the pathfinder-第8章

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covered　that　it　was　gliding　across　the　basin　of　still　water
below　the　fall；　under　the　steady　impulse　of　Jasper's
paddle。

The　Pathfinder　continued　to　laugh；　but　he　arose　from
his　knees；　and；　searching　for　a　tin　pot　and　a　horn　spoon；
he　began　deliberately　to　measure　the　water　that　had　been
taken　in　the　passage。

〃Fourteen　spoonfuls；　Eau…douce；　fourteen　fairly　meas…
ured　spoonfuls。　　I　have；　you　must　acknowledge；　known
you　to　go　down　with　only　ten。〃

〃Master　Cap　leaned　so　hard　up　stream；〃　returned　Jasper
seriously；　〃that　I　had　difficulty　in　trimming　the　canoe。〃

〃It　may　be　so；　no　doubt　it　_was_　so；　since　you　say　it；　but
I　have　known　you　go　over　with　only　ten。〃

Cap　now　gave　a　tremendous　hem；　felt　for　his　queue　as
if　to　ascertain　its　safety；　and　then　looked　back　in　order　to
examine　the　danger　he　had　gone　through。　　His　safety　is
easily　explained。　　Most　of　the　river　fell　perpendicularly
ten　or　twelve　feet；　but　near　its　centre　the　force　of　the
current　had　so　far　worn　away　the　rock　as　to　permit　the
water　to　shoot　through　a　narrow　passage；　at　an　angle　of
about　forty　or　forty　five　degrees。　　Down　this　ticklish　de…
scent　the　canoe　had　glanced；　amid　fragments　of　broken
rock；　whirlpools；　foam；　and　furious　tossings　of　the　ele…
ment；　which　an　uninstructed　eye　would　believe　menaced
inevitable　destruction　to　an　object　so　fragile。　　But　the
very　lightness　of　the　canoe　had　favored　its　descent；　for；
borne　on　the　crest　of　the　waves；　and　directed　by　a　steady
eye　and　an　arm　full　of　muscle；　it　had　passed　like　a　feather
from　one　pile　of　foam　to　another；　scarcely　permitting　its
glossy　side　to　be　wetted。　　There　were　a　few　rocks　to　be
avoided；　the　proper　direction　was　to　be　rigidly　observed；
and　the　fierce　current　did　the　rest。　（1）

（1）　Lest　the　reader　suppose　we　are　dealing　purely　in　fiction；　the
writer　will　add　that　he　has　known　a　long　thirty…two　pounder　car…
ried　over　these　same　falls　in　perfect　safety。

To　say　that　Cap　was　astonished　would　not　be　expressing
half　his　feelings；　he　felt　awed：　for　the　profound　dread　of
rocks　which　most　seamen　entertain　came　in　aid　of　his　ad…
miration　of　the　boldness　of　the　exploit。　　Still　he　was　in…
disposed　to　express　all　he　felt；　lest　it　might　be　conceding
too　much　in　favor　of　fresh　water　and　inland　navigation；
and　no　sooner　had　he　cleared　his　throat　with　the　afore…
said　hem；　than　he　loosened　his　tongue　in　the　usual　strain
of　superiority。

〃I　do　not　gainsay　your　knowledge　of　the　channel；　Master
Eau…douce；　and；　after　all；　to　know　the　channel　in　such　a
place　is　the　main　point。　　I　have　had　cockswains　with　me
who　could　come　down　that　shoot　too；　if　they　only　knew
the　channel。〃

〃It　isn't　enough　to　know　the　channel；〃　said　Pathfinder；
〃it　needs　narves　and　skill　to　keep　the　canoe　straight；　and
to　keep　her　clear　of　the　rocks　too。　　There　isn't　another
boatman　in　all　this　region　that　can　shoot　the　Oswego；　but
Eau…douce　there；　with　any　sartainty；　though；　now　and
then；　one　has　blundered　through。　　I　can't　do　it　myself
unless　by　means　of　Providence；　and　it　needs　Jasper's　hand
and　eye　to　make　sure　of　a　dry　passage。　　Fourteen　spoon…
fuls；　after　all；　are　no　great　matter；　though　I　wish　it　had
been　but　ten；　seeing　that　the　Sergeant's　daughter　was　a
looker…on。〃

〃And　yet　you　conned　the　canoe；　you　told　him　how　to
head　and　how　to　sheer。〃

〃Human　frailty；　master　mariner；　that　was　a　little　of
white…skin　natur'。　　Now；　had　the　Sarpent；　yonder；　been　in
the　boat；　not　a　word　would　he　have　spoken　or　thought　would
he　have　given　to　the　public。　　An　Indian　knows　how　to
hold　his　tongue；　but　we　white　folk　fancy　we　are　always
wiser　than　our　fellows。　　I'm　curing　myself　fast　of　the
weakness；　but　it　needs　time　to　root　up　the　tree　that　has
been　growing　more　than　thirty　years。〃

