James Fenimore Cooper
The Pathfinder or
The Inland Sea
Here the heart
May give a useful lesson to the head
And Learning wiser grow without his books
Cowper The Task VI ll 8688
Preface
The plan of this tale suggested itself to the writer many years since though
the details are altogether of recent invention The idea of associating seamen
and savages in incidents that might be supposed characteristic of the Great
Lakes having been mentioned to a publisher the latter obtained something like
a pledge from the author to carry out the design at some future day which
pledge is now tardily and imperfectly redeemed
The reader may recognize an old friend under new circumstances in the
principal character of this legend If the exhibition made of this old
acquaintance in the novel circumstances in which he now appears should be
found not to lessen his favor with the public it will be a source of extreme
gratification to the writer since he has an interest in the individual in
question that falls little short of reality It is not an easy task however
to reproduce the same character in four separate works and to maintain the
peculiarities that are indispensable to identity without incurring a risk of
fatiguing the reader with sameness and the present experiment has been so long
delayed quite as much from doubts of its success as from any other cause In
this as in every other undertaking it must be the end that will crown the
work
The Indian character has so little variety that it has been my object to
avoid dwelling on it too much on the present occasion Its association with the
sailor too it is feared will be found to have more novelty than interest
It may strike the novice as an anachronism to place vessels on Ontario in
the middle of the eighteenth century but in this particular facts will fully
bear out all the licence of the fiction Although the precise vessels mentioned
in these pages may never have existed on that water or anywhere else others so
nearly resembling them are known to have navigated that inland sea even at a
period much earlier than the one just mentioned as to form a sufficient
authority for their introduction into a work of fiction It is a fact not
generally remembered however well known it may be that there are isolated
spots along the line of the great lakes that date as settlements as far back
as many of the oldest American towns and which were the seats of a species of
civilization long before the greater portion of even the original states was
rescued from the wilderness
Ontario in our own times has been the scene of important naval evolutions
Fleets have manoeuvred on those waters which half a century ago were as near
desert as waters well can be and the day is not distant when the whole of that
vast range of lakes will become the seat of empire and fraught with all the
interests of human society A passing glimpse even though it be in a work of
fiction of what that vast region so lately was may help to make up the sum of
knowledge by which alone a just appreciation can be formed of the wonderful
means by which Providence is clearing the way for the advancement of
civilization across the whole American continent
DECEMBER 1839
Preface
Following the order of events this book should be the third in the Series of
the LeatherStocking Tales In the Deerslayer Natty Bumppo under the Sobriquet
which forms the title of that work is represented as a youth just commencing
his forest career as a warrior having for several years been a hunter so
celebrated as already to have gained the honorable appellation he then bore In
the Last of the Mohicans he appears as Hawkeye and is present at the death of
young Uncas while in this tale he reappears in the same war of 56 in
company with his Mohican friend still in the vigor of manhood and young enough
to feel that master passion to which all conditions of men all tempers and we
might almost say all ages submit under circumstances that are incited to call
it into existence
The Pathfinder did not originally appear for several years after the
publication of the Prairie the work in which the leading character of both had
closed his career by death It was perhaps a too hazardous experiment to
recall to life in this manner and after so long an interval a character that
was somewhat a favorite with the reading world and which had been regularly
consigned to his grave like any living man It is probably owing to this severe
ordeal that the work like its successor the Deerslayer has been so little
noticed scarce one in ten of those who know all about the three earliest books
of the series having even a knowledge of the existence of the last at all That
this caprice in taste and favor is in no way dependent on merit the writer
feels certain for though the world will ever maintain that an author is always
the worst judge of his own productions one who has written much and regards
all his literary progeny with more or less of a paternal eye must have a
reasonably accurate knowledge of what he has been about the greater part of his
life Such a man may form too high an estimate of his relative merits as
relates to others but it is not easy to see why he should fall into this error
more than another as relates to himself His general standard may be raised too
high by means of selflove but unless he be disposed to maintain the equal
perfection of what he has done as probably no man was ever yet fool enough to
do he may very well have shrewd conjectures as to the comparative merits and
defects of his own productions
This work on its appearance was rudely and maliciously assailed by certain
individuals out of pure personal malignancy It is scarcely worth the authors
while nor would it have any interest for the reader to expose the motives and
frauds of these individuals who have pretty effectually vindicated the writer
by their own subsequent conduct But even the falsest of men pay so much homage
to truth as to strive to seem its votaries In attacking the Pathfinder the
persons alluded to pointed out faults that the author for the first time has
now ascertained to be real and much to his surprise as of most of them he is
entirely innocent They are purely errors of the press unless indeed the
writer can justly be accused of having been a careless proof reader A single
instance of the mistakes he means may be given in explanation of the manner in
which the book was originally got up
The heroine of this tale was at first called Agnes In the fifth or sixth
chapter this name was changed to Mabel and the manuscript was altered
accordingly Owing to inadvertency however the original appellation stood in
several places and the principal female character of the book until now has
had the advantage of going by two names Many other typographical errors exist
in the earlier editions most of which it is believed are corrected in this
There are a few discrepancies in the facts of this work as connected with
the facts of the different books of the series They are not material and it
was thought fairer to let them stand as proof of the manner in which the books
were originally written than to make any changes in the text
In youth when belonging to the navy the writer of this book served for
some time on the great Western lakes He was indeed one of those who first
carried the cockade of the republic on those inland seas This was pretty early
in the present century when the navigation was still confined to the employment
of a few ships and schooners Since that day light may be said to have broken
into the wilderness and the rays of the sun have penetrated to tens of
thousands of beautiful valleys and plains that then lay in grateful shade
Towns have been built along the whole of the extended line of coasts and the
traveller now stops at many a place of ten or fifteen and at one of even fifty
thousand inhabitants where a few huts then marked the natural sites of future
marts In a word though the scenes of this book are believed to have once been
as nearly accurate as is required by the laws which govern fiction they are so
no longer Oswego is a large and thriving town Toronto and Kingston on the
other side of the lake compete with it while Buffalo Detroit Cleveland
Milwaukie and Chicago on the upper lakes to say nothing of a hundred places
of lesser note are fast advancing to the level of commercial places of great
local importance In these changes the energy of youth and abundance is quite
as much apparent as anything else and it is ardently to be hoped that the
fruits of the gifts of a most bountiful Providence may not be mistaken for any
peculiar qualities in those who have been their beneficiaries A just
appreciation of the first of these facts will render us grateful and meek while
the vainglorious who are so apt to ascribe all to themselves will be certain
to live long enough to ascertain the magnitude of their error That great
results are intended to be produced by means of these wonderful changes we
firmly believe but that they will prove to be the precise results now so
generally anticipated in consulting the experience of the past and taking the
nature of man into the account the reflecting and intelligent may be permitted
to doubt
It may strike the novice as an anachronism to place vessels on Ontario in
the middle of the eighteenth century but in this particular facts will fully
bear out all the license of the fiction Although the precise vessels mentioned
in these pages may never have existed on that water or anywhere else others so
nearly resembling them as to form a sufficient authority for their introduction
into a work of fiction are known to have navigated that inland sea even at a
period much earlier than the one just mentioned It is a fact not generally
remembered however well known it may be that there are isolated spots along
the line of the great lakes that date as settlements as far back as many of
the oldest American towns and which were the seats of a species of
civilization long before the greater portion of even the original states was
rescued from the wilderness
Ontario in our own times has been the scene of important naval evolutions
Fleets have manoeuvred on those waters which half a century since were desert
wastes and the day is not distant when the whole of that vast range of lakes
will become the seat of empire and fraught with all the interests of human
society A passing glimpse even though it be in a work of fiction of what that
vast region so lately was may help to make up the sum of knowledge by which
alone a just appreciation can be formed of the wonderful means by which
Providence is clearing the way for the advancement of civilization across the
whole American continent
Chapter I
»The turf shall be my fragrant shrine
My temple Lord that arch of thine
My censers breath the mountain airs
And silent thoughts my only prayers«
Moore »The Turf Shall Be My
Fragrant Shrine« ll 14
The sublimity connected with vastness is familiar to every eye The most
abstruse the most farreaching perhaps the most chastened of the poets
thoughts crowd on the imagination as he gazes into the depths of the
illimitable void the expanse of the ocean is seldom seen by the novice with
indifference and the mind even in the obscurity of night finds a parallel to
that grandeur which seems inseparable from images that the senses cannot
compass With feelings akin to this admiration and awe the offspring of
sublimity were the different characters with which the action of this tale must
open gazing on the scene before them Four persons in all two of each sex
they had managed to ascend a pile of trees that had been uptorn by a tempest
to catch a view of the objects that surrounded them It is still the practice of
the country to call these spots windrows By letting in the light of heaven
upon the dark and damp recesses of the woods they form a sort of oases in the
solemn obscurity of the virgin forests of America The particular windrow of
which we are writing lay on the brow of a gentle acclivity and it had opened
the way for an extended view to those who might occupy its upper margins a
rare occurrence to the traveller in the woods As usual the spot was small but
owing to the circumstance of its lying on the low acclivity mentioned and that
of the openings extending downward it offered more than common advantages to
the eye Philosophy has not yet determined the nature of the power that so often
lays desolate spots of this description some ascribing it to the whirlwinds
that produce waterspouts on the ocean while others again impute it to sudden
and violent passages of streams of the electric fluid but the effects in the
woods are familiar to all On the upper margin of the opening to which there is
allusion the viewless influence had piled tree on tree in such a manner as had
not only enabled the two males of the party to ascend to an elevation of some
thirty feet above the level of the earth but with a little care and
encouragement to induce their more timid companions to accompany them The vast
trunks that had been broken and riven by the force of the gust lay blended
like jackstraws while their branches still exhaling the fragrance of wilted
leaves were interlaced in a manner to afford sufficient support to the hands
One tree had been completely uprooted and its lower end filled with earth had
been cast uppermost in a way to supply a sort of staging for the four
adventurers when they had gained the desired distance from the ground
The reader is to anticipate none of the appliances of people of refinement
in the description of the personal appearances of the group in question They
were all wayfarers in the wilderness and had they not been neither their
previous habits nor their actual social positions would have accustomed them to
many of the luxuries of rank Two of the party indeed a male and a female
belonged to the native owners of the soil being Indians of the well known tribe
of the Tuscaroras while their companions were a man who bore about him the
peculiarities of one who had passed his days on the ocean and that too in a
station little if any above that of a common mariner while his female associate
was a maiden of a class in no great degree superior to his own though her
youth sweetness of countenance and a modest but spirited mien lent that
character of intellect and refinement which adds so much to the charm of
beauty in the sex On the present occasion her full blue eye reflected the
feeling of sublimity that the scene excited and her pleasant face was beaming
with the pensive expression with which all deep emotions even though they
bring the most grateful pleasure shadow the countenances of the ingenuous and
thoughtful
And truly the scene was of a nature deeply to impress the imagination of
the beholder Towards the west in which direction the faces of the party were
turned and in which alone could much be seen the eye ranged over an ocean of
leaves glorious and rich in the varied but lively verdure of a generous
vegetation and shaded by the luxuriant tints that belong to the forty second
degree of latitude The elm with its graceful and weeping top the rich
varieties of the maple most of the noble oaks of the American forest with the
broad leafed linden known in the parlance of the country as the basswood
mingled their uppermost branches forming one broad and seemingly interminable
carpet of foliage that stretched away towards the setting sun until it bounded
the horizon by blending with the clouds as the waves and sky meet at the base
of the vault of Heaven Here and there by some accident of the tempests or by
a caprice of nature a trifling opening among these giant members of the forest
permitted an inferior tree to struggle upward toward the light and to lift its
modest head nearly to a level with the surrounding surface of verdure Of this
class were the birch a tree of some account in regions less favored the
quivering aspen various generous nutwoods and divers others that resembled
the ignoble and vulgar thrown by circumstances into the presence of the
stately and great Here and there too the tall straight trunk of the pine
pierced the vast field rising high above it like some grand monument reared by
art on the plain of leaves
It was the vastness of the view the nearly unbroken surface of verdure
that contained the principle of grandeur The beauty was to be traced in the
delicate tints relieved by gradations of light and shadow while the solemn
repose induced a feeling allied to awe
»Uncle« said the wondering but pleased girl addressing her male companion
whose arm she rather touched than leaned on to steady her own light but firm
footing »this is like a view of the ocean you so much love«
»So much for ignorance and a girls fancy Magnet« a term of affection
the sailor often used in allusion to his nieces personal attractions »No one
but a child would think of likening this handful of leaves to a look at the
real Atlantic You might stop all these treetops to Neptunes jacket and they
would make no more than a nosegay in his bosom«
»More fanciful than true I think uncle Look thither it must be miles on
miles and yet we see nothing but leaves What more could one behold if looking
at the ocean«
»More« returned the uncle giving an impatient gesture with the elbow the
other touched for his arms were crossed and the hands were thrust into the
bosom of a vest of red cloth a fashion of the times »More Magnet say
rather what less Where are your combingseas your bluewater your rollers
your breakers your whales or your waterspouts and your endless motion in
this bit of a forest child«
»And where are your treetops your solemn silence your fragrant leaves and
your beautiful green uncle on the ocean«
»Tut Magnet if you understood the thing you would know that green water
is a sailors bane He scarcely relishes a green horn less«
»But green trees are a different thing Hist that sound is the air
breathing among the leaves«
»You should hear a norwester breathe girl if you fancy noise aloft Now
where are your gales and hurricanes and trades and Levanters and such like
incidents in this bit of a forest and what fishes have you swimming beneath
yonder tame surface«
»That there have been tempests here these signs around us plainly show and
beasts if not fishes are beneath these leaves«
»I do not know that « returned the uncle with a sailors dogmatism »They
told us many stories at Albany of the wild animals we should fall in with and
yet we have seen nothing to frighten a seal I doubt any of your inland animals
will compare with a low latitude shark«
»See« exclaimed the niece who was more occupied with the sublimity and
beauty of the boundless wood than with her uncles arguments »yonder is a
smoke curling over the tops of the trees can it come from a house«
»Ay ay there is a look of humanity in that smoke« returned the old
seaman »which is worth a thousand trees I must show it to Arrowhead who may
be running past a port without knowing it It is a probable there is a camboose
where there is a smoke«
As he concluded the uncle drew a hand from his bosom touched the male
Indian who was standing near him lightly on the shoulder and pointed out a
thin line of vapor that was stealing slowly out of the wilderness of leaves at
a distance of about a mile and was diffusing itself in almost imperceptible
threads of humidity in the quivering atmosphere The Tuscarora was one of those
noblelooking warriors that were oftener met with among the aborigines of this
continent a century since than to day and while he had mingled sufficiently
with the colonists to be familiar with their habits and even with their
language he had lost little if any of the wild grandeur and simple dignity
of a chief Between him and the old seaman the intercourse had been friendly
but distant for the Indian had been too much accustomed to mingle with the
officers of the different military posts he had frequented not to understand
that his present companion was only a subordinate So imposing indeed had been
the quiet superiority of the Tuscaroras reserve that Charles Cap for so was
the seaman named in his most dogmatical or facetious moments had not ventured
on familiarity in an intercourse that had now lasted more than a week The
sight of the curling smoke however had struck the latter like the sudden
appearance of a sail at sea and for the first time since they met he ventured
to touch the warrior as has been related
The quick eye of the Tuscarora instantly caught a sight of the smoke and
for quite a minute he stood slightly raised on tiptoe with distended
nostrils like the buck that scents a taint in the air and a gaze as riveted as
that of the trained pointer while he waits his masters aim Then falling back
on his feet a low exclamation in the soft tones that form so singular a
contrast to its harsher cries in the Indian warriors voice was barely
audible Otherwise he was undisturbed His countenance was calm and his quick
dark eagle eye moved over the leafy panorama as if to take in at a glance
every circumstance that might enlighten his mind
That the long journey they had attempted to make through a broad belt of
wilderness was necessarily attended with danger both uncle and niece well
knew though neither could at once determine whether the sign that others were
in their vicinity was the harbinger of good or evil
»There must be Oneidas or Tuscaroras near us Arrowhead« said Cap
addressing his Indian companion by his conventional English name »will it not
be well to join company with them and get a comfortable berth for the night in
their wigwam«
»No wigwam there« Arrowhead answered in his unmoved manner »too much
tree«
»But Indians must be there perhaps some old messmates of your own Master
Arrowhead«
»No Tuscarora no Oneida no Mohawk paleface fire«
»The devil it is Well Magnet this surpasses a seamans philosophy we
old seadogs can tell a soldiers from a sailors quid or a lubbers nest from
a mates hammock but I do not think the oldest admiral in His Majestys Fleet
can tell a Kings smoke from a colliers«
The idea that human beings were in their vicinity in that ocean of
wilderness had deepened the flush on the blooming cheek and brightened the eye
of the fair creature at his side but she now turned with a look of surprise to
her relative and said hesitatingly for both had often admired the
Tuscaroras knowledge or we might almost say instinct
»A pale faces fire Surely uncle he cannot know that«
»Ten days since child I would have sworn to it but now I hardly know
what to believe May I take the liberty of asking Arrowhead why you fancy that
smoke now a pale faces smoke and not a red skins«
»Wet wood « returned the warrior with the calmness with which the
pedagogue might point out an arithmetical demonstration to his puzzled pupil
»Much wet much smoke much water black smoke«
»But begging your pardon Master Arrowhead the smoke is not black nor is
there much of it To my eye now it is as light and fanciful a smoke as ever
rose from a captains tea kettle when nothing was left to make the fire but a
few chips from the dunnage«
»Too much water « returned Arrowhead with a slight nod of the head
»Tuscarora too cunning to make fire with water pale face too much book and burn
anything Much book little know«
»Well thats reasonable I allow« said Cap who was no devotee of
learning »He means that as a hit at your reading Magnet for the chief has
sensible notions of things in his own way How far now Arrowhead do you make
us by your calculation from the bit of a pond that you call the Great Lake
and towards which we have been so many days shaping our course«
The Tuscarora looked at the seaman with quiet superiority as he answered
»Ontario like heaven one sun and the great traveller know it«
»Well I have been a great traveller I cannot deny but of all my vyges
this has been the longest the least profitable and the farthest inland If
this body of fresh water is so nigh Arrowhead and at the same time so large
one might think a pair of good eyes would find it out for apparently every
thing within thirty miles is to be seen from this look out«
»Look« said Arrowhead stretching an arm before him with quiet grace
»Ontario«
»Uncle you are accustomed to cry land ho but not water ho and you do not
see it« cried the niece laughing as girls will laugh at their own idle
conceits
»How now Magnet dost suppose that I shouldnt know my native element if
it were in sight«
»But Ontario is not your native element dear uncle for you come from the
salt water while this is fresh«
»That might make some difference to your young mariner but none in the
world to the old ones I should know water child were I to see it in China«
»Ontario « repeated the Arrowhead with emphasis again stretching his hand
towards the North West
Cap looked at the Tuscarora for the first time since their acquaintance
with something like an air of contempt though he did not fail to follow the
direction of the chiefs eye and arm both of which were pointing to all
appearance toward a vacant spot in the heavens a short distance above the
plain of leaves
»Ay ay this is much as I expected when I left the coast to come in search
of a freshwater pond« resumed Cap shrugging his shoulders like one whose mind
was made up and who thought no more need be said »Ontario may be there or
for that matter it may be in my pocket Well I suppose there will be room
enough when we reach it to work our canoe But Arrowhead if there be pale
faces in our neighborhood I confess I should like to get within hail of them«
The Tuscarora now gave a quiet inclination of his head and the whole party
descended from the roots of the uptorn tree in silence When they had reached
the ground Arrowhead intimated his intention to go towards the fire and
ascertain who had lighted it while he advised his wife and the two others to
proceed to a canoe which they had left in the adjacent stream and await his
return
»Why chief this might do on soundings and in an offing where one knew the
channel« returned old Cap »but in an unknown region like this I think it
unsafe to trust the pilot alone too far from the ship so with your leave we
will not part company«
»What my brother want« asked the Indian gravely though without taking
offence at a distrust that was sufficiently plain
»Your company Master Arrowhead and no more I will go with you and speak
these strangers«
The Tuscarora assented without difficulty and again he directed his patient
and submissive little wife who seldom turned her full rich black eye on him
but to express equally her respect her dread and her love to proceed to the
boat But here Magnet raised a difficulty Although spirited and of unusual
energy under circumstances of trial she was but woman and the idea of being
entirely deserted by her two male protectors in the midst of a wilderness that
her senses had just told her was seemingly illimitable became so keenly painful
that she expressed a wish to accompany her uncle
»The exercise will be a relief dear sir after sitting so long in the
canoe« she added as the rich blood slowly returned to a cheek that had paled
in spite of her effort to be calm »and there may be females with the
strangers«
»Come then child it is but a cables length and we shall return an hour
before the sun sets«
With this permission the girl whose real name was Mabel Dunham prepared
to be of the party while the DewofJune as the wife of Arrowhead was called
passively went her way towards the canoe too much accustomed to obedience
solitude and the gloom of the forest to feel apprehension
The three who remained in the windrow now picked their way around its
tangled maze and gained the margin of the woods in the necessary direction A
few glances of the eye sufficed for Arrowhead but old Cap deliberately set the
smoke by a pocket compass before he trusted himself within the shadows of the
trees
»This steering by the nose Magnet may do well enough for an Indian but
your thoroughbred knows the virtue of the needle« said the uncle as he
trudged at the heels of the light stepping Tuscarora »America would never have
been discovered take my word for it if Columbus had been nothing but nostrils
Friend Arrowhead didst ever see a machine like this«
The Indian turned cast a glance at the compass which Cap held in a way to
direct his course and gravely answered
»A pale face eye The Tuscarora see in his head The salt water for so the
Indian styled his companion all eye now no tongue«
»He means uncle that we had needs be silent perhaps he distrusts the
persons we are about to meet«
»Ay tis an Indians fashion of going to quarters You perceive he has
examined the priming of his rifle and it may be as well if I look to that of
my own pistols«
Without betraying alarm at these preparations to which she had become
accustomed by her long journey in the wilderness Mabel followed with a step as
light and elastic as that of the Indian keeping close in the rear of her
companions For the first half mile no other caution beyond a rigid silence
was observed but as the party drew nearer to the spot where the fire was known
to be much greater care became necessary
The forest as usual had little to intercept the view below the branches
but the tall straight trunks of trees Every thing belonging to vegetation had
struggled towards the light and beneath the leafy canopy one walked as it
might be through a vast natural vault that was upheld by myriads of rustic
columns These columns or trees however often served to conceal the
adventurer the hunter or the foe and as Arrowhead swiftly approached the spot
where his practised and unerring senses told him the strangers ought to be his
footstep gradually became lighter his eye more vigilant and his person was
more carefully concealed
»See SaltWater« he said exultingly pointing at the same time through the
vista of trees »paleface fire«
»By the Lord the fellow is right« muttered Cap »There they are sure
enough and eating their grub as quietly as if they were in the cabin of a three
decker«
»Arrowhead is but half right« whispered Mabel »for there are two Indians
and only one white man«
»Pale face« said the Tuscarora holding up two fingers »red man« holding
up one
»Well« rejoined Cap »it is hard to say which is right and which is wrong
One is certainly white and a comely fine lad he is with an air of life and
respectability about him one is a red skin as plain as paint and nature can
make him but the third chap is halfrigged being neither brig nor schooner«
»Paleface« repeated Arrowhead again raising two fingers »redman«
showing but one
»He must be right uncle for his eye seems never to fail But it is now
urgent to know whether we meet as friends or foes They may be French«
»One hail will soon satisfy us on that head« returned Cap »Stand you
behind this tree Magnet lest the knaves take it into their heads to fire a
broadside without a parley and I will soon learn what colours they sail
under«
The uncle had placed his two hands to his mouth to form a trumpet and was
about to give the promised hail when a rapid movement from Arrowhead defeated
the intention by deranging the instrument
»Red man Mohican« said the Tuscarora »good paleface Yengeese«
»These are heavenly tidings« murmured Mabel who little relished the
prospect of a deadly fray in that remote wilderness »Let us approach at once
dear uncle and proclaim ourselves friends«
»Good « said the Tuscarora »red man cool and know paleface hurried
and fire Let squaw go«
»What« said Cap in astonishment »send little Magnet ahead as a look out
while two lubbers like you and me lieto to see what sort of a landfall she
will make If I do I «
»It is wisest uncle« interrupted the generous girl »and I have no fear
No christian seeing a woman approach alone would fire upon her and my
presence will be a pledge of peace Let me go forward as Arrowhead wishes and
all will be well We are as yet unseen and the surprise of the strangers will
not partake of alarm«
»Good « returned Arrowhead who did not conceal his approbation of Mabels
spirit
»It has an unseaman like look« answered Cap »but being in the woods no
one will know it If you think Mabel «
»Uncle I know There is no cause to fear for me and you are always nigh to
protect me«
»Well take one of the pistols then «
»Nay I had better rely on my youth and feebleness« said the girl smiling
while her colour heightened under her feelings »Among christian men a womans
best guard is her claim to their protection I know nothing of arms and wish to
live in ignorance of them«
The uncle desisted and after receiving a few cautious instructions from
the Tuscarora Mabel rallied all her spirit and advanced alone towards the
group seated near the fire Although the heart of the girl beat quick her step
was firm and her movements seemingly were without reluctance A deathlike
silence reigned in the forest for they towards whom she approached were too
much occupied in appeasing that great natural appetite hunger to avert their
looks for an instant from the important business in which they were all
engaged When Mabel however had got within a hundred feet of the fire she
trod upon a dried stick and the trifling noise that was produced by her light
footstep caused the Mohican as Arrowhead had pronounced the Indian to be and
his companion whose character had been thought so equivocal to rise to their
feet as quick as thought Both glanced at the rifles that leaned against a
tree and then each stood without stretching out an arm as his eyes fell on the
form of the girl The Indian uttered a few words to his companion and resumed
his seat and his meal as calmly as if no interruption had occurred On the
contrary the white man left the fire and came forward to meet Mabel
The latter saw as the stranger approached that she was about to be
addressed by one of her own colour though his dress was so strange a mixture of
the habits of the two races that it required a near look to be certain of the
fact He was of middle age but there was an open honesty a total absence of
guile in his face which otherwise would not have been thought handsome that
at once assured Magnet she was in no danger Still she paused in obedience to a
law of her habits if not of nature which rendered her averse to the appearance
of advancing too freely to meet one of the other sex under the circumstances in
which she was placed
»Fear nothing young woman« said the hunter for such his attire would
indicate him to be »you have met christian men in the wilderness and such as
know how to treat all kindly that are disposed to peace and justice Im a man
well known in all these parts and perhaps one of my names may have reached your
ears By the Frenchers and the redskins on the other side of the Big Lakes I
am called la Longue Carabine by the Mohicans a justminded and upright tribe
what is left of them Hawk Eye while the troops and rangers along this side of
the water call me Pathfinder inasmuch as I have never been known to miss one
end of the trail when there was a Mingo or a friend who stood in need of me
at the other«
This was not uttered boastfully but with the honest confidence of one who
well knew that by whatever name others might have heard of him he had no reason
to blush at the reports The effect on Mabel was instantaneous The moment she
heard the last soubriquet she clasped her hands eagerly and repeated the word
»Pathfinder«
»So they call me young woman and many a great lord has got a title that he
did not half so well merit though if truth be said I rather pride myself in
finding my way where there is no path than in finding it where there is But
the regular troops be by no means particular and half the time they dont know
the difference atween a trail and a path though one is a matter for the eye
while the other is little more than scent«
»Then you are the friend my father promised to send to meet us«
»If you are Sarjeant Dunhams daughter the Great Prophet of the Delawares
never uttered a plainer truth«
»I am Mabel and yonder hid by the trees are my uncle whose name is Cap
and a Tuscarora called Arrowhead We did not hope to meet you until we had
nearly reached the shores of the Lake«
»I wish a justerminded Indian had been your guide« said Pathfinder »for I
am no lover of the Tuscaroras who have travelled too far from the graves of
their fathers always to remember the Great Spirit and Arrowhead is an ambitious
chief Is the Dew of June with him«
»His wife accompanies us and a humble and mild creature she is«
»Ay and truehearted which is more than any who know him will say of
Arrowhead Well we must take the fare that Providence bestows while we follow
the trail of life I suppose worse guides might have been found than the
Tuscarora though he has too much Mingo blood for one who consorts altogether
with the Delawares«
»It is then perhaps fortunate we have met « said Mabel
»It is not misfortinate at any rate for I promised the Sarjeant I would
see his child safe to the garrison though I died for it We expected to meet
you before you reached the falls where we have left our own canoe while we
thought it might do no harm to come up a few miles in order to be of sarvice
if wanted Its lucky we did for I doubt if Arrowhead be the man to shoot the
current«
»Here come my uncle and the Tuscarora and our parties can now join«
As Mabel concluded Cap and Arrowhead who saw that the conference was
amicable drew nigh and a few words sufficed to let them know as much as the
girl herself had learned from the stranger As soon as this was done the party
proceeded towards the two who still remained near the fire
Chapter II
»Yea long as Natures humblest Child
Hath kept her temple undefiled
By sinful sacrifice
Earths fairest scenes are all his own
He is a Monarch and his Throne
Is built amid the skies«
Wilson »Lines Written in a
Highland Glen« ll 3136
The Mohican continued to eat though the second white man rose and courteously
took off his cap to Mabel Dunham He was young healthful and manly in
appearance and wore a dress which while it was less rigidly professional than
that of the uncle also denoted one accustomed to the water In that age real
seamen were a class entirely apart from the rest of mankind their ideas
ordinary language and attire being as strongly indicative of their calling as
the opinions speech and dress of a Turk denote a Mussulman Although the
Pathfinder was scarcely in the prime of life Mabel had met him with a
steadiness that may have been the consequence of having braced her nerves for
the interview but when her eyes encountered those of the young man at the fire
they fell before the gaze of admiration with which she saw or fancied she saw
he greeted her Each in truth felt that interest in the other which
similarity of age condition mutual comeliness and their novel situation would
be likely to inspire in the young and ingenuous
»Here« said Pathfinder with an honest smile bestowed on Mabel »are the
friends your worthy father has sent to meet you This is a great Delaware and
one that has had honors as well as trouble in his day He has an Injin name fit
for a chief but as the language is not always easy for the inexperienced to
pronounce we natrally turn it into English and call him the Big Sarpent You
are not to suppose howsever that by this name we wish to say that he is
treacherous beyond what is lawful in a red skin but that he is wise and has
the cunning that becomes a warrior Arrowhead there knows what I mean«
While the Pathfinder was delivering this address the two Indians gazed on
each other steadily and then the Tuscarora advanced and spoke to the other in
an apparently friendly manner
»I like to see this« continued Pathfinder »the salutes of two redskins
in the woods Master Cap are like the hailing of friendly vessels on the ocean
But speaking of water it reminds me of my young friend Jasper Western here
who can claim to know something of these matters seeing that he has passed his
days on Ontario«
»I am glad to see you friend« said Cap giving the young freshwater
sailor a cordial gripe »though you must have something still to learn
considering the school to which you have been sent This is my niece Mabel I
call her Magnet for a reason she never dreams of though you may possibly have
education enough to guess at it having some pretensions to understand the
compass I suppose«
»The reason is easily comprehended« said the young man involuntarily
fastening his keen dark eye at the same time on the suffused face of the girl
»and I feel sure that the sailor who steers by your Magnet will never make a
bad landfall«
»Ha you do make use of some of the terms I find and that with propriety
and understanding Though on the whole I fear you have seen more green than
blue water«
»It is not surprising that we should get some of the phrases that belong to
the land for we are seldom out of sight of it twenty four hours at a time«
»Mores the pity boy mores the pity A very little land ought to go a
great way with a seafaring man Now if the truth were known Master Western I
suppose there is more or less land all round your lake«
»And uncle is there not more or less land all round the ocean « said
Magnet quickly for she dreaded a premature display of the old seamans peculiar
dogmatism not to say pedantry
»No child there is more or less ocean all round the land Thats what I
tell the people ashore youngster they are living as it might be in the midst
of the sea without knowing it by sufferance as it were the water being so
much the more powerful and the largest But there is no end to conceit in this
world for a fellow who never saw salt water often fancies he knows more than
one who has gone round the Horn No no this earth is pretty much an island
and all that can be truly said not to be so is water«
Young Western had a profound deference for a mariner of the ocean on which
he had often pined to sail but he had also a natural regard for the broad
sheet on which he had passed his life and which was not without its beauties in
his eyes
»What you say sir« he answered modestly »may be true as to the Atlantic
but we have a respect for the land up here on Ontario«
»That is because you are always landlocked« returned Cap laughing
heartily »but yonder is the Pathfinder as they call him with some smoking
platters inviting us to share in his mess and I will confess that one gets no
venison at sea Master Western civility to girls at your time of life comes as
easy as taking in the slack of the ensign halyards and if you will just keep an
eye to her kid and can while I join the mess of the Pathfinder and our Indian
friends I make no doubt she will remember it«
Master Cap uttered more than he was aware of at the time Jasper Western
did look to the wants of Mabel and she long remembered the kind manly
attentions of the young sailor at this their first interview He placed the end
of a log for a seat obtained for her a delicious morsel of the venison gave
her a draught of pure water from the spring and as he sat near and opposite to
her fast won his way to her esteem by his gentle but frank manner of
manifesting his care a homage that woman always wishes to receive but which is
never so flattering or so agreeable as when it comes from the young to those of
