the pathfinder-第7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！


vegetation　of　centuries；　and　black　with　loam；　the　stream
that　filled　the　banks　nearly　to　overflowing；　and　the　〃fresh
and　boundless　wood；〃　being　all　as　visible　to　the　eye　as　the
pen　of　Bryant　has　elsewhere　vividly　presented　them　to　the
imagination。　　In　short；　the　entire　scene　was　one　of　a　rich
and　benevolent　nature；　before　it　had　been　subjected　to　the
uses　and　desires　of　man；　luxuriant；　wild；　full　of　promiSe；
and　not　without　the　charm　of　the　picturesque；　even　in　its
rudest　state。　　It　will　be　remembered　that　this　was　in　the
year　175…；　or　long　before　even　speculation　had　brought　any
portion　of　western　New　York　within　the　bounds　of　civili…
zation。　　At　that　distant　day　there　were　two　great　channels
of　military　communication　between　the　inhabited　por…
tion　of　the　colony　of　New　York　and　the　frontiers　which
lay　adjacent　to　the　Canadas；　　that　by　Lakes　Champlain
and　George；　and　that　by　means　of　the　Mohawk；　Wood
Creek；　the　Oneida；　and　the　rivers　we　have　been　describ…
ing。　　Along　both　these　lines　of　communication　military
posts　had　been　established；　though　there　existed　a　blank
space　of　a　hundred　miles　between　the　last　fort　at　the　head
of　the　Mohawk　and　the　outlet　of　the　Oswego；　which　em…
braced　most　of　the　distance　that　Cap　and　Mabel　had　jour…
neyed　under　the　protection　of　Arrowhead。

〃I　sometimes　wish　for　peace　again；〃　said　the　Pathfinder；
〃when　one　can　range　the　forest　without　searching　for　any
other　enemy　than　the　beasts　and　fishes。　　Ah's　me！　many
is　the　day　that　the　Sarpent；　there；　and　I　have　passed　hap…
pily　among　the　streams；　living　on　venison；　salmon；　and
trout　without　thought　of　a　Mingo　or　a　scalp！　　I　some…
times　wish　that　them　blessed　days　might　come　back；　for
it　is　not　my　real　gift　to　slay　my　own　kind。　　I'm　sartain
the　Sergeant's　daughter　don't　think　me　a　wretch　that　takes
pleasure　in　preying　on　human　natur'？〃

As　this　remark；　a　sort　of　half　interrogatory；　was　made；
Pathfinder　looked　behind　him；　and；　though　the　most
partial　friend　could　scarcely　term　his　sunburnt　and　hard
features　handsome；　even　Mabel　thought　his　smile　attrac…
tive；　by　its　simple　ingenuousness　and　the　uprightness　that
beamed　in　every　lineament　of　his　honest　countenance。

〃I　do　not　think　my　father　would　have　sent　one　like
those　you　mention　to　see　his　daughter　through　the　wilder…
ness；〃　the　young　woman　answered；　returning　the　smile　as
frankly　as　it　was　given；　but　much　more　sweetly。

〃That　he　wouldn't；　the　Sergeant　is　a　man　of　feeling；　and
many　is　the　march　and　the　fight　that　we　have　had　　stood
shoulder　to　shoulder　in；　as　_he_　would　call　it　　though　I　always
keep　my　limbs　free　when　near　a　Frencher　or　a　Mingo。〃

〃You　are；　then；　the　young　friend　of　whom　my　father
has　spoken　so　often　in　his　letters？〃

〃His　_young_　friend　　the　Sergeant　has　the　advantage　of
me　by　thirty　years；　yes；　he　is　thirty　years　my　senior；　and
as　many　my　better。〃

〃Not　in　the　eyes　of　the　daughter；　perhaps；　friend　Path…
finder；〃　put　in　Cap；　whose　spirits　began　to　revive　when　he
found　the　water　once　more　flowing　around　him。　　〃The
thirty　years　that　you　mention　are　not　often　thought　to　be
an　advantage　in　the　eyes　of　girls　of　nineteen。〃

Mabel　colored；　and；　in　turning　aside　her　face　to　avoid
the　looks　of　those　in　the　bow　of　the　canoe；　she　encountered
the　admiring　gaze　of　the　young　man　in　the　stern。　　As　a
last　resource；　her　spirited　but　soft　blue　eyes　sought　refuge
in　the　water。　　Just　at　this　moment　a　dull；　heavy　sound
swept　up　the　avenue　formed　by　the　trees；　borne　along　by　a
light　air　that　hardly　produced　a　ripple　on　the　water。

〃That　sounds　pleasantly；〃　said　Cap；　pricking　up　his
ears　like　a　dog　that　hears　a　distant　baying；　〃it　is　the　surf
on　the　shores　of　your　lake；　I　suppose？〃

〃Not　so　　not　so；〃　answered　the　Pathfinder；　〃it　is
merely　this　river　tumbling　over　some　rocks　half　a　mile
below　us。〃

