the pathfinder-第55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！


of　the　red…skins　has　compassion　on　his　creaturs　as　well　as
the　God　of　a　Christian。〃

A　gun　at　this　moment　was　discharged　from　a　blockhouse
near　the　fort；　and　the　shot；　one　of　light　weight；　came
whistling　over　the　cutter's　mast；　an　admonition　to　ap…
proach　no　nearer。　　Jasper　was　at　the　helm；　and　he　kept
away；　smiling　at　the　same　time　as　if　he　felt　no　anger　at
the　rudeness　of　the　salutation。　　The　_Scud_　was　now　in　the
current；　and　her　outward　set　soon　carried　her　far　enough
to　leeward　to　avoid　the　danger　of　a　repetition　of　the　shot；
and　then　she　quietly　continued　her　course　along　the　land。
As　soon　as　the　river　was　fairly　opened；　Jasper　ascertained
that　the　_Montcalm_　was　not　at　anchor　in　it；　and　a　man
sent　aloft　came　down　with　the　report　that　the　horizon
showed　no　sail。　　The　hope　was　now　strong　that　the　artifice
of　Jasper　had　succeeded；　and　that　the　French　commander
had　missed　them　by　keeping　the　middle　of　the　lake　as　he
steered　towards　its　head。

All　that　day　the　wind　hung　to　the　southward；　and　the
cutter　continued　her　course　about　a　league　from　the　land；
running　six　or　eight　knots　the　hour　in　perfectly　smooth
water。　　Although　the　scene　had　one　feature　of　monotony；
the　outline　of　unbroken　forest；　it　was　not　without　its　in…
terest　and　pleasures。　　Various　headlands　presented　them…
selves；　and　the　cutter；　in　running　from　one　to　another；
stretched　across　bays　so　deep　as　almost　to　deserve　the
name　of　gulfs。　　But　nowhere　did　the　eye　meet　with　the
evidences　of　civilization；　rivers　occasionally　poured　their
tribute　into　the　great　reservoir　of　the　lake；　but　their　banks
could　be　traced　inland　for　miles　by　the　same　outlines　of
trees；　and　even　large　bays；　that　lay　embosomed　in　woods；
communicating　with　Ontario　only　by　narrow　outlets；　ap…
peared　and　disappeared；　without　bringing　with　them　a　sin…
gle　trace　of　a　human　habitation。

Of　all　on　board；　the　Pathfinder　viewed　the　scene　with
the　most　unmingled　delight。　　His　eyes　feasted　on　the　end…
less　line　of　forest；　and　more　than　once　that　day；　notwith…
standing　he　found　it　so　grateful　to　be　near　Mabel；　listen…
ing　to　her　pleasant　voice；　and　echoing；　in　feelings　at　least；
her　joyous　laugh；　did　his　soul　pine　to　be　wandering　be…
neath　the　high　arches　of　the　maples；　oaks；　and　lindens；
where　his　habits　had　induced　him　to　fancy　lasting　and
true　joys　were　only　to　be　found。　　Cap　viewed　the　prospect
differently；　more　than　once　he　expressed　his　disgust　at
there　being　no　lighthouses；　church…towers；　beacons；　or　road…
steads　with　their　shipping。　　Such　another　coast；　he　pro…
tested；　the　world　did　not　contain；　and；　taking　the　Ser…
geant　aside；　he　gravely　assured　him　that　the　region　could
never　come　to　anything；　as　the　havens　were　neglected；　the
rivers　had　a　deserted　and　useless　look；　and　that　even　the
breeze　had　a　smell　of　the　forest　about　it；　which　spoke　ill
of　its　properties。

But　the　humors　of　the　different　individuals　in　her　did
not　stay　the　speed　of　the　_Scud：_　when　the　sun　was　setting；
she　was　already　a　hundred　miles　on　her　route　towards
Oswego；　into　which　river　Sergeant　Dunham　now　thought
it　his　duty　to　go；　in　order　to　receive　any　communications
that　Major　Duncan　might　please　to　make。　　With　a　view
to　effect　this　purpose；　Jasper　continued　to　hug　the　shore
all　night；　and　though　the　wind　began　to　fail　him　towards
morning；　it　lasted　long　enough　to　carry　the　cutter　up　to　a
point　that　was　known　to　be　but　a　league　or　two　from　the
fort。　　Here　the　breeze　came　out　light　at　the　northward；
and　the　cutter　hauled　a　little　from　the　land；　in　order　to
obtain　a　safe　offing　should　it　come　on　to　blow；　or　should
the　weather　again　get　to　be　easterly。