their own age from the manly to the gentle Like most of those who pass their
time excluded from the society of the softer sex young Western was earnest
sincere and kind in his attentions which though they wanted a conventional
refinement that perhaps Mabel never missed had those winning qualities that
prove more efficient as substitutes Leaving these two inexperienced and
unsophisticated young people to become acquainted through their feelings rather
than their expressed thoughts we will turn to the group in which the uncle
with a facility of taking care of himself that never deserted him had already
become a principal actor
The party had taken their places around a platter of venison steaks which
served for the common use and the discourse naturally partook of the characters
of the different individuals that composed it The Indians were silent and
industrious the appetite of the Aboriginal American for venison being
seemingly inappeasable while the two white men were communicative and
discursive each of the latter being garrulous and opinionated in his way But
as the dialogue will serve to put the reader in possession of certain facts that
may render the succeeding narrative more clear it will be well to record it
»There must be satisfaction in this life of yours no doubt Master
Pathfinder« continued Cap when the hunger of the travellers was so far
appeased that they began to pick and choose among the savory morsels »it has
some of the chances and luck that we seamen love and if ours is all water
yours is all land«
»Nay we have water too in our journeyings and marches« returned his white
companion »We border men handle the paddle and the spear almost as much as
the rifle and the hunting knife«
»Ay but do you handle the brace and the bow line the wheel and the
leadline the reefpoint and the toprope The paddle is a good thing out of
doubt in a canoe but of what use is it in the ship«
»Nay I respect all men in their callings and I can believe the things you
mention have their uses One who has lived like myself in company with many
tribes understands the differences in usages The paint of a Mingo is not the
paint of a Delaware and he who should expect to see a warrior in the dress of a
squaw might be disappinted Im not very old but I have lived in the woods
and have some acquaintance with human natur I never believed much in the
larning of them that dwell in towns for I never yet met with one that had an
eye for a rifle or a trail«
»Thats my manner of reasoning Master Pathfinder to a yarn Walking about
streets going to church of Sundays and hearing rumours never yet made a man of
a human being Send the boy out upon the broad ocean if you wish to open his
eyes and let him look upon foreign nations or what I call the face of natur
if you wish him to understand his own character Now there is my
brotherinlaw the Serjeant he is as good a fellow as ever broke a biscuit in
his own way but what is he after all why nothing but a soger A serjeant to
be sure but that is a sort of a soger you know When he wished to marry poor
Bridget my sister I told the girl what he was as in duty bound and what she
might expect from such a husband but you know how it is with girls when their
minds are jammed by an inclination It is true the Serjeant has risen in his
calling and they say he is an important man at the fort but his poor wife has
not lived to see it all for she has now been dead these fourteen years«
»A soldiers calling is an honorable calling provided he has fit only on
the side of right« returned the Pathfinder »and as the Frenchers are always
wrong and His Sacred Majesty and these colonies are always right I take it the
sarjeant has a quiet conscience as well as a good character I have never slept
more sweetly than when I have fit the Mingos though it is a law with me to
fight always like a white man and never like an Injin The Sarpent here has
his fashions and I have mine and yet have we fout side by side these many
years without eithers thinking a hard thought consarning the others ways I
tell him there is but one heaven and one hell notwithstanding his traditions
though there are many paths to both«
»That is rational and he is bound to believe you though I fancy most of
the roads to the last are on dry land The sea is what my poor sister Bridget
used to call a purifying place and one is out of the way of temptation when out
of sight of land I doubt if as much can be said in favor of your lakes up
hereaway«
»That towns and settlements lead to sin I will allow but our lakes are
bordered by the forests and one is every day called upon to worship God in
such a temple That men are not always the same even in the wilderness I must
admit for the difference atween a Mingo and a Delaware is as plain to be seen
as the difference atween the sun and the moon I am glad friend Cap that we
have met howsever if it be only that you may tell the Big Sarpent here that
there be lakes in which the water is salt We have been pretty much of one mind
since our acquaintance began and if the Mohican has only half the faith in me
that I have in him he believes all that I have told him touching the white
mens ways and naturs laws but it has always seemed to me that none of the
red skins have given as free a belief as an honest man likes to the accounts
of the Big Salt Lakes and to that of there being rivers that flow up stream«
»This comes of getting things wrong end foremost« answered Cap with a
condescending nod »You have thought of your lakes and rifts as the ship and
of the ocean and the tides as the boat Neither Arrowhead nor the Serpent need
doubt what you have said concerning both though I confess myself to some
difficulty in swallowing the tale about there being inland seas at all and
still more that there is any sea of fresh water I have come this long journey
as much to satisfy my own eyes and palate concerning these facts as to oblige
the Serjeant and Magnet though the first was my sisters husband and I love
the last like a child«
»You are wrong you are wrong friend Cap very wrong to distrust the power
of God in any thing« returned Pathfinder earnestly »Them that live in the
settlements and the towns get to have confined and unjust opinions consarning
the might of His hand but we who pass our time in his very presence as it
might be see things differently I mean such of us as have white naturs A
red skin has his notions and it is right that it should be so and if they are
not exactly the same as a Christian white mans there is no harm in it Still
there are matters that belong altogether to the ordering of Gods Providence
and these salt and fresh water lakes are some of them I do not pretend to
account for these things but I think it the duty of all to believe in them For
my part I am one of them who think that the same hand which made the sweet
water can make the salt«
»Hold on there Master Pathfinder « interrupted Cap not without some heat
»in the way of a proper and manly faith I will turn my back on no one ashore
or afloat Although more accustomed to make all snug aloft and to show the
proper canvass than to pray when the hurricane comes I know that we are but
helpless mortals at times and I hope I pay reverence where reverence is due
All I mean to say and that is rather insiniated than said is this which is
as you all know simply an intimation that being accustomed to see waters in
large bodies salt I should like to taste it before I can believe it to be
fresh«
»God has given the salt licks to the deer and he has given to man red skin
and white the delicious spring at which to slake his thirst It is onreasonable
to think that he may not have given lakes of pure water to the west and lakes
of impure water to the east«
Cap was awed in spite of his overweening dogmatism by the earnest
simplicity of the Pathfinder though he did not relish the idea of believing a
fact which for many years he had pertinaciously insisted could not be true
Unwilling to give up the point and at the same time unable to maintain it
against a reasoning to which he was unaccustomed and which possessed equally
the force of truth faith and probability he was glad to get rid of the subject
by evasion
»Well well friend Pathfinder« he said »we will nipper the argument where
it is and as the serjeant has sent you to give us pilotage to this same lake
we can only try the water when we reach it only mark my words I do not say
that it may not be fresh on the surface the Atlantic is sometimes fresh on the
surface near the mouths of great rivers but rely on it I shall show you a
way of tasting the water many fathoms deep of which you never dreamed and then
we shall know more about it«
The guide seemed content to let the matter rest and the conversation
changed
»We are not overconsated consarning our gifts« observed the Pathfinder
after a short pause »and well know that such as live in the towns and near the
sea «
»On the sea« interrupted Cap
»On the sea if you wish it friend have opportunities that do not befall
us of the wilderness Still we know our own callings and they are what I
consider natral callings and are not parvarted by vanity and wantonness Now
my gifts are with the rifle and on a trail and in the way of game and
scoutin for though I can use the spear and the paddle I pride not myself on
either The youth Jasper there who is discoursing with the sarjeants
daughter is a different creatur for he may be said to breathe the water as
it might be like a fish The Indians and Frenchers of the north shore call him
Eau douce on account of his gifts in this particular He is better at the oar
and the ropetie than in making fires on a trail«
»There must be something about these gifts of which you speak after all«
said Cap »Now this fire I will acknowledge has overlaid all my seamanship
Arrowhead there said the smoke came from a palefaces fire and that is a
piece of philosophy that I hold to be equal to steering in a dark night by the
edges of the scud«
»Its no great secret its no great secret« returned Pathfinder laughing
with great inward glee though habitual caution prevented the emission of any
noise »Nothing is easier to us who pass our time in the great school of
Providence than to larn its lessons We should be as useless on a trail or in
carrying tidings through the wilderness as so many woodchucks did we not soon
come to a knowledge of these niceties Eau douce as we call him is so fond of
the water that he gathered a damp stick or two for our fire and there be plenty
of them as well as those that are thoroughly dried lying scattered about and
wet will bring dark smoke as I suppose even you followers of the sea must know
Its no great secret its no great secret though all is mystery to such as
doesnt study the Lord and his mighty ways with humility and thankfulness«
»That must be a keen eye of Arrowheads to see so slight a difference«
»He would be but a poor Injin if he didnt No no it is wartime and
no redskin is outlying without using his senses Every skin has its own natur
and every natur has its own laws as well as its own skin It was many years
afore I could master all them higher branches of a forest edication for
redskin knowledge doesnt come as easy to white skin natur as what I suppose
is intended to be white skin knowledge though I have but little of the latter
having passed most of my time in the wilderness«
»You have been a ready scholar Master Pathfinder as is seen by your
understanding these things so well I suppose it would be no great matter for a
man regularly brought up to the sea to catch these trifles if he could only
bring his mind fairly to bear upon them«
»I dont know that The white man has his difficulties in getting red skin
habits quite as much as the Injin in getting white skin ways As for the raal
natur it is my opinion that neither can actually get that of the other«
»And yet we sailors who run about the world so much say there is but one
nature whether it be in the Chinaman or a Dutchman For my own part I am much
of that way of thinking too for I have generally found that all nations like
gold and silver and most men relish tobacco«
»Then you seafaring men know little of the red Have you ever known any of
your Chinamen who could sing their death songs with their flesh torn with
splinters and cut with knives the fire raging around their naked bodies and
death staring them in the face Until you can find me a Chinaman or a
Christianman that can do all this you cannot find a man with a redskin
natur let him look ever so valiant or know how to read all the books that
were ever printed«
»It is the Savages only that play each other such hellish tricks« said
Master Cap glancing his eyes about him uneasily at the apparently endless
arches of the forest »no white man is ever condemned to undergo these trials«
»Nay therein you are agin mistaken« returned the Pathfinder coolly
selecting a delicate morsel of the venison as his bonne bouche »for though
these torments belong only to the redskin natur in the way of bearing them
like braves whiteskin natur may be and often has been agonized by them«
»Happily« said Cap with an effort to clear his throat »none of His
Majestys allies will be likely to attempt such damnable cruelties on any of
His Majestys loyal subjects I have not served much in the royal navy it is
true but I have served and that is something and in the way of privateering
and worrying the enemy in his ships and cargoes Ive done my full share But I
trust there are no French savages on this side of the lake and I think you said
that Ontario is a broad sheet of water«
»Nay it is broad in our eyes« returned Pathfinder not caring to conceal
the smile which lighted a face that had been burnt by exposure to a bright red
»though I mistrust that some may think it narrow and narrow it is if you wish
it to keep off the foe Ontario has two inds and the inimy that is afraid to
cross it will be sartain to come round it«
»Ah that comes of your dd fresh water ponds« growled Cap hemming so
loud as to cause him instantly to repent the indiscretion »No man now ever
heard of a pirates or a thiefs getting round an end of the Atlantic«
»Mayhap the ocean has no inds«
»That it hasnt nor sides nor bottom The nation that is snugly moored on
one of its coasts need fear nothing from the one anchored abeam let it be ever
so savage unless it possesses the art of shipbuilding No no the people
who live on the shores of the Atlantic need fear but little for their skins or
their scalps A man may lie down at night in those regions in the hope of
finding the hair on his head in the morning unless he wears a wig«
»It isnt so here I dont wish to flurry the young woman and therefore I
will be no way particular though she seems pretty much listening to Eau douce
as we call him but without the edication I have received I should think it
at this very moment a risky journey to go over the very ground that lies atween
us and the garrison in the present state of this frontier There are about as
many Iroquois on this side of Ontario as there be on the other It is for this
very reason friend Cap that the sarjeant has engaged us to come out and show
you the path«
»What do the knaves dare to cruise so near the guns of one of His
Majestys works«
»Do not the ravens resort near the carcase of the deer though the fowler is
at hand They come thisaway as it might be natrally There are more or less
whites passing atween the forts and the settlements and they are sure to be on
their trails The Sarpent has come up one side of the river and I have come up
the other in order to scout for the outlying rascals while Jasper brought up
the canoe like a boldhearted sailor as he is The Sarjeant told him with
tears in his eyes all about his child and how his heart yearned for her and
how gentle and obedient she was until I think the lad would have dashed into a
Mingo camp single handed rather than not acome«
»We thank him we thank him and shall think the better of him for his
readiness though I suppose the boy has run no great risk after all«
»Only the risk of being shot from a cover as he forced the canoe up a swift
rift or turned an elbow in the stream with his eyes fastened on the eddies Of
all risky journeys that on an ambushed river is the most risky in my
judgment and that risk has Jasper run«
»And why the devil has the serjeant sent for me to travel a hundred and
fifty miles in this outlandish manner Give me an offing and the enemy in
sight and Ill play with him in his own fashion as long as he pleases long
bows or close quarters but to be shot like a turtle asleep is not to my
humour If it were not for little Magnet there I would tack ship this instant
make the best of my way back to York and let Ontario take care of itself salt
water or fresh water«
»That wouldnt mend the matter much friend mariner as the road to return
is much longer and almost as bad as the road to go on Trust to us and we will
carry you through safe or lose our scalps«
Cap wore a tight solid cue done up in eelskin while the top of his head
was nearly bald and he mechanically passed his hand over both as if to make
certain that each was in its right place He was at the bottom however a brave
man and had often faced death with coolness though never in the frightful
forms in which it presented itself under the brief but graphic pictures of his
companion It was too late to retreat and he determined to put the best face on
the matter though he could not avoid muttering inwardly a few curses on the
indifference and indiscretion with which his brotherinlaw the serjeant had
led him into his present dilemma
»I make no doubt Master Pathfinder« he answered when these thoughts had
found time to glance through his mind »that we shall reach port in safety What
distance may we now be from the fort«
»Little more than fifteen miles and swift miles too as the river runs if
the Mingos let us go clear«
»And I suppose the woods will stretch along starboard and larboard as
heretofore«
»Anan«
»I mean that we shall have to pick our way through these damned trees«
»Nay nay you will go in the canoe and the Oswego has been cleared of its
floodwood by the troops It will be floating down stream and that too with a
swift current«
»And what the devil is to prevent these Minks of which you speak from
shooting us as we double a headland or are busy in steering clear of the
rocks«
»The Lord He who has so often helped others in greater difficulties
Many and many is the time that my head would have been stripped of hair skin
and all hadnt the Lord fit of my side I never go into a skrimmage friend
mariner without thinking of this great ally who can do more in battle than
all the battalions of the 60th were they brought into a single line«
»Ay ay this may do well enough for a scouter but we seamen like our
offing and to go into action with nothing on our minds but the business before
us plain broadside and broadside work and no trees or rocks to thicken the
water«
»And no Lord too I dare to say if the truth were known Take my word for
it Master Cap that no battle is the worse fout for having the Lord on your
side Look at the head of the Big Sarpent there you can see the mark of a
knife all along there by his left ear now nothing but a bullet from this long
rifle of mine saved his scalp that day for it had fairly started and half a
minute more would have left him without the warlock When the Mohican squeezes
my hand and intermates that I befriended him in that matter I tell him no it
was the Lord who led me to the only spot where execution could be done or his
necessity be made known on account of the smoke Sartain when I got the right
position I finished the affair of my own accord for a friend under the
tomahawk is apt to make a man think quick and act at once as was my case or
the Sarpents spirit would be hunting in the happy land of his people at this
very moment«
»Come come Pathfinder this palaver is worse than being skinned from stem
to stern we have but a few hours of sun and had better be drifting down this
said current of yours while we may Magnet dear are you not ready to get
under way«
Magnet started blushed brightly and made her preparations for an
immediate departure Not a syllable of the discourse just related had she
heard for Eau douce as young Jasper was oftener called than any thing else
had been filling her ears with a description of the yet distant post towards
which she was journeying with accounts of her father whom she had not seen
since a child and with the manner of life of those who lived in the frontier
garrisons Unconsciously she had become deeply interested and her thoughts had
been too intently directed to these interesting matters to allow any of the
less agreeable subject discussed by those so near to reach her ears The bustle
of departure put an end to the conversation entirely and the baggage of the
scouts or guides being trifling in a few minutes the whole party was ready
to proceed As they were about to quit the spot however to the surprise of
even his fellow guides Pathfinder collected a quantity of branches and threw
them upon the embers of the fire taking care even to see that some of the wood
was damp in order to raise as dark and dense a smoke as possible
»When you can hide your trail Jasper« he said »a smoke at leaving an
encampment may do good instead of harm If there are a dozen Mingos within ten
miles of us some of em are on the heights or in the trees looking out for
smokes let them see this and much good may it do them They are welcome to our
leavings«
»But may they not strike and follow on our trail« asked the youth whose
interest in the hazards of his situation had much increased since the meeting
with Magnet »We shall leave a broad path to the river«
»The broader the better when there it will surpass Mingo cunning even to
say which way the canoe has gone up stream or down Water is the only thing in
natur that will thoroughly wash out a trail and even water will not always do
it when the scent is strong Do you not see Eau douce that if any Mingos have
seen our path below the falls they will strike off towards this smoke and that
they will natrally conclude they who began by going up stream will ind by
going up stream If they know any thing they now know a party is out from the
fort and it will exceed even Mingo wit to fancy that we have come up here
just for the pleasure of going back again and that too the same day and at
the risk of our scalps«
»Certainly« added Jasper who was talking apart with the Pathfinder as
they moved towards the wind »they cannot know any thing about the serjeants
daughter for the greatest secrecy has been observed on her account«
»And they will larn nothing here« returned Pathfinder causing his
companion to see that he trod with the utmost care on the impressions left on
the leaves by the little foot of Mabel »unless this old saltwater fish has
been trotting his niece about in the windrow like a fan playing by the side
of the old doe«
»Buck you mean Pathfinder«
»Isnt he a queerity Now I can consort with such a sailor as yourself
Eau douce and find nothing very contrary in our gifts though yourn belong to
the lakes and mine to the woods Harkee Jasper « continued the scout laughing
in his noiseless manner »suppose we try the temper of his blade and run him
over the falls«
»And what would be done with the pretty niece in the mean while«
»Nay nay no harm shall come to her she must walk round the portage at
any rate but you and I can try this Atlantic Oceaner and then all parties will
become better acquainted We shall find out whether his flint will strike fire
and he may come to know something of frontier tricks«
Young Jasper smiled for he was not averse to fun and had been a little
touched by Caps superciliousness but Mabels fair face light agile form and
winning smiles stood like a shield between her uncle and the intended
experiment
»Perhaps the serjeants daughter will be frightened« he said
»Not she if she has any of the sarjeants spirit in her She doesnt look
like a skeary thing at all Leave it to me Eau douce and I will manage the
affair alone«
»Not you Pathfinder you would only drown both If the canoe goes over I
must go in it«
»Well have it so then shall we smoke the pipe of agreement on the
bargain«
Jasper laughed nodded his head by way of consent and the subject was
dropped for the party had reached the canoe so often mentioned and fewer
words had determined much graver things between the parties
Chapter III
»Before these fields were shorn and tilled
Full to the brim our rivers flowed
The melody of waters filled
The fresh and boundless wood
And torrents dashed and rivulets played
And fountains spouted in the shade«
Bryant »An Indian at the Burial Place
of His Fathers« ll 6772
It is generally known that the waters which flow into the southern side of
Ontario are in general narrow sluggish and deep There are some exceptions
to this rule for many of the rivers have rapids or as they are termed in the
language of the region rifts and some have falls Among the latter was the
particular stream on which our adventurers were now journeying The Oswego is
formed by the junction of the Oneida and the Onondaga both of which flow from
lakes and it pursues its way through a gently undulating country a few miles
until it reaches the margin of a sort of natural terrace down which it tumbles
some ten or fifteen feet to another level across which it glides or glances
or pursues its course with the silent stealthy progress of deep water until it
throws its tribute into the broad receptacle of Ontario The canoe in which Cap
and his party had travelled from Fort Stanwix the last military station on the
Mohawk lay by the side of this river and into it the whole party now entered
with the exception of the Pathfinder who remained on the land in order to
shove the light vessel off
»Let her starn drift down stream Jasper« said the man of the woods to the
young mariner of the lake who had dispossessed Arrowhead of his paddle and
taken his own station as steersman »let it go down with the current Should any
of them infarnals the Mingos strike our trail or follow it to this point
they will not fail to look for the signs in the mud and if they discover that
we have left the shore with the nose of the canoe up stream it is a natral
belief to think we went thataway«
This direction was followed and giving a vigorous shove the Pathfinder
who was in the flower of his strength and activity made a leap landing
lightly and without disturbing its equilibrium in the bows of the canoe As
soon as it had reached the centre of the river or the strength of the current
the boat was turned and it began to glide noiselessly down the stream
The vessel in which Cap and his niece had embarked for their long and
adventurous journey was one of the canoes of bark which the Indians are in the
habit of constructing and which by their exceeding lightness and the ease with
which they are propelled are admirably adapted to a navigation in which
shoals floodwood and other similar obstructions so often occur The two men
who composed its original crew had several times carried it when emptied of its
luggage many hundred yards and it would not have exceeded the strength of a
single man to lift its weight Still it was long and for a canoe wide a want
of steadiness being its principal defect in the eyes of the uninitiated A few
hours practice however in a great measure remedied this evil and both Mabel
and her uncle had learned so far to humour its movements that they now
maintained their places with perfect composure Nor did the additional weight of
the three guides tax its powers in any particular degree the breadth of the
rounded bottom allowing the necessary quantity of water to be displaced without
bringing the gunwale very sensibly nearer to the surface of the stream Its
workmanship was neat the timbers were small and secured by thongs and the
whole fabric though it was so slight and precarious to the eye was probably
capable of conveying double the number of persons that it now contained
Cap was seated on a low thwart in the centre of the canoe the Big Serpent
knelt near him Arrowhead and his wife occupied places forward of both the
former having relinquished his post aft Mabel was halfreclining on some of her
own effects behind her uncle while the Pathfinder and Eau douce stood erect
the one in the bows and the other in the stern each using a paddle with a
long steady noiseless sweep The conversation was carried on in low tones all
of the party beginning to feel the necessity of prudence as they drew nearer to
the outskirts of the fort and had no longer the cover of the woods
The Oswego just at that place was a deep dark stream of no great width
its still gloomy looking current winding its way among overhanging trees that
in particular spots almost shut out the light of the heavens Here and there
some half fallen giant of the forest lay nearly across its surface rendering
care necessary to avoid the limbs and most of the distance the lower branches
and leaves of the trees of smaller growth were laved by its waters The picture
which has been so beautifully described by our own admirable poet and which we
have placed at the head of this chapter as an epigraph was here realized the
earth fattened by the decayed 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 has 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 NewYork within the bounds of civilization or the projects of the
adventurous At that distant day there were two great channels of military
communications between the inhabited portions of the colony of NewYork and
the frontiers that 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 describing Along both these lines of communications 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 embraced most of the distance that Cap and Mabel had journeyed under the
protection of Arrowhead
»I sometimes wish for peace again« said the Pathfinder »when one can
range the forest without sarching for any other inimy than the beasts and
fishes Ahs me many is the day that the Sarpent there and I have passed
happily among the streams living on venison salmon and trout without thought
of a Mingo or a scalp I sometimes wish that them blessed days might come back
for it is not my raal gift to slay my own kind Im sartain the sarjeants
daughter dont think me a wretch that takes pleasure in preying on human
natur«
At this remark a sort of half interrogatory Pathfinder looked behind him
and though the most partial friend could scarcely term his sunburnt and hard
features handsome even Mabel thought his smile attractive 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 wilderness« the young woman answered returning the
smile as frankly as it was given and much more sweetly
»That he wouldnt that he wouldnt the sarjeant is a man of feelin and
many is the march and the fight that we have 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 sarjeant 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 Pathfinder « 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 coloured and in turning aside her face to avoid the looks of those
in the bows 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 this stream« demanded Mabel a still brighter flush
glowing on her face
»The Devil Master Pathfinder or you Mr Oh thedeuce for so Cap began
to style Jasper by way of entering cordially into the border usages 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 trust to us friend Cap« answered Pathfinder »we are but
freshwater 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 endivours not to disgrace our edication«
»In going down« exclaimed Cap »the devil man you do not dream of going
down a waterfall in this eggshell 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 that 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 mainstay« said Pathfinder
winking at 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
sarjeants 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 courageously but
coolly proposed to continue 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 affection for his niece
raising another qualm in his conscience »We cannot allow Magnet to land if
there are enemys Indians near«
»Nay no Mingo will be near the portage for that is a spot too public for
their deviltries« answered the Pathfinder confidently »Natur is natur and
it is an Injins 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 sarjeants 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
professional pride Cap would have gladly followed but he did not like to
exhibit so unequivocal a weakness in the presence of a freshwater sailor
»I call all hands to witness« he said as those who had landed moved away
»that I do not look on this affair as any thing 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 neednt despise the Oswego Falls neither« put in
Pathfinder »for though they may not be Niagara nor the Genessee nor the
Cahoos nor Glenns nor them on the Canada they are narvous enough for a new
beginner Let the sarjeants daughter stand on yonder rock and she will see the
manner in which we ignorant backwoodsmen get over a difficulty that we cant
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 companions
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 movements 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
appeared 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 sunk 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 evident 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 hemlock«
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 the shore He heard the roar of the
water thundering 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 cohesion
»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
sartainty 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 cauldron He felt the
bows 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
discovered that it was gliding across the basin of still water below the fall
under the steady impulse of Jaspers 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 in the passage
»Fourteen spoonsfull Eau douce fourteen fairly measured spoonsfull I have
you must acknowledge known you 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 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 cue as if to ascertain its
safety and then looked back in order to examine the danger he had gone
through His impunity 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 descent the canoe had glanced amid fragments of broken rock
whirlpools foam and furious tossings of the element 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 crests 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 rest1
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 admiration of the boldness of the exploit Still he was indisposed
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
aforesaid hem than he loosened his tongue in the usual strain of superiority
»I do not gainsay your knowledge of the channel Master Oh the deuce for
such he religiously believed to be Jaspers soubriquet 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 isnt enough to know the channel friend Mariner« said Pathfinder »it
needs narves and skill to keep the canoe straight and to keep her clear of the
rocks too There isnt 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 cant do it myself unless by means of Providence and it
needs Jaspers hand and Jaspers eye to make sure of a dry passage Fourteen
spoonsfull after all are no great matter though I wish it had been but ten
seeing that the Sarjeants 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 whiteskin 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 Injin knows how to hold his
tongue but we white folk fancy we are always wiser than our fellows Im 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 Its 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 Kings Majesty has shot the bridge in his royal person«
»Well I want no delicate ladies or kings majesties God bless em in the
canoe in going over these falls for a boats breadth either way may make a
drowning matter of it Eau douce we shall have to carry the sarjeants brother
over Niagara yet to show him what may be done on 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 exchanged with Eau douce and
he remained silent some time for sooth to say he had never suspected the
possibility of going down Niagara feasible as the thing must appear to every
one on a second thought the real difficulty 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 reembarked 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 that had rendered her mute but her fright had not been so great as to
prevent admiration of the steadiness of the youth who directed the movement
from blending with the passing terror In truth one much less quick and
sensitive might have had her feelings awakened by the cool and gallant air with
which Eau douce had accomplished this clever exploit He had stood firmly erect
notwithstanding the plunge and to those who were on the shore it was evident
that by a timely application of his skill and strength the canoe had received a
sheer that alone carried it clear of a rock over which the boiling water was
leaping in jets deau now leaving the brown stone visible and now covering it
with a limpid sheet as if machinery 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 forever in her mind the pictures presented by the
plunging canoe and the unmoved steersman She admitted that insidious sentiment
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 entirely 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
wariness in the management of his own boat that might have been remarked by one
accustomed to his ordinary confident careless manner had such an observer
been present to rate what was passing
»We know too well a womans gifts to think of carrying the sarjeants
daughter over the falls« said Pathfinder looking at Mabel while he addressed
her uncle »though Ive been acquainted with some of her sex in these regions
that would think but little of doing the thing«
»Mabel is fainthearted like her mother« returned Cap »and you did well
friend to humour her weakness You will remember the child has never been at
sea«
»No no it was easy to discover that by your own fearlessness 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 may judge
what a time he had of it«
»What became of the poor fellow« asked Cap scarce knowing how to take the
others 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 courthouse
or a fort«
»If it should jump out of a canoe « interrupted Jasper smiling though 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 Mabels 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 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 ourselves off in female
eyes It may be pleasant to the young to win each others good opinions by
doing things that may seem praiseworthy and bold but neither Eau douce nor
myself am of that race My natur though perhaps the Sarpent would be a better
witness 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 use and much consorting and I
am sure he is not boastful or vainglorious«
Mabel rewarded the scout with a smile that served to keep the canoes
together 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
nothing is so precious as time when you are mistrustful of Mingos«
»But we can 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 sarjeant 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
dont understand«
»Tis the Sarpent as sure as Im a white man and he wishes us to drop in
nearer to his shore Mischief is brewin or one of his deliberation and
steadiness would never take this trouble Courage all we are men and must
meet deviltry as becomes our colour and our callings Ah I never knew good
come of boastin and here just as I was vauntin of our safety comes danger to
give me the lie«
Chapter IV
» Art stryving to compare
With nature did an arber greene dispred
Framed of wanton yvie flowring fayre
Through which the fragrant eglantine did spred «
Spenser The Faerie Queene IIv2914
The Oswego below the falls is a more rapid unequal stream than it is above
them There are places where the river flows in the quiet stillness of deep
water but many shoals and rapids occur and at that distant day when every
thing was in its natural state some of the passes were not altogether without
hazard Very little exertion was required on the part of those who managed the
canoes except in those places where the swiftness of the current and the
presence of the rocks required care when indeed not only vigilance but great
coolness readiness and strength of arm became necessary in order to avoid the
dangers Of all this the Mohican was aware and he had judiciously selected a
spot where the river flowed tranquilly to intercept the canoes in order to
make his communication without hazard to those he wished to speak
The Pathfinder had no sooner recognised the form of his red friend than
with a strong sweep of his paddle he threw the head of his own canoe towards the
shore motioning for Jasper to follow In a minute both boats were silently
drifting down the stream within reach of the bushes that overhung the water
all observing a profound silence some from alarm and others from habitual
caution As the travellers drew nearer the Indian he made a sign for them to
stop and then he and Pathfinder had a short but earnest conference in the
language of the Delawares
»The chief is not apt to see enemies in a dead log« observed the white man
to his red associate »why does he tell us to stop«
»Mingos are in the woods«
»That we have believed these two days does the chief know it«
The Mohican quietly held up the head of a pipe formed of stone
»It lay on a fresh trail that led towards the garrison« for so it was the
usage of that frontier to term a military work whether it was occupied or not
»That may be the bowl of a pipe belonging to a soldier Many use the red
skin pipes«
»See« said the Big Serpent again holding the thing he had found up to the
view of his friend
The bowl of the pipe was of soap stone and it had been carved with great
care and with a very respectable degree of skill In its centre was a small
Latin cross made with an accuracy that permitted no doubt of its meaning
»That does foretell deviltry and wickedness« said the Pathfinder who had
all the provincial horror of the holy symbol in question that then pervaded the
country and which became so incorporated with its prejudices by confounding
men with things as to have left its traces strong enough on the moral feeling
of the community to be discovered even at the present hour »no Injin who had
not been parvarted by the cunning priests of the Canadas would dream of carving
a thing like that on his pipe Ill warrant ye the knave prays to the image
every time he wishes to sarcumvent the innocent and work his fearful
wickednesses It looks fresh too Chingachgook«
»The tobacco was burning when I found it«
»That is close work chief where was the trail«
The Mohican pointed to a spot not a hundred yards distant from that where
they stood
