　walls　of　a　chateau…look…
ing　house；　with　outworks；　bastions；　blockhouses；　and　pali…
sadoes；　frowned　on　a　headland　that　bordered　the　outlet　of
a　broad　stream。　　Just　as　the　fort　became　visible；　a　little
cloud　rose　over　it；　and　the　white　ensign　of　France　was　seen
fluttering　from　a　lofty　flagstaff。

Cap　gave　an　ejaculation　as　he　witnessed　this　ungrateful
exhibition；　and　he　cast　a　quick　suspicious　glance　at　his
brother…in…law。

The　dirty　tablecloth　hung　up　to　air；　as　my　name　is
Charles　Cap！〃　he　muttered；　〃and　we　hugging　this　dd
shore　as　if　it　were　our　wife　and　children　met　on　the　return
from　an　India　v'y'ge！　　Hark'e；　Jasper；　are　you　in　search
of　a　cargo　of　frogs；　that　you　keep　so　near　in　to　this　New
France？〃

〃I　hug　the　land；　sir；　in　the　hope　of　passing　the　enemy's
ship　without　being　seen；　for　I　think　she　must　be　some…
where　down　here　to　leeward。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　this　sounds　well；　and　I　hope　it　may　turn　out　as
you　say。　　I　trust　there　is　no　under…tow　here？〃

〃We　are　on　a　weather　shore；　now；〃　said　Jasper；　smiling；
〃and　I　think　you　will　admit；　Master　Cap；　that　a　strong
under…tow　makes　an　easy　cable：　we　owe　all　our　lives　to　the
under…tow　of　this　very　lake。〃

〃French　flummery！〃　growled　Cap；　though　he　did　not
care　to　be　heard　by　Jasper。　　〃Give　me　a　fair；　honest；
English…Yankee…American　tow；　above　board；　and　above
water　too；　if　I　must　have　a　tow　at　all；　and　none　of　your
sneaking　drift　that　is　below　the　surface；　where　one　can
neither　see　nor　feel。　　I　daresay；　if　the　truth　could　be　come
at；　that　this　late　escape　of　ours　was　all　a　contrived　affair。〃

〃We　have　now　a　good　opportunity；　at　least；　to　recon…
noitre　the　enemy's　post　at　Niagara；　brother；　for　such　I　take
this　fort　to　be；〃　put　in　the　Sergeant。　　〃Let　us　be　all　eyes
in　passing；　and　remember　that　we　are　almost　in　face　of
the　enemy。〃

This　advice　of　the　Sergeant　needed　nothing　to　enforce
it；　for　the　interest　and　novelty　of　passing　a　spot　occupied
by　human　beings　were　of　themselves　sufficient　to　attract
deep　attention　in　that　scene　of　a　vast　but　deserted　nature。
The　wind　was　now　fresh　enough　to　urge　the　_Scud_　through
the　water　with　considerable　velocity；　and　Jasper　eased　her
helm　as　she　opened　the　river；　and　luffed　nearly　into　the
mouth　of　that　noble　strait；　or　river；　as　it　is　termed。　　A
dull；　distant；　heavy　roar　came　down　through　the　opening
in　the　banks；　swelling　on　the　currents　of　the　air；　like　the
deeper　notes　of　some　immense　organ；　and　occasionally
seeming　to　cause　the　earth　itself　to　tremble。

〃That　sounds　like　surf　on　some　long　unbroken　coast！〃
exclaimed　Cap；　as　a　swell；　deeper　than　common；　came　to　his
ears。

〃Ay；　that　is　such　surf　as　we　have　in　this　quarter　of　the
world；〃　Pathfinder　answered。　　〃There　is　no　under…tow
there；　Master　Cap；　but　all　the　water　that　strikes　the　rocks
stays　there；　so　far　as　going　back　again　is　consarned。　　That
is　old　Niagara　that　you　hear；　or　this　noble　stream　tum…
bling　down　a　mountain。〃

〃No　one　will　have　the　impudence　to　pretend　that　this
fine　broad　river　falls　over　yonder　hills？〃

〃It　does；　Master　Cap；　it　does；　and　all　for　the　want　of
stairs；　or　a　road　to　come　down　by。　　This　is　natur'；　as　we
have　it　up　hereaway；　though　I　daresay　you　beat　us　down
on　the　ocean。　　Ah's　me；　Mabel！　a　pleasant　hour　it　would
be　if　we　could　walk　on　the　shore　some　ten　or　fifteen　miles
up　this　stream；　and　gaze　on　all　that　God　has　done　there。〃

〃You　have；　then；　seen　these　renowned　falls；　Path…
finder？〃　the　girl　eagerly　inquired。