〃Is　there　a　fall　in　the　stream？〃　demanded　Mabel；　a　still
brighter　flush　glowing　in　her　face。

〃The　devil！　　Master　Pathfinder；　or　you；　Mr。　Eau…douce〃
（for　so　Cap　began　to　style　Jasper）；　〃had　you　not　better
give　the　canoe　a　sheer；　and　get　nearer　to　the　shore？　　These
waterfalls　have　generally　rapids　above　them；　and　one　might
as　well　get　into　the　Maelstrom　at　once　as　to　run　into　their
suction。〃

〃Trust　to　us；　friend　Cap；〃　answered　Pathfinder；　〃we
are　but　fresh…water　sailors；　it　is　true；　and　I　cannot　boast
of　being　much　even　of　that；　but　we　understand　rifts　and
rapids　and　cataracts；　and　in　going　down　these　we　shall　do
our　endeavors　not　to　disgrace　our　edication。〃

〃In　going　down！〃　exclaimed　Cap。　　〃The　devil；　man！
you　do　not　dream　of　going　down　a　waterfall　in　this　egg
shell　of　bark！〃

〃Sartain；　the　path　lies　over　the　falls；　and　it　is　much
easier　to　shoot　them　than　to　unload　the　canoe　and　to　carry
that　and　all　it　contains　around　a　portage　of　a　mile　by
hand。〃

Mabel　turned　her　pallid　countenance　towards　the　young
man　in　the　stern　of　the　canoe；　for；　just　at　that　moment；
a　fresh　roar　of　the　fall　was　borne　to　her　ears　by　a　new
current　of　the　air；　and　it　really　sounded　terrific；　now　tlnat
the　cause　was　understood。

〃We　thought　that；　by　landing　the　females　and　the　two
Indians；〃　Jasper　quietly　observed；　〃we　three　white　men；
all　of　whom　are　used　to　the　water；　might　carry　the　canoe
over　in　safety；　for　we　often　shoot　these　falls。〃

〃And　we　counted　on　you；　friend　mariner；　as　a　main…
stay；〃　said　Pathfinder；　winking　to　Jasper　over　his　shoulder；
〃for　you　are　accustomed　to　see　waves　tumbling　about；　and
without　some　one　to　steady　the　cargo；　all　the　finery　of　the
Sergeant's　daughter　might　be　washed　into　the　river　and
be　lost。〃

Cap　was　puzzled。　　The　idea　of　going　over　a　waterfall
was；　perhaps；　more　serious　in　his　eyes　than　it　would　have
been　in　those　of　one　totally　ignorant　of　all　that　pertained
to　boats；　for　he　understood　the　power　of　the　element；　and
the　total　feebleness　of　man　when　exposed　to　its　fury。　　Still
his　pride　revolted　at　the　thought　of　deserting　the　boat；
while　others　not　only　steadily；　but　coolly；　proposed　to　con…
tinue　in　it。　　Notwithstanding　the　latter　feeling；　and　his
innate　as　well　as　acquired　steadiness　in　danger；　he　would
probably　have　deserted　his　post；　had　not　the　images　of
Indians　tearing　scalps　from　the　human　head　taken　so
strong　hold　of　his　fancy　as　to　induce　him　to　imagine　the
canoe　a　sort　of　sanctuary。

〃What　is　to　be　done　with　Magnet？〃　he　demanded；　af…
fection　for　his　niece　raising　another　qualm　in　his　con…
science。　　〃We　cannot　allow　Magnet　to　land　if　there　are
enemy's　Indians　near？〃

〃Nay；　no　Mingo　will　be　near　the　portage；　for　that　is　a
spot　too　public　for　their　devilries；〃　answered　the　Path…
finder　confidently。　　〃Natur'　is　natur'；　and　it　is　an　Indian's
natur'　to　be　found　where　he　is　least　expected。　　No　fear
of　him　on　a　beaten　path；　for　he　wishes　to　come　upon　you
when　unprepared　to　meet　him；　and　the　fiery　villains　make
it　a　point　to　deceive　you；　one　way　or　another。　　Sheer　in；
Eau…douce；　and　we　will　land　the　Sergeant's　daughter　on
the　end　of　that　log；　where　she　can　reach　the　shore　with　a
dry　foot。〃

The　injunction　was　obeyed；　and　in　a　few　minutes　the
whole　party　had　left　the　canoe；　with　the　exception　of
Pathfinder　and　the　two　sailors。　　Notwithstanding　his　pro…
fessional　pride；　Cap　would　have　gladly　followed；　but　he
did　not　like　to　exhibit　so　unequivocal　a　weakness　in　the
presence　of　a　fresh…water　sailor。

〃I　call　all　hands　to　witness；〃　said　he；　as　those　who　had
landed　moved　away；　〃that　I　do　not　look　on　this　affair　as
anything　more　than　canoeing　in　the　woods。　　There　is　no
seamanship　in　tumbling　over　a　waterfall；　which　is　a　feat
the　greatest　lubber　can　perform　as　well　as　the　oldest
mariner。〃