The matter now began to look very serious and the two principal guides
conferred apart for several minutes when both ascended the bank approached the
indicated spot and examined the trail with the utmost care After this
investigation had lasted a quarter of an hour the white man returned alone his
red friend having disappeared in the forest
The ordinary expression of the countenance of the Pathfinder was that of
simplicity integrity and sincerity blended in an air of self reliance that
usually gave great confidence to those who found themselves under his care but
now a look of concern cast a shade over his honest face that struck the whole
party
»What cheer Master Pathfinder« demanded Cap permitting a voice that was
usually deep loud and confident to sink into the cautious tones that better
suited the dangers of the wilderness »has the enemy got between us and our
port«
»Anan«
»Have any of these painted scaramouches anchored off the harbor towards
which we are running with the hope of cutting us off in entering«
»It may be all as you say friend Cap but I am none the wiser for your
words and in ticklish times the plainer a man makes his English the easier he
is understood I know nothing of ports and anchors but there is a direful Mingo
trail within a hundred yards of this very spot and as fresh as venison without
salt If one of the fiery devils has passed so have a dozen and what is worse
they have gone down towards the garrison and not a soul crosses the clearing
around it that some of their piercing eyes will not discover when sartain
bullets will follow«
»Cannot this said fort deliver a broadside and clear every thing within
the sweep of its hawse«
»Nay the forts thisaway are not like forts in the settlements and two
or three light cannon are all they have down at the mouth of the river and then
broadsides fired at a dozen outlying Mingos lying behind logs and in a forest
would be powder spent in vain We have but one course and that is a very nice
one We are judgematically placed here both canoes being hid by the high bank
and the bushes from all eyes except them of any lurker directly opposite Here
then we may stay without much present fear but how to get the blood thirsty
devils up the stream again Ha I have it I have it If it does no good
it can do no harm Do you see the widetop chestnut here Jasper at the last
turn in the river On our own side of the stream I mean«
»That near the fallen pine«
»The very same Take the flint and tinder box creep along the bank and
light a fire at that spot Maybe the smoke will draw them above us In the mean
while we will drop the canoes carefully down beyond the point below and find
another shelter Bushes are plenty and covers are easily to be had in this
region as witness the many ambushments«
»I will do it Pathfinder« said Jasper springing to the shore »In ten
minutes the fire shall be lighted«
»And Eau douce use plenty of damp wood this time« half whispered the
other laughing heartily in his own peculiar manner »When smoke is wanted
water helps to thicken it«
The young man who too well understood his duty to delay unnecessarily was
soon off making his way rapidly towards the desired point A slight attempt of
Mabel to object to the risk was disregarded and the party immediately prepared
to change its position as it could be seen from the place where Jasper intended
to light his fire The movement did not require haste and it was made leisurely
and with care The canoes were got clear of the bushes then suffered to drop
down with the stream until they reached the spot where the chestnut at the
foot of which Jasper was to light the fire was almost shut out from view when
they stopped and every eye was turned in the direction of the adventurer
»There goes the smoke« exclaimed the Pathfinder as a current of air
whirled a little column of the vapor from the land allowing it to rise spirally
above the bed of the river »A good flint a small bit of steel and plenty of
dry leaves make a quick fire I hope Eau douce will have the wit to bethink him
of the damp wood now when it may sarve us all a good turn«
»Too much smoke too much cunning« said Arrowhead sententiously
»That is gospel truth Tuscarora if the Mingos didnt know that they are
near soldiers but soldiers commonly think more of their dinners at a halt
than of their wisdom and danger No no let the boy pile on his logs and
smother them well too it will all be laid to the stupidity of some Scotch or
Irish blunderer who is thinking more of his oatmeal or his potatoes than of
Injin sarcumventions or Injin rifles«
»And yet I should think from all we have heard in the towns that the
soldiers on this frontier are used to the artifices of their enemies« said
Mabel »and have got to be almost as wily as the red men themselves«
»Not they not they Experence makes them but little wiser and they
wheel and platoon and battalion it about here in the forest just as they
did in their parks at home of which they are all so fond of talking One red
skin has more cunning in his natur than a whole rigiment from the other side
of the water that is what I call cunning of the woods But there is smoke
enough of all conscience and we had better drop into another cover The lad
has thrown the river on his fire and there is danger that the Mingos will
believe a whole rigiment is out«
While speaking the Pathfinder permitted his canoe to drift away from the
bush by which it had been retained and in a couple of minutes the bend in the
river concealed the smoke and the tree Fortunately a small indentation in the
shore presented itself within a few yards of the point they had just passed
and the two canoes glided into it under the impulsion of the paddles
A better spot could not have been found for the purpose of the travellers
than the one they now occupied The bushes were thick and they overhung the
water forming a complete canopy of leaves There was a small gravelly strand
at the bottom of the little bay where most of the party landed to be more at
their ease and the only position from which they could possibly be seen was a
point on the river directly opposite There was little danger however of
discovery from that quarter as the thicket there was even denser than common
and the land beyond it was so wet and marshy as to render it difficult to be
trodden
»This is a safe cover« said the Pathfinder after he had taken a
scrutinizing survey of his position »but it may be necessary to make it safer
Master Cap I ask nothing of you but silence and a quieting of such gifts as
you may have got at sea while the Tuscarora and I make provision for the evil
hour«
The guide then went a short distance into the bushes accompanied by the
Indian where the two cut off the larger stems of several alders and other
bushes using the utmost care not to make a noise The ends of these little
trees for such in fact they were were forced into the mud outside of the
canoes the depth of the water being very trifling and in the course of ten
minutes a very effectual screen was interposed between them and the point of
principal danger Much ingenuity and readiness were manifested in making this
simple arrangement in which the two workmen were essentially favored by the
natural formation of the bank the indentation in the shore the shallowness of
the water and the manner in which the tangled bushes dipped into the stream The
Pathfinder had the address to look for bushes that had curved stems things
easily found in such a place and by cutting them some distance beneath the
bend and permitting the latter to touch the water the artificial little
thicket had not the appearance of growing in the stream which might have
excited suspicion but one passing it would have thought that the bushes shot
out horizontally from the bank before they inclined upwards towards the light
In short the shelter was so cunningly devised and so artfully prepared that
none but an unusually distrustful eye would have been turned for an instant
towards the spot in quest of a hiding place
»This is the best cover I ever yet got into« said the Pathfinder with his
quiet laugh after having been on the outside to reconnoitre »the leaves of our
new trees fairly touch the bushes over our heads and even the painter who has
been in the garrison of late could not tell which belong to Providence and
which are ourn Hist yonder comes Eau douce wading like a sensible boy as
he is to lose his trail in the water and we shall soon see whether our cover
is good for any thing or not«
Jasper had indeed returned from his duty above and missing the canoes he
at once inferred that they had dropped round the next bend in the river in
order to get out of sight of the fire His habits of caution immediately
suggested the expediency of stepping into the water in order that there might
exist no visible communication between the marks left by the party on the
shore and the place where he believed them to have taken refuge below Should
the Canadian Indians return on their own trail and discover that made by the
Pathfinder and the Serpent in their ascent from and descent to the river the
clue to their movements would cease at the shore water leaving no prints of
footsteps The young man had therefore waded kneedeep as far as the point
and was now seen making his way slowly down the margin of the stream searching
curiously for the spot in which the canoes were hid
It was in the power of those behind the bushes by placing their eyes near
the leaves to find many places to look through while one at a little distance
lost this advantage or even did his sight happen to fall on some small
opening the bank and the shadows beyond prevented him from detecting forms and
outlines of sufficient dimensions to expose the fugitives It was evident to
those who watched his motions from behind their cover and they were all in the
canoes that Jasper was totally at a loss to imagine where the Pathfinder had
secreted himself When fairly round the curvature in the shore and out of sight
of the fire he had lighted above the young man stopped and began examining the
bank deliberately and with great care Occasionally he advanced eight or ten
paces and then halted again to renew the search The water being much shoaler
than common he stepped aside in order to walk with greater ease to himself
and came so near the artificial plantation that he might have touched it with
his hand Still he detected nothing and was actually passing the spot when
Pathfinder made an opening beneath the branches and called to him in a low
voice to enter
»This is pretty well« said the Pathfinder laughing »though paleface
eyes and redskin eyes are as different as human spyglasses I would wager
with the sarjeants daughter here a horn of powder agin a wampum belt for her
girdle that her fathers rigiment should march by this ambushment of ourn and
never find out the fraud But if the Mingos actilly get down into the bed of
the river where Jasper passed I should tremble for the plantation It will do
for their eyes even across the stream howsever and will not be without its
use«
»Dont you think Master Pathfinder that it would be wisest after all«
said Cap »to get under way at once and carry sail hard down stream as soon
as we are satisfied these rascals are fairly astern of us We seamen call a
stern chase a long chase«
»I wouldnt move from this spot until we hear from the Sarpent with the
sarjeants pretty dater here in our company for all the powder in the
magazine of the fort below Sartain captivity or sartain death would follow
If a tender fan such as the maiden we have in charge could thread the forest
like old deer it might indeed do to quit the canoes for by making a circuit
we could reach the garrison afore morning«
»Then let it be done« said Mabel springing to her feet under the sudden
impulse of awakened energy »I am young active used to exercise and could
easily outwalk my dear uncle Let no one think me a hindrance I cannot bear
that all your lives should be exposed on my account«
»No no pretty one we think you any thing but a hindrance or any thing
that is onbecoming and would willingly run twice this risk to do you and the
honest sarjeant a sarvice Do I not speak your mind Eau douce«
»To do her a service« said Jasper with emphasis »Nothing shall tempt me
to desert Mabel Dunham until she is safe in her fathers arms«
»Well said lad bravely and honestly said too and I join in it heart and
hand No no you are not the first of your sex I have led through the
wilderness and never but once did any harm befal any of them That was a sad
day sartainly but its like may never come again«
Mabel looked from one of her protectors to the other and her fine eyes swam
in tears Frankly placing a hand in that of each she answered them though at
first her voice was choked
»I have no right to expose you on my account My dear father will thank you
I thank you God will reward you but let there be no unnecessary risk I can
walk far and have often gone miles on some girlish fancy why not now exert
myself for my life nay for your precious lives«
»She is a true dove Jasper« said the Pathfinder neither relinquishing the
hand he held until the girl herself in native modesty saw fit to withdraw it
»and wonderfully winning We get to be rough and sometimes even hard hearted in
the woods Mabel but the sight of one like you brings us back agin to our
young feelins and does us good for the remainder of our days I dare say
Jasper here will tell you the same for like me in the forest the lad sees
but few such as yourself on Ontario to soften his heart and remind him of
love for his kind Speak out now Jasper and say if it is not so«
»I question if many like Mabel Dunham are to be found anywhere« returned
the young man gallantly an honest sincerity glowing in his face that spoke
more eloquently than his tongue »you need not mention woods and lakes to
challenge her equals but I would go into the settlements and towns«
»We had better leave the canoes« Mabel hurriedly rejoined »for I feel it
is no longer safe to be here«
»You can never do it you can never do it It would be a march of more than
twenty miles and that too of tramping over brush and roots and through
swamps in the dark the trail of such a party would be wide and we might have
to fight our way into the garrison ater all We will wait for the Mohican«
Such appearing to be the decision of him to whom all in their present
strait looked up for counsel no more was said on the subject The whole party
now broke up into groups Arrowhead and his wife sitting apart under the
bushes conversing in a low tone though the man spoke sternly and the woman
answered with the subdued mildness that marks the degraded condition of a
savages wife Pathfinder and Cap occupied one canoe chatting of their
different adventures by sea and land while Jasper and Mabel sat in the other
making greater progress in intimacy in a single hour than might have been
effected under other circumstances in a twelvemonth Notwithstanding their
situation as regards the enemy the time flew by swiftly and the young people
in particular were astonished when Cap informed them how long they had been
thus occupied
»If one could smoke Master Pathfinder« observed the old sailor »this
berth would be snug enough for to give the devil his due you have got the
canoes handsomely landlocked and into moorings that would defy a monsoon The
only hardship is the denial of the pipe«
»The scent of the tobacco would betray us and where is the use of taking
all these precautions against the Mingos eyes if we are to tell them where the
cover is to be found through the nose No no deny your appetites deny your
appetites and larn one virtue from a red skin who will pass a week without
eating even to get a single scalp Did you hear nothing Jasper«
»The Serpent is coming«
»Then let us see if Mohican eyes are better than them of a lad who follows
the water«
The Mohican made his appearance in the same direction as that by which
Jasper had rejoined his friends Instead of coming directly on however no
sooner did he pass the bend where he was concealed from any who might be higher
up stream than he moved close under the bank and using the utmost caution
got a position where he could look back with his person sufficiently concealed
by the bushes to prevent its being seen by any in that quarter
»The Sarpent sees the knaves« whispered Pathfinder »as Im a christian
white man they have bit at the bait and have ambushed the smoke«
Here a hearty but silent laugh interrupted his words and nudging Cap
with his elbow they all continued to watch the movements of Chingachgook in
profound stillness The Mohican remained stationary as the rock on which he
stood fully ten minutes and then it was apparent that something of interest
had occurred within his view for he drew back with a hurried manner looked
anxiously and keenly along the margin of the stream and moved quickly down it
taking care to lose his trail in the shallow water He was evidently in a hurry
and concerned now looking behind him and then casting eager glances towards
every spot on the shore where he thought a canoe might be concealed
»Call him in« whispered Jasper scarce able to restrain his impatience
»call him in or it will be too late See he is actually passing us«
»Not so not so lad nothing presses depend on it « returned his
companion »nothing presses or the Sarpent would begin to creep The Lord help
us and teach us wisdom I do believe even Chingachgook whose sight is as
faithful as the hounds scent overlooks us and will not find out the
ambushment we have made«
This exultation was untimely for the words were no sooner spoken than the
Indian who had actually got several feet lower down the stream than the
artificial cover suddenly stopped fastened a keen riveted glance among the
transplanted bushes made a few hasty steps backward and bending his body and
carefully separating the branches he appeared among them
»The accursed Mingos« said Pathfinder as soon as his friend was near
enough to be addressed with prudence
»Iroquois« returned the sententious Indian
»No matter no matter Iroquois devil Mingo Mengwe or furies all
are pretty much the same I call all rascals Mingos Come hither chief and
let us convarse rationally«
The two then stepped aside and conversed earnestly in the dialect of the
Delawares When their private communication was over Pathfinder rejoined the
rest and made them acquainted with all he had learned
The Mohican had followed the trail of their enemies some distance towards
the fort until the latter caught a sight of the smoke of Jaspers fire when
they instantly retraced their steps It now became necessary for Chingachgook
who ran the greatest risk of detection to find a cover where he could secrete
himself until the party might pass It was perhaps fortunate for him that the
savages were so intent on their recent discovery that they did not bestow the
ordinary attention on the signs of the forest At all events they passed him
swiftly fifteen in number treading lightly in each others footsteps and he
was enabled again to get into their rear After proceeding to the place where
the footsteps of Pathfinder and the Mohican joined the principal trail the
Iroquois had struck off to the river which they reached just as Jasper
disappeared behind the bend below The smoke being now in plain view the
savages plunged into the woods and endeavored to approach the fire unseen
Chingachgook profited by this occasion to descend to the water and to gain the
bend in the river also which he thought had been effected undiscovered Here he
paused as has been stated until he saw his enemies at the fire where their
stay however was very short
Of the motives of the Iroquois the Mohican could judge only by their acts
He thought they had detected the artifice of the fire and were aware that it
had been kindled with a view to mislead them for after a hasty examination of
the spot they separated some plunging again into the woods while six or eight
followed the footsteps of Jasper along the shore and came down the stream
towards the place where the canoes had landed What course they might take on
reaching that spot was only to be conjectured for the Serpent had felt the
emergency to be too pressing to delay looking for his friends any longer From
some indications that were to be gathered from their gestures however he
thought it probable that their enemies might follow down on the margin of the
stream but could not be certain
As the Pathfinder related these facts to his companions the professional
feelings of the two other white men came uppermost and both naturally reverted
to their habits in quest of the means of escape
»Let us run out the canoes at once« said Jasper eagerly »the current is
strong and by using the paddles vigorously we shall soon be beyond the reach of
these scoundrels«
»And this poor flower that first blossomed in the clearins shall it
wither in this forest« objected his friend with a poetry that he had
unconsciously imbibed by his long association with the Delawares
»We must all die first« answered the youth a generous colour mounting to
his temples »Mabel and Arrowheads wife may lie down in the canoes while we
do our duty like men on our feet«
»Ay you are actyve at the paddle and the oar Eau douce I will allow but
an accursed Mingo is more actyve at his mischief the canoes are swift but a
rifle bullet is swifter«
»It is the business of men engaged by a confiding father as we have been
to run this risk «
»But it is not their business to overlook prudence«
»Prudence A man may carry his prudence so far as to forget his courage«
The group was standing on the narrow strand the Pathfinder leaning on his
rifle the butt of which rested on the gravelly beach while both his hands
clasped the barrel at the height of his own shoulders As Jasper threw out this
severe and unmerited imputation the deep red of his comrades face maintained
its hue unchanged though the young man perceived that the fingers grasped the
iron of the gun with the tenacity of a vice Here all betrayal of emotion
ceased
»You are young and hotheaded« returned Pathfinder with a dignity that
impressed his listeners with a keen sense of his moral superiority »but my life
has been passed among dangers of this sort and my experence and gifts are not
to be mastered by the impatience of a boy As for courage Jasper I will not
send back an angry and unmeaning word to meet an angry and an unmeaning word
for I know that you are true in your station and according to your knowledge
but take the advice of one who faced the Mingos when you were a child and know
that their cunning is easier sarcumvented by prudence than outwitted by
foolishness«
»I ask your pardon Pathfinder« said the repentant Jasper eagerly grasping
the hands that the other permitted him to seize »I ask your pardon humbly and
sincerely Twas a foolish as well as wicked thing to hint of a man whose
heart in a good cause is as firm as the rocks on the lake shore«
For the first time the colour deepened on the cheek of the Pathfinder and
the solemn dignity that he had assumed under a purely natural impulse
disappeared in the expression of the earnest simplicity that was inherent in all
his feelings He met the grasp of his young friend with a squeeze as cordial
as if no chord had jarred between them and a slight sternness that had gathered
about his eye disappeared in a look of natural kindness
»Tis well Jasper tis well« he answered laughing »I bear no ill will
nor shall any one in my behalf My natur is that of a white man and that is to
bear no malice It might have been ticklish work to have said half as much to
the Sarpent here though he is a Delaware for colour will have its way «
A touch on his shoulder caused the speaker to cease Mabel was standing
erect in the canoe her light but swelling form bent forward in an attitude of
graceful earnestness her finger on her lips her head averted the spirited
eyes riveted on an opening in the bushes and one arm extended with a
fishingrod the end of which had touched the Pathfinder The latter bowed his
head to a level with a lookout near which he had intentionally kept himself
and then whispered to Jasper
»The accursed Mingos Stand to your arms my men but lay quiet as the
corpses of dead trees«
Jasper advanced rapidly but noiselessly to the canoe and with a gentle
violence induced Mabel to place herself in such an attitude as concealed her
entire body though it would have probably exceeded his means to induce the girl
so far to lower her head that she could not keep her gaze fastened on their
enemies He then took his own post near her with his rifle cocked and poised
in readiness to fire Arrowhead and Chingachgook crawled to the cover and lay
in wait like snakes with their arms prepared for service while the wife of the
former bowed her head between her knees covered it with her calicoe robe and
remained passive and immovable Cap loosened both his pistols in their belt
but seemed quite at a loss what course to pursue The Pathfinder did not stir
He had originally got a position where he might aim with deadly effect through
the leaves and whence he could watch the movements of his enemies and he was
far too steady to be disconcerted at a moment so critical
It was truly an alarming instant Just as Mabel touched the shoulder of her
guide three of the Iroquois appeared in the water at the bend of the river
within a hundred yards of the cover and halted to examine the stream below
They were all naked to the waist armed for an expedition against their foes
and in their war paint It was apparent that they were undecided as to the
course they ought to pursue in order to find the fugitives One pointed down
the river a second up the stream and the third towards the opposite bank
Chapter V
»Death is here and death is there
Death is busy every where«
Shelley »Death« ll 12
It was a breathless moment The only clue the fugitives possessed to the
intentions of their pursuers was in their gestures and the indications that
escaped them in the fury of disappointment That a party had returned already
on their own footsteps by land was pretty certain and all the benefit
expected from the artifice of the fire was necessarily lost But that
consideration became of little moment just then for the secreted were menaced
with an immediate discovery by those who had kept on a level with the river
All the facts presented themselves clearly and as it might be by intuition to
the mind of Pathfinder who perceived the necessity of immediate decision and
of being in readiness to act in concert Without making any noise therefore he
managed to get the two Indians and Jasper near him when he opened his
communications in a whisper
»We must be ready we must be ready« he said »There are but three of the
scalping devils and we are five four of whom may be set down as manful
warriors for such a skrimmage Eau douce do you take the fellow that is painted
like death Chingachgook I give you the chief and Arrowhead must keep his eye
on the young one There must be no mistake for two bullets in the same body
would be a sinful waste with one like the sarjeants daughter in danger I
shall hold myself in resarve agin accidents lest a fourth riptyle appear for
one of your hands may prove unsteady By no means fire until I give the word we
must not let the crack of the rifle be heard except in the last resort since
all the rest of the miscreants are still within its hearing Jasper boy in
case of any movement behind us on the bank I trust to you to run out the
canoe with the sarjeants daughter and to pull for the garrison by Gods
leave«
The Pathfinder had no sooner given these directions than the near approach
of their enemies rendered profound silence necessary The Iroquois in the river
were slowly descending the stream keeping of necessity near the bushes that
overhung the water while the rustling of leaves and the snapping of twigs soon
gave fearful evidence that another party was moving along the bank at an equally
graduated pace and directly abreast of them In consequence of the distance
between the bushes planted by the fugitives and the true shore the two parties
became visible to each other when opposite that precise point Both stopped
and a conversation ensued that may be said to have passed directly over the
heads of those who were concealed Indeed nothing sheltered the travellers but
the branches and leaves of plants so pliant that they yielded to every current
of air and which a puff of wind a little stronger than common would have
blown away Fortunately the line of sight carried the eyes of the two parties
of savages whether they stood in the water or on the land above the bushes
and the leaves appeared blended in a way to excite no suspicion Perhaps the
very boldness of the expedient prevented an exposure The conversation that took
place was conducted earnestly but in guarded tones as if those who spoke
wished to defeat the intentions of any listeners It was in a dialect that both
the Indian warriors beneath as well as the Pathfinder understood Even Jasper
comprehended a portion of what was said
»The trail is washed away by the water« said one from below who stood so
near the artificial cover of the fugitives that he might have been struck by
the salmon spear that lay in the bottom of Jaspers canoe »Water has washed it
so clean that a Yengeese hound could not follow«
»The pale faces have left the shore in their canoes« answered the speaker
on the bank
»It cannot be The rifles of our warriors below are certain«
The Pathfinder gave a significant glance at Jasper and he clenched his
teeth in order to suppress the sound of his own breathing
»Let my young men look as if their eyes were eagles« said the eldest
warrior among those who were wading in the river »We have been a whole moon on
the warpath and have found but one scalp There is a maiden among them and
some of our braves want wives«
Happily these words were lost on Mabel but Jaspers frown became deeper
and his face fiercely flushed
The savages now ceased speaking and the party that was concealed heard the
slow and guarded movements of those who were on the bank as they pushed the
bushes aside in their wary progress It was soon evident that the latter had
passed the cover but the group in the water still remained scanning the shore
with eyes that glared through their warpaint like coals of living fire After
a pause of two or three minutes these three began also to descend the stream
though it was step by step as men move who look for an object that has been
lost In this manner they passed the artificial screen and Pathfinder opened
his mouth in that hearty but noiseless laugh that nature and habit had
contributed to render a peculiarity of the man His triumph however was
premature for the last of the retiring party just at this moment casting a
look behind him suddenly stopped and his fixed attitude and steady gaze at
once betrayed the appalling fact that some neglected bush had awakened his
suspicions
It was perhaps fortunate for the concealed that the warrior who manifested
these fearful signs of distrust was young and had still a reputation to
acquire He knew the importance of discretion and modesty in one of his years
and most of all did he dread the ridicule and contempt that would certainly
follow a false alarm Without recalling any of his companions therefore he
turned on his own footsteps and while the others continued to descend the
river he cautiously approached the bushes on which his looks were still
fastened as by a charm Some of the leaves which were exposed to the sun had
drooped a little and this slight departure from the usual natural laws had
caught the quick eyes of the Indian for so practised and acute do the senses of
the savage become more especially when he is on the warpath that trifles
apparently of the most insignificant sort often prove to be clues to lead him
to his object
The trifling nature of the change which had aroused the suspicion of this
youth was an additional motive for not acquainting his companions with his
discovery Should he really detect any thing his glory would be the greater for
being unshared and should he not he might hope to escape that derision which
the young Indian so much dreads Then there were the dangers of an ambush and a
surprise to which every warrior of the woods is ever keenly alive to render
his approach slow and cautious In consequence of the delay that proceeded from
these combined causes the two parties had descended some fifty or sixty yards
before the young savage was again near enough to the bushes of the Pathfinder to
touch them with his hand
Notwithstanding their critical situation the whole party behind the cover
had their eyes fastened on the working countenance of the young Iroquois who
was agitated by conflicting feelings First came the eager hope of obtaining
success where some of the most experienced of his tribe had failed and with it
a degree of glory that had seldom fallen to the share of one of his years or a
brave on his first warpath then followed doubts as the drooping leaves seemed
to rise again and to revive in the currents of air and distrust of hidden
danger lent its exciting feeling to keep the eloquent features in play So very
slight however had been the alteration produced by the heat on bushes of
which the stems were in the water that when the Iroquois actually laid his hand
on the leaves he fancied that he had been deceived As no man ever distrusts
strongly without using all convenient means of satisfying his doubts however
the young warrior cautiously pushed aside the branches and advanced a step
within the hiding place when the forms of the concealed party met his gaze
resembling so many breathing statutes The low exclamation the slight start
and the glaring eye were hardly seen and heard before the arm of Chingachgook
was raised and the tomahawk of the Delaware descended on the shaven head of his
foe The Iroquois raised his hands frantically bounded backward and fell into
the water at a spot where the current swept the body away the struggling limbs
still tossing and writhing in the agony of death The Delaware made a vigorous
but unsuccessful attempt to seize an arm with the hope of securing the scalp
but the bloodstained waters whirled down their current carrying with them
their quivering burthen
All this passed in less than a minute and the events were so sudden and
unexpected that men less accustomed to forest warfare than the Pathfinder and
his associates would have been at a loss how to act
»There is not a moment to lose« said Jasper tearing aside the bushes as
he spoke earnestly but in a suppressed voice »Do as I do Master Cap if you
would save your niece and you Mabel lie at your length in the canoe«
The words were scarcely uttered when seizing the bow of the light bark he
dragged it along the shore wading himself while Cap aided behind keeping so
near the bank as to avoid being seen by the savages below and striving to gain
the turn in the river above him which would effectually conceal the party from
the enemy The Pathfinders canoe lay nearest to the bank and it was
necessarily the last to quit the shore The Delaware leaped on the narrow
strand and plunged into the forest it being his assigned duty to watch the
foe in that quarter while Arrowhead motioned to his white companion to seize
the bow of the boat and to follow Jasper All this was the work of an instant
But when the Pathfinder reached the current that was sweeping round the turn
he felt a sudden change in the weight he was dragging and looking back he found
that both the Tuscarora and his wife had deserted him The thought of treachery
flashed upon his mind but there was no time to pause for the wailing shout
that arose from the party below proclaimed that the body of the young Iroquois
had floated as low as the spot reached by his friends The report of a rifle
followed and then the guide saw that Jasper having doubled the bend in the
river was crossing the stream standing erect in the stern of the canoe while
Cap was seated forward both propelling the light boat with vigorous strokes of
the paddles A glance a thought and an expedient followed each other quickly
in one so trained in the vicissitudes of the frontier warfare Springing into
the stern of his own canoe he urged it by a vigorous shove into the current
and commenced crossing the stream himself at a point so much lower than that of
his companions as to offer his own person for a target to the enemy well
knowing that their keen desire to secure a scalp would control all other
feelings
»Keep well up the current Jasper« shouted the gallant guide as he swept
the water with long steady vigorous strokes of the paddle »keep well up the
current and push for the alder bushes opposite Presarve the sarjeants
daughter before all things and leave these Mingo knaves to the Sarpent and
me«
Jasper flourished his paddle as a signal of understanding while shot
succeeded shot in quick succession all now being aimed at the solitary man in
the nearest canoe
»Ay empty your rifles like simpletons as you be« said the Pathfinder who
had acquired a habit of speaking when alone from passing so much of his time in
the solitude of the forest »empty your rifles with an onsteady aim and give
me time to put yard upon yard of river atween us I will not revile you like a
Delaware or a Mohican for my gifts are a white mans gifts and not an
Injins and boasting in battle is no part of a christian warrior but I may
say here all alone by myself that you are little better than so many men from
the town shooting at robins in the orchards That was well meant « throwing
back his head as a rifle bullet cut a lock of hair from his temple »but the
lead that misses by an inch is as useless as the lead that never quits the
barrel Bravely done Jasper The Sarjeants sweet child must be saved even if
we go in without our own scalps«
By this time the Pathfinder was in the centre of the river and almost
abreast of his enemies while the other canoe impelled by the vigorous arms of
Cap and Jasper had nearly gained the opposite shore at the precise spot that
had been pointed out to them The old mariner now played his part manfully for
he was on his proper element loved his niece sincerely had a proper regard for
his own person and was not unused to fire though his experience certainly lay
in a very different species of warfare A few strokes of the paddles were given
and the canoe shot into the bushes Mabel was hurried to the land by Jasper
and for the present all three of the fugitives were safe
Not so with the Pathfinder His hardy selfdevotion had brought him into a
situation of unusual exposure the hazards of which were much increased by the
fact that just as he drifted nearest to the enemy the party on the shore rushed
down the bank and joined their friends who still stood in the water The Oswego
was about a cables length in width at this point and the canoe being in the
centre the object was only a hundred yards from the rifles that were
constantly discharged at it or at the usual target distance for that weapon
In this extremity the steadiness and skill of the Pathfinder did him good
service He knew that his safety depended altogether on keeping in motion for a
stationary object at that distance would have been hit nearly every shot Nor
was motion of itself sufficient for accustomed to kill the bounding deer his
enemies probably knew how to vary the line of aim so as to strike him should
he continue to move in any one direction He was consequently compelled to
change the course of the canoe at one moment shooting down with the current
with the swiftness of an arrow and at the next checking its progress in that
direction to glance athwart the stream Luckily the Iroquois could not reload
their pieces in the water and the bushes that everywhere fringed the shore
rendered it difficult to keep the fugitive in view when on the land Aided by
these circumstances and having received the fire of all his foes the
Pathfinder was gaining fast in distance both downwards and across the current
when a new danger suddenly if not unexpectedly presented itself by the
appearance of the party that had been left in ambush below with a view to watch
the river
These were the savages alluded to in the short dialogue that has been
already related They were no less than ten in number and understanding all the
advantages of their bloody occupation they had posted themselves at a spot
where the water dashed among rocks and over shallows in a way to form a rapid
which in the language of the country is called a rift The Pathfinder saw that
if he entered this rift he should be compelled to approach a point where the
Iroquois had posted themselves for the current was irresistible and the rocks
allowed no other safe passage while death or captivity would be the probable
result of the attempt All his efforts therefore were turned towards reaching
the western shore the foe being all on the eastern side of the river But the
exploit surpassed human power and to attempt to stem the stream would at once
have so far diminished the motion of the canoe as to render aim certain In
this exigency the guide came to a decision with his usual cool promptitude
making his preparations accordingly Instead of endeavouring to gain the
channel he steered towards the shallowest part of the stream on reaching
which he seized his rifle and pack leaped into the water and began to wade
from rock to rock taking the direction of the western shore The canoe whirled
about in the furious current now rolling over some slippery stone now filling
and then emptying itself until it lodged on the strand within a few yards of
the spot where the Iroquois had posted themselves
In the meanwhile the Pathfinder was far from being out of danger For the
first minute admiration of his promptitude and daring which are high virtues
in the mind of an Indian kept his enemies motionless but the desire of
revenge and the cravings for the much prized trophy soon overcame this
transient feeling and aroused them from their stupor Rifle flashed after
rifle and the bullets whistled around the head of the fugitive amid the roar
of the waters Still he proceeded like one who bore a charmed life for while
his rude frontier garments were more than once cut his skin was not razed
As the Pathfinder in several instances was compelled to wade in water that
rose nearly to his arms while he kept his rifle and ammunition elevated above
the raging current the toil soon fatigued him and he was glad to stop at a
large stone or small rock which rose so high above the river that its upper
surface was dry On this stone he placed his powderhorn getting behind it
himself so as to have the advantage of a partial cover for his body The
western shore was only fifty feet distant but the quiet swift dark current
that glanced through the interval sufficiently showed that here he would be
compelled to swim
A short cessation in the firing now took place on the part of the Indians
who gathered about the canoe and having found the paddles were preparing to
cross the river