When　the　day　dawned；　the　cutter　had　the　mouth　of　the
Oswego　well　under　the　lee；　distant　about　two　miles；　and
just　as　the　morning　gun　from　the　fort　was　fired；　Jasper
gave　the　order　to　ease　off　the　sheets；　and　to　bear　up　for
his　port。　　At　that　moment　a　cry　from　the　forecastle　drew
all　eyes　towards　the　point　on　the　eastern　side　of　the　outlet；
and　there；　just　without　the　range　of　shot　from　the　light
guns　of　the　works；　with　her　canvas　reduced　to　barely
enough　to　keep　her　stationary；　lay　the　_Montcalm_；　evidently
in　waiting　for　their　appearance。

To　pass　her　was　impossible；　for　by　filling　her　sails　the
French　ship　could　have　intercepted　them　in　a　few　min…
utes；　and　the　circumstances　called　for　a　prompt　decision。
After　a　short　consultation；　the　Sergeant　again　changed　his
plan；　determining　to　make　the　best　of　his　way　towards　the
station　for　which　he　had　been　originally　destined；　trusting
to　the　speed　of　the　_Scud_　to　throw　the　enemy　so　far　astern
as　to　leave　no　clue　to　her　movements。

The　cutter　accordingly　hauled　upon　a　wind　with　the
least　possible　delay；　with　everything　set　that　would　draw。
Guns　were　fired　from　the　fort；　ensigns　shown；　and　the
ramparts　were　again　crowded。　　But　sympathy　was　all　the
aid　that　Lundie　could　lend　to　his　party；　and　the　_Mont…
calm_；　also　firing　four　or　five　guns　of　defiance；　and　throwing
abroad　several　of　the　banners　of　France；　was　soon　in　chase
under　a　cloud　of　canvas。

For　several　hours　the　two　vessels　were　pressing　through
the　water　as　fast　as　possible；　making　short　stretches　to
windward；　apparently　with　a　view　to　keep　the　port　under
their　lee；　the　one　to　enter　it　if　possible；　and　the　other　to
intercept　it　in　the　attempt。

At　meridian　the　French　ship　was　hull　down；　dead　to
leeward；　the　disparity　of　sailing　on　a　wind　being　very
great；　and　some　islands　were　near　by；　behind　which　Jas…
per　said　it　would　be　possible　for　the　cutter　to　conceal　her
future　movements。　　Although　Cap　and　the　Sergeant；　and
particularly　Lieutenant　Muir；　to　judge　by　his　language；
still　felt　a　good　deal　of　distrust　of　the　young　man；　and
Frontenac　was　not　distant；　this　advice　was　followed；　for
time　pressed；　and　the　Quartermaster　discreetly　observed
that　Jasper　could　not　well　betray　them　without　running
openly　into　the　enemy's　harbor；　a　step　they　could　at　any
time　prevent；　since　the　only　cruiser　of　force　the　French
possessed　at　the　moment　was　under　their　lee　and　not　in　a
situation　to　do　them　any　immediate　injury。

Left　to　himself；　Jasper　Western　soon　proved　how　much
was　really　in　him。　　He　weathered　upon　the　islands；　passed
them；　and　on　coming　out　to　the　eastward；　kept　broad
away；　with　nothing　in　sight　in　his　wake　or　to　leeward。
By　sunset　again　the　cutter　was　up　with　the　first　of　the
islands　that　lie　in　the　outlet　of　the　lake；　and　ere　it　was
dark　she　was　running　through　the　narrow　channels　on　her
way　to　the　long…sought　station。　　At　nine　o'clock；　however；
Cap　insisted　that　they　should　anchor；　for　the　maze　of
islands　became　so　complicated　and　obscure；　that　he　feared；
at　every　opening；　the　party　would　find　themselves　under
the　guns　of　a　French　fort。　　Jasper　consented　cheerfully；
it　being　a　part　of　his　standing　instructions　to　approach　the
station　under　such　circumstances　as　would　prevent　the
men　from　obtaining　any　very　accurate　notions　of　its　posi…
tion；　lest　a　deserter　might　betray　the　little　garrison　to　the
enemy。

The　_Scud_　was　brought　to　in　a　small　retired　bay；　where
it　would　have　been　difficult　to　find　her　by　daylight；　and
where　she　was　perfectly　concealed　at　night；　when　all　but　a
solitary　sentinel　on　deck　sought　their　rest。　　Cap　had　been
so　harassed　during　the　previous　eight…and…forty　hours；
that　his　slumbers　were　long　and　deep；　nor　did　he　awake
from　his　first　nap　until　the　day　was　just　beginning　to
dawn。　　His　eyes　were　scarcely　open；　however；　when　his
nautical　instinct　told　him　that　the　cutter　was　under　way。
Springing　up；　he　found　the　_Scud_　threading　the　islands
again；　with　no　one　on　deck　but　Jasper　and　the　pilot；　un…
less　the　sentinel　be　excepted；　who　had　not　in　the　least
interfered　with　movements　that　he　had　every　reason　to
believe　were　as　regular　as　they　were　necessary。