〃I　have　　yes；　I　have；　and　an　awful　sight　I　witnessed　at
that　same　time。　　The　Sarpent　and　I　were　out　scouting
about　the　garrison　there；　when　he　told　me　that　the　tradi…
tions　of　his　people　gave　an　account　of　a　mighty　cataract　in
this　neighborhood；　and　he　asked　me　to　vary　from　the　line
of　march　a　little　to　look　at　the　wonder。　　I　had　heard　some
marvels　consarning　the　spot　from　the　soldiers　of　the　60th；
which　is　my　nat'ral　corps　like；　and　not　the　55th；　with
which　I　have　sojourned　so　much　of　late；　but　there　are　so
many　terrible　liars　in　all　rijiments　that　I　hardly　believed
half　they　had　told　me。　　Well；　we　went；　and　though　we
expected　to　be　led　by　our　ears；　and　to　hear　some　of　that
awful　roaring　that　we　hear　to…day；　we　were　disappointed；
for　natur'　was　not　then　speaking　in　thunder；　as　she　is　this
morning。　　Thus　it　is　in　the　forest；　Master　Cap；　there
being　moments　when　God　seems　to　be　walking　abroad　in
power；　and　then；　again；　there　is　a　calm　over　all；　as　if　His
spirit　lay　in　quiet　along　the　'arth。　　Well；　we　came　sud…
denly　upon　the　stream；　a　short　distance　above　the　fall；　and
a　young　Delaware；　who　was　in　our　company；　found　a　bark
canoe；　and　he　would　push　into　the　current　to　reach　an
island　that　lies　in　the　very　centre　of　the　confusion　and
strife。　　We　told　him　of　his　folly；　we　did；　and　we　reasoned
with　him　on　the　wickedness　of　tempting　Providence　by
seeking　danger　that　led　to　no　ind；　but　the　youth　among
the　Delawares　are　very　much　the　same　as　the　youth　among
the　soldiers；　risky　and　vain。　　All　we　could　say　did　not
change　his　mind；　and　the　lad　had　his　way。　　To　me　it　seems；
Mabel；　that　whenever　a　thing　is　really　grand　and　potent；
it　has　a　quiet　majesty　about　it；　altogether　unlike　the　frothy
and　flustering　manner　of　smaller　matters；　and　so　it　was
with　them　rapids。　　The　canoe　was　no　sooner　fairly　in
them；　than　down　it　went；　as　it　might　be；　as　one　sails
through　the　air　on　the　'arth；　and　no　skill　of　the　young
Delaware　could　resist　the　stream。　　And　yet　he　struggled
manfully　for　life；　using　the　paddle　to　the　last；　like　the　deer
that　is　swimming　to　cast　the　hounds。　　At　first　he　shot
across　the　current　so　swiftly；　that　we　thought　he　would
prevail；　but　he　had　miscalculated　his　distance；　and　when
the　truth　really　struck　him；　he　turned　the　head　up…stream；
and　struggled　in　a　way　that　was　fearful　to　look　at。　　I　could
have　pitied　him　even　had　he　been　a　Mingo。　　For　a　few
moments　his　efforts　were　so　frantic　that　he　actually　pre…
vailed　over　the　power　of　the　cataract；　but　natur'　has　its
limits；　and　one　faltering　stroke　of　the　paddle　set　him　back；
and　then　he　lost　ground；　foot　by　foot；　inch　by　inch；　until
he　got　near　the　spot　where　the　river　looked　even　and
green；　and　as　if　it　were　made　of　millions　of　threads　of
water；　all　bent　over　some　huge　rock；　when　he　shot　back…
wards　like　an　arrow　and　disappeared；　the　bow　of　the　canoe
tipping　just　enough　to　let　us　see　what　had　become　of　him。
I　met　a　Mohawk　some　years　later　who　had　witnessed　the
whole　affair　from　the　bed　of　the　stream　below；　and　he　told
me　that　the　Delaware　continued　to　paddle　in　the　air　until
he　was　lost　in　the　mists　of　the　falls。〃

〃And　what　became　of　the　poor　wretch？〃　demanded
Mabel；　who　had　been　strongly　interested　by　the　natural
eloquence　of　the　speaker。

〃He　went　to　the　happy　hunting…grounds　of　his　people；
no　doubt；　for　though　he　was　risky　and　vain；　he　was　also
just　and　brave。　　Yes；　he　died　foolishly；　but　the　Manitou
of　the　red…skins　has　compassion　on　his　creaturs　as　well　as
the　God　of　a　Christian。〃

A　gun　at　this　m