»Pathfinder« called a voice from among the bushes at the point nearest to
the person addressed on the western shore
»What would you have Jasper«
»Be of good heart Friends are at hand and not a single Mingo shall cross
without suffering for his boldness Had you not better leave the rifle on the
rock and swim to us before the rascals can get afloat«
»A true woodsman never quits his piece while he has any powder in his horn
or a bullet in his pouch I have not drawn a trigger this day Eau douce and
shouldnt relish the idea of parting with them riptyles without causing them
to remember my name A little water will not harm my legs and I see that
blackguard Arrowhead among the scamps and wish to send him the wages he has
so faithfully earned You have not brought the Sarjeants daughter down here in
a range with their bullets I hope Jasper«
»She is safe for the present at least though all depends on our keeping
the river between us and the enemy They must know our weakness now and should
they cross no doubt some of their party will be left on the other side«
»This canoeing touches your gifts rather than mine boy though I will
handle a paddle with the best Mingo that ever struck a salmon If they cross
below the rift why cant we cross in the still water above and keep playing at
dodge and turn with the wolves«
»Because as I have said they will leave a party on the other shore and
then Pathfinder would you expose Mabel to the rifles of the Iroquois«
»The Sarjeants daughter must be saved« returned the guide with calm
energy »You are right Jasper she has no gift to authorize her in offering her
sweet face and tender body to a Mingo rifle What can be done then They must
be kept from crossing for an hour or two if possible when we must do our best
in the darkness«
»I agree with you Pathfinder if it can be effected but are we strong
enough for such a purpose«
»The Lord is with us boy the Lord is with us and it is onreasonable to
suppose that one like the Sarjeants daughter will be altogether abandoned by
Providence in such a strait There is not a boat between the falls and the
garrison except these two canoes to my sartain knowledge and I think it will
go beyond redskin gifts to cross in the face of two rifles like these of
yourn and mine I will not vaunt Jasper but it is well known on all this
frontier that Killdeer seldom fails«
»Your skill is admitted by all far and near Pathfinder but a rifle takes
time to be loaded nor are you on the land aided by a good cover where you can
work to the advantage you are used to If you had our canoe might you not pass
to the shore with a dry rifle«
»Can an eagle fly Jasper« returned the other laughing in his usual
manner and looking back as he spoke »But it would be onwise to expose yourself
on the water for them miscreants are beginning to bethink them again of powder
and bullets«
»It can be done without any such chances Master Cap has gone up to the
canoe and will cast the branch of a tree into the river to try the current
which sets from the point above in the direction of your rock See there it
comes already if it float fairly you must raise your arm when the canoe will
follow At all events if the boat should pass you the eddy below will bring it
up and I can recover it«
While Jasper was still speaking the floating branch came in sight and
quickening its progress with the increasing velocity of the current it swept
swiftly down towards the Pathfinder who seized it as it was passing and held
it in the air as a sign of success Cap understood the signal and presently
the canoe was launched into the stream with a caution and an intelligence that
the habits of the mariner fitted him to observe It floated in the same
direction as the branch and in a minute was arrested by the Pathfinder
»This has been done with a frontier mans judgment Jasper« said the guide
laughing »but you have your gifts which incline most to the water as mine
incline to the woods Now let them Mingo knaves cock their rifles and get
rests for this is the last chance they are likely to have at a man without a
cover«
»Nay shove the canoe towards the shore quartering the current and throw
yourself into it as it goes off« said Jasper eagerly »there is little use in
running any risk«
»I like to stand up face to face with my inimies like a man while they set
me the example« returned the Pathfinder proudly »I am not a red skin born
and it is more a white mans gifts to fight openly than to lie in ambushment«
»And Mabel«
»True boy true the Sarjeants daughter must be saved and as you say
foolish risks only become boys Think you that you can catch the canoe where
you stand«
»There can be no doubt if you give a vigorous push«
Pathfinder made the necessary effort the light bark shot across the
intervening space and Jasper seized it as it came to land To secure the
canoe and to take proper positions in the cover occupied the friends but a
moment when they shook hands cordially like those who had met after a long
separation
»Now Jasper we shall see if a Mingo of them all dare cross the Oswego in
the teeth of Killdeer You are handier with the oar and the paddle and the sail
than with the rifle perhaps but you have a stout heart and a steady hand and
them are things that count in a fight«
»Mabel will find me between her and her enemies« said Jasper calmly
»Yes yes the Sarjeants daughter must be protected I like you boy on
your own account but I like you all the better that you think of one so feeble
at a moment when there is need for all our manhood See Jasper three of the
knaves are actually getting into the canoe They must believe we have fled or
they would not surely ventur so much directly in the very face of Killdeer«
Sure enough the Iroquois did appear bent on venturing across the stream
for as the Pathfinder and his friends now kept their persons strictly
concealed their enemies began to think that the latter had taken to flight The
course was that which most white men would have followed but Mabel was under
the care of those who were much too well skilled in forest warfare to neglect
to defend the only pass that in truth now offered even a probable chance for
protection
As the Pathfinder had said three warriors were in the canoe two holding
their rifles at a poise kneeling in readiness to aim the deadly weapons the
other standing erect in the stern to wield the paddle In this manner they left
the shore having had the precaution to haul the canoe previously to entering
it so far up stream as to get into the comparatively still water above the
rift It was apparent at a glance that the savage who guided the boat was
skilled in the art for the long steady sweep of his paddle sent the light bark
over the glassy surface of the tranquil river as if it were a feather floating
in air
»Shall I fire« demanded Jasper in a whisper trembling with eagerness to
engage
»Not yet boy not yet There are but three of them and if Master Cap
yonder knows how to use the popguns he carries in his belt we may even let
them land and then we shall recover the canoe«
»But Mabel «
»No fear for the Sarjeants daughter She is safe in the hollow stump you
say with the opening judgematically hid by brambles If what you tell me of the
manner in which you concealed the trail be true the sweetone might lie there a
month and laugh at the Mingos«
»We are never certain I wish we had brought her nearer to our own cover«
»What for Eau douce To place her pretty little head and leaping heart
among flying bullets No no she is better where she is because she is
safer«
»We are never certain we thought ourselves safe behind the bushes and
yet you saw that we were discovered«
»And the Mingo imp paid for his curosity as them knaves are about to do «
At that instant the sharp report of a rifle was heard when the Indian in
the stern of the canoe leaped high into the air and fell into the water holding
the paddle in his hand A small wreath of smoke floated out from among the
bushes of the eastern shore and was soon absorbed by the atmosphere
»That is the Sarpent hissing« exclaimed the Pathfinder exultingly »A
bolder or a truer heart never beat in the breast of a Delaware I am sorry that
he interfered but he could not have known our condition he could not have
known our condition«
The canoe no sooner lost its guide than it floated with the stream and was
soon sucked into the rapids of the rift Perfectly helpless the two remaining
savages gazed wildly about them but could offer no resistance to the power of
the element It was perhaps fortunate for Chingachgook that the attention of
most of the Iroquois was intently given to the situation of those in the boat
else would his escape have been to the last degree difficult if not totally
impracticable But not a foe moved except to conceal his person behind some
cover and every eye was riveted on the two remaining adventurers In less time
than has been necessary to record these occurrences the canoe was whirling and
tossing in the rift while both the savages had stretched themselves in its
bottom as the only means of preserving the equilibrium This natural expedient
soon failed them for striking a rock the light craft rolled over and the two
warriors were thrown into the river The water is seldom deep on a rift except
in particular places where it may have worn channels and there was little to be
apprehended from drowning though their arms were lost and the two savages were
fain to make the best of their way to the friendly shore swimming and wading as
circumstances required The canoe itself lodged on a rock in the centre of the
stream where for the moment it became useless to both parties
»Now is our time Pathfinder« cried Jasper as the two Iroquois exposed
most of their persons while wading in the shallowest part of the rapids »The
fellow up stream is mine and you can take the lower«
So excited had the young man become by all the incidents of the stirring
scene that the bullet sped from his rifle as he spoke but uselessly as it
would seem for both the fugitives tossed their arms in disdain The Pathfinder
did not fire
»No no Eau douce« he answered »I do not seek blood without a cause
and my bullet is well leathered and carefully driven down for the time of need
I love no Mingo as is just seeing how much I have consorted with the
Delawares who are their mortal and natral inimies but I pull no trigger on
one of the miscreants unless it be plain that his death will lead to some good
ind The deer never leaped that fell by my hand wantonly By living much alone
with God in the wilderness a man gets to feel the justice of such opinions One
life is sufficient for our present wants and there may yet be occasion to use
Killdeer in behalf of the Sarpent who has done an untimorsome thing to let them
rampant devils so plainly know that he is in their neighborhood As Im a wicked
sinner there is one of them prowling along the bank this very moment like one
of the boys of the garrison skulking behind a fallen tree to get a shot at a
squirrel«
As the Pathfinder pointed with his finger while speaking the quick eye of
Jasper soon caught the object towards which it was directed One of the young
warriors of the enemy burning with a desire to distinguish himself had stolen
from his party towards the cover in which Chingachgook had concealed himself
and as the latter was deceived by the apparent apathy of his foes as well as
engaged in some further preparations of his own he had evidently obtained a
position where he got a sight of the Delaware This circumstance was apparent by
the arrangements the Iroquois was making to fire for Chingachgook himself was
not visible from the western side of the river The rift was at a bend in the
Oswego and the sweep of the eastern shore formed a curve so wide that
Chingachgook was quite near to his enemies in a straight direction though
separated by several hundred feet on the land owing to which fact air lines
brought both parties nearly equidistant from the Pathfinder and Jasper The
general width of the river being a little less than two hundred yards such
necessarily was about the distance between his two observers and the skulking
Iroquois
»The Sarpent must be thereabouts« observed Pathfinder who never turned his
eye for an instant from the young warrior »and yet he must be strangely off his
guard to allow a Mingo devil to get his stand so near with manifest signs of
bloodshed in his heart«
»See« interrupted Jasper »there is the body of the Indian the Delaware
shot It has drifted on a rock and the current has forced the head and face
above the water«
»Quite likely boy quite likely Human natur is little better than a log
of drift wood when the life that was breathed into its nostrils has departed
That Iroquois will never harm any one more but yonder skulking savage is bent
on taking the scalp of my best and most tried friend «
The Pathfinder suddenly interrupted himself by raising his rifle a weapon
of unusual length with admirable precision and firing the instant it had got
its level The Iroquois on the opposite shore was in the act of aiming when
the fatal messenger from Killdeer arrived His rifle was discharged it is true
but it was with the muzzle in the air while the man himself plunged into the
bushes quite evidently hurt if not slain
»The skulking reptyle brought it on himself« muttered Pathfinder sternly
as dropping the breech of his rifle he carefully commenced reloading it
»Chingachgook and I have consorted togither since we were boys and have fout
in company on the Horican the Mohawk the Ontario and all the other bloody
passes between the country of the Frenchers and our own and did the foolish
knave believe that I would stand by and see my best friend cut off in an
ambushment«
»We have served the Serpent as good a turn as he served us Those rascals
are troubled Pathfinder and are falling back into their covers since they
find we can reach them across the river«
»The shot is no great matter Jasper no great matter Ask any of the 60th
and they can tell you what Killdeer can do and has done and that too when the
bullets were flying about our heads like hailstones No no this is no great
matter and the onthoughtful vagabond drew it down on himself«
»Is that a dog or a deer swimming towards this shore«
Pathfinder started for sure enough an object was crossing the stream
above the rift towards which however it was gradually setting by the force of
the current A second look satisfied both the observers that it was a man and an
Indian though so concealed as at first to render it doubtful Some stratagem
was apprehended and the closest attention was given to the movements of the
stranger
»He is pushing something before him as he swims and his head resembles a
drifting bush« said Jasper
»Tis Injin deviltry boy but christian honesty shall sarcumvent their
arts«
As the man slowly approached the observers began to doubt the accuracy of
their first impressions and it was only when two thirds of the stream was
passed that the truth was really known
»The Big Sarpent as I live« exclaimed Pathfinder looking at his
companion and laughing until the tears came into his eyes with pure delight at
the success of the artifice »He has tied bushes to his head so as to hide it
put the horn on top lashed the rifle to that bit of log he is pushing afore
him and has come over to join his friends Ahs me The times and times that
he and I have cut such pranks right in the teeth of Mingos raging for our
blood in the great thoroughfare round and about Ty«
»It may not be the Serpent after all Pathfinder I can see no feature
that I remember«
»Featur Who looks for featurs in an Injin No no boy tis the
paint that speaks and none but a Delaware would wear that paint Them are his
colours Jasper just as your craft on the lake wears St Georges Cross and
the Frenchers set their table cloths to fluttering in the wind with all the
stains of fish bones and venison steaks upon them Now you see the eye lad
and it is the eye of a chief But Eau douce fierce as it is in battle and
glaring as it looks from among the leaves « here the Pathfinder laid his finger
lightly but impressively on his companions arm »I have seen it shed tears
like rain There is a soul and a heart under that red skin rely on it
although they are a soul and a heart with gifts different from our own«
»No one who is acquainted with the chief ever doubted that«
»I know it« returned the other proudly »for I have consorted with him in
sorrow and in joy in one I have found him a man however stricken in the other
a chief who knows that the women of his tribe are the most seemly in light
merriment But hist It is too much like the people of the settlements to pour
soft speeches into anothers ear and the Sarpent has keen senses He knows I
love him and that I speak well of him behind his back but a Delaware has
modesty in his inmost natur though he will brag like a sinner when tied to a
stake«
The Serpent now reached the shore directly in the front of his two
comrades with whose precise position he must have been acquainted before
leaving the eastern side of the river and rising from the water he shook
himself like a dog and made the usual exclamation
»Hugh«
Chapter VI
»These as they change Almighty Father these
Are but the varied God«
Thomson »A Hymn on the Seasons« ll 12
As the chief landed he was met by the Pathfinder who addressed him in the
language of the warriors people
»Was it well done Chingachgook« he said reproachfully »to ambush a dozen
Mingos alone Killdeer seldom fails me it is true but the Oswego makes a
distant mark and that miscreant showed little more than his head and shoulders
above the bushes and an onpractysed hand and eye might have failed You should
have thought of this chief you should have thought of this«
»The Great Serpent is a Mohican warrior he sees only his enemies when he
is on the warpath and his fathers have struck the Mingos from behind since
the waters began to run«
»I know your gifts I know your gifts and respect them too No man shall
hear me complain that a red skin obsarved red skin natur but prudence as much
becomes a warriour as valour and had not the Iroquois devils been looking after
their friends who were in the water a hot trail they would have made of yourn«
»What is the Delaware about to do« exclaimed Jasper who observed at that
moment that the chief suddenly left the Pathfinder and advanced to the waters
edge apparently with an intention of again entering the river »He will not be
so mad as to return to the other shore for any trifle he may have forgotten«
»Not he not he he is as prudent as he is brave in the main though so
forgetful of himself in the late ambushment Harkee Jasper« leading the other
a little aside just as they heard the Indians plunge into the water »Harkee
lad Chingachgook is not a christian white man like ourselves but a Mohican
chief who has his gifts and traditions to tell him what he ought to do and he
who consorts with them that are not strictly and altogether of his own kind had
better leave natur and use to govern his comrades A kings soldier will swear
and he will drink and it is of little use to try to prevent him a gentleman
likes his delicacies and a lady her feathers and it does not avail much to
struggle agin either whereas an Indians natur and gifts are much stronger
than these and no doubt were bestowed by the Lord for wise inds though neither
you nor me can follow them in all their windings«
»What does this mean See the Delaware is swimming towards the body that
is lodged on the rock Why does he risk this«
»For honor and glory and renown as great gentlemen quit their quiet
homes beyond seas where as they tell me heart has nothing left to wish for
that is such hearts as can be satisfied in a clearin to come hither to live on
game and fight the Frenchers«
»I understand you your friend has gone to secure the scalp«
»Tis his gift and let him enjoy it We are white men and cannot mangle a
dead enemy but it is honor in the eyes of a red skin to do so It may seem
singular to you Eau douce but Ive known white men of great name and character
manifest as remarkable idees consarning their honor I have«
»A savage will be a savage Pathfinder let him keep what company he may«
»It is well for us to say so lad but as I tell you white honor will not
always conform to reason or to the will of God I have passed days thinking of
them matters out in the silent woods and I have come to the opinion boy
that as Providence rules all things no gift is bestowed without some wise and
reasonable ind If Injins are of no use Injins would not have been created and
I do suppose could one dive to the bottom of things it would be found that
even the Mingo tribes were produced for some rational and proper purpose though
I confess it surpasses my means to say what it is«
»The Serpent greatly exposes himself to the enemy in order to get his
scalp This may lose us the day«
»Not in his mind Jasper That one scalp has more honor in it according to
the Sarpents notions of warfare than a field covered with slain that kept the
hair on their heads Now there was the fine young captain of the 60th that
threw away his life in trying to bring off a threepounder from among the
Frenchers in the last skrimmage we had he thought he was sarving honor and I
have known a young ensign wrap himself up in his colours and go to sleep in his
blood fancying that he was lying on something softer even than buffaloe skins«
»Yes yes one can understand the merit of not hauling down an ensign «
»And these are Chingachgooks colours he will keep them to show his
childrens children « here the Pathfinder interrupted himself shook his head
in melancholy and slowly added »Ahs me no shoot of the old Mohican stem
remains He has no children to delight with his trophies no tribe to honor by
his deeds he is a lone man in this world and yet he stands true to his
training and his gifts There is something honest and respectable in that you
must allow Jasper yes there is something decent in that«
Here a great outcry from among the Iroquois was succeeded by the quick
reports of their rifles and so eager did the enemy become in the desire to
drive the Delaware back from his victim that a dozen rushed into the river
several of whom even advanced near a hundred feet into the foaming current as
if they actually meditated a serious sortie But Chingachgook continued as
unmoved as he remained unhurt by the missiles accomplishing his task with the
dexterity of long habit Flourishing his reeking trophy he gave the warwhoop
in its most frightful intonations and for a minute the arches of the silent
woods and the deep vista formed by the course of the river echoed with cries
so terrific that Mabel bowed her head in irrepressible fear while her uncle
for a single instant actually meditated flight
»This surpasses all I have heard from the wretches« Jasper exclaimed
stopping his ears equally in horror and disgust
»Tis their music boy their drum and fife their trumpets and clarions No
doubt they love them sounds for they stir up in them fierce feelings and a
desire for blood« returned the Pathfinder totally unmoved »I thought them
rather frightful when a mere youngster but they have got to be like the whistle
of the whippoorwill or the song of the catbird in my ear now All the
screeching riptyles that could stand atween the Falls and the garrison would
have no effect on my narves at this time of day I say it not in boasting
Jasper for the man that lets in cowardice through the ears must have but a
weak heart at the best sounds and outcries being more intended to alarm women
and children than such as scout the forest and face the foe I hope the
Sarpent is now satisfied for here he comes with the scalp at his belt«
Jasper turned away his head as the Delaware rose from the water in pure
disgust at his late errand but the Pathfinder regarded his friend with the
philosophical coolness of one who had made up his mind to be indifferent to
things he deemed immaterial As the Delaware passed deeper into the bushes with
a view to wring his trifling calicoe dress and to prepare his rifle for
service he gave one glance of triumph at his companions and then all emotion
connected with the recent exploit seemed to cease
»Jasper« resumed the guide »step down to the station of Master Cap and
ask him to join us We have little time for a council and yet our plans must be
laid quickly for it will not be long before them Mingos will be plotting our
ruin«
The young man complied and in a few minutes the four were assembled near
the shore completely concealed from the view of their enemies while they kept
a vigilant watch over the proceedings of the latter in order to consult on
their own future movements By this time the day had so far advanced as to
leave but a few minutes between the passing light and an obscurity that
promised to be even deeper than common The sun had already set and the
twilight of a low latitude would soon pass into the darkness of deep night Most
of the hopes of the party rested on this favorable circumstance though it was
not without its dangers also as the very obscurity which would favor their
escape would be as likely to conceal the movements of their wily enemies
»The moment has come men« Pathfinder commenced »when our plans must be
coolly laid in order that we may act together and with a right understanding
of our errand and gifts In an hours time these woods will be as dark as
midnight and if we are ever to gain the garrison it must be done under favor
of this advantage What say you Master Cap for though none of the most
experenced in combats and retreats in the woods your years entitle you to
speak first in a matter like this and in a council«
»And my near relationship to Mabel Pathfinder ought to count for something
«
»I dont know that I dont know that Regard is regard and liking
liking whether it be a gift of natur or come from ones own judgment and
inclinations I will say nothing for the Sarpent who is past placing his mind
on the women but as for Jasper and myself we are as ready to stand atween the
Sarjeants daughter and the Mingos as her own brave father himself could be
Do I say more than the truth lad«
»Mabel may count on me to the last drop of my blood« said Jasper speaking
low but with intense feeling
»Well well« rejoined the uncle »we will not discuss this matter as all
seem willing to serve the girl and deeds are better than words In my judgment
all we have to do is to go on board the canoe when it gets to be so dark the
enemys lookouts cant see us and run for the haven as wind and tide will
allow«
»That is easily said but not so easily done« returned the guide »We shall
be more exposed in the river than by following the woods and then there is the
Oswego rift below us and I am far from sartain that Jasper himself can carry
a boat safely through it in the dark What say you lad as to your own skill
and judgment«
»I am of Master Caps opinion about using the canoe Mabel is too tender to
walk through swamps and among roots of trees on such a night as this promises
to be and then I always feel myself stouter of heart and truer of eye when
afloat than when ashore«
»Stout of heart you always be lad and I think tolerably true of eye for
one who has lived so much in broad sunshine and so little in the woods Ahs
me the Ontario has no trees or it would be a plain to delight a hunters
heart As to your opinion friends there is much for and much aginst it For
it it may be said water leaves no trail «
»What do you call the wake« interrupted the pertinacious and dogmatical
Cap
»Anan«
»Go on« said Jasper »Master Cap thinks he is on the Ocean Water leaves
no trail «
»It leaves none Eau douce hereaway though I do not pretend to say what it
may leave on the sea Then a canoe is both swift and easy when it floats with
the current and the tender limbs of the Sarjeants daughter will be favored by
its motion But on the other hand the river will have no cover but the clouds
in the heavens the rift is a ticklish spot for a bark to venture into even by
daylight and it is six fairly measured miles by water from this spot to the
garrison Then a trail on land is not easy to be found in the dark I am
troubled Jasper to say which way we ought to counsel and advise«
»If the Serpent and myself could swim into the river and bring off the
other canoe« the young sailor replied »it would seem to me that our safest
course would be the water«
»If indeed and yet it might easily be done as soon as it is a little
darker Well well considering the Sarjeants daughter and her gifts I am not
sartain it will not be the best Though were we only a party of men it would be
like a hunt to the lusty and brave to play at hide and seek with yonder
miscreants on the other shore Jasper« continued the guide into whose
character there entered no ingredient that belonged to vain display or
theatrical effect »will you undertake to bring in the canoe«
»I will undertake any thing that will serve and protect Mabel Pathfinder«
»That is an upright feeling and I suppose it is natur The Sarpent who is
nearly naked already can help you and that will be cutting off one of the
means of them devils to work their harm«
This material point being settled the different members of the party
prepared themselves to put the project into execution The shades of evening
fell fast upon the forest and by the time all was ready for the attempt it was
found impossible to discern objects on the opposite shore Time now pressed for
Indian cunning could devise so many expedients for passing so narrow a stream
that the Pathfinder was getting impatient to quit the spot While Jasper and his
companion entered the river armed with nothing but their knives and the
Delawares tomahawk observing the greatest caution not to betray their
movements the guide brought Mabel from her place of concealment and bidding
her and Cap proceed along the shore to the foot of the rapids he got into the
canoe that remained in his possession in order to carry it to the same place
This was easily effected The canoe was laid against the bank and Mabel and
her uncle entered it taking their seats as usual while the Pathfinder erect
in the stern held by a bush in order to prevent the swift stream from sweeping
them down its current Several minutes of intense and breathless expectation
followed while they awaited the result of the bold attempt of their comrades
It will be understood that the two adventurers were compelled to swim
across a deep and rapid channel ere they could reach a part of the rift that
admitted of wading This portion of the enterprize was soon effected and Jasper
and the Serpent struck the bottom side by side at the same instant Having
secured firm footing they took hold of each others hands and waded slowly and
with extreme caution in the supposed direction of the canoe But the darkness
was already so deep that they soon ascertained they were to be but little aided
by the sense of sight and that their search must be conducted on that species
of instinct which enables the woodsman to find his way when the sun is hid no
stars appear and all would seem chaos to one less accustomed to the mazes of
the forest Under these circumstances Jasper submitted to be guided by the
Delaware whose habits best fitted him to take the lead Still it was no easy
matter to wade amid the roaring element at that hour and retain a clear
recollection of the localities By the time they believed themselves to be in
the centre of the stream the two shores were discernible merely by masses of
obscurity denser than common the outlines against the clouds being barely
distinguishable by the ragged tops of the trees Once or twice the wanderers
altered their course in consequence of unexpectedly stepping into deep water
for they knew that the boat had lodged on the shallowest part of the rift In
short with this fact for their compass Jasper and his companion wandered about
in the water for near a quarter of an hour and at the end of that period
which began to appear interminable to the young man they found themselves
apparently no nearer the object of their search than they had been at its
commencement Just as the Delaware was about to stop in order to inform his
associate that they would do well to return to the land in order to take a
fresh departure he saw the form of a man moving about in the water almost
within reach of his arm Jasper was at his side and he at once understood that
the Iroquois were engaged in the same errand as he was himself
»Mingo« he uttered in Jaspers ear »The Serpent will show his brother how
to be cunning«
The young sailor caught a glimpse of the figure at that instant and the
startling truth also flashed on his mind Understanding the necessity of
trusting all to the Delaware chief he kept back while his friend moved
cautiously in the direction in which the strange form had vanished In another
moment it was seen again evidently moving towards themselves The waters made
such an uproar that little was to be apprehended from ordinary sounds and the
Indian turning his head hastily said
»Leave it to the cunning of the Great Serpent«
»Hugh« exclaimed the strange savage adding in the language of his people
»The canoe is found but there were none to help me Come let us raise it from
the rock«
»Willingly« answered Chingachgook who understood the dialect »Lead we
will follow«
The stranger unable to distinguish between voices and accents amid the
raging of the rapid led the way in the necessary direction and the two others
keeping close at his heels all three speedily reached the canoe The Iroquois
laid hold of one end Chingachgook placed himself in the centre and Jasper went
to the opposite extremity as it was important that the stranger should not
detect the presence of a paleface a discovery that might be made by the parts
of the dress the young man still wore as well as by the general appearance of
his head
»Lift « said the Iroquois in the sententious manner of his race and by a
trifling effort the canoe was raised from the rock held a moment in the air to
empty it and then placed carefully on the water in its proper position All
three held it firmly lest it should escape from their hands under the pressure
of the violent current while the Iroquois who led of course being at the upper
end of the boat took the direction of the eastern shore or towards the spot
where his friends waited his return
As the Delaware and Jasper well knew there must be several more of the
Iroquois on the rift from the circumstance that their own appearance had
occasioned no surprise in the individual they had met both felt the necessity
of extreme caution Men less bold and determined would have thought that they
were incurring too great a risk by thus venturing into the midst of their
enemies but these hardy borderers were unacquainted with fear were accustomed
to hazards and so well understood the necessity of at least preventing their
foes from getting the boat that they would have cheerfully encountered even
greater risks to secure their object So allimportant to the safety of Mabel
indeed did Jasper deem the possession or the destruction of this canoe that
he had drawn his knife and stood ready to rip up the bark in order to render
the boat temporarily unserviceable should any thing occur to compel the
Delaware and himself to abandon their prize
In the mean time the Iroquois who led the way proceeded slowly through the
water in the direction of his own party still grasping the canoe and dragging
his reluctant followers in his train Once Chingachgook raised his tomahawk
and was about to bury it in the brain of his confiding and unsuspicious
neighbor but the probability that the deathcry or the floating body might
give the alarm induced that wary chief to change his purpose At the next
moment he regretted this indecision for the three who clung to the canoe
suddenly found themselves in the centre of a party of no less than four others
who were in quest of it
After the usual brief characteristic exclamations of satisfaction the
savages eagerly laid hold of the canoe for all seemed impressed with the
necessity of securing this important boat the one side in order to assail their
foes and the other to secure their retreat The addition to the party however
was so unlocked for and so completely gave the enemy the superiority that for
a few moments the ingenuity and address of even the Delaware were at fault The
five Iroquois who seemed perfectly to understand their errand pressed forward
towards their own shore without pausing to converse their object being in
truth to obtain the paddles which they had previously secured and to embark
three or four warriors with all the rifles and powderhorns the want of which
had alone prevented their crossing the river by swimming as soon as it was
dark
In this manner the body of friends and foes united reached the margin of
the eastern channel where as in the case of the western the river was too
deep to be waded Here a short pause succeeded it being necessary to determine
the manner in which the canoe was to be carried across One of the four who had
just reached the boat was a chief and the habitual deference which the
American Indian pays to merit experience and station kept the others silent
until this individual had spoken
The halt greatly added to the danger of discovering the presence of Jasper
in particular who however had the precaution to throw the cap he wore into the
bottom of the canoe Being without his jacket and shirt the outline of his
figure in the obscurity would now be less likely to attract observation His
position too at the stern of the canoe a little favored his concealment the
Iroquois naturally keeping their looks directed the other way Not so with
Chingachgook This warrior was literally in the midst of his most deadly foes
and he could scarcely stir without touching one of them Yet he was apparently
unmoved though he kept all his senses on the alert in readiness to escape or
to strike a blow at the proper moment By carefully abstaining from looking
towards those behind him he lessened the chances of discovery and waited with
the indomitable patience of an Indian for the instant when he should be required
to act
»Let all my young men but two one at each end of the canoe cross and get
their arms« said the Iroquois chief »let the two push over the boat«
The Indians quietly obeyed leaving Jasper at the stern and the Iroquois
who had found the canoe at the bows of the light craft Chingachgook burying
himself so deep in the river as to be passed by the others without detection
The splashing in the water the tossing arms and the calls of one to another
soon announced that the four who had last joined the party were already
swimming As soon as this fact was certain the Delaware rose resumed his
former station and began to think the moment for action was come
One less habitually under selfrestraint than this warrior would probably
have now aimed his meditated blow but Chingachgook knew there were more
Iroquois behind him on the rift and he was a warrior much too trained and
experienced to risk any thing unnecessarily He suffered the Indian at the bow
of the canoe to push off into the deep water and then all three were swimming
in the direction of the eastern shore Instead however of helping the canoe
across the swift current no sooner did the Delaware and Jasper find themselves
within the influence of its greatest force than both began to swim in a way to
check their further progress across the stream Nor was this done suddenly or
in the incautious manner in which a civilized man would have been apt to attempt
the artifice but warily and so gradually that the Iroquois at the bow fancied
at first he was merely struggling against the strength of the current Of
course while acted on by these opposing efforts the canoe drifted down stream
and in about a minute it was floating in still deeper water at the foot of the
rift Here however the Iroquois was not slow in finding that something unusual
retarded their advance and looking back he first learned that he was resisted
by the efforts of his companions
That second nature which grows up through habit instantly told the young
Iroquois that he was alone with enemies Dashing the water aside he sprang at
the throat of Chingachgook and the two Indians relinquishing their hold of the
canoe seized each other like tigers In the midst of the darkness of that
gloomy night and floating in an element so dangerous to man when engaged in
deadly strife they appeared to forget every thing but their fell animosity and
their mutual desire to conquer
Jasper had now complete command of the canoe which flew off like a feather
impelled by the breath under the violent reaction of the struggles of the two
combatants The first impulse of the youth was to swim to the aid of the
Delaware but the importance of securing the boat presented itself with ten fold
force while he listened to the heavy breathings of the warriors as they
throttled each other and he proceeded as fast as possible towards the western
shore This he soon reached and after a short search he succeeded in
discovering the remainder of the party and in procuring his clothes A few
words sufficed to explain the situation in which he had left the Delaware and
the manner in which the canoe had been obtained
When those who had been left behind had heard the explanations of Jasper a
profound stillness reigned among them each listening intently in the vain hope
of catching some clue to the result of the fearful struggle that had just taken
place if it were not still going on in the water Nothing was audible beyond
the steady roar of the rushing river it being a part of the policy of their
enemies on the opposite shore to observe the most deathlike stillness
»Take this paddle Jasper« said Pathfinder calmly though the listeners
thought his voice sounded more melancholy than usual »and follow with your own
canoe It is unsafe for us to remain here longer«
»But the Serpent«
»The Great Sarpent is in the hands of his own Deity and will live or die
according to the intentions of Providence We can do him no good and may risk
too much by remaining here in idleness like women talking over their
distresses This darkness is very precious «
A loud long piercing yell arose from the other shore and cut short the
words of the guide
»What is the meaning of that uproar Master Pathfinder « demanded Cap »It
sounds more like the outcries of devils than any thing that can come from the
throats of christians and men«
»Christians they are not and do not pretend to be and do not wish to be
and in calling them devils you have scarcely misnamed them That yell is one of
rejoicing and it is as conquerors they have given it The body of the Sarpent
no doubt dead or alive is in their power«
»And we « exclaimed Jasper who felt a pang of generous regret as the
idea that he might have averted the calamity presented itself to his mind had
he not deserted his comrade
»We can do the chief no good lad and must quit this spot as fast as
possible«
»Without one attempt to rescue him Without even knowing whether he be
dead or living«
»Jasper is right « said Mabel who could speak though her voice sounded