〃Nay；　nay；　you　needn't　despise　the　Oswego　Falls；
neither；〃　put　in　Pathfinder；　〃for；　thought　they　may　not　be
Niagara；　nor　the　Genessee；　nor　the　Cahoos；　nor　Glenn's；
nor　those　on　the　Canada；　they　are　narvous　enough　for　a
new　beginner。　　Let　the　Sergeant's　daughter　stand　on
yonder　rock；　and　she　will　see　the　manner　in　which　we　ig…
norant　backwoodsmen　get　over　a　difficulty　that　we　can't
get　under。　　Now；　Eau…douce；　a　steady　hand　and　a　true　eye；
for　all　rests　on　you；　seeing　that　we　can　count　Master　Cap
for　no　more　than　a　passenger。〃

The　canoe　was　leaving　the　shore　as　he　concluded；　while
Mabel　went　hurriedly　and　trembling　to　the　rock　that　had
been　pointed　out；　talking　to　her　companion　of　the　danger
her　uncle　so　unnecessarily　ran；　while　her　eyes　were　riveted
on　the　agile　and　vigorous　form　of　Eau…douce；　as　he　stood
erect　in　the　stern　of　the　light　boat；　governing　its　move…
ments。　　As　soon；　however；　as　she　reached　a　point　where
she　got　a　view　of　the　fall；　she　gave　an　involuntary　but
suppressed　scream；　and　covered　her　eyes。　　At　the　next
instant；　the　latter　were　again　free；　and　the　entranced　girl
stood　immovable　as　a　statue；　a　scarcely　breathing　observer
of　all　that　passed。　　The　two　Indians　seated　themselves
passively　on　a　log；　hardly　looking　towards　the　stream；
while　the　wife　of　Arrowhead　came　near　Mabel；　and　ap…
reared　to　watch　the　motions　of　the　canoe　with　some　such
interest　as　a　child　regards　the　leaps　of　a　tumbler。

As　soon　as　the　boat　was　in　the　stream；　Pathfinder　sank
on　his　knees；　continuing　to　use　the　paddle；　though　it　was
slowly；　and　in　a　manner　not　to　interfere　with　the　efforts
of　his　companion。　　The　latter　still　stood　erect；　and；　as
he　kept　his　eye　on　some　object　beyond　the　fall；　it　was　evi…
dent　that　he　was　carefully　looking　for　the　spot　proper　for
their　passage。

〃Farther　west；　boy；　farther　west；〃　muttered　Pathfinder；
〃there　where　you　see　the　water　foam。　　Bring　the　top　of
the　dead　oak　in　a　line　with　the　stem　of　the　blasted　hem…
lock。〃

Eau…douce　made　no　answer；　for　the　canoe　was　in　the
centre　of　the　stream；　with　its　head　pointed　towards　the
fall；　and　it　had　already　begun　to　quicken　its　motion　by　the
increased　force　of　the　current。　　At　that　moment　Cap
would　cheerfully　have　renounced　every　claim　to　glory　that
could　possibly　be　acquired　by　the　feat；　to　have　been　safe
again　on　shore。　　He　heard　the　roar　of　the　water；　thunder…
ing；　as　it　might　be；　behind　a　screen；　but　becoming　more
and　more　distinct；　louder　and　louder；　and　before　him　he
saw　its　line　cutting　the　forest　below；　along　which　the
green　and　angry　element　seemed　stretched　and　shining；　as
if　the　particles　were　about　to　lose　their　principle　of　cohe…
sion。

〃Down　with　your　helm；　down　with　your　helm；　man！〃
he　exclaimed；　unable　any　longer　to　suppress　his　anxiety；
as　the　canoe　glided　towards　the　edge　of　the　fall。

〃Ay；　ay；　down　it　is　sure　enough；〃　answered　Pathfinder；
looking　behind　him　for　a　single　instant；　with　his　silent；
joyous　laugh；　　〃down　we　go；　of　a　sartinty！　　Heave　her
starn　up；　boy；　farther　up　with　her　starn！〃

The　rest　was　like　the　passage　of　the　viewless　wind。　　Eau…
douce　gave　the　required　sweep　with　his　paddle；　the　canoe
glanced　into　the　channel；　and　for　a　few　seconds　it　seemed
to　Cap　that　he　was　tossing　in　a　caldron。　　He　felt　the　bow
of　the　canoe　tip；　saw　the　raging；　foaming　water　careering
madly　by　his　side；　was　sensible　that　the　light　fabric　in
which　he　floated　was　tossed　about　like　an　egg…shell；　and
then；　not　less　to　his　great　joy　than　to　his　surprise；　he　dis…
covered　that　it　was　gliding　across　the　basin　of　still　water
below　the　fall；　under