〃I　think　little　of　this　affair；　sir；　nothing　at　all　to　speak
my　mind　freely。　　It's　a　mere　wash　of　spray　to　shooting
London　Bridge　which　is　done　every　day　by　hundreds　of
persons；　and　often　by　the　most　delicate　ladies　in　the　land。
The　king's　majesty　has　shot　the　bridge　in　his　royal　person。〃

〃Well；　I　want　no　delicate　ladies　or　king's　majesties
（God　bless　'em！）　in　the　canoe；　in　going　over　these　falls；
for　a　boat's　breath；　either　way；　may　make　a　drowning　mat…
ter　of　it。　　Eau…douce；　we　shall　have　to　carry　the　Sergeant's
brother　over　Niagara　yet；　to　show　him　what　may　be　done
in　a　frontier。〃

〃The　devil！　　Master　Pathfinder；　you　must　be　joking
now！　　Surely　it　is　not　possible　for　a　bark　canoe　to　go　over
that　mighty　cataract？〃

〃You　never　were　more　mistaken；　Master　Cap；　in　your
life。　　Nothing　is　easier　and　many　is　the　canoe　I　have　seen
go　over　it　with　my　own　eyes；　and　if　we　both　live　I　hope
to　satisfy　you　that　the　feat　can　be　done。　　For　my　part；　I
think　the　largest　ship　that　ever　sailed　on　the　ocean　might
be　carried　over；　could　she　once　get　into　the　rapids。〃

Cap　did　not　perceive　the　wink　which　Pathfinder　ex…
changed　with　Eau…douce；　and　he　remained　silent　for　some
time；　for；　sooth　to　say；　he　had　never　suspected　the　possi…
bility　of　going　down　Niagara；　feasible　as　the　thing　must
appear　to　every　one　on　a　second　thought；　the　real　diffi…
culty　existing　in　going　up　it。

By　this　time　the　party　had　reached　the　place　where
Jasper　had　left　his　own　canoe；　concealed　in　the　bushes；
and　they　all　re…embarked；　Cap；　Jasper；　and　his　niece　in
one　boat　and　Pathfinder；　Arrowhead；　and　the　wife　of　the
latter　in　the　other。　　The　Mohican　had　already　passed　down
the　banks　of　the　river　by　land；　looking　cautiously　and　with
the　skill　of　his　people　for　the　signs　of　an　enemy。

The　cheek　of　Mabel　did　not　recover　all　its　bloom　until
the　canoe　was　again　in　the　current；　down　which　it　floated
swiftly；　occasionally　impelled　by　the　paddle　of　Jasper。
She　witnessed　the　descent　of　the　falls　with　a　degree　of
terror　which　had　rendered　her　mute；　but　her　fright　had
not　been　so　great　as　to　prevent　admiration　of　the　steadi…
ness　of　the　youth　who　directed　the　movement　from　blend…
ing　with　the　passing　terror。　　In　truth；　one　much　less
sensitive　might　have　had　her　feelings　awakened　by　the
cool　and　gallant　air　with　which　Eau…douce　had　accom…
plished　this　clever　exploit。　　He　had　stood　firmly　erect；
notwithstanding　the　plunge；　and　to　those　on　the　shore　it
was　evident　that；　by　a　timely　application　of　his　skill　and
strength；　the　canoe　had　received　a　sheer　which　alone　car…
ried　it　clear　of　a　rock　over　which　the　boiling　water　was
leaping　in　_jets　d'eau_；　　now　leaving　the　brown　stone　visi…
tie；　and　now　covering　it　with　a　limpid　sheet；　as　if　ma…
chinery　controlled　the　play　of　the　element。　　The　tongue
cannot　always　express　what　the　eyes　view；　but　Mabel　saw
enough；　even　in　that　moment　of　fear；　to　blend　for　ever　in
her　mind　the　pictures　presented　by　the　plunging　canoe
and　the　unmoved　steersman。　　She　admitted　that　insidious
feeling　which　binds　woman　so　strongly　to　man；　by　feeling
additional　security　in　finding　herself　under　his　care；　and；
for　the　first　time　since　leaving　Fort　Stanwix；　she　was　en…
tirely　at　her　ease　in　the　frail　bark　in　which　she　travelled。
As　the　other　canoe　kept　quite　near　her　own；　however；　and
the　Pathfinder；　by　floating　at　her　side；　was　most　in　view；
the　conversation　was　principally　maintained　with　that
person；　Jasper　seldom　speaking　unless　addressed；　and
constantly　exhibiting　a　weariness　in　the　management　of
his　own　boat；　which　might　have　been　remarked　by　one
accustomed　to　his　ordinarily　confident；　careless　manner。

〃We　know　too　well　a　woman's　gifts　to　think　of　carrying
the　Sergeant's　daughter　over　the　falls；〃　said　Pathfinder；
looking　at　Mabel；　while　he　addressed　her　uncle；　〃though
I've　been　acquainted　with　some　of　her　sex　that　would
think　but　little　of　doing　the　thing。〃