husky and smothered »I have no fears uncle and will stay here until we know
what has become of our friend«
»This seems reasonable Pathfinder« put in Cap »Your true seaman cannot
well desert a messmate and I am glad to find that notions so correct exist
among these freshwater people«
»Tut tut « returned the impatient guide forcing the canoe into the
stream as he spoke »ye know nothing and ye fear nothing If ye value your
lives think of reaching the garrison and leave the Delaware in the hands of
Providence Ahs me The deer that goes too often to the lick meets the hunter
at last«
Chapter VII
»And is this Yarrow this the stream
Of which my fancy cherished
So faithfully a waking dream
An image that hath perished
O that some minstrels harp were near
To utter notes of gladness
And chase this silence from the air
That fills my heart with sadness«
Wordsworth »Yarrow Visited« ll 18
The scene was not without its sublimity and the ardent generousminded Mabel
felt her blood thrill in her veins and her cheeks flush as the canoe shot into
the strength of the stream to quit the spot The darkness of the night had
lessened by the dispersion of the clouds but the overhanging woods rendered
the shores so obscure that the boats floated down the current in a belt of
gloom that effectually secured them from detection Still there was necessarily
a strong feeling of insecurity in all on board them and even Jasper who by
this time began to tremble in behalf of the girl at every unusual sound that
arose from the forest kept casting uneasy glances around him as he drifted on
in company The paddle was used lightly and only with exceeding care for the
slightest sound in the breathing stillness of that hour and place might apprise
the watchful ears of the Iroquois of their position
All these accessaries added to the impressive grandeur of her situation and
contributed to render the moment much the most exciting that had ever occurred
in the brief existence of Mabel Dunham Spirited accustomed to selfreliance
and sustained by the pride of considering herself a soldiers daughter she
could hardly be said to be under the influence of fear yet her heart often beat
quicker than common her fine blue eye lighted with an exhibition of resolution
that was wasted in the darkness and her quickened feelings came in aid of the
real sublimity that belonged to the scene and to the incidents of the night
»Mabel« said the suppressed voice of Jasper as the two canoes floated so
near each other that the hand of the young man held them together »you have no
dread You trust freely to our care and willingness to protect you«
»I am a soldiers daughter as you know Jasper Western and ought to be
ashamed to confess fear«
»Rely on me on us all Your uncle Pathfinder the Delaware were the poor
fellow here I myself will risk every thing rather than harm should reach you«
»I believe you Jasper« returned the girl her hand unconsciously playing
in the water »I know that my uncle loves me and will never think of himself
until he has first thought of me and I believe you are all my fathers friends
and would willingly assist his child But I am not so feeble and weakminded as
you may think for though only a girl from the towns and like most of that
class a little disposed to see danger where there is none I promise you
Jasper no foolish fears of mine shall stand in the way of your doing your
duty«
»The Sarjeants daughter is right and she is worthy of being honest Thomas
Dunhams child« put in the Pathfinder »Ahs me pretty one many is the time
that your father and I have scouted and marched together on the flanks and rear
of the inimy in nights darker than this and that too when we did not know
but the next moment would lead us into a bloody ambushment I was at his side
when he got the wound in his shoulder and the honest fellow will tell you when
you meet the manner in which we contrived to cross the river that lay in our
rear in order to save his scalp«
»He has told me« said Mabel with more energy perhaps than her situation
rendered prudent »I have his letters in which he has mentioned all that and
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the service God will remember it
Pathfinder and there is no gratitude that you can ask of the daughter which
she will not cheerfully pay for her fathers life«
»Ay that is the way with all you gentle and pure hearted creaturs I have
seen some of you afore and have heard of others The Sarjeant himself has
talked to me of his own young days and of your mother and of the manner in
which he courted her and of all the crossings and disappintments until he
succeeded at last«
»My mother did not live long to repay him for what he did to win her« said
Mabel with a trembling lip
»So he tells me The honest Sarjeant has kept nothing back for being so
many years my senior he has looked on me in our many scoutings together as a
sort of son«
»Perhaps Pathfinder« observed Jasper with a huskiness in his voice that
defeated the attempt at pleasantry »he would be glad to have you for one in
reality«
»And if he did Eau douce where would be the sin of it He knows what I am
on a trail or a scout and he has seen me often face to face with the
Frenchers I have sometimes thought lad that we all ought to seek for wives
for the man that lives altogether in the woods and in company with his inimies
or his prey gets to lose some of the feelin of kind in the ind«
»From the specimens I have seen« observed Mabel »I should say that they
who live much in the forest forget to learn many of the deceits and vices of
the towns«
»It is not easy Mabel to dwell always in the presence of God and not feel
the power of his goodness I have attended churchsarvice in the garrisons and
tried hard as becomes a true soldier to join in the prayers for though no
enlisted sarvant of the King I fight his battles and sarve his cause and so I
have endivoured to worship garrisonfashion but never could raise within me
the solemn feelings and true affection that I feel when alone with God in the
forest There I seem to stand face to face with my master all around me is
fresh and beautiful as it came from his hand and there is no nicety or
doctrine to chill the feelins No no the woods are the true temple ater
all for there the thoughts are free to mount higher even than the clouds«
»You speak the truth Master Pathfinder« said Cap »and a truth that all
who live much in solitude know What for instance is the reason that
seafaring men in general are so religious and conscientious in all they do
but the fact that they are so often alone with Providence and have so little to
do with the wickedness of the land Many and many is the time that I have
stood my watch under the equator perhaps or in the Southern Ocean when the
nights are lighted up with the fires of heaven and that is the time I can tell
you my hearties to bring a man to his bearings in the way of his sins I have
rattled down mine again and again under such circumstances until the shrouds
and lanyards of conscience have fairly creaked with the strain I agree with
you Master Pathfinder therefore in saying if you want a truly religious man
go to sea or go into the woods«
»Uncle I thought seamen had little credit generally for their respect for
religion«
»All dd slander girl Ask your seafaring man what his real private
opinion is of your landsmen parsons and all and you will hear the other side
of the question I know no class of men who have been so belied as seafaring
men in this particular and it is all because they do not stay at home to
defend themselves and pay the clergy They havent as much doctrine perhaps
as some ashore but as for all the essentials of christianity the seaman beats
the landsman hand over hand«
»I will not answer for all this Master Cap« returned Pathfinder »but I
dare say some of it may be true I want no thunder and lightening to remind me
of my God nor am I as apt to bethink me most of all his goodness in trouble
and tribulations as on a calm solemn quiet day in the forest when his voice
is heard in the creaking of a dead branch or in the song of a bird as much in
my ears at least as it is ever heard in uproar and gales How is it with you
Eau douce you face the tempests as well as Master Cap and ought to know
something of the feelins of storms«
»I fear that I am too young and too inexperienced to be able to say much on
such a subject« modestly answered Jasper
»But you have your feelings« said Mabel quickly »You cannot no one can
live among such scenes without feeling how much they ought to trust in God«
»I shall not belie my training so much as to say I do not sometimes think of
these things but I fear it is not as often or as much as I ought«
»Fresh water« resumed Cap pithily »you are not to expect too much of the
young man Mabel I think they call you sometimes by a name which would
insinuate all this Eaudevie is it not«
»Eau douce« quietly replied Jasper who from sailing on the lake had
acquired a knowledge of French as well as of several of the Indian dialects
»It is a name the Iroquois have given me to distinguish me from some of my
companions who once sailed upon the sea and are fond of filling the ears of the
natives with stories of their great saltwater lakes«
»And why shouldnt they I dare say they do the savages no harm They may
not civilize them but they will not make them greater barbarians than they are
Ay ay Oh the deuce that must mean the white brandy which is no great
matter after all and may well enough be called the deuce for deuced stuff it
is«
»The signification of Eau douce is sweetwater or water that can be drunk
and it is the manner in which the French express freshwater« rejoined Jasper
a little nettled at the distinctions made by Cap although the latter was the
uncle of Mabel
»And how the devil do they make water out of Oh the deuce when it means
brandy in Eaudevie This may be the French used hereaway but it is not that
they use in Burdux and other French ports besides among seamen Eau always
means brandy and Eaudevie brandy of a high proof I think nothing of your
ignorance young man for it is natural to your situation and cannot be helped
If you will return with me and make a vyge or two on the Atlantic it will
serve you a good turn the remainder of your days and Mabel there and all the
other young women near the coast will think all the better of you should you
live to be as old as one of the trees in this forest«
»Nay nay« interrupted the single hearted and generous guide »Jasper wants
not for friends in this region I can assure you and though seeing the world
according to his habits may do him good as well as another we shall think
none the worse of him if he never quits us Eau douce or Eaudevie he is a
brave truehearted youth and I always sleep as sound when he is on the watch
as if I was up and stirring myself ay and for that matter sounder too The
Sarjeants daughter here doesnt believe it necessary for the lad to go to
sea in order to make a man of him or one who is worthy to be respected and
esteemed«
Mabel made no reply to this appeal and she even looked towards the eastern
shore although the darkness rendered the natural movement unnecessary to
conceal her face But Jasper felt that there was a necessity for his saying
something the pride of youth and manhood revolting at the idea of his being in
a condition not to command the respect of his fellows or the smiles of his
equals of the other sex Still he was unwilling to utter aught that might be
considered harsh to the uncle of Mabel and his self command was perhaps more
creditable than his modesty and spirit
»I pretend not to things I dont possess« he said »and lay no claim to
any knowledge of the ocean or of navigation We steer by the stars and the
compass on these lakes running from headland to headland and having little
need of figures and calculations make no use of them But we have our claims
notwithstanding as I have often heard from those who have passed years on the
ocean In the first place we have always the land aboard and much of the time
on a leeshore and that I have frequently heard makes hardy sailors Our gales
are sudden and severe and we are compelled to run for our ports at all hours «
»You have your leads « interrupted Cap
»They are of little use and are seldom cast«
»The deepseas «
»I have heard of such things but confess I never saw one«
»Oh the deuce with a vengeance A trader and no deep sea Why boy you
cannot pretend to be any thing of a mariner Who the devil ever heard of a
seaman without his deepsea«
»I do not pretend to any particular skill Master Cap «
»Except in shooting falls Jasper except in shooting falls and rifts« said
Pathfinder coming to the rescue »in which business even you Master Cap must
allow he has some handiness In my judgment every man is to be esteemed or
condemned according to his gifts and if Master Cap is useless in running the
Oswego falls I try to remember that he is useful when out of sight of land and
if Jasper be useless when out of sight of land I do not forget that he has a
true eye and steady hand when running the falls«
»But Jasper is not useless would not be useless when out of sight of
land« said Mabel with a spirit and energy that caused her clear sweet voice to
be startling amid the solemn stillness of that extraordinary scene »No one can
be useless there who can do so much here is what I mean though I dare say he
is not as well acquainted with ships as my uncle«
»Ay bolster each other up in your ignorance« returned Cap with a sneer
»We seamen are so much outnumbered when ashore that it is seldom we get our
dues but when your coast is to be defended or trade is to be carried on there
is outcry enough for us«
»But uncle landsmen do not come to attack our coasts so that seamen only
meet seamen«
»So much for ignorance Where are all the armies that have landed in this
country French and English let me inquire miss«
»Sure enough where are they« ejaculated Pathfinder »None can tell better
than we who dwell in the woods Master Cap I have often followed their line of
march by bones bleaching in the rain and have found their trail by graves
years after they and their pride had vanished together Generals and privates
they lay scattered throughout the land so many proofs of what men are when led
on by their love of great names and the wish to be more than their fellows«
»I must say Master Pathfinder that you sometimes utter opinions that are a
little remarkable for a man who lives by the rifle seldom snuffing the air but
he smells gunpowder or turning out of his berth but to bear down on an enemy«
»If you think I pass my days in warfare against my kind you know neither
me nor my history The man that lives in the woods and on the frontiers must
take the chances of the things among which he dwells For this I am not
accountable being but a humble and powerless hunter and scout and guide My
real calling is to hunt for the army on its marches and in times of peace
although I am more especially engaged in the sarvice of one officer who is now
absent in the settlements where I never follow him No no bloodshed and
warfare are not my real gifts but peace and marcy Still I must face the inimy
as well as another and as for a Mingo I look upon him as man looks on a
snake a creatur to be put beneath the heel whenever a fitting occasion
offers«
»Well well I have mistaken your calling which I had thought as
regularly warlike as that of the ships gunner There is my brotherinlaw now
he has been a soldier since he was sixteen and he looks upon his trade as every
way as respectable as that of a sea man which is a point I hardly think it
worth while to dispute with him«
»My father has been taught to believe that it is honorable to carry arms«
said Mabel »for his father was a soldier before him«
»Yes yes « resumed the guide »Most of the Sarjeants gifts are martial
and he looks at most things in this world over the barrel of his musket One of
his notions now is to prefar a Kings piece to a regular doublesighted
longbarreled rifle Such consaits will come over men from long habit and
prejudyce is perhaps the commonest failing of human natur«
»Ashore I grant you« said Cap »I never return from a vyge but I make
the very same remark Now the last time I came in I found scarcely a man in
all York who would think of matters and things in general as I thought about
them myself Every man I met appeared to have bowsed all his idees up into the
winds eye and when he did fall off a little from his onesided notions it was
commonly to ware short round on his heel and to lay up as close as ever on the
other tack«
»Do you understand this Jasper « the smiling Mabel half whispered to the
young man who still kept his own canoe so near as to be close at her side
»There is not so much difference between salt and fresh water that we who
pass our time on them cannot comprehend each other It is no great merit Mabel
to understand the language of our trade«
»Even religion« continued Cap »isnt moored in exactly the same place it
was in my young days They veer and haul upon it ashore as they do on all
other things and it is no wonder if now and then they get jammed Every thing
seems to change but the compass and even that has its variations«
»Well« returned the Pathfinder »I thought Christianity and the compass
both pretty stationary«
»So they are afloat bating the variations Religion at sea is just the
same thing to day that it was when I first put my hand into the tarbucket No
one will dispute it who has the fear of God before his eyes I can see no
difference between the state of religion on board ship now and what it was
when I was a younker But it is not so ashore by any means Take my word for
it Master Pathfinder it is a difficult thing to find a man I mean a landsman
who views these matters today exactly as he looked at them forty years
ago«
»And yet God is unchanged his works are unchanged his holy word is
unchanged and all that ought to bless and honor his name should be unchanged
too«
»Not ashore That is the worst of the land it is all the while in motion I
tell you though it looks so solid If you plant a tree and leave it on your
return from a three years vyge you dont find it at all the sort of thing
you left it The towns grow and new streets spring up the wharves are altered
and the whole face of the earth undergoes change Now a ship comes back from an
India vyge just the thing she sailed bating the want of paint wear and tear
and the accidents of the sea«
»That is too true Master Cap and mores the pity Ahs me the things
they call improvements and betterments are undermining and defacing the land
The glorious works of God are daily cut down and destroyed and the hand of man
seems to be upraised in contempt of his mighty will They tell me there are
fearful signs of what we may all come to to be met with west and south of the
great lakes though I have never yet visited that region«
»What do you mean Pathfinder« modestly enquired Jasper
»I mean the spots marked by the vengeance of Heaven or which perhaps have
been raised up as solemn warnings to the thoughtless and wasteful hereaways
They call them Prairies and I have heard as honest Delawares as I ever knew
declare that the finger of God has been laid so heavily on them that they are
altogether without trees This is an awful visitation to befal innocent arth
and can only mean to show to what frightful consequences a heedless desire to
destroy may lead«
»And yet I have seen settlers who have much fancied those open spots
because they saved them the toil of clearing You relish your bread Pathfinder
and yet wheat will not ripen in the shade«
»But honesty will and simple wishes and a love of God Jasper Even Master
Cap will tell you a treeless plain must resemble a desert island«
»Why that as it may be« put in Cap »Desert islands too have their uses
for they serve to correct the reckonings by If my taste is consulted I shall
never quarrel with a plain for wanting trees As nature has given a man eyes to
look about with and a sun to shine were it not for shipbuilding and now and
then a house I can see no great use in a tree especially one that dont bear
monkies or fruit«
To this remark the guide made no answer beyond a low sound intended to
enjoin silence on his companions While the desultory conversation just related
had been carried on in subdued voices the canoes were dropping slowly down with
the current within the deep shadows of the western shore the paddles being
used merely to preserve the desired direction and proper positions The
strength of the stream varied materially the water being seemingly still in
places while in other reaches it flowed at a rate exceeding two or even three
miles in the hour On the rifts it even dashed forward with a velocity that was
appalling to the unpractised eye Jasper was of opinion that they might drift
down with the current to the mouth of the river in two hours from the time they
left the shore and he and the Pathfinder had agreed on the expediency of
suffering the canoes to float of themselves for a time or at least until
they had passed the first dangers of their new movement The dialogue had been
carried on in voices guardedly low for though the quiet of deep solitude
reigned in that vast and nearly boundless forest nature was speaking with her
thousand tongues in the eloquent language of night in a wilderness The air
sighed through ten thousand trees the water rippled and at places even roared
along the shores and now and then was heard the creaking of a branch or a
trunk as it rubbed against some object similar to itself under the vibrations
of a nicely balanced body All living sounds had ceased Once it is true the
Pathfinder fancied he heard the howl of a distant wolf of which a few prowled
through those woods but it was a transient and doubtful cry that might
possibly have been attributed to the imagination When he desired his
companions however to cease talking in the manner just mentioned his vigilant
ear had caught the peculiar sound that is made by the parting of a dried branch
of a tree and which if his senses did not deceive him came from the western
shore All who are accustomed to that particular sound will understand how
readily the ear receives it and how easy it is to distinguish the tread which
breaks the branch from every other noise of the forest
»There is the footstep of a man on the bank« said Pathfinder to Jasper
speaking in neither a whisper nor yet in a voice loud enough to be heard at any
distance »Can the accursed Iroquois have crossed the river already with their
arms and without a boat«
»It may be the Delaware He would follow us of course down this bank and
would know where to look for us Let me draw closer in to the shore and
reconnoitre«
»Go boy but be light with the paddle and on no account venture ashore
on an onsartainty«
»Is this prudent« demanded Mabel with an impetuosity that rendered her
incautious in modulating her sweet voice
»Very imprudent if you speak so loud fair one I like your voice which is
soft and pleasing after listening so long to the tones of men but it must not
be heard too much or too freely just now Your father the honest Sarjeant
will tell you when you meet him that silence is a double virtue on a trail
Go Jasper and do justice to your own character for prudence«
Ten anxious minutes succeeded the disappearance of the canoe of Jasper
which glided away from that of the Pathfinder so noiselessly that it had been
swallowed up in the gloom before Mabel allowed herself to believe the young man
would really venture alone on a service that struck her imagination as
singularly dangerous During this time the party continued to float with the
current no one speaking and it might almost be said no one breathing so
strong was the general desire to catch the minutest sound that should come from
the shore But the same solemn we might indeed say sublime quiet reigned as
before the washing of the water as it piled up against some slight
obstruction and the sighing of the trees alone interrupting the slumbers of the
forest At the end of the period mentioned the snapping of dried branches was
again faintly heard and the Pathfinder fancied that the sound of smothered
voices reached him
»I may be mistaken« he said »for the thoughts often fancy what the heart
wishes but them were notes like the low tones of the Delawares«
»Do the dead of the savages ever walk« demanded Cap
»Ay and run too in their happy hunting grounds but nowhere else A red
skin finishes with the arth after the breath quits the body It is not one of
his gifts to linger around his wigwam when his hour has passed«
»I see some object on the water « whispered Mabel whose eye had not ceased
to dwell on the body of gloom with close intensity since the disappearance of
Jasper
»It is the canoe« returned the guide greatly relieved »All must be safe
or we should have heard from the lad«
In another minute the two canoes which became visible to those they
carried only as they drew near each other again floated side by side and the
form of Jasper was recognised at the stern of his own boat The figure of a
second man was seated in the bow and as the young sailor so wielded his paddle
as to bring the face of his companion near the eyes of the Pathfinder and Mabel
they both recognised the person of the Delaware
»Chingachgook my brother« said the guide in the dialect of the others
people a tremor shaking his voice that betrayed the strength of his feeling
»Chief of the Mohicans my heart is very glad Often have we passed through
blood and strife together but I was afraid it was never to be so again«
»Hugh Mingos Squaws Three of their scalps hang at my girdle They do not
know how to strike the Great Serpent of the Delawares Their hearts have no
blood and their thoughts are on their return path across the waters of the
Great Lake«
»Have you been among them chief and what has become of the warrior who
was in the river«
»He has turned into a fish and lies at the bottom with the eels Let his
brothers bait their hooks for him Pathfinder I have counted the enemy and
have touched their rifles«
»Ah I thought he would be venturesome« exclaimed the guide in English
»The risky fellow has been in the midst of them and has brought us back their
whole history Speak Chingachgook and I will make our friends as knowing as
ourselves«
The Delaware now related in a low earnest manner the substance of all his
discoveries since he was last seen struggling with his foe in the river Of the
fate of his antagonist he said no more it not being usual for a warrior to
boast in his more direct and useful narratives As soon as he had conquered in
that fearful strife however he swam to the eastern shore landed with caution
and wound his way in amongst the Iroquois concealed by the darkness undetected
and in the main even unsuspected Once indeed he had been questioned but
answering that he was Arrowhead no further inquiries were made By the passing
remarks he soon ascertained that the party was out expressly to intercept Mabel
and her uncle concerning whose rank however they had evidently been deceived
He also ascertained enough to justify the suspicion that Arrowhead had betrayed
them to their enemies from some motive that it was not now easy to reach as he
had not yet received the reward of his services
Pathfinder communicated no more of this intelligence to his companions than
he thought might relieve their apprehensions intimating at the same time that
now was the moment for exertion the Iroquois not having yet entirely recovered
from the confusion created by their losses
»We shall find them at the rift I make no manner of doubt« he continued
»and there it will be our fate to pass them or to fall into their hands The
distance to the garrison will then be so short that I have been thinking of the
plan of landing with Mabel myself that I may take her in by some of the
byways and leave the canoes to their chances in the rapids«
»It will never succeed Pathfinder« eagerly interrupted Jasper »Mabel is
not strong enough to tramp the woods in a night like this Put her in my skiff
and I will lose my life or carry her through the rift safely dark as it is«
»No doubt you will lad no one doubts your willingness to do any thing to
sarve the Sarjeants daughter but it must be the eye of Providence and not your
own that will take you safely through the Oswego rift in a night like this«
»And who will lead her safely to the garrison if she land Is not the night
as dark on shore as on the water or do you think I know less of my calling
than you know of yours«
»Spiritedly said lad but if I should lose my way in the dark and I
believe no man can say truly that such a thing ever yet happened to me but if
I should lose my way no other harm would come of it than to pass a night in
the forest whereas a false turn of the paddle or a broad sheer of the canoe
would put you and the young woman into the river out of which it is more than
probable the Sarjeants daughter would never come alive«
»I will leave it to Mabel herself I am certain that she will feel more
secure in the canoe«
»I have great confidence in you both« answered the girl »and have no
doubts that either will do all he can to prove to my father how much he values
him but I confess I should not like to quit the canoe with the certainty we
have of there being enemies like those we have seen in the forest But my
uncle can decide for me in this matter«
»I have no liking for the woods« said Cap »while one has a clear drift
like this on the river Besides Master Pathfinder to say nothing of the
savages you overlook the sharks«
»Sharks Who ever heard of sharks in the wilderness«
»Ay sharks or bears or wolves no matter what you call a thing so it has
the mind and the power to bite«
»Lord lord man do you dread any creatur that is to be found in the
American forest A catamount is a skeary animal I will allow but then it is
nothing in the hands of a practysed hunter Talk of the Mingos and their
deviltries if you will but do not raise a false alarm about bears and
wolves«
»Ay ay Master Pathfinder this is all well enough for you who probably
know the name of every creature you would meet Use is every thing and it makes
a man bold when he might otherwise be bashful I have known seamen in the low
latitudes swim for hours at a time among sharks fifteen or twenty feet long
and think no more of what they were doing than a countryman thinks of whom he
is amongst when he comes out of a church door of a Sunday afternoon«
»This is extraordinary« exclaimed Jasper who in good sooth had not yet
acquired that material part of his trade the ability to spin a yarn »I have
always heard that it was certain death to venture in the water among sharks«
»I forgot to say that the lads always took capstanbars or gunners
handspikes or crows with them to rap the beasts over the noses if they got to
be troublesome No no I have no liking for bears and wolves though a whale
in my eye is very much the same sort of fish as a redherring after it is
dried and salted Mabel and I had better stick to the canoe«
»Mabel would do well to change canoes« added Jasper »This of mine is
empty and even Pathfinder will allow that my eye is surer than his own on the
water«
»That I will cheerfully boy The water belongs to your gifts and no one
will deny that you have improved them to the utmost You are right enough in
believing that the Sarjeants daughter will be safer in your canoe than in this
and though I would gladly keep her near myself I have her welfare too much at
heart not to give her honest advice Bring your canoe close alongside Jasper
and I will give you what you must consider as a very precious treasure«
»I do so consider it « returned the youth not losing a moment in complying
with the request when Mabel passed from one canoe to the other taking her seat
on the effects which had hitherto composed its sole cargo
As soon as this arrangement was made the canoes separated a short distance
and the paddles were used though with great care to avoid making any noise The
conversation gradually ceased and as the dreaded rift was approached all
became impressed with the gravity of the moment That their enemies would
endeavor to reach this point before them was almost certain and it seemed so
little probable any one should attempt to pass it in the profound obscurity
which reigned that Pathfinder was confident parties were on both sides of the
river in the hope of intercepting them when they might land He would not have
made the proposal he did had he not felt sure of his own ability to convert
this very anticipation of success into a means of defeating the plans of the
Iroquois As the arrangement now stood however every thing depended on the
skill of those who guided the canoes for should either hit a rock if not split
asunder it would almost certainly be upset and then would come not only all
the hazards of the river itself but for Mabel the certainty of falling into
the hands of her pursuers The utmost circumspection consequently became
necessary and each one was too much engrossed with his own thoughts to feel a
disposition to utter more than was called for by the exigencies of the case
As the canoes stole silently along the roar of the rift became audible and
it required all the fortitude of Cap to keep his seat while these boding
sounds were approached amid a darkness that scarcely permitted a view of the
outlines of the wooded shore and of the gloomy vault above his head He
retained a vivid impression of the Falls and his imagination was not now idle
in swelling the dangers of the rift to a level with those of the headlong
descent he had that day made and even to increase them under the influence of
doubt and uncertainty In this however the old mariner was mistaken for the
Oswego rift and the Oswego Falls are very different in their characters and
violence the former being no more than a rapid that glances among shallows and
rocks while the latter really deserved the name it bore as has been already
shown
Mabel certainly felt distrust and apprehension but her entire situation was
so novel and her reliance on her guides so great that she retained a
selfcommand that might not have existed had she clearer perceptions of the
truth or been better acquainted with the helplessness of man when placed in
opposition to the power and majesty of nature
»That is the spot you have mentioned« she said to Jasper when the roar of
the rift first came fresh and distinct on her ear
»It is and I beg you to have confidence in me We are not old
acquaintances Mabel but we live many days in one in this wilderness I think
already that I have known you years«
»And I do not feel as if you were a stranger to me Jasper I have every
reliance on your skill as well as on your disposition to serve me«
»We shall see we shall see Pathfinder is striking the rapids too near the
centre of the river The best of the water is closer to the eastern shore but I
cannot make him hear me now Hold firmly to the canoe Mabel and fear
nothing«
At the next moment the swift current sucked them into the rift and for
three or four minutes the awestruck rather than the alarmed girl saw
nothing around her but sheets of glancing foam heard nothing but the roar of
waters Twenty times did the canoe appear about to dash against some curling and
bright wave that showed itself even amid that obscurity and as often did it
glide away again unharmed impelled by the vigorous arm of him who governed
its movements Once and once only did Jasper seem to lose command of his frail
bark during which brief space it fairly whirled entirely round but by a
desperate effort he brought it again under control recovered the lost channel
and was soon rewarded for all his anxiety by finding himself floating quietly in
the deep water below the rapids secure from every danger and without having
taken in enough of the element to serve for a draught
»All is over Mabel« the young man cheerfully cried »The danger is past
and you may now indeed hope to meet your father this very night«
»God be praised Jasper we shall owe this great happiness to you«
»The Pathfinder may claim a full share in the merit but what has become of
the other canoe«
»I see something near us on the water Is it not the boat of our friends«
A few strokes of the paddle brought Jasper to the side of the object in
question It was the other canoe empty and bottom upwards No sooner did the
young man ascertain this fact than he began to search for the swimmers and to
his great joy Cap was soon discovered drifting down with the current the old
seaman preferring the chances of drowning to those of landing among savages He
was hauled into the canoe though not without difficulty and then the search
ended for Jasper was persuaded that the Pathfinder would wade to the shore the
water being shallow in preference to abandoning his beloved rifle
The remainder of the passage was short though made amid darkness and doubt
After a short pause a dull roaring sound was heard which at times resembled
the mutterings of distant thunder and then again brought with it the washing of
waters Jasper announced to his companions that they now heard the surf of the
lake Low curved spits of land lay before them into the bay formed by one of
which the canoe glided and then it shot up noiselessly upon a gravelly beach
The transition that followed was so hurried and great that Mabel scarce knew
what passed In the course of a few minutes however sentinels had been passed
a gate was opened and the agitated girl found herself in the arms of a parent
who was almost a stranger to her
Chapter VIII
»A land of love and a land of light
Withouten sun or moon or night
Where the river swad a living stream
And the light a pure celestial beam
The land of vision it would seem
A still an everlasting dream«
Hogg The Queens Wake
»Kilmeny« ll 4651
The rest that succeeds fatigue and which attends a newly awakened sense of
security is generally sweet and deep Such was the fact with Mabel who did not
rise from her humble pallet such a bed as a serjeants daughter might claim in
a remote frontier post until long after the garrison had obeyed the usual
summons of the drum and had assembled at the early parade Serjeant Dunham on
whose shoulders fell the task of attending to these ordinary and daily duties
had got through all his morning avocations and was beginning to think of his
breakfast ere his child left her room and came into the fresh air equally
bewildered delighted and grateful at the novelty and security of her new
situation
At the time of which we are writing Oswego was one of the extreme frontier
posts of the British possessions on this continent It had not been long
occupied and was garrisoned by a battalion of a regiment that had been
originally Scotch but into which many Americans had been received since its
arrival in this country an innovation that had led the way to Mabels father
filling the humble but responsible situation of the oldest serjeant A few young
officers also who were natives of the Colonies were to be found in this corps
The fort itself like most works of that character was better adapted to
resist an attack of savages than to withstand a regular siege but the great
difficulty of transporting heavy artillery and other necessaries rendered the
occurrence of the latter a probability so remote as scarcely to enter into the
estimate of the engineers who had planned the defences These were bastions of
earth and logs a dry ditch a stockade a parade of considerable extent and
barracks of logs that answered the double purpose of dwellings and
fortifications A few light fieldpieces stood in the area of the fort ready to
be conveyed to any point where they might be wanted and one or two heavy iron
guns looked out from the summits of the advanced angles so many admonitions to
the audacious to respect their power
When Mabel quitting the convenient but comparatively retired hut where her
father had been permitted to place her issued into the pure air of the morning
she found herself at the foot of a bastion that lay invitingly before her with
a promise of giving a coup doeil of all that had been concealed in the darkness
of the preceding night Tripping up the grassy ascent the lighthearted as well
as lightfooted girl found herself at once on a point where the sight at a
few changing glances could take in all the external novelties of her new
situation
To the southward lay the forest through which she had been journeying so
many weary days and which had proved so full of danger It was separated from
the stockade by a belt of open land that had been principally cleared of its
wood to form the massive constructions around her This glacis for such in
fact was its military uses might have covered a hundred acres but with it
every sign of civilization ceased All beyond was forest that dense
interminable forest that Mabel could now picture to herself through her
recollections with its hidden glassy lakes its dark rolling streams and its
world of nature
Turning from this view our heroine felt her cheek fanned by a fresh and
grateful breeze such as she had not experienced since quitting the fardistant
coast Here a new scene presented itself Although expected it was not without
a start and a low exclamation indicative of pleasure that the eager eyes of
the girl drank in its beauties To the north and east and west in every
direction in short over one entire half of the novel panorama lay a field of
rolling waters The element was neither of that glassy green which distinguishes
the American waters in general nor yet of the deep blue of the ocean the
colour being of a slightly amber hue that scarcely affected its limpidity No
land was to be seen with the exception of the adjacent coast which stretched
to the right and left in an unbroken outline of forest with wide bays and low
headlands or points Still much of the shore was rocky and into its caverns
the sluggish waters occasionally rolled producing a hollow sound that
resembled the concussions of a distant gun No sail whitened the surface no
whale or other fish gambolled on its bosom no sign of use or service
rewarded the longest and most minute gaze at its boundless expanse It was a
scene on one side of apparently endless forest while a waste of seemingly
interminable water spread itself on the other Nature had appeared to delight in
producing grand effects by setting two of her principal agents in bold relief
to each other neglecting details the eye turning from the broad carpet of
leaves to the still broader field of fluid from the endless but gentle
heavings of the lake to the holy calm and poetical solitude of the forest
with wonder and delight
Mabel Dunham though unsophisticated like most of her countrywomen of that
period and ingenuous and frank as any warmhearted and sincereminded girl well
could be was not altogether without a feeling for the poetry of this beautiful
earth of ours Though she could scarcely be said to be educated at all for few
of her sex at that day and in this country received much more than the
rudiments of plain English instruction still she had been taught much more than
was usual for young women in her own station in life and in one sense