〃How's　this；　Master　Western？〃　demanded　Cap；　with
sufficient　fierceness　for　the　occasion；　〃are　you　running　us
into　Frontenac　at　last；　and　we　all　asleep　below；　like　so
many　mariners　waiting　for　the　'sentry　go'？〃

〃This　is　according　to　orders；　Master　Cap；　Major　Duncan
having　commanded　me　never　to　approach　the　station　un…
less　at　a　moment　when　the　people　were　below；　for　he　does
not　wish　there　should　be　more　pilots　in　those　waters　than
the　king　has　need　of。〃

〃Whe…e…e…w！　a　pretty　job　I　should　have　made　of
running　down　among　these　bushes　and　rocks　with　no　one
on　deck！　　Why；　a　regular　York　branch　could　make　noth…
ing　of　such　a　channel。〃

〃I　always　thought；　sir；〃　said　Jasper；　smiling；　〃you　would
have　done　better　had　you　left　the　cutter　in　my　hands　until
she　had　safely　reached　her　place　of　destination。〃

〃We　should　have　done　it；　Jasper；　we　should　have　done
it；　had　it　not　been　for　a　circumstance；　these　circumstances
are　serious　matters；　and　no　prudent　man　will　overlook
them。〃

〃Well；　sir；　I　hope　there　is　now　an　end　of　them。　　We
shall　arrive　in　less　than　an　hour　if　the　wind　holds；　and
then　you'll　be　safe　from　any　circumstances　that　I　can
contrive。〃

〃Humph！〃

Cap　was　obliged　to　acquiesce；　and；　as　everything　around
him　had　the　appearance　of　Jasper's　being　sincere；　there
was　not　much　difficulty　in　making　up　his　mind　to　submit。
It　would　not　have　been　easy　indeed　for　a　person　the　most
sensitive　on　the　subject　of　circumstances　to　fancy　that　the
_Scud_　was　anywhere　in　the　vicinity　of　a　port　so　long　es…
tablished　and　so　well　known　on　the　frontiers　as　Fronte…
nac。　　The　islands　might　not　have　been　literally　a　thousand
in　number；　but　they　were　so　numerous　and　small　as　to
baffle　calculation；　though　occasionally　one　of　larger　size
than　common　was　passed。　　Jasper　had　quitted　what　might
have　been　termed　the　main　channel；　and　was　winding　his
way；　with　a　good　stiff　breeze　and　a　favorable　current；
through　passes　that　were　sometimes　so　narrow　that　there
appeared　to　be　barely　room　sufficient　for　the　_Scud's_　spars
to　clear　the　trees；　while　at　other　moments　he　shot　across
little　bays；　and　buried　the　cutter　again　amid　rocks；　forests；
and　bushes。　　The　water　was　so　transparent　that　there
was　no　occasion　for　the　lead；　and　being　of　very　equal
depth；　little　risk　was　actually　run；　though　Cap；　with　his
maritime　habits；　was　in　a　constant　fever　lest　they　should
strike。

〃I　give　it　up；　I　give　it　up；　Pathfinder！〃　the　old　seaman
at　length　exclaimed；　when　the　little　vessel　emerged　in
safety　from　the　twentieth　of　these　narrow　inlets　through
which　she　had　been　so　boldly　carried；　〃this　is　defying　the
very　nature　of　seamanship；　and　sending　all　its　laws　and
rules　to　the　d…l！〃

〃Nay；　nay；　Saltwater；　'tis　the　perfection　of　the　art。　　You
perceive　that　Jasper　never　falters；　but；　like　a　hound　with
a　true　nose；　he　runs　with　his　head　high　as　if　he　had　a
strong　scent。　　My　life　on　it；　the　lad　brings　us　out　right　in
the　ind；　as　he　would　have　done　in　the　beginning　had　we
given　him　leave。〃

〃No　pilot；　no　lead；　no　beacons；　buoys；　or　lighthouses；
no　　〃

〃Trail；〃　interrupted　Pathfinder；　〃for　that　to　me　is　the
most　mysterious　part　of　the　business。　　Water　leaves　no
trail；　as　every　one　knows；　and　yet　here　is　Jasper　moving
ahead　as　boldly　as　if　he　had　before　his　eyes　the　prints　of
the　moccassins　on　leaves　as　plainly　as　we　can　see　the　sun
in　the　heaven。〃

〃D…　me；　if　I　believ