〃Mabel　is　faint…hearted；　like　her　mother；〃　returned
Cap；　〃and　you　did　well；　friend；　to　humor　her　weakness。
You　will　remember　the　child　has　never　been　at　sea。〃

〃No；　no；　it　was　easy　to　discover　that；　by　your　own　fear…
lessness；　any　one　might　have　seen　how　little　you　cared
about　the　matter。　　I　went　over　once　with　a　raw　hand；　and
he　jumped　out　of　the　canoe　just　as　it　tipped；　and　you　many
judge　what　a　time　he　had　of　it。〃

〃What　became　of　the　poor　fellow？〃　asked　Cap；　scarcely
knowing　how　to　take　the　other's　manner；　which　was　so
dry；　while　it　was　so　simple；　that　a　less　obtuse　subject　than
the　old　sailor　might　well　have　suspected　its　sincerity。
〃One　who　has　passed　the　place　knows　how　to　feel　for
him。〃

〃He　was　a　_poor_　fellow；　as　you　say；　and　a　poor　frontier
man　too；　though　he　came　out　to　show　his　skill　among　us
ignoranters。　　What　became　of　him？　　Why；　he　went　down
the　falls　topsy…turvey　like；　as　would　have　happened　to　a
court…house　or　a　fort。〃

〃If　it　should　jump　out　of　at　canoe；〃　interrupted　Jasper；
smiling；　thought　he　was　evidently　more　disposed　than　his
friend　to　let　the　passage　of　the　falls　be　forgotten。

〃The　boy　is　right；〃　rejoined　Pathfinder；　laughing　in
Mabel's　face；　the　canoes　being　now　so　near　that　they　almost
touched；　〃he　is　sartainly　right。　　But　you　have　not　told
us　what　you　think　of　the　leap　we　took？〃

〃It　was　perilous　and　bold；〃　said　Mabel；　〃while　looking
at　it；　I　could　have　wished　that　it　had　not　been　attempted；
though；　now　it　is　over；　I　can　admire　its　boldness　and　the
steadiness　with　which　it　was　made。〃

〃Now；　do　not　think　that　we　did　this　thing　to　set　our
selves　off　in　female　eyes。　　It　may　be　pleasant　to　the　young
to　win　each　other's　good　opinions　by　doing　things　which
may　seem　praiseworthy　and　bold；　but　neither　Eau…douce
nor　myself　is　of　that　race。　　My　natur'　has　few　turns　in　it；
and　is　a　straight　natur'；　nor　would　it　be　likely　to　lead　me
into　a　vanity　of　this　sort　while　out　on　duty。　　As　for　Jasper；
he　would　sooner　go　over　the　Oswego　Falls；　without　a　looker…
on；　than　do　it　before　a　hundred　pair　of　eyes。　　I　know　the
lad　well　from　much　consorting；　and　I　am　sure　he　is　not
boastful　or　vain…glorious。〃

Mabel　rewarded　the　scout　with　a　smile；　which　served　to
keep　the　canoes　together　for　some　time　longer；　for　the
sight　of　youth　and　beauty　was　so　rare　on　that　remote
frontier；　that　even　the　rebuked　and　self…mortified　feelings
of　this　wanderer　of　the　forest　were　sensibly　touched　by　the
blooming　loveliness　of　the　girl。

〃We　did　it　for　the　best；〃　Pathfinder　continued；　〃'twas
all　for　the　best。　　Had　we　waited　to　carry　the　canoe　across
the　portage；　time　would　have　been　lost；　and　nothinig　is　so
precious　as　time　when　you　are　mistrustful　of　Mingos。〃

〃But　we　have　little　to　fear　now。　　The　canoes　move
swiftly；　and　two　hours；　you　have　said；　will　carry　us　down
to　the　fort。〃

〃It　shall　be　a　cunning　Iroquois　who　hurts　a　hair　of　your
head；　pretty　one；　for　all　here　are　bound　to　the　Sergeant；
and　most；　I　think；　to　yourself；　to　see　you　safe　from　harm。
Ha；　Eau…douce！　what　is　that　in　the　river；　at　the　lower
turn；　yonder；　beneath　the　bushes；　　I　mean　standing　on
the　rock？〃

〃'Tis　the　Big　Serpent；　Pathfinder；　he　is　making　signs
to　us　in　a　way　I　don't　understand。〃

〃'Tis　the　Sarpent；　as　sure　as　I'm　a　white　man；　and
he　wishes　us　to　drop　in　nearer　to　his　shore。　　Mischief　is
brewing；　or　one　of　his　deliberation　and　steadiness　would
never　take　this　trouble。　　Courage；　all！　we　are　men；　and
must　meet　devilry　as　becomes　our　color　and　our　callings。
Ah；　I　never　knew　good　come　of　boasting！