certainly she did credit to her teaching The widow of a Field Officer who
formerly belonged to the same regiment as her father had taken the child in
charge at the death of its mother and under the care of this lady Mabel had
acquired some tastes and many ideas which otherwise might always have remained
strangers to her Her situation in the family had been less that of a domestic
than of a humble companion and the results were quite apparent in her attire
her language her sentiments and even in her feelings though neither perhaps
rose to the level of those which would properly characterize a lady She had
lost the coarser and less refined habits and manners of one in her original
position without having quite reached a point that disqualified her for the
situation in life that the accidents of birth and fortune would probably compel
her to fill All else that was distinctive and peculiar in her belonged to
natural character
With such antecedents it will occasion the reader no wonder if he learns
that Mabel viewed the novel scene before her with a pleasure far superior to
that produced by vulgar surprise She felt its ordinary beauties as most would
have felt them but she had also a feeling for its sublimity for that softened
solitude that calm grandeur and eloquent repose that ever pervades broad views
of natural objects which are yet undisturbed by the labors and uneasy struggles
of man
»How beautiful« she exclaimed unconscious of speaking as she stood on the
solitary bastion facing the air from the lake and experiencing the genial
influence of its freshness pervading both her body and her mind »How very
beautiful and yet how singular«
The words and the train of her ideas were interrupted by a touch of a
finger on her shoulder and turning in the expectation of seeing her father
Mabel found Pathfinder at her side He was leaning quietly on his long rifle
and laughing in his quiet manner while with an outstretched arm he swept over
the whole panorama of land and water
»Here you have both our domains« he said »Jaspers and mine The lake is
for him and the woods are for me The lad sometimes boasts of the breadth of
his dominions but I tell him my trees make as broad a plain on the face of this
arth as all his water Well Mabel you are fit for either for I do not see
that fear of the Mingos or night marches can destroy your pretty looks«
»It is a new character for the Pathfinder to appear in to compliment a
silly girl«
»Not silly Mabel no not in the least silly The Sarjeants daughter would
do discredit to her worthy father were she to do or say any thing that in
common honesty could be called silly«
»Then she must take care and not put too much faith in treacherous
flattering words But Pathfinder I rejoice to see you among us again for
though Jasper did not seem to feel much uneasiness I was afraid some accident
might have happened to you and your friend on that frightful rift«
»The lad knows us both and was sartain that we should not drown which is
scarcely one of my gifts It would have been hard swimming of a sartainty with
a longbarrelled rifle in the hands and what between the game and the savages
and the French Killdeer and I have gone through too much in company to part
very easily No no we waded ashore the rift being shallow enough for that
with small exceptions and we landed with our arms in our hands We had to take
our time for it on account of the Iroquois I will own but as soon as the
skulking vagabonds saw the lights that the sarjeant sent down to your canoe we
well understood they would decamp since a visit might have been expected from
some of the garrison So it was only sitting patiently on the stones for an
hour and all the danger was over Patience is the greatest of virtues in a
woodsman«
»I rejoice to hear this for fatigue itself could scarcely make me sleep
for thinking of what might befal you«
»Lord bless your tender little heart Mabel But this is the way with all
you gentle ones I must say on my part howsever that I was right glad to see
the lanterns come down to the water side which I knew to be a sure sign of your
safety We hunters and guides are rude beings but we have our feelins and our
idees as well as any giniral in the army Both Jasper and I would have died
before you should have come to harm we would«
»I thank you for all you did for me Pathfinder from the bottom of my
heart I thank you and depend on it my father shall know it I have already
told him much but have still a duty to perform on this subject«
»Tush Mabel the Sarjeant knows what the woods be and what men true
real men be too There is little need to tell him any thing about it Well now
you have met your father do you find the honest old soldier the sort of person
you expected to find«
»He is my own dear father and received me as a soldier and a father should
receive a child Have you known him long Pathfinder«
»That is as people count time I was just twelve when the sarjeant took me
on my first scouting and that is now more than twenty years ago We had a
tramping time of it and as it was before your day you would have had no
father had not the rifle been one of my natral gifts«
»Explain yourself«
»It is too simple for many words We were ambushed and the sarjeant got a
bad hurt and would have lost his scalp but for a sort of inbred turn I took to
the weapon We brought him off howsever and a handsomer head of hair for his
time of life is not to be found in the rigiment than the Sarjeant carries
about with him this blessed day«
»You saved my fathers life Pathfinder« exclaimed Mabel unconsciously
though warmly taking one of his hard sinewy hands into both her own »God bless
you for this too among your other good acts«
»Nay I did not say that much though I believe I did save his scalp A man
might live without a scalp and so I cannot say I saved his life Jasper may say
that much consarning you for without his eye and arm the canoe would never have
passed the rift in safety on a night like the last The gifts of the lad are
for the water while mine are for the hunt and the trail He is yonder in the
cove there looking after the canoes and keeping an eye on his beloved little
craft To my eye there is no likelier youth in these parts than Jasper
Western«
For the first time since she had left her room Mabel now turned her eyes
beneath her and got a view of what might be called the foreground of the
remarkable picture she had been studying with so much pleasure The Oswego threw
its dark waters into the lake between banks of some height that on its eastern
side being bolder and projecting farther north than that on its western The
fort was on the latter and immediately beneath it were a few huts of logs
which as they could not interfere with the defence of the place had been
erected along the strand for the purpose of receiving and containing such
stores as were landed or were intended to be embarked in the communications
between the different posts on the shores of Ontario There were two low curved
gravelly points that had been formed with surprising regularity by the
counteracting forces of the northerly winds and the swift current and which
inclining from the storms of the lake formed two coves within the river That
on the western side was the most deeply indented and as it also had the most
water it formed a sort of picturesque little port for the post It was along
the narrow strand that lay between the low height of the fort and the water of
this cove that the rude buildings just mentioned had been erected
Several skiffs batteaux and canoes were hauled upon the shore and in the
cove itself lay the little craft from which Jasper obtained his claim to be
considered a sailor She was cutterrigged might have been of forty tons
burthen was so neatly constructed and painted as to have something of the air
of a vessel of war though entirely without quarters and rigged and sparred
with so scrupulous a regard to proportions and beauty as well as fitness and
judgment as to give her an appearance that even Mabel at once distinguished to
be gallant and trim Her mould was admirable for a wright of great skill had
sent her drafts from England at the express request of the officer who had
caused her to be constructed her paint dark warlike and neat and the long
coachwhip pennant that she wore at once proclaimed her to be the property of
the king Her name was the Scud
»That then is the vessel of Jasper« said Mabel who associated the master
of the little craft quite naturally with the cutter itself »Are there many
others on this lake«
»The Frenchers have three one of which they tell me is a real ship such as
are used on the ocean another a brig and a third is a cutter like the Scud
here which they call the Squirrel in their own tongue howsever and which
seems to have a natral hatred of our own pretty boat for Jasper seldom goes
out that the Squirrel is not at his heels«
»And is Jasper one to run from a Frenchman though he appear in the shape of
a squirrel and that too on the water«
»Of what use would valor be without the means of turning it to account
Jasper is a brave boy as all on this frontier know but he has no gun except a
little howitzer and then his crew consists only of two men besides himself and
a boy I was with him in one of his trampooses and the youngster was risky
enough for he brought us so near the inimy that rifles began to talk but the
Frenchers carry cannon and ports and never show their faces outside of
Frontenac without having some twenty men besides their Squirrel in their
cutter No no this Scud was built for flying and the Major says he will not
put her in a fighting humour by giving her men and arms lest she should take
him at his word and get her wings clipped I know little of these things for
my gifts are not at all in that way but I see the reason of the thing I see
its reason though Jasper does not«
»Ah here is my uncle none the worse for his swim coming to look at this
inland sea«
Sure enough Cap who had announced his approach by a couple of lusty hems
now made his appearance on the bastion where after nodding to his niece and
her companion he made a deliberate survey of the expanse of water before him
In order to effect this at his ease the mariner mounted on one of the old iron
guns folded his arms across his breast and balanced his body as if he felt
the motion of a vessel To complete the picture he had a short pipe in his
mouth
»Well Master Cap« asked the Pathfinder innocently for he did not detect
the expression of contempt that was gradually settling on the features of the
other »is it not a beautiful sheet and fit to be named a sea«
»This then is what you call your lake« demanded Cap sweeping the
northern horizon with his pipe »I say is this really your lake«
»Sartain and if the judgment of one who has lived on the shores of many
others can be taken a very good lake it is«
»Just as I expected A pond in dimensions and a scuttlebutt in taste It is
all in vain to travel inland in the hope of seeing any thing either fullgrown
or useful I knew it would turn out just in this way«
»What is the matter with Ontario Master Cap It is large and fair to look
at and pleasant enough to drink for those who cant get at the waters of the
spring«
»Do you call this large« asked Cap again sweeping the air with the pipe
»I will just ask you what there is large about it Didnt Jasper himself
confess that it was only some twenty leagues from shore to shore hereaway«
»But uncle« interposed Mabel »no land is to be seen except here on our
own coast To me it looks exactly like the ocean«
»This bit of a pool look like the ocean Well Magnet that from a girl who
has had real seamen in her family is downright nonsense What is there about it
pray that has even the outline of a sea on it«
»Why there is water water water nothing but water for miles on miles
far as the eye can see«
»And isnt there water water water nothing but water for miles on
miles in your rivers that you have been canoeing through too ay and as far
as the eye can see in the bargain«
»Yes uncle but the rivers have their banks and there are trees along
them and they are narrow«
»And isnt this a bank where we stand dont these soldiers call this the
bank of the lake and arnt there trees in thousands and arnt twenty leagues
narrow enough of all conscience Who the devil ever heard of the banks of the
ocean unless it might be the banks that are under water«
»But uncle we cannot see across this lake as we can see across a river«
»There you are out Magnet Arnt the Amazon and Oronoco and La Plata
rivers and can you see across them Harkee Pathfinder I very much doubt if
this stripe of water here be even a lake for to me it appears to be only a
river You are by no means particular about your geography I find up here in
the woods«
»There you are out Master Cap There is a river and a noble one too at
each end of it but this is old Ontario before you and though it is not my
gift to live on a lake to my judgment there are few better than this«
»And uncle if we stood on the beach at Rockaway what more should we see
than we now behold There is a shore on one side or banks there and trees
too as well as those which are here«
»This is perverseness Magnet and young girls should steer clear of any
thing like obstinacy In the first place the ocean has coasts but no banks
except the Grand Banks as I tell you which are out of sight of land and you
will not pretend that this bank is out of sight of land or even under water«
As Mabel could not very plausibly set up this extravagant opinion Cap
pursued the subject his countenance beginning to discover the triumph of a
successful disputant
»And then the trees bear no comparison to these trees The coasts of the
ocean have farms and cities and country seats and in some parts of the
world castles and monasteries and lighthouses ay ay lighthouses in
particular on them not one of all which things is to be seen here No no
Master Pathfinder I never heard of an ocean that hadnt more or less
lighthouses on it whereas hereaway there is not even a beacon«
»There is what is better theres what is better a forest and noble trees
a fit temple of God«
»Ay your forest may do for a lake but of what use would an ocean be if
the earth all around it were forest Ships would be unnecessary as timber might
be floated in rafts and there would be an end of trade and what would a world
be without trade I am of that philosophers opinion who says human nature was
invented for the purposes of trade Magnet I am astonished that you should
think this water even looks like seawater Now I dare say that there isnt
such a thing as a whale in all your lake Master Pathfinder«
»I never heard of one I will confess but I am no judge of animals that
live in the water unless it be the fishes of the rivers and the brooks«
»Nor a grampus nor a porpoise even not so much as a poor devil of a
shark«
»I will not take it on myself to say there is either My gifts are not in
that way I tell you Master Cap«
»Nor herring nor albatross nor flyingfish « continued Cap who kept his
eye fastened on the guide in order to see how far he might venture »No such
thing as a fish that can fly I dare say«
»A fish that can fly Master Cap Master Cap do not think because we are
mere borderers that we have no idees of natur and what she has been pleased
to do I know there are squirrels that can fly «
»A squirrel fly the dl Master Pathfinder Do you suppose that you have
got a boy on his first vyge up here among you«
»I know nothing of your vyges Master Cap though I suppose them to have
been many but as for what belongs to natur in the woods what I have seen I
may tell and not fear the face of man«
»And do you wish me to understand that you have seen a squirrel fly«
»If you wish to understand the power of God Master Cap you will do well to
believe that and many other things of a like natur for you may be quite
sartain it is true«
»And yet Pathfinder « said Mabel looking so pretty and sweet even while
she played with the guides infirmity that he forgave her in his heart »you
who speak so reverently of the power of the Deity appear to doubt that a fish
can fly«
»I have not said it I have not said it and if Master Cap is ready to
testify to the fact unlikely as it seems I am willing to try to think it true
I think it every mans duty to believe in the power of God however difficult it
may be«
»And why isnt my fish as likely to have wings as your squirrel« demanded
Cap with more logic than was his wont »That fishes do and can fly is as true
as it is reasonable «
»Nay that is the only difficulty in believing the story« rejoined the
guide »It seems onreasonable to give an animal that lives in the water wings
which seemingly can be of no use to them«
»And do you suppose that the fishes are such asses as to fly about under
water when they are once fairly fitted out with wings«
»Nay I know nothing of the matter but that fish should fly in the air
seems more contrary to natur still than that they should fly in their own
quarters that in which they were born and brought up as one might say«
»So much for contracted ideas Magnet The fish fly out of water to run
away from their enemies under water and there you see not only the fact but
the reason for it«
»Then I suppose it must be true« said the guide quietly »How long are
their flights«
»Not quite as far as those of pigeons perhaps but far enough to make an
offing As for those squirrels of yours well say no more about them friend
Pathfinder as I suppose they were mentioned just as a makeweight to the fish
in favor of the woods But what is this thing anchored here under the hill«
»That is the cutter of Jasper uncle« said Mabel hurriedly »and a very
pretty vessel I think it is Its name too is the Scud«
»Ay it will do well enough for a lake perhaps but its no great affair
The lad has got a standing bowsprit and who ever saw a cutter with a standing
bowsprit before«
»But may there not be some good reason for it on a lake like this uncle«
»Sure enough I must remember this is not the ocean though it does look so
much like it«
»Ah uncle then Ontario does look like the ocean after all«
»In your eyes I mean and those of Pathfinder not in the least in mine
Magnet Now you might set me down out yonder in the middle of this bit of a
pond and that too in the darkest night that ever fell from the heavens and
in the smallest canoe and I could tell you it was only a lake For that matter
the Dorothy the name of his vessel would find it out as quick as I could
myself I do not believe that brig would make more than a couple of short
stretches at the most before she would perceive the difference between Ontario
and the old Atlantic I once took her down into one of the large South American
bays and she behaved herself as awkwardly as a booby would in a church with
the congregation in a hurry And Jasper sails that boat I must have a cruise
with the lad Magnet before I quit you just for the name of the thing It
would never do to say I got in sight of this pond and went away without taking
a trip on it«
»Well well you neednt wait long for that« returned Pathfinder »for
the sarjeant is about to embark with a party to relieve a post among the
Thousand Islands and as I heard him say he intended that Mabel should go
along you can join company too«
»Is this true Magnet«
»I believe it is« returned the girl a flush so imperceptible as to escape
the observation of her companions glowing on her cheeks »though I have had so
little opportunity to talk with my dear father that I am not quite certain
Here he comes however and you can inquire of himself«
Notwithstanding his humble rank there was something in the mien and
character of Serjeant Dunham that commanded respect Of a tall imposing figure
grave and saturnine disposition and accurate and precise in his acts and manner
of thinking even Cap dogmatical and supercilious as he usually was with
landsmen did not presume to take the same liberties with the old soldier as he
did with his other friends It was often remarked that Serjeant Dunham received
more true respect from Duncan of Lundie the Scotch Laird who commanded the
post than most of the subalterns for experience and tried services were of
quite as much value in the eyes of the veteran Major as birth and money While
the serjeant never even hoped to rise any higher he so far respected himself
and his present station as always to act in a way to command attention and the
habit of mixing so much with inferiors whose passions and dispositions he felt
it necessary to restrain by distance and dignity had so far coloured his whole
deportment that few were altogether free from its influence While the captains
treated him kindly and as an old comrade the lieutenants seldom ventured to
dissent from his military opinions and the ensigns it was remarked actually
manifested a species of respect that amounted to something very like deference
It is no wonder then that the announcement of Mabel put a sudden termination to
the singular dialogue we have just related though it had been often observed
that the Pathfinder was the only man on that frontier beneath the condition of
a gentleman who presumed to treat the Serjeant at all as an equal or even with
the cordial familiarity of a friend
»Good morrow Brother Cap« said the Serjeant giving the military salute
as he walked in a grave stately manner on the bastion »My morning duty has
made me seem forgetful of you and Mabel but we have now an hour or two to
spare and to get acquainted Do you not perceive brother a strong likeness in
the girl to her we have so long lost«
»Mabel is the image of her mother serjeant as I have always said with a
little of your firmer figure though for that matter the Caps were never
wanting in spring and activity«
Mabel cast a timid glance at the stern rigid countenance of her father of
whom she had ever thought as the warmhearted dwell on the affection of their
absent parents and as she saw that the muscles of his face were working
notwithstanding the stiffness and method of his manner her very heart yearned
to throw herself on his bosom and to weep at will But he was so much colder in
externals so much more formal and distant than she had expected to find him
that she would not have dared to hazard the freedom even had they been alone
»You have taken a long and troublesome journey brother on my account and
we will try to make you comfortable while you stay among us«
»I hear you are likely to receive orders to lift your anchor serjeant and
to shift your berth into a part of the world where they say there are a thousand
islands«
»Pathfinder this is some of your forgetfulness «
»Nay nay sarjeant I forgot nothing but it did not seem to me necessary
to hide your intentions so very closely from your own flesh and blood«
»All military movements ought to be made with as little conversation as
possible« returned the Serjeant tapping the guides shoulder in a friendly
but reproachful manner »You have passed too much of your life in front of the
French not to know the value of silence But no matter The thing must soon be
known and there is no great use in trying now to conceal it We shall embark
a relief party shortly for a post on the lake though I do not say it is for
the Thousand Islands and I may have to go with it in which case I intend to
take Mabel to make my broth for me and I hope brother you will not despise a
soldiers fare for a month or so«
»That will depend on the manner of marching I have no love for woods and
swamps«
»We shall sail in the Scud and indeed the whole service which is no
stranger to us is likely enough to please one accustomed to the water«
»Ay to saltwater if you will but not to lakewater If you have no
person to handle that bit of a cutter for you I have no objection to ship for
the vyge notwithstanding though I shall look on the whole affair as so much
time thrown away for I consider it an imposition to call sailing about this
pond going to sea«
»Jasper is every way able to manage the Scud Brother Cap and in that light
I cannot say that we have need of your services though we shall be glad of your
company You cannot return to the settlements until a party is sent in and that
is not likely to happen until after my return Well Pathfinder this is the
first time I ever knew men on the trail of the Mingos and you not at their
head«
»To be honest with you Sarjeant« returned the guide not without a little
awkwardness of manner and a perceptible difference in the hue of a face that
had become so uniformly red by exposure »I have not felt that it was my gift
this morning In the first place I very well know that the soldiers of the
fifty fifth are not the lads to overtake Iroquois in the woods and the knaves
did not wait to be surrounded when they knew that Jasper had reached the
garrison Then a man may take a little rest after a summer of hard work and
no impeachment of his good will Besides the Sarpent is out with them and if
the miscreants are to be found at all you may trust to his inmity and sight
the first being stronger and the last nearly if not quite as good as my own He
loves the skulking vagabonds as little as myself and for that matter I may
say that my own feelins towards a Mingo are not much more than the gifts of a
Delaware grafted on a christian stock No no I thought I would leave the
honor this time if honor there is to be to the young ensign that commands
who if he dont lose his scalp may boast of his campaign in his letters to
his mother when he gets in I thought I would play idler once in my life«
»And no one has a better right if long and faithful service entitles a man
to a furlough« returned the Serjeant kindly »Mabel will think none the worse
of you for preferring her company to the trail of the savages and I dare say
will be happy to give you a part of her breakfast if you are inclined to eat
You must not think however girl that the Pathfinder is in the habit of
letting prowlers around the fort beat a retreat without hearing the crack of
his rifle«
»If I thought she did Sarjeant though not much given to showy and parade
evolutions I would shoulder Killdeer and quit the garrison before her pretty
eyes had time to frown No no Mabel knows me better though we are but new
acquaintances for there has been no want of Mingos to enliven the short march
we have already made in company«
»It would need a great deal of testimony Pathfinder to make me think ill
of you in any way and more than all in the way you mention« returned Mabel
colouring with the sincere earnestness with which she endeavored to remove any
suspicions to the contrary from his mind »Both father and daughter I believe
even owe you their lives and believe me that neither will ever forget it«
»Thank you Mabel thank you with all my heart But I will not take
advantage of your ignorance neither girl and therefore shall say I do not
think the Mingos would have hurt a hair of your head had they succeeded by
their deviltries and contrivances in getting you into their hands My scalp
and Jaspers and Master Caps there and the Sarpents too would sartainly
have been smoked but as for the Sarjeants daughter I do not think they would
have hurt a hair of her head«
»And why should I suppose that enemies known to spare neither women nor
children would have shown more mercy to me than to another I feel Pathfinder
that I owe you my life«
»I say nay Mabel they wouldnt have had the heart to hurt you No not
even a fiery Mingo devil would have had the heart to hurt a hair of your head
Bad as I suspect the vampires to be I do not suspect them of anything so wicked
as that They might have wished you nay forced you to become the wife of one
of their chiefs and that would be torment enough to a christian young woman
but beyond that I do not think even the Mingos themselves would have gone«
»Well then I shall owe my escape from this great misfortune to you« said
Mabel taking his hard hand into her own frankly and cordially and certainly
in a way to delight the honest guide »To me it would be a lighter evil to be
killed than to become the wife of an Indian«
»That is her gift sarjeant« exclaimed Pathfinder turning to his old
comrade with gratification written on every lineament of his honest countenance
»and it will have its way I tell the Sarpent that no christianizing will ever
make even a Delaware a white man nor any whooping and yelling convart a pale
face into a red skin That is the gift of a young woman born of christian
parents and it ought to be maintained«
»You are right Pathfinder and so far as Mabel Dunham is concerned it
shall be maintained But it is time to break your fasts and if you will follow
me Brother Cap I will show you how we poor soldiers live here on a distant
frontier«
Chapter IX
»Now my comates and partners in exile
Hath not old custom made this life more sweet
Than that of painted pomp Are not these woods
More free from peril than the envious court
Here feel we but the penalty of Adam «
As You Like It IIi15
Serjeant Dunham made no empty vaunt when he gave the promise conveyed in the
closing words of the last chapter Notwithstanding the remote frontier position
of the post they who lived at it enjoyed a table that in many respects kings
and princes might have envied At the period of our tale and indeed for half
a century later the whole of that vast region which has been called the west
or the new countries since the war of the revolution lay a comparatively
unpeopled desert teeming with all the living productions of nature that
properly belonged to the climate man and the domestic animals excepted The few
Indians that roamed its forests then could produce no visible effects on the
abundance of the game and the scattered garrisons or occasional hunters that
here and there were to be met with on that vast surface had no other influence
than the bee on the buckwheat field or the hummingbird on the flower
The marvels that have descended to our own times in the way of tradition
concerning the quantities of beasts birds and fishes that were then to be met
with on the shores of the great lakes in particular are known to be sustained
by the experience of living men else might we hesitate about relating them but
having been eyewitnesses of some of these prodigies our office shall be
discharged with the confidence that certainty can impart Oswego was
particularly well placed to keep the larder of an epicure amply supplied Fish
of various sorts abounded in its river and the sportsman had only to cast his
line to haul in a bass or some other member of the finny tribe which then
peopled the waters as the air above the swamps of this fruitful latitude is
known to be filled with insects Among others was the salmon of the lakes a
variety of that wellknown species that is scarcely inferior to the delicious
salmon of Northern Europe Of the different migratory birds that frequent
forests and waters there was the same affluence hundreds of acres of geese and
ducks being often seen at a time in the great bays that indented the shores of
the lake Deer bears rabbits and squirrels with divers other quadrupeds
among which was sometimes included the elk or moose helped to complete the sum
of the natural supplies on which all the posts depended more or less to
relieve the unavoidable privations of their remote frontier positions
In a place where viands that would elsewhere be deemed great luxuries were
so abundant no one was excluded from their enjoyment The meanest individual at
Oswego habitually feasted on game that would have formed the boast of a Parisian
table and it was no more than a healthful commentary on the caprices of taste
and of the waywardness of human desires that the very diet which in other
scenes would have been deemed the subject of envy and repinings got to pall on
the appetites The coarse and regular food of the army which it became
necessary to husband on account of the difficulty of transportation rose in the
estimation of the common soldier and at any time he would cheerfully desert
his venison and ducks and pigeons and salmon to banquet on the sweets of
pickled pork stringy turnips and halfcooked cabbage
The table of Serjeant Dunham as a matter of course partook of the
abundance and luxuries of the frontier as well as of its privations A
delicious broiled salmon smoked on a homely platter hot venison steaks sent up
their appetizing odours and several dishes of cold meats all of which were
composed of game had been set before the guests in honor of the newlyarrived
visiters and in vindication of the old soldiers hospitality
»You do not seem to be on short allowance in this quarter of the world
serjeant« said Cap after he had got fairly initiated into the mysteries of the
different dishes »your salmon might satisfy a Scotsman«
»It fails to do it notwithstanding brother Cap for among two or three
hundred of the fellows that we have in this garrison there are not half a
dozen who will not swear that fish is unfit to be eaten Even some of the lads
who never tasted venison except as poachers at home turn up their noses at the
fattest haunches that we get here«
»Ay that is christian natur« put in the Pathfinder »and I must say it is
none to its credit Now a redskin never repines but is always thankful for
the food he gets whether it be fat or lean venison or bear wild turkeys
breast or wild gooses wing To the shame of us white men be it said that we
look upon blessings without satisfaction and consider trifling evils as matters
of great account«
»It is so with the 55th as I can answer though I cannot say as much for
their christianity« returned the Serjeant »Even the Major himself old Duncan
of Lundie will sometimes swear an oatmeal cake is better fare than the Oswego
bass and sigh for a swallow of Highland water when if so minded he has the
whole of Ontario to quench his thirst in«
»Has Major Duncan a wife and children« asked Mabel whose thoughts
naturally turned towards her own sex in her new situation
»Not he girl though they do say that he has a betrothed at home The
lady it seems is willing to wait rather than suffer the hardships of service
in this wild region all of which brother Cap is not according to my notions
of a womans duties Your sister thought differently and had it pleased God to
spare her would have been sitting at this moment on the very camp stool that
her daughter so well becomes«
»I hope Serjeant you do not think of Mabel for a soldiers wife«
returned Cap gravely »Our family has done its share in that way already and
its high time that the sea was again remembered«
»I do not think of finding a husband for the girl in the 55th or any other
regiment I can promise you brother though I do think it getting to be time
that the child were respectably married«
»Father«
»Tis not their gifts Sarjeant to talk of these matters in so open a
manner« said the guide »for Ive seen it verified by experence that he who
would follow the trail of a virgins goodwill must not go shouting out his
thoughts behind her So if you please we will talk of something else«
»Well then brother Cap I hope that bit of cold roasted pig is to your
mind you seem to fancy the food«
»Ay ay give me civilized grub if I must eat« returned the pertinacious
seaman »Venison is well enough for your inland sailors but we of the ocean
like a little of that which we understand«
Here Pathfinder laid down his knife and fork and indulged in a hearty
laugh though always in his silent manner Then he asked with a little
curiosity in his manner
»Dont you miss the skin Master Cap dont you miss the skin«
»It would have been better for its jacket I think myself Pathfinder but I
suppose it is a fashion of the woods to serve up shoats in this style«
»Well well a man may go round the arth and not know every thing If you
had had the skinning of that pig Master Cap it would have left you sore hands
The creatur is a hedgehog«
»Blast me if I thought it wholesome natural pork either« returned Cap
»But then I believed even a pig might lose some of its good qualities up
hereaway in the woods It seemed no more than reason that a freshwater hog
should not be altogether as good as a saltwater hog I suppose serjeant by
this time it is all the same to you«
»If the skinning of it brother does not fall to my duty Pathfinder I
hope you didnt find Mabel disobedient on the march«
»Not she not she If Mabel is only half as well satisfied with Jasper and
the Pathfinder as the Pathfinder and Jasper are satisfied with her sarjeant
we shall be friends for the remainder of our days«
As the guide spoke he turned his eyes towards the blushing girl with a
sort of innocent desire to know her opinion and then with an inborn delicacy
that proved he was far superior to the vulgar desire to invade the sanctity of
feminine feeling he looked at his plate and seemed to regret his own boldness
»Well well we must remember that women are not men my friend« resumed
the serjeant »and make proper allowances for nature and education A recruit is
not a veteran Any man knows that it takes longer to make a good soldier than
it takes to make any thing else and it ought to require unusual time to make a
good soldiers daughter«
»This is new doctrine serjeant« said Cap with some spirit »We old seamen
are apt to think that six soldiers ay and capital soldiers too might be made
while one sailor is getting his education«
»Ay brother Cap Ive seen something of the opinions which seafaring men
have of themselves« returned the brotherinlaw with a smile as bland as
comported with his saturnine features »for I was many years one of the garrison
in a seaport You and I have conversed on the subject before and Im afraid we
shall never agree But if you wish to know what the difference is between a
real soldier and man in what I should call a state of nature you have only to
look at a battalion of the 55th on parade this afternoon and then when you
get back to York to examine one of the militia regiments making its greatest
efforts«
»Well to my eye serjeant there is very little difference not more than
youll find between a brig and a snow To me they seem alike all scarlet and
feathers and powder and pipe clay«
»So much sir for the judgment of a sailor« returned the serjeant with
dignity »but perhaps you are not aware that it requires a year to teach a true
soldier how to eat«
»So much the worse for him The militia know how to eat at starting for I
have often heard that on their marches they commonly eat all before them
even if they do nothing else«
»They have their gifts I suppose like other men« observed Pathfinder
with a view to preserve the peace which was evidently in some danger of being
broken by the obstinate predilection of each of the disputants in favor of his
own calling »and when a man has his gift from Providence it is commonly idle to
endivor to bear up agin it The 55th sarjeant is a judicious rigiment in the
way of eating as I know from having been so long in its Company though I dare
say militia corps could be found that would outdo them in feats of that natur
too«
»Uncle« said Mabel »if you have breakfasted I will thank you to go out
upon the bastion with me again We have neither of us half seen the lake and
it would be hardly seemly for a young woman to be walking about the fort the
first day of her arrival quite alone«
Cap understood the motive of Mabel and having at the bottom a hearty
friendship for his brotherinlaw he was willing enough to defer the argument
until they had been longer together for the idea of abandoning it altogether
never crossed the mind of one so dogmatical and obstinate He accordingly
accompanied his niece leaving Serjeant Dunham and his friend the Pathfinder
alone together As soon as his adversary had beaten a retreat the serjeant
who did not quite so well understand the manoeuvre of his daughter turned to
his companion and with a smile that was not without triumph he remarked
»The army Pathfinder has never yet done itself justice and though
modesty becomes a man whether he is in a red coat or a black one or for that
matter in his shirtsleeves I dont like to let a good opportunity slip of
saying a word in its behalf Well my friend« laying his own hand on one of
the Pathfinders and giving it a hearty squeeze »how do you like the girl«
»You have reason to be proud of her sarjeant you have great reason to be
proud at finding yourself the father of so handsome and well mannered a young
woman I have seen many of her sex and some that were great and beautiful but
never before did I meet with one in whom I thought Providence had so well
balanced the different gifts«
»And the good opinion I can tell you Pathfinder is mutual She told me
last night all about your coolness and spirit and kindness particularly the
last for kindness counts for more than half with females my friend and the
first inspection seems to give satisfaction on both sides Brush up the uniform
and pay a little more attention to the outside Pathfinder and you will have
the girl heart and hand«
»Nay nay sarjeant Ive forgotten nothing that you have told me and
grudge no reasonable pains to make myself as pleasant in the eyes of Mabel as
she is getting to be in mine I cleaned and brightened up Killdeer this
morning as soon as the sun rose and in my judgment the piece never looked
better than it does at this very moment«
»That is according to your hunting notions Pathfinder but firearms should
sparkle and glitter in the sun and I never yet could see any beauty in a
clouded barrel«
»Lord Howe thought otherwise sarjeant and he was accounted a good
soldier«
»Very true his Lordship had all the barrels of his regiment darkened and
what good came of it You can see his scutcheon hanging in the English Church
at Albany No no my worthy friend a soldier should be a soldier and at no
time ought he to be ashamed or afraid to carry about him the signs and symbols
of his honorable trade Had you much discourse with Mabel Pathfinder as you
came along in the canoe«
»There was not much opportunity sarjeant and then I found myself so much
beneath her in idees that I was afraid to speak of much beyond what belonged to
my own gifts«
»Therein you are partly right and partly wrong my friend Women love
trifling discourse though they like to have most of it to themselves Now you
know Im a man that do not loosen my tongue at every giddy thought and yet
there were days when I could see that Mabels mother thought none the worse of
me because I descended a little from my manhood It is true I was twenty two
years younger then than I am to day and moreover instead of being the oldest
serjeant in the regiment I was the youngest Dignity is commanding and useful
and there is no getting on without it as respects the men but if you would be
thoroughly esteemed by a woman it is necessary to condescend a little on
occasions«
»Ahs me sarjeant I sometimes fear it will never do«
»Why do you think so discouragingly of a matter on which I thought both our
minds were made up«
»We did agree that if Mabel should prove what you told me she was and if
the girl could fancy a rude hunter and guide that I would quit some of my
wandering ways and try to humanize my mind down to a wife and children But
since I have seen the girl I will own that many misgivins have come over me«
»Hows this« interrupted the serjeant sternly »Did I not understand you
to say that you were pleased And is Mabel a young woman to disappoint
expectation«
»Ah sarjeant it is not Mabel that I distrust but myself I am but a poor
ignorant woodsman after all and perhaps Im not in truth as good as even you
and I may think me«
»If you doubt your own judgment of yourself Pathfinder I beg you will not
doubt mine Am I not accustomed to judge mens characters Is it not my
especial duty and am I often deceived Ask Major Duncan sir if you desire any
assurances in this particular«
»But sarjeant we have long been friends have fout side by side a dozen
times and have done each other many sarvices When this is the case men are
apt to think overkindly of each other and I fear me that the daughter may not
be so likely to view a plain ignorant hunter as favorably as the father does«
»Tut tut Pathfinder you dont know yourself man and may put all
faith in my judgment In the first place you have experience and as all girls
must want that no prudent young woman would overlook such a qualification Then
you are not one of the coxcombs that strut about when they first join a
regiment but a man who has seen service and who carries the marks of it on his
person and countenance I dare say you have been under fire some thirty or
forty times counting all the skirmishes and ambushes that youve seen«
»All of that sarjeant all of that but what will it avail in gaining the
good will of a tenderhearted young female«
»It will gain the day Experience in the field is as good in love as in
war But you are as honesthearted and as loyal a subject as the King can
boast of God bless him«
»That may be too that may be too but Im afeard Im too rude and too
old and too wild like to suit the fancy of such a young and delicate girl as
Mabel who has been unused to our wilderness ways and may think the settlements
better suited to her gifts and inclinations«
»These are new misgivings for you my friend and I wonder they were never
paraded before«
»Because I never knew my own worthlessness perhaps until I saw Mabel I
have travelled with some as fair and have guided them through the forest and
seen them in their perils and in their gladness but they were always too much
above me to make me think of them as more than so many feeble ones I was bound
to protect and defend The case is now different Mabel and I are so nearly
alike that I feel weighed down with a load that is hard to bear at finding us
so unlike I do wish sarjeant that I was ten years younger more comely to
look at and better suited to please a handsome young womans fancy«
»Cheer up my brave friend and trust to a fathers knowledge of womankind
Mabel half loves you already and a fortnights intercourse and kindnesses down
among the islands yonder will close ranks with the other half The girl as much
as told me this herself last night«
»Can this be so sarjeant« said the guide whose meek and modest nature
shrunk from viewing himself in colours so favorable »Can this be truly so I am
but a poor hunter and Mabel I see is fit to be an officers lady Do you
think the gal will consent to quit all her beloved settlement usages and her
visitins and churchgoins to dwell with a plain guide and hunter up
hereaway in the woods Will she not in the ind crave her old ways and a better
man«
»A better man Pathfinder would be hard to find« returned the father »As
for town usages they are soon forgotten in the freedom of the forest and Mabel
has just spirit enough to dwell on a frontier Ive not planned this marriage
my friend without thinking it over as a general does his campaign At first I
thought of bringing you into the regiment that you might succeed me when I
retire which must be sooner or later but on reflection Pathfinder I think
you are scarcely fitted for the office Still if not a soldier in all the
meanings of the word you are a soldier in its best meaning and I know that you
have the good will of every officer in the corps As long as I live Mabel can
dwell with me and you will always have a home when you return from your
scoutings and marches«
»This is very pleasant to think of sarjeant if the girl can only come into
our wishes with good will But Ahs me it does not seem that one like myself
can ever be agreeable in her handsome eyes If I were younger and more comely
now as Jasper Western is for instance there might be a chance yes then
indeed there might be some chance«
»That for Jasper Eau douce and every younker of them in or about the
fort« returned the Serjeant snapping his fingers »If not actually a younger
you are a younger looking ay and a better looking man than the Scuds master «
»Anan« said Pathfinder looking up at his companion with an expression of
doubt as if he did not understand his meaning
»I say if not actually younger in days and years you look more hardy and
like whipcord than Jasper or any of them and there will be more of you
thirty years hence than of all of them put together A good conscience will
keep one like you a mere boy all his life«
»Jasper has as clear a conscience as any youth I know Sarjeant And is
as likely to wear on that account as any young man in the colony«
»Then you are my friend« squeezing the others hand »my tried sworn and
constant friend«
»Yes we have been friends sarjeant near twenty years Before Mabel was
born«
»True enough before Mabel was born we were welltried friends and the
hussy would never dream of refusing to marry a man who was her fathers friend
before she was born«
»We dont know sarjeant we dont know Like loves like The young prefar
the young for companions and the old the old«
»Not for wives Pathfinder I never knew an old man now who had an
objection to a young wife Then you are respected and esteemed by every officer
in the fort as I have said already and it will please her fancy to like a man
that every one else likes«
»I hope I have no inimies but the Mingos« returned the guide stroking down
his hair meekly and speaking thoughtfully »Ive tried to do right and that
ought to make friends though it sometimes fails«
»And you may be said to keep the best company for even old Duncan of Lundie
is glad to see you and you pass hours in his society Of all the guides he
confides most in you«
»Ay even greater than he is have marched by my side for days and have
convarsed with me as if I were their brother but sarjeant I have never been
puffed up by their company for I know that the woods often bring men to a
level who would not be so in the settlements«
»And you are known to be the greatest rifle shot that ever pulled trigger in
all this region«
»If Mabel could fancy a man for that I might have no great reason to
despair and yet sarjeant I sometimes think that it is all as much owing to
Killdeer as to any skill of my own It is sartainly a wonderful piece and
might do as much in the hands of another«
»That is your own humble opinion of yourself Pathfinder but we have seen
too many fail with the same weapon and you succeed too often with the rifles of
other men to allow me to agree with you We will get up a shooting match in a
day or two when you can show your skill and then Mabel will form some judgment
concerning your true character«
»Will that be fair sarjeant Every body knows that Killdeer seldom misses
and ought we to make a trial of this sort when we all know what must be the
result«
»Tut tut man I foresee I must do half this courting for you For one who
is always inside of the smoke in a skirmish you are the faintesthearted
suitor I ever met with Remember Mabel comes of a bold stock and the girl will
be as likely to admire a man as her mother was before her«
Here the serjeant arose and proceeded to attend to his never ceasing
duties without apology the terms on which the guide stood with all in the
garrison rendering this freedom quite a matter of course
The reader will have gathered from the conversation just related one of the
plans that Serjeant Dunham had in view in causing his daughter to be brought to
the frontier Although necessarily much weaned from the caresses and
blandishments that had rendered his child so dear to him during the first year
or two of his widowerhood he had still a strong but somewhat latent love for
her Accustomed to command and to obey without being questioned himself or
questioning others concerning the reasonableness of the mandates he was perhaps
too much disposed to believe that his daughter would marry the man he might
select while he was far from being disposed to do violence to her wishes The
fact was few knew the Pathfinder intimately without secretly coming to believe
him to be one of extraordinary qualities Ever the same simpleminded
faithful utterly without fear and yet prudent foremost in all warrantable
enterprises or what the opinion of the day considered as such and never
engaged in any thing to call a blush to his cheek or censure on his acts it
was not possible to live much with this being who in his peculiar way was a
sort of type of what Adam might have been supposed to be before the fall though
certainly not without sin and not feel a respect and admiration for him that
had no reference to his position in life It was remarked that no officer passed
him without saluting him as if he had been his equal no common man without
addressing him with the confidence and freedom of a comrade The most surprising
peculiarity about the man himself was the entire indifference with which he
regarded all distinctions that did not depend on personal merit He was
respectful to his superiors from habit but had often been known to correct
their mistakes and to reprove their vices with a fearlessness that proved how
essentially he regarded the more material points and with a natural
discrimination that appeared to set education at defiance In short a
disbeliever in the ability of man to distinguish between good and evil without
the aid of instruction would have been staggered by the character of this
extraordinary inhabitant of the frontier His feelings appeared to possess the
freshness and nature of the forests in which he passed so much of his time and
no casuist could have made clearer decisions in matters relating to right and
wrong and yet he was not without his prejudices which though few and
coloured by the character and usages of the individual were deeprooted and
had almost got to form a part of his nature But the most striking feature about
the moral organization of Pathfinder was his beautiful and unerring sense of
justice This noble trait and without it no man can be truly great with it no
man other than respectable probably had its unseen influence on all who
associated with him for the common rude and unprincipled brawler of the camp
had been known to return from an expedition made in his company rebuked by his
sentiments softened by his language and improved by his example As might have
been expected with so elevated a quality his fidelity was like the immoveable
rock Treachery in him was classed among the things that are impossible and as
he seldom retired before his enemies so was he never known under any
circumstances that admitted of an alternative to abandon a friend The
affinities of such a character were as a matter of course those of like for
like His associates and intimates though more or less determined by chance
were generally of the higher order as to moral propensities for he appeared to
possess a species of instinctive discrimination that led him insensibly to
himself most probably to cling closest to those whose characters would best
reward his friendship In short it was said of the Pathfinder by one
accustomed to study his fellows that he was a fair example of what a
justminded and pure man might be while untempted by unruly or ambitious
desires and left to follow the bias of his feelings amid the solitary grandeur
and ennobling influences of a sublime nature neither led aside by the
inducements which influence all to do evil amid the incentives of civilization
nor forgetful of the Almighty Being whose spirit pervades the wilderness as well
as the town
Such was the man whom Serjeant Dunham had selected as the husband of Mabel
In making this choice he had not been as much governed by a clear and judicious
view of the merits of the individual perhaps as by his own likings still no
one knew the Pathfinder as intimately as himself without always conceding to
the honest guide a high place in his esteem on account of these very virtues
That his daughter could find any serious objections to the match the old
soldier did not apprehend while on the other hand he saw many advantages to
himself in dim perspective that were connected with the decline of his days
and an evening of life passed among descendants who were equally dear to him
through both parents He first made the proposition to his friend who had
listened to it kindly but who the serjeant was now pleased to find already
betrayed a willingness to come into his own views that was proportioned to the
doubts and misgivings proceeding from his humble distrust of himself
Chapter X
»Think not I love him though I ask for him
Tis but a peevish boy yet he talks well
But what care I for words «
As You Like It IIIv10911
A week passed in the usual routine of a garrison Mabel was becoming used to a
situation that at first she had found not only novel but a little irksome
and the officers and men in their turn gradually familiarized to the presence
of a young and blooming girl whose attire and carriage had that air of modest
gentility about them which she had obtained in the family of her patroness
annoyed her less by their ill concealed admiration while they gratified her by
the respect which she was fain to think they paid her on account of her
father but which in truth was more to be attributed to her own modest but
spirited deportment than to any deference for the worthy serjeant
Acquaintances made in a forest or in any circumstances of unusual
excitement soon attain their limits Mabel found one weeks residence at
Oswego sufficient to determine her as to those with whom she might be
intimate and those whom she ought to avoid The sort of neutral position
occupied by her father who was not an officer while he was so much more than a
common soldier by keeping her aloof from the two great classes of military
life lessened the number of those whom she was compelled to know and made the
duty of decision comparatively easy Still she soon discovered that there were a
few even among those that could aspire to a seat at the commandants table who
were disposed to overlook the halbert for the novelty of a well turned figure
and of a pretty winning face and by the end of the first two or three days
she had admirers even among the gentlemen The quartermaster in particular a
middle aged soldier who had more than once tried the blessings of matrimony
but was now a widower was evidently disposed to increase his intimacy with the
Serjeant though their duties often brought them together and the youngsters
among his messmates did not fail to note that this man of method who was a
Scotchman of the name of Muir was much more frequent in his visits to the
quarters of his subordinate than had formerly been his wont A laugh or a joke
in honor of the Serjeants daughter however limited their strictures though
Mabel Dunham was soon a toast that even the ensign or the lieutenant did not
disdain to give
At the end of a week Duncan of Lundie sent for Serjeant Dunham after
evening roll call on business of a nature that it was understood required a
personal conference The old veteran dwelt in a moveable hut which being placed
on trucks he could order to be wheeled about at pleasure sometimes living in
one part of the area within the fort and sometimes in another2 On the present
occasion he had made a halt near the centre and there he was found by his
subordinate who was admitted to his presence without any delay or dancing
attendance in an antechamber In point of fact there was very little
difference in the quality of the accommodations given to the officers and those
allowed to the men the former being merely granted the most room and Mabel and
her father were lodged nearly if not quite as well as the commandant of the
place himself
»Walk in serjeant walk in my good friend« said old Lundie heartily as
his inferior stood in a respectful attitude at the door of a sort of library
and bedroom into which he had been ushered »walk in and take a seat on that
stool I have sent for you man to discuss any thing but rosters and payrolls
this evening It is now many years since we have been comrades and auld lang
syne should count for something even between a Major and his orderly a Scot
and a Yankee Sit ye down man and just put yourself at your ease It has been
a fine day serjeant«
»It has indeed Major Duncan« returned the other who though he complied
so far as to take the seat was much too practised not to understand the degree
of respect it was necessary to maintain in his manner »a very fine day sir it
has been and we may look for more of them at this season«
»I hope so with all my heart The crops look well as it is man and
youll be finding that the 55th make almost as good farmers as soldiers I never
saw better potatoes in Scotland than we are likely to have in that new patch
of ours«
»They promise a good yield Major Duncan and in that light a more
comfortable winter than the last«
»Life is progressive serjeant in its comforts as well as in its need of
them We grow old and I begin to think it time to retire and settle in life I
feel that my working days are nearly over«
»The King God bless him sir has much good service in your honor yet«
»It may be so Serjeant Dunham especially if he should happen to have a
spare LtColonelcy left«
»The 55th will be honored the day that commission is given to Duncan of
Lundie sir«
»And Duncan of Lundie will be honored the day he receives it But serjeant
if you have never had a LtColonelcy you have had a good wife and that is the
next thing to rank in making a man happy«
»I have been married Major Duncan but it is now a long time since I have
had no drawback on the love I bear His Majesty and my duty«
»What man not even the love you bear that active little roundlimbed
rosycheeked daughter that I have seen in the fort these last few days Out
upon you serjeant old fellow as I am I could almost love that little lassie
myself and send the LtColonelcy to the devil«
»We all know where Major Duncans heart is and that is in Scotland where a
beautiful lady is ready and willing to make him happy as soon as his own sense
of duty shall permit«
»Ay hope is ever a far off thing serjeant« returned the superior a shade
of melancholy passing over his hard Scottish features as he spoke »and bonny
Scotland is a far off country Well if we have no heather and oatmeal in this
region we have venison for the killing it and salmon as plenty as at Berwick
upon Tweed Is it true serjeant that the men complain of having been
overvenisoned and overpigeoned of late«
»Not for some weeks Major Duncan for neither deer nor birds are so plenty
at this season as they have been They begin to throw their remarks about
concerning the salmon but I trust we shall get through the summer without any
serious disturbance on the score of food The Scotch in the battalion do
indeed talk more than is prudent of their want of oatmeal grumbling
occasionally of our wheaten bread«
»Ah that is human nature serjeant pure unadulterated Scotch human nature
A cake man to say the truth is an agreeable morsel and I often see the time
when I pine for a bite myself«
»If the feeling gets to be troublesome Major Duncan in the men I mean
sir for I would not think of saying so disrespectful a thing to your honor
but if the men ever pine seriously for their natural food I would humbly
recommend that some oatmeal be imported or prepared in this country for them
and I think we shall hear no more of it A very little would answer for a cure
sir«
»You are a wag serjeant but hang me if I am sure you are not right There
may be sweeter things in this world after all than oatmeal You have a sweet
daughter Dunham for one«
»The girl is like her mother Major Duncan and will pass inspection« said
the serjeant proudly »Neither was brought up on any thing better than good
American flour The girl will pass inspection sir«
»That would she Ill answer for it Well I may as well come to the point
at once man and bring up my reserve into the front of the battle Here is Davy
Muir the quartermaster disposed to make your daughter his wife and he has
just got me to open the matter to you being fearful of compromitting his own
dignity and I may as well add that half the youngsters in the fort toast her
and talk of her from morning till night«
»She is much honored sir« returned the father stiffly »but I trust the
gentlemen will find something more worthy of them to talk about ere long I
hope to see her the wife of an honest man before many weeks sir«
»Yes Davy is an honest man and that is more than can be said for all in
the QuarterMasters department Im thinking serjeant« returned Lundie with
a slight smile »Well then may I tell the Cupidstricken youth that the
matter is as good as settled«
»I thank your honor but Mabel is betrothed to another«
»The devil she is That will produce a stir in the fort though Im not
sorry to hear it either for to be frank with you serjeant Im no great
admirer of unequal matches«
»I think with your honor and have no desire to see my daughter an
officers lady If she can get as high as her mother was before her it ought to
satisfy any reasonable woman«
»And may I ask serjeant who is the lucky man that you intend to call
soninlaw«
»The Pathfinder your honor«
»Pathfinder«
»The same Major Duncan and in naming him to you I give you his whole
history No one is better known on this frontier than my honest brave
truehearted friend«
»All that is true enough but is he after all the sort of person to make a
girl of twenty happy«
»Why not your honor the man is at the head of his calling There is no
other guide or scout connected with the army that has half the reputation of
Pathfinder or who deserves to have it half as well«
»Very true serjeant but is the reputation of a scout exactly the sort of
renown to captivate a girls fancy«
»Talking of girls fancies sir is in my humble opinion much like talking
of a recruits judgment If we were to take the notions of the awkward squad
sir as a guide we should never form a decent line in battalion Major
Duncan«
»But your daughter has nothing awkward about her for a genteeler girl of
her class could not be found in old Albin itself Is she of your way of
thinking in this matter though I suppose she must be as you say she is
betrothed«
»We have not yet conversed on the subject your honor but I consider her
mind as good as made up from several little circumstances that might be named«
»And what are these circumstances Serjeant« asked the Major who began to
take more interest than he had at first felt in the subject »I confess a
little curiosity to learn something about a womans mind being as you know a
bachelor myself«
»Why your honor when I speak of the Pathfinder to the girl she always
looks me full in the face chimes in with every thing I say in his favor and
has a frank open way with her which says as much as if she half considered him
already as a husband«
»Hum and these signs you think Dunham are faithful tokens of your
daughters feelings«
»I do your honor for they strike me as natural When I find a man sir
who looks me full in the face while he praises an officer for begging your
honors pardon the men will sometimes pass their strictures on their betters
and when I find a man looking me in the eyes as he praises his captain I
always set it down that the fellow is honest and means what he says«
»Is there not some material difference in the age of the intended
bridegroom and that of his pretty bride serjeant«
»You are quite right sir Pathfinder is well advanced towards forty and
Mabel has every prospect of happiness that a young woman can derive from the
certainty of possessing an experienced husband I was quite forty myself your
honor when I married her mother«
»But will your daughter be as likely to admire a green hunting shirt such
as that our worthy guide wears with a foxskin cap as the smart uniform of the
55th«
»Perhaps not sir and therefore she will have the merit of selfdenial
which always makes a young woman wiser and better«
»And are you not afraid that she may be left a widow while still a young
woman What between wild beasts and wilder savages Pathfinder may be said to
carry his life in his hand«
»Every bullet has its billet Lundie« for so the Major was fond of being
called in his moments of condescension and when not engaged in military
affairs »and no man in the 55th can call himself beyond or above the chances
of sudden death In that particular Mabel would gain nothing by a change
Besides sir if I may speak freely on such a subject I much doubt if ever
Pathfinder dies in battle or by any of the sudden chances of the wilderness«
»And why so Serjeant« asked the Major looking at his inferior with the
sort of reverence which a Scot of his day was more apt than at present to
entertain for mysterious agencies »He is a soldier so far as danger is
concerned and one that is much more than usually exposed and being free of
his person why should he expect to escape when others do not«
»I do not believe your honor that the Pathfinder considers his own
chances better than any ones else but the man will never die by a bullet I
have seen him so often handling his rifle with as much composure as if it were
a shepherds crook in the midst of the heaviest showers of bullets and under
so many extraordinary circumstances that I do not think Providence means he
should ever fall in that manner And yet if there be a man in His Majestys
dominions who really deserves such a death it is Pathfinder«
»We never know serjeant« returned Lundie with a countenance that was
grave with thought »and the less we say about it perhaps the better But
will your daughter Mabel I think you call her will Mabel be as willing to
accept one who after all is a mere hangeron of the army as to take one from
the service itself There is no hope of promotion for the guide serjeant«
»He is at the head of his corps already your honor In short Mabel has
made up her mind on this subject and as your honor has had the condescension to
speak to me about Mr Muir I trust you will be kind enough to say that the girl
is as good as billeted for life«
»Well well this is your own matter and now Serjeant Dunham«
»Your honor« said the other rising and giving the customary salute
»You have been told it is my intention to send you down among the Thousand
Islands for the next month All the old subalterns have had their tours of duty
in that quarter all that I like to trust at least and it has at length
come to your turn Lt Muir it is true claims his right but being the Quarter
Master I do not like to break up well established arrangements Are the men
drafted«
»Every thing is ready your honor The draft is made and I understood that
the canoe which got in last night brought a message to say that the party
already below is looking out for the relief«
»It did and you must sail the day after tomorrow if not tomorrow night
It will be wise perhaps to sail in the dark«
»So Jasper thinks Major Duncan and I know no one more to be depended on
in such an affair than young Jasper Western«
»Young Jasper Eau douce« said Lundie a slight smile gathering around his
usually stern mouth »Will that lad be of your party Serjeant«
»Your honor will remember that the Scud never quits port without him«
»True but all general rules have their exceptions Have I not seen a
seafaring person about the fort within the last few days«
»No doubt your honor it is Master Cap a brotherinlaw of mine who
brought my daughter from below«
»Why not put him in the Scud for this cruise serjeant and leave Jasper
behind Your brotherinlaw would like the variety of a fresh water cruise and
you would enjoy more of his company«
»I intended to ask your honors permission to take him along but he must go
as a volunteer Jasper is too brave a lad to be turned out of his command
without a reason Major Duncan and Im afraid Brother Cap despises fresh water
too much to do duty on it«
»Quite right serjeant and I leave all this to your own discretion Eau
douce must retain his command on second thoughts You intend that Pathfinder
shall also be of the party«
»If your honor approves of it There will be service for both the guides
the Indian as well as the white man«
»I think you are right Well serjeant I wish you good luck in the
enterprise and remember the post is to be destroyed and abandoned when your
command is withdrawn It will have done its work by that time or we shall have
failed entirely and it is too ticklish a position to be maintained
unnecessarily You can retire«
Serjeant Dunham gave the customary salute turned on his heels as if they
had been pivots and had got the door nearly drawnto after him when he was
suddenly recalled
»I had forgotten serjeant the younger officers have begged for a shooting
match and tomorrow has been named for the day All competitors will be
admitted and the prizes will be a silver mounted powder horn a leathern flask
ditto« reading from a piece of paper »as I see by the professional jargon of
this bill and a silk calash for a lady The latter is to enable the victor to
show his gallantry by making an offering of it to her he best loves«
»All very agreeable your honor at least to him that succeeds Is the
Pathfinder to be permitted to enter«
»I do not well see how he can be excluded if he choose to come forward
Latterly I have observed that he takes no share in these sports probably from
a conviction of his own unequalled skill«
»Thats it Major Duncan the honest fellow knows there is not a man on the
frontier who can equal him and he does not wish to spoil the pleasure of
others I think we may trust to his delicacy in any thing sir Perhaps it may
be as well to let him have his own way«
»In this instance we must serjeant Whether he will be as successful in
all others remains to be seen I wish you good evening Dunham«
The serjeant now withdrew leaving Duncan of Lundie to his own thoughts
That they were not altogether disagreeable was to be inferred from the smiles
which occasionally crossed a countenance that was hard and martial in its usual
expression though there were moments in which all its severe sobriety
prevailed Half an hour might have passed when a tap at the door was answered
by a direction to enter A middleaged man in the dress of an officer but whose
uniform wanted the usual smartness of the profession made his appearance and
was saluted as Mr Muir
»I have come sir at your bidding to know my fortune« said the Quarter
Master in a strong Scotch accent as soon as he had taken the seat which was
proffered to him »To say the truth to you Major Duncan this girl is making as
much havoc in the garrison as the French did before Ty I never witnessed so
general a rout in so short a time«
»Surely Davy you dont mean to persuade me that your young and
unsophisticated heart is in such a flame after one weeks ignition Why man
this is worse than the affair in Scotland where it was said the heat within was
so intense that it just burnt a hole through your own precious body and left a
place for all the lassies to peer in at to see what the combustible material
was worth«
»Yell have your own way Major Duncan and your father and mother would
have theirs before ye even if the enemy were in the camp I see nothing so
extraordinar in young peoples following the bent of their inclinations and
wishes«
»But youve followed yours so often Davy that I should think by this
time it had lost the edge of novelty Including that informal affair in
Scotland when you were a lad youve been married four times already«
»Only three Major as I hope to get another wife Ive not yet had my
number no no only three«
»Im thinking Davy you dont include the first affair I mentioned that
in which there was no parson«
»And why should I Major The courts decided that it was no marriage and
what more could a man want The woman took advantage of a slight amorous
propensity that may be a weakness in my disposition perhaps and inveigled me
into a contract that was found to be illegal«
»If I remember right Muir there were thought to be two sides to that
question in the time of it«
»It would be but an indifferent question my dear Major that hadnt two
sides to it and Ive know many that had three But the poor womans dead and
there was no issue so nothing came of it after all Then I was particularly
unfortunate with my second wife I say second Major out of deference to you
and on the mere supposition that the first was a marriage at all but first or
second I was particularly unfortunate with Jeannie Graham who died in the
first lustrum leaving neither chick nor chiel behind her I do think if Jeannie
had survived I never should have turned my thoughts towards another wife«
»But as she did not you married twice after her death and are desirous of
doing so a third time«
»The truth can never justly be gainsayed Major Duncan and I am always
ready to avow it Im thinking Lundie you are melancholar this fine
evening«
»No Muir not melancholy absolutely but a little thoughtful I confess I
was looking back to our boyish days when I the Lairds son and you the
parsons roamed about our native hills happy and careless boys taking little
heed to the future and then have followed some thoughts that may be a little
painful concerning that future as it has turned out to be«
»Surely Lundie ye do not complain of your portion of it Youve risen to
be a Major and will soon be a LtColonel if letters tell the truth while I
am just one step higher than when your honored father gave me my first
commission and a poor deevil of a Quarter Master«
»And the four wives«
»Three Lundie three only that were legal even under our own liberal and
sanctified laws«
»Well then let it be three Ye know Davy« said Major Duncan insensibly
dropping into the pronunciation and dialect of his youth as is much the
practice with educated Scotchmen as they warm with a subject that comes near
the heart »Ye know Davy that my own choice has long been made and in how
anxious and hopewearied a manner Ive waited for that happy hour when I can
call the woman Ive so long loved a wife and here have you without fortune
name birth or merit I mean particular merit «
»Na na dinna say that Lundie the Muirs are of gude bluid«
»Well then without aught but bluid yeve wived four times «
»I tall ye but thrice Lundie Yell weaken auld frindship if ye call it
four«
»Put it at yer own number Davy and its far more than yer share Our
lives have been very different on the score of matrimony at least you must
allow that my old friend«
»And which do you think has been the gainer Major speaking as frankly
thegither as we did when lads«
»Nay Ive nothing to conceal My days have passed in hope deferred while
yours have passed in «
»Not in hope realized I give you my honor Major Duncan« interrupted the
Quarter Master »Each new experiment I have thought might prove an advantage
but disappointment seems the lot of man Ah this is a vain world of ours
Lundie it must be owned and in nothing vainer than in matrimony«
»And yet you are ready to put your neck into the noose for the fifth time«
»I desire to say it will be but the fourth Major Duncan« said the Quarter
Master positively then instantly changing the expression of his face to one of
boyish rapture he added »But this Mabel Dunham is a rara avis Our Scotch
lassies are fair and pleasant but it must be owned these colonials are of
surpassing comeliness«
»You will do well to recollect your commission and blood Davy I believe
all four of your wives «
»I wish my dear Lundie yed be more accurate in your arithmetick three
times one make three«
»All three then were what might be termed gentlewomen«
»Thats just it Major Three were gentlewomen as you say and the
connections were suitable«
»And the fourth being the daughter of my fathers gardener the connection
was unsuitable But have you no fear that marrying the child of a
noncommissioned officer who is in the same corps with yourself will have the
effect to lessen your consequence in the regiment«
»Thats just been my weakness through life Major Duncan for Ive always
married without regard to consequences Every man has his besetting sin and
matrimony I fear is mine And now that we have discussed what may be called
the principles of the connection I will just ask if you did me the favor to
speak to the Serjeant on the trifling affair«
»I did David and am sorry to say for your hopes that I see no great
chances of your succeeding«
»Not succeeding An officer and a Quarter Master in the bargain and not
succeed with a serjeants daughter«
»Its just that Davy«
»And why not Lundie Will you have the goodness to answer just that«
»The girl is betrothed Hand plighted word passed love pledged no hang
me if I believe that either but she is betrothed«
»Well thats an obstacle it must be avowed Major though it counts for
little if the heart is free«
»Quite true and I think it probable the heart is free in this case for
the intended husband appears to be the choice of the father rather than of the
daughter«
»And who may it be Major« asked the Quarter Master who viewed the whole
matter with the philosophy and coolness that are acquired by use »I do not
recollect any plausible suitor that is likely to stand in my way«
»No you are the only plausible suitor on the frontier Davy The happy man
is Pathfinder«
»Pathfinder Major Duncan«
»No more nor any less David Muir Pathfinder is the man but it may
relieve your jealousy a little to know that in my judgment at least it is a
match of the fathers rather than of the daughters seeking«
»I thought as much« exclaimed the Quarter Master drawing a long breath
like one who felt relieved »its quite impossible that with my experience in
human nature «
»Particularly huwomans nature David«
»Ye will have yer joke Lundie lat who will suffer But I did not think it
possible I could be deceived as to the young womans inclinations which I think
I may boldly pronounce to be altogether above the condition of Pathfinder As
for the individual himself why time will show«
»Now tell me frankly Davy Muir« said Lundie stopping short in his walk
and looking the other earnestly in the face with a comical expression of
surprise that rendered the veterans countenance ludicrously earnest »do you
really suppose a girl like the daughter of Serjeant Dunham can take a serious
fancy to a man of your years and appearance and experience I might add«
»Hout awa Lundie ye dinna know the sax and thats the reason yer
unmarried in yer forty fifth year Its a fearfu time yeve been a bachelor
Major«
»And what may be your age Lt Muir if I may presume to ask so delicate a
question«
»Forty seven Ill no deny it Lundie and if I get Mabel therell be just
a wife for every twa lustrums But I didna think Serjeant Dunham would be so
humbleminded as to dream of giving that sweet lass of his to one like the
Pathfinder«
»Theres no dream about it Davy the man is as serious as a soldier about
to be flogged«
»Well well Major we are auld friends « both ran into the Scotch or
avoided it as they approached or drew away from their younger days in the
dialogue »and ought to know how to take and give a joke off duty It is
possible the worthy man has not understood my hints or he never would have
thought of such a thing The difference between an officers consort and a
guides woman is as vast as that between the antiquity of Scotland and the
antiquity of America Im auld bluid too Lundie«
»Take my word for it Davy your antiquity will do you no good in this
affair and as for your blood it is not older than your bones Well well man
ye know the Serjeants answer and so you perceive that my influence on which
you counted so much can do nought for ye Let us take a glass thegither
Davy for auld acquaintance sake and then yell be doing well to remember the
party that marches the morrow and to forget Mabel Dunham as fast as ever you
can«
»Ah Major I have always found it easier to forget a wife than to forget a
sweetheart When a couple are fairly married all is settled but the death as
one may say which must finally part us all and it seems to me awfu irreverent
to disturb the departed whereas there is so much anxiety and hope and
felicity in expectation like with the lassie that it keeps thought alive«
»That is just my idea of your situation Davy for I never supposed you
expected any more felicity with either of your wives Now Ive heard of fellows
who were so stupid as to look forward to happiness with their wives even beyond
the grave I drink to your success or to your speedy recovery from this attack
Lieutenant and admonish you to be more cautious in the future as some of these
violent cases may yet carry you off«
»Many thanks my dear Major and a speedy termination to an old courtship
of which I know something This is real Mountain Dew Lundie and it warms the
heart like a gleam of bonny Scotland As for the men youve just mentioned
they could have had but one wife apiece for where there are several the deeds
of the women themselves may carry them different ways I think a reasonable
husband ought to be satisfied with passing his allotted time with any particular
wife in this world and not to go about moping for things unattainable Im
infinitely obliged to you Major Duncan for this and all your other acts of
friendship and if you could but add another I should think you had not
altogether forgotten the playfellow of your boyhood«
»Well Davy if the request be reasonable and such as a superior ought to
grant out with it man«
»If ye could only contrive a little service for me down among the Thousand
Isles for a fortnight or so I think this matter might be settled to the
satisfaction of all parties Just remember Lundie the lassie is the only
marriageable white female on this frontier«
»There is always duty for one in your line at a post however small but this
below can be done by the Serjeant as well as by the Quarter Master General and
better too«
»But not better than by a regimental officer There is great waste in
common among the orderlies«
»Ill think of it Muir« said the Major laughing »and you shall have my
answer in the morning Here will be a fine occasion man the morrow to show
yourself off before the lady you are expert with the rifle and prizes are to
be won Make up your mind to display your skill and who knows what may yet
happen before the Scud sails«
»Im thinking most of the young men will try their hands in this sport
Major«
»That will they and some of the old ones too if you appear To keep you
in countenance Ill try a shot or two myself Davy and you know I have some
name that way«
»It might indeed do good The female heart Major Duncan is susceptible
in many different modes and sometimes in a way that the rules of philosophy
might reject Some require a suitor to sit down before them as it might be in a
regular siege and only capitulate when the place can hold out no longer others
again like to be carried by storm while there are hussies who can only be
caught by leading them into an ambush The former is the most creditable and
officerlike process perhaps but I must say I think the last the most
pleasing«
»An opinion formed from experience out of all question And what of the
storming parties«
»They may do for younger men Lundie« returned the Quarter Master rising
and winking a liberty that he often took with his commanding officer on the
score of a long intimacy »every period of life has its necessities and at
forty seven its just as well to trust a little to the head I wish you a verry
good even Major Duncan and freedom from gout with a sweet and refreshing
sleep«
»The same to yourself Mr Muir with many thanks Remember the passage of
arms for the morrow«
The Quarter Master withdrew leaving Lundie in his library to reflect on
what had just passed Use had so accustomed Major Duncan to Lt Muir and all
his traits and humours that the conduct of the latter did not strike the former
with the same force as it will probably strike the reader In truth while all
men act under one common law that is termed human nature the varieties in their
dispositions modes of judging feelings and selfishness are infinite
Chapter XI
»Compel the hawke to sit that is unmannd
Or make the hound untaught to draw the deere
Or bring the free against his will in band
Or move the sad a pleasant tale to heere
Your time is lost and you no whit the neere
So love ne learnes of force the heart to knit
She serves but those that feel sweet fancies fit«
Churchyard A Mirror for Magistrates
»Shores Wife« ll 12733
It is not often that hope is rewarded by fruition as completely as the wishes
of the young men of the garrison were met by the state of the weather on the
succeeding day It may be no more than the ordinary waywardness of man but the
Americans are a little accustomed to taking pride in things that the means of
intelligent comparisons would probably show were in reality of a very inferior
quality while they overlook or undervalue advantages that place them certainly
on a level with if not above most of their fellow creatures Among the latter
is the climate which as a whole though far from perfect is infinitely more
agreeable and quite as healthy as those of most of the countries which are
loudest in their denunciations of it The heats of summer were little felt at
Oswego at the period of which we are writing for the shade of the forest added
to the refreshing breezes from the lake so far reduced the influence of the
sun as to render the nights always cool and the days seldom oppressive
It was now September a month in which the strong gales of the coast often
appear to force themselves across the country as far as the great lakes where
the inland sailor sometimes feels that genial influence which characterizes the
winds of the ocean invigorating his frame cheering his spirits and arousing
his moral force Such a day was that on which the garrison of Oswego assembled
to witness what its commander had jocularly called a passage of arms Lundie was
a scholar in military matters at least and it was one of his sources of honest
pride to direct the reading and thoughts of the young men under his orders to
the more intellectual parts of their profession For one in his situation his
library was both good and extensive and its books were freely lent to all who
desired to use them Among other whims that had found their way into the
garrison through these means was a relish for the sort of amusement in which
it was now about to indulge and around which some chronicles of the days of
chivalry had induced them to throw a parade and romance that were not unsuited
to the characters and habits of soldiers or to the insulated and wild post
occupied by this particular garrison While so earnestly bent on pleasure
however they on whom that duty devolved did not neglect the safety of the
garrison One standing on the ramparts of the fort and gazing on the waste of
glittering water that bounded the view all along the northern horizon and on
the slumbering and seemingly boundless forest that filled the other half of the
panorama would have fancied the spot the very abode of peacefulness and
security but Duncan of Lundie too well knew that the woods might at any moment
give up their hundreds bent on the destruction of the fort and all it contained
and that even the treacherous lake offered a highway of easy approach by which
his more civilized and scarcely less wily foes the French could come upon
him at an unwelcome and unguarded moment Parties were sent out under old and
vigilant officers men who cared little for the sports of the day to scour the
forest and one entire company held the fort under arms with orders to
maintain a vigilance as strict as if an enemy of superior force was known to be
near With these precautions the remainder of the officers and men abandoned
themselves without apprehension to the business of the morning
The spot selected for the sports was a sort of esplanade a little west of
the fort and on the immediate bank of the lake It had been cleared of its
trees and stumps that it might answer the purpose of a parade ground as it
possessed the advantage of having its rear protected by the water and one of
its flanks by the works Men drilling on it could be attacked consequently on
two sides only and as the cleared space beyond it in the direction of the west
and south was large any assailants would be compelled to quit the cover of the
woods before they could make an approach sufficiently near to render them
dangerous
Although the regular arms of the regiment were muskets some fifty rifles
were produced on the present occasion Every officer had one as a part of his
private provision for amusement many belonged to the scouts and friendly
Indians of whom more or less were always hanging about the post and there was
a public provision of them for the use of those who followed the game with the
express object of obtaining supplies Among those who carried the weapon were
some five or six who had reputations for knowing how to use it particularly
well so well indeed as to have given them a celebrity on the frontier twice
that number who were believed to be much better than common and many who would
have been thought expert in almost any situation but the precise one in which
they now happened to be placed
The distance was a hundred yards and the weapon was to be used without a
rest The target a board with the customary circular lines in white paint
having the bulls eye in the centre The first trials in skill commenced with
challenges among the more ignoble of the competitors to display their
steadiness and dexterity in idle competition None but the common men engaged
in this strife which had little to interest the spectators among whom no
officer had yet appeared
Most of the soldiers were Scotch the regiment having been raised at
Stirling and its vicinity not many years before though as in the case of
Serjeant Dunham many Americans had joined it since its arrival in the colonies
As a matter of course the provincials were generally the most expert marksmen
and after a desultory trial of half an hour it was necessarily conceded that a
youth who had been born in the colony of New York and who coming of Dutch
extraction bore the euphonious name of Van Valtenburg but was familiarly
called Follock was the most expert of all who had yet tried their skill It was
just as this opinion prevailed that the oldest captain accompanied by most of
the gentlemen and ladies of the fort appeared on the parade A train of some
twenty females of humbler condition followed among whom was seen the well
turned form intelligent blooming animated countenance and neat becoming
attire of Mabel Dunham
Of females who were officially recognised as belonging to the class of
ladies there were but three in the fort all of whom were officers wives
staid matronly women with the simplicity of the habits of middle life
singularly mixed in their deportment with their notions of professional
superiority the rights and duties of caste and the etiquette of rank The
other women were the wives of noncommissioned officers and privates Mabel
being strictly as had been stated by the Quarter Master the only real
candidate for matrimony among her sex There were a dozen other girls it is
true but they were still classed among the children none of them being yet of
an age to elevate them into objects of legitimate admiration
Some little preparation had been made for the proper reception of the
females who were placed on a low staging of planks near the immediate bank of
the lake In their vicinity the prizes were suspended from a post Great care
was taken to reserve the front seat of the stage for the three ladies and their
children while Mabel and those who belonged to the noncommissioned officers
of the regiment occupied the second The wives and daughters of the privates
were huddled together in the rear some standing and some sitting as they could
find room Mabel who had already been admitted to the society of the officers
wives on the footing of a humble companion was a good deal noticed by the
ladies in front who had a proper appreciation of modest selfrespect and gentle
refinement though they were all fully aware of the value of rank more
particularly in a garrison
As soon as this important portion of the spectators had got into their
places Lundie gave orders for the trial of skill to proceed in the manner that
had been prescribed in his previous orders Some eight or ten of the best
marksmen of the garrison now took possession of the stand and began to fire in
succession Among them were officers and men indiscriminately placed nor were
the casual visiters in the fort excluded from the competition As might have
been expected of men whose amusements and comfortable subsistence equally
depended on skill in the use of their weapons it was soon found that they were
all sufficiently expert to hit the bulls eye or the white spot in the centre
of the target Others who succeeded them it is true were less sure their
bullets striking in the different circles that surrounded the centre of the
target without touching it
According to the rules of the day none could proceed to the second trial
who had failed in the first and the adjutant of the place who acted as master
of the ceremonies or marshal of the day called upon the successful adventurers
by name to get ready for the next effort while he gave notice that those who
failed to present themselves for the shot at the bulls eye would necessarily
be excluded from all the higher trials Just at this moment Lundie the Quarter
Master and Jasper Eau douce appeared in the group at the stand while the
Pathfinder walked leisurely on the ground without his beloved rifle for him a
measure so unusual as to be understood by all present as a proof that he did
not consider himself a competitor for the honors of the day All made way as he
approached the stand for Major Duncan who in a goodhumoured way took his
station levelled his rifle carelessly and fired The bullet missed the required
mark by several inches
»Major Duncan is excluded from the other trials« proclaimed the adjutant
in a voice so strong and confident that all the elder officers and the
serjeants well understood that this failure was preconcerted while all the
younger gentlemen and the privates felt new encouragement to proceed on account
of the evident impartiality with which the laws of the sports were administered
nothing being so attractive to the unsophisticated as the appearance of rigorous
justice and nothing so rare as its actual administration
»Now Master Eau douce comes your turn« said Muir »and if you do no beat
the Major I shall say that your hand is better skilled with the oar than with
the rifle«
Jaspers handsome face flushed he stepped upon the stand cast a hasty
glance at Mabel whose pretty form he ascertained was bending eagerly forward
as if to note the result dropped the barrel of his rifle with but little
apparent care into the palm of his left hand raised the muzzle for a single
instant with exceeding steadiness and fired The bullet passed directly through
the centre of the bulls eye much the best shot of the morning since the
others had merely touched the paint
»Wall performed Master Jasper« said Muir as soon as the result was
declared »and a shot that might have done credit to an older head and a more
experienced eye Im thinking notwithstanding there was some of a youngsters
luck in it for ye were no particlar in the aim ye took Ye may be quick Eau
douce in the movement but yer not philosophic nor scientifick in yer
management of the weepon Now Serjeant Dunham Ill thank you to request the
ladies to give a closer attention than common for Im about to make that use of
the rifle which may be called the intellectual Jaspers would have killed I
allow but then there would not have been half the satisfaction in receiving
such a shot as in receiving one that is discharged scientifically«
All this time the Quarter Master was preparing himself for the scientifick
trial but he delayed his aim until he saw that the eye of Mabel in common with
those of her companions was fastened on him in curiosity As the others left
him room out of respect to his rank no one stood near the competitor but his
commanding officer to whom he now said in his familiar manner
»Ye see Lundie that something is to be gained by exciting a females
curiosity Its an active sentiment is curiosity and properly improved may
lead to gentler inclinations in the end«
»Very true Davy but ye keep us all waiting while ye make your
preparations and here is Pathfinder drawing near to catch a lesson from your
greater experience«
»Wall Pathfinder and so you have come to get an idea too concerning the
philosophy of shooting I do not wish to hide my light under a bushel and yer
welcome to all yell learn Do ye no mean to try a shot yersel man«
»Why should I Quarter Master why should I I want none of the prizes and
as for honor I have had enough of that if its any honor to shoot better than
yourself Im not a woman to wear a calash«
»Very true but ye might find a woman that is precious in your eyes to wear
it for ye as «
»Come Davy « interrupted the Major »your shot or a retreat The
adjutant is getting to be impatient«
»The quartermasters department and the adjutants department are seldom
compliable Lundie but Im ready stand a little aside Pathfinder and give
the ladies an opportunity «
Lt Muir now took his attitude with a great deal of studied elegance raised
his rifle slowly lowered it raised it again repeated the manoeuvres and
fired
»Missed the target altogether« shouted the man whose duty it was to mark
the bullets and who had little relish for the Quarter Masters tedious science
»Missed the target«
»It cannot be« cried Muir his face flushing equally with indignation and
shame »it cannot be adjutant for I never did so awkward a thing in my life I
appeal to the ladies for a juster judgment«
»The ladies shut their eyes when you fired« exclaimed the regimental wag
»Your preparations alarmed them«
»I will na believe such a calumny of the leddies nor sic a reproach on my
own skill« returned the Quarter Master growing more and more Scotch as he
warmed with his feelings »its a conspiracy to rob a meritorious man of his
dues«
»Its a dead miss Muir« said the laughing Lundie »and yell just sit down
quietly with the disgrace«
»No no Major« Pathfinder at length observed »the Quarter Master is a
good shot for a slow one and a measured distance though nothing extrornary
for raal sarvice He has covered Jaspers bullet as will be seen if any one
will take the trouble to examine the target«
The respect for Pathfinders skill and for his quickness and accuracy of
sight was so profound and general that the instant he made this declaration
the spectators began to distrust their own opinions and a dozen rushed to the
target in order to ascertain the fact There sure enough it was found that
the Quarter Masters bullet had gone through the hole made by Jaspers and
that too so accurately as to require a minute examination to be certain of the
circumstance which however was soon clearly established by discovering one
bullet over the other in the stump against which the target was placed
»I told ye ladies ye were about to witness the influence of science on
gunnery« said the Quarter Master advancing towards the staging occupied by the
females »Major Duncan derides the idea of mathematics entering into target
shooting but I tell him philosophy colours and enlarges and improves and
dilates and explains every thing that belongs to human life whather it be a
shooting match or a sermon In a word philosophy is philosophy and that is
saying all that the subject requires«
»I trust you exclude love from the catalogue« observed the wife of a
captain who knew the history of the Quarter Masters marriages and who had a
womans malice against the monopolizer of her sex »it seems that philosophy
has little in common with love«
»You wouldnt say that madam if your heart had experienced many trials
Its the man or the woman that has had many occasions to improve the
affections that can best speak of such matters and believe me of all love
philosophical is the most lasting as it is the most rational«
»You would then recommend experience as an improvement on the passion«
»Your quick mind has conceived the idea at a glance The happiest marriages
are those in which youth and beauty and confidence on one side rely on the
sagacity moderation and prudence of years middle age I mean madam for Ill
no deny that there is such a thing as a husbands being too old for a wife Here
is Serjeant Dunhams charming daughter now to approve of such sentiments Im
certain her character for discretion being already well established in the
garrison short as has been her residence among us«
»Serjeant Dunhams daughter is scarcely a fitting interlocutor in a
discourse between you and me Lt Muir« rejoined the captains lady with a
careful respect for her own dignity »and yonder is the Pathfinder about to take
his chance by way of changing the subject«
»I protest Major Duncan I protest « cried Muir hurrying back towards the
stand with both arms elevated by way of enforcing his words »I protest in the
strongest terms gentlemen against Pathfinders being admitted into these
sports with Killdeer which is a piece to say nothing of long habit that is
altogether out of proportion for a trial of skill against government rifles«
»Killdeer is taking its rest Quarter Master« returned Pathfinder calmly
»and no one here thinks of disturbing it I did not think myself of pulling a
trigger to day but Sarjeant Dunham has been persuading me that I shall not do
proper honor to his handsome daughter who came in under my care if I am
backward on such an occasion Im using Jaspers rifle Quarter Master as you
may see and that is no better than your own«
Lt Muir was now obliged to acquiesce and every eye turned towards the
Pathfinder as he took the required station The air and attitude of this
celebrated guide and hunter were extremely fine as he raised his tall form and
levelled the piece showing perfect selfcommand and a thorough knowledge of
the power of the human frame as well as of the weapon Pathfinder was not what
is usually termed a handsome man though his appearance excited so much
confidence and commanded respect Tall and even muscular his frame might have
been esteemed nearly perfect were it not for the total absence of every thing
like flesh Whipcord was scarcely more rigid than his arms and legs or at
need more pliable but the outlines of his person were rather too angular for
the proportions that the eye most approves Still his motions being natural
were graceful and being calm and regulated they gave him an air of dignity
that associated well with the idea that was so prevalent of his services and
peculiar merits His honest open features were burnt to a bright red that
comported well with the notion of exposure and hardships while his sinewy hands
denoted force and a species of use that was removed from the stiffening and
deforming effects of labor Although no one perceived any of those gentler or
more insinuating qualities which are apt to win upon a womans affections as
he poised his rifle not a female eye was fastened on him without a silent
approbation of the freedom of his movements and the manliness of his air
Thought was scarcely quicker than his aim and as the smoke floated above his
head the breech of the rifle was seen on the ground the hand of the Pathfinder
was leaning on the barrel and his honest countenance was illuminated by his
usual silent hearty laugh
»If one dared to hint at such a thing« cried Major Duncan »I should say
that the Pathfinder had also missed the target«
»No no Major« returned the guide confidently »That would be a risky
declaration I didnt load the piece and cant say what was in it but if it
was lead you will find the bullet driving down those of the Quarter Masters
and Jaspers else is not my name Pathfinder«
A shout from the target announced the truth of this assertion
»Thats not all thats not all boys« called out the guide who was now
slowly advancing towards the stage occupied by the females »if you find the
target touched at all Ill own to a miss The Quarter Master cut the wood but
youll find no wood cut by that last messenger«
»Very true Pathfinder very true« answered Muir who was lingering near
Mabel though ashamed to address her particularly in the presence of the
officers wives »The Quarter Master did cut the wood and by that means he
opened a passage for your bullet which went through the hole he had made«
»Well Quarter Master there goes the nail and well see who can drive it
closest you or I for though I did not think of showing what a rifle can do to
day now my hand is in Ill turn my back to no man that carries King Georges
commission Chingachgook is outlying or he might force me into some of the
niceties of the art but as for you Quarter Master if the nail dont stop you
the potatoe will«
»Youre over boastful this morning Pathfinder but youll find youve no
green boy fresh from the settlements and the towns to deal with I will assure
ye«
»I know that well Quarter Master I know that well and shall not deny your
experience Youve lived many years on the frontiers and Ive heard of you in
the colonies and among the Injins too quite a human life ago«
»Na na « interrupted Muir in his broadest Scotch »this is injustice
man Ive no lived so very long neither«
»Ill do you justice lieutenant even if you get the best in the potatoe
trial I say youve passed a good human life for a soldier in places where the
rifle is daily used and I know you are a creditable and ingenious marksman but
then you are not a true rifle shooter As for boasting I hope Im not a vain
talker about my own exploits but a mans gifts are his gifts and its flying
in the face of Providence to deny them The sarjeants daughter here shall
judge atween us if you have the stomach to submit to so pretty a judge«
The Pathfinder had named Mabel as the arbiter because he admired her and
because in his eyes rank had little or no value but Lt Muir shrunk at such a
reference in the presence of the wives of officers He would gladly keep himself
constantly before the eyes and the imagination of the object of his wishes but
he was still too much under the influence of old prejudices and perhaps too
wary to appear openly as her suitor unless he saw something very like a
certainty of success On the discretion of Major Duncan he had a full reliance
and he apprehended no betrayal from that quarter but he was quite aware should
it ever get abroad that he had been refused by the child of a noncommissioned
officer he would find great difficulty in making his approaches to any other
woman of a condition to which he might reasonably aspire Notwithstanding these
doubts and misgivings Mabel looked so prettily blushed so charmingly smiled
so sweetly and altogether presented so winning a picture of youth spirit
modesty and beauty that he found it exceedingly tempting to be kept so
prominently before her imagination and to be able to address her freely
»You shall have it your own way Pathfinder« he answered as soon as his
doubts had settled down into determination »Let the Serjeants daughter his
charming daughter I should have termed her be the umpire then and to her we
will both dedicate the prize that one or the other must certainly win
Pathfinder must be humored ladies as you perceive else no doubt we should
have had the honor to submit ourselves to one of your charming society«
A call for the competitors now drew the Quarter Master and his adversary
away and in a few moments the second trial of skill commenced A common wrought
nail was driven lightly into the target its head having been first touched with
paint and the marksman was required to hit it or he lost his chances in the
succeeding trials No one was permitted to enter on this occasion who had
already failed in the essay against the bulls eye
There might have been half a dozen aspirants for the honors of this trial
one or two who had barely succeeded in touching the spot of paint in the
previous strife preferring to rest their reputations there feeling certain
that they could not succeed in the greater effort that was now exacted of them
The three first adventurers failed all coming quite near the mark but neither
touching it The fourth person who presented himself was the Quarter Master
who after going through his usual attitudes so far succeeded as to carry away
a small portion of the head of the nail planting his bullet by the side of its
point This was not considered an extraordinary shot though it brought the
adventurer within the category
»Youve saved your bacon Quarter Master as they say in the settlements of
their creaturs« cried Pathfinder laughing »but it would take a long time to
build a house with a hammer no better than yourn Jasper here will show you
how a nail is to be started or the lad has lost some of his steadiness of hand
and sartainty of eye You would have done better yourself Lieutenant had you
not been so much bent on sogerizing your figure Shooting is a natral gift
and is to be exercised in a natral way«
»We shall see Pathfinder I call that a pretty attempt at a nail and I
doubt if the 55th has another hammer as you call it that can do just the same
thing over again«
»Jasper is not in the 55th but there goes his rap«
As the Pathfinder spoke the bullet of Eau douce hit the nail square and
drove it into the target within an inch of the head
»Be all ready to clench it boys« cried out Pathfinder stepping into his
friends tracks the instant they were vacant »Never mind a new nail I can see
that though the paint is gone and what I can see I can hit at a hundred
yards though it were only a mosquitoes eye Be ready to clench«
The rifle cracked the bullet sped its way and the head of the nail was
buried in the wood covered by the piece of flattened lead
»Well Jasper lad« continued Pathfinder dropping the breech of his rifle
to the ground and resuming the discourse as if he thought nothing of his own
exploit »you improve daily A few more tramps on land in my company and the
best marksman on the frontiers will have occasion to look keenly when he takes
his stand agin you The Quarter Master is respectable but he will never get
any farther whereas you Jasper have the gift and may one day defy any who
pull trigger«
»Hoot hoot« exclaimed Muir »do you call hitting the head of a nail
respectable only when its the perfection of the art Any one in the least
refined and elevated in sentiment knows that the delicate touches denote the
master whereas your sledgehammer blows come from the rude and uninstructed If
a miss is as good as a mile a hit ought to be better Pathfinder whether it
wound or kill«
»The surest way of settling this rivalry will be to make another trial«
observed Lundie »and that will be of the potatoe Youre Scotch Mr Muir and
might fare better were it a cake or a thistle but frontier law has declared for
the American fruit and the potatoe it shall be«
As Major Duncan manifested some impatience of manner Muir had too much tact
to delay the sports any longer with his discursive remarks but judiciously
prepared himself for the next appeal To say the truth the Quarter Master had
little or no faith in his own success in the trial of skill that was to follow
nor would he have been so free in presenting himself as a competitor at all
had he anticipated it would have been made but Major Duncan who was somewhat
of a humorist in his own quiet Scotch way had secretly ordered it to be
introduced expressly to mortify him for a Laird himself Lundie did not
relish the notion that one who might claim to be a gentleman should bring
discredit on his caste by forming an unequal alliance As soon as every thing
was prepared Muir was summoned to the stand and the potatoe was held in
readiness to be thrown As the sort of feat we are about to offer to the reader
however may be new to him a word in explanation will render the matter more
clear A potatoe of large size was selected and given to one who stood at the
distance of twenty yards from the stand At the word heave which was given by
the marksman the vegetable was thrown with a gentle toss into the air and it
was the business of the adventurer to cause a ball to pass through it before it
reached the ground
The Quarter Master in a hundred experiments had once succeeded in
accomplishing this difficult feat but he now essayed to perform it again with
a sort of blind hope that was fated to be disappointed The potatoe was thrown
in the usual manner the rifle was discharged but the flying target was
untouched
»To the rightabout and fall out Quarter Master« said Lundie smiling at
the success of his own artifice »The honor of the silken calash will lie
between Jasper Eau douce and Pathfinder«
»And how is the trial to end Major« enquired the latter »Are we to have
the two potatoe trial or is it to be settled by centre and skin«
»By centre and skin if there is any perceptible difference otherwise the
double shot must follow«
»This is an awful moment to me Pathfinder« observed Jasper as he moved
towards the stand his face actually losing its colour in intensity of feeling
Pathfinder gazed earnestly at the young man and then begging Major Duncan
to have patience for a moment he led his friend out of the hearing of all near
him before he spoke
»You seem to take this matter to heart Jasper« the hunter remarked keeping
his eyes fastened on those of the youth
»I must own Pathfinder that my feelings were never before so much bound up
in success«
»And do you so much crave to outdo me an old and tried friend and that
as it might be in my own way Shooting is my gift boy and no common hand can
equal mine«
»I know it I know it Pathfinder but yet «
»But what Jasper boy speak freely you talk to a friend«
The young man compressed his lips dashed a hand across his eye and flushed
and paled alternately like a girl confessing her love Then squeezing the
others hand he said calmly like one whose manhood has overcome all other
sensations
»I would lose an arm Pathfinder to be able to make an offering of that
calash to Mabel Dunham«
The hunter dropped his eyes to the ground and as he walked slowly back
towards the stand he seemed to ponder deeply on what he had just heard
»You never could succeed in the double trial Jasper« he suddenly remarked
»Of that I am certain and it troubles me«
»What a creatur is mortal man He pines for things which are not of his
gift and treats the bounties of Providence lightly No matter no matter Take
your station Jasper for the Major is waiting and harkee lad I must touch
the skin for I could not show my face in the garrison with less than that«
»I suppose I must submit to my fate« returned Jasper flushing and losing
his colour as before »but I will make the effort if I die«
»What a thing is mortal man« repeated Pathfinder falling back to allow his
friend room to take his aim »he overlooks his own gifts and craves them of
another«
The potatoe was thrown Jasper fired and the shout that followed preceded
the announcement of the fact that he had driven his bullet through its centre
or so nearly so as to merit that award
»Here is a competitor worthy of you Pathfinder« cried Major Duncan with
delight as the former took his station »and we may look to some fine shooting
in the double trial«
»What a thing is mortal man« repeated the hunter scarce seeming to notice
what was passing around him so much were his thoughts absorbed in his own
reflections »Toss«
The potatoe was tossed the rifle cracked it was remarked just as the
little black ball seemed stationary in the air for the marksman evidently took
unusual heed to his aim and then a look of disappointment and wonder succeeded
among those who caught the falling target
»Two holes in one« called out the Major
»The skin the skin « was the answer »only the skin«
»Hows this Pathfinder Is Jasper Eau douce to carry off the honors of the
day«
»The calash is hisn« returned the other shaking his head and walking
quietly away from the stand »What a creatur is a mortal man Never satisfied
with his own gifts but forever craving that which Providence denies«
As Pathfinder had not buried his bullet in the potatoe but had cut through
the skin the prize was immediately adjudged to Jasper The calash was in the
hands of the latter when the Quarter Master approached and with a politic air
of cordiality he wished his successful rival joy for his victory
»But now youve got the calash lad its of no use to you« he added »it
will never make a sail nor even an ensign Im thinking Eau douce youd no be
sorry to see its value in good siller of the King«
»Money cannot buy it Lieutenant« returned Jasper whose eye lighted up
with all the fire of success and joy »I would rather have won this calash than
have obtained fifty new suits of sails for the Scud«
»Hoot hoot lad you are going mad like all the rest of them Id even
venture to offer half a guinea for the trifle rather than it should lie kicking
about in the cabin of your cutter and in the end become an ornament for the
head of a squaw«
Although Jasper did not know that the wary Quarter Master had not offered
half the actual cost of the prize he heard the proposition with indifference
Shaking his head in the negative he advanced towards the stage where his
approach excited a little commotion the officers ladies one and all having
determined to accept the present should the gallantry of the young sailor induce
him to offer it But Jaspers diffidence no less than admiration for another
would have prevented him from aspiring to the honor of complimenting any whom he
thought so much his superiors
»Mabel« he said »this prize is for you unless «
»Unless what Jasper « answered the girl losing her own bashfulness in
the natural and generous wish to relieve his embarrassment though both reddened
in a way to betray strong feeling
»Unless you may think too indifferently of it because it is offered by one
who may have no right to believe his gift will be accepted«
»I do accept it Jasper and it shall be a sign of the danger I have passed
in your company and of the gratitude I feel for your care of me your care and
that of the Pathfinder«
»Never mind me never mind me« exclaimed the latter »this is Jaspers luck
and Jaspers gift give him full credit for both My turn may come another day
mine and the Quarter Masters who seems to grudge the boy the calash though
what he can want of it I cannot understand for he has no wife«
»And has Jasper Eau douce a wife Or have you a wife yoursel Pathfinder
I may want it to help get a wife or as a memorial that I have had a wife or as
a proof how much I admire the sex or because it is a female garment or for
some other equally respectable motive Its not the unreflecting that are the
most prized by the thoughtful and there is no surer sign that a man made a good
husband to his first consort let me tell ye all than to see him speedily
looking round for a competent successor The affections are good gifts from
Providence and they that have loved one faithfully prove how much of this
bounty has been lavished upon them by loving another as soon as possible«
»It may be so it may be so I am no practitioner in such things and
cannot gainsay it But Mabel here the sarjeants daughter will give you full
credit for the words Come Jasper although our hands are out let us see what
the other lads can do with the rifle«
Pathfinder and his companions retired for the sports were about to proceed
The ladies however were not so much engrossed with rifle shooting as to
neglect the calash It passed from hand to hand the silk was felt the fashion
criticised and the work examined and divers opinions were privately ventured
concerning the fitness of so handsome a things passing into the possession of a
noncommissioned officers child
»Perhaps you will be disposed to sell that calash Mabel when it has been a
short time in your possession« inquired the captains lady »Wear it I should
think you never can«
»I may not wear it madam« returned our heroine modestly »but I should not
like to part with it either«
»I dare say Serjeant Dunham keeps you above the necessity of selling your
clothes child but at the same time it is money thrown away to keep an
article of dress you can never wear«
»I should be unwilling to part with the gift of a friend«
»But the young man himself will think all the better of you for your
prudence after the triumph of the day is forgotten It is a pretty and a
becoming calash and ought not to be thrown away«
»Ive no intention to throw it away maam and if you please would rather
keep it«
»As you will child girls of your age often overlook their real advantages
Remember however if you do determine to dispose of the thing that it is
bespoke and that I will not take it if you ever even put it on your own head«
»Yes maam« said Mabel in the meekest voice imaginable though her eyes
looked like diamonds and her cheeks reddened to the tints of two roses as she
placed the forbidden garment over her well turned shoulders where she kept it a
minute as if to try its fitness and then quietly removed it again
The remainder of the sports offered nothing of interest The shooting was
reasonably good but the trials were all of a scale lower than those related
and the competitors were soon left to themselves The ladies and most of the
officers withdrew and the remainder of the females soon followed their example
Mabel was returning along the low flat rocks that line the shore of the lake
dangling her pretty calash from a prettier finger when Pathfinder met her He
carried the rifle which he had used that day but his manner had less of the
frank ease of the hunter about it than usual while his eye seemed roving and
uneasy After a few unmeaning words concerning the noble sheet of water before
them he turned towards his companion with strong interest in his countenance
and said
»Jasper earned that calash for you Mabel without much trial of his gifts«
»It was fairly done Pathfinder«
»No doubt no doubt The bullet passed neatly through the potatoe and no
man could have done more though others might have done as much«
»But no one did as much« exclaimed Mabel with an animation that she
instantly regretted for she saw by the pained look of the guide that he was
mortified equally by the remark and by the feeling with which it was uttered
»It is true it is true Mabel no one did as much there but yes there
is no reason I should deny my gifts which come from Providence yes yes no
one did as much there but you shall know what can be done here Do you observe
the gulls that are flying over our heads«
»Certainly Pathfinder there are too many to escape notice«
»Here where they cross each other in sailing about « he added cocking
and raising his rifle »the two the two now look«
The piece was presented quick as thought as two of the birds came in a
line though distant from each other many yards the report followed and the
bullet passed through the bodies of both the victims No sooner had the gulls
fallen into the lake than Pathfinder dropped the breech of the rifle and
laughed in his own peculiar manner every shade of dissatisfaction and mortified
pride having left his honest face
»That is something Mabel that is something although Ive no calash to
give you But ask Jasper himself Ill leave it all to Jasper for a truer
tongue and heart are not in America«
»Then it was not Jaspers fault that he gained the prize«
»Not it He did his best and he did well For one that has water gifts
rather than land gifts Jasper is oncommonly expart and a better backer no one
need wish ashore or afloat But it was my fault Mabel that he got the calash
though it makes no difference it makes no difference for the thing has gone
to the right person«
»I believe I understand you Pathfinder« said Mabel blushing in spite of
herself »and I look upon the calash as the joint gift of yourself and Jasper«
»That would not be doing justice to the lad neither He won the garment
and had a right to give it away The most you may think Mabel is to believe
that had I won it it would have gone to the same person«
»I will remember that Pathfinder and take care that others know your
skill as it has been proved upon the poor gulls in my presence«
»Lord bless you Mabel there is no more need of your talking in favor of my
shooting on this frontier than of your talking about the water in the lake or
the sun in the heavens Every body knows what I can do in that way and your
words would be thrown away as much as French would be thrown away on an
American bear«
»Then you think that Jasper knew you were giving him this advantage of
which he has so unhandsomely availed himself« said Mabel the colour which had
imparted so much lustre to her eyes gradually leaving her face which became
grave and thoughtful
»I do not say that but very far from it We all forget things that we have
known when eager after our wishes Jasper is satisfied that I can pass one
bullet through two potatoes as I sent my bullet through the gulls and he knows
no other man on the frontier can do the same thing But with the calash before
his eyes and the hope of giving it to you the lad was inclined to think better
of himself just at that moment perhaps than he ought No no theres
nothing mean or distrustful about Jasper Eau douce though it is a gift natral
to all young men to wish to appear well in the eyes of handsome young women«
»Ill try to forget all but the kindness youve both shown to a poor
motherless girl« said Mabel struggling to keep down emotions that she scarcely
knew how to account for herself »Believe me Pathfinder I can never forget
all you have already done for me you and Jasper and this new proof of your
regard is not thrown away Here here is a brooch that is of silver and I
offer it as a token that I owe you life or liberty«
»What shall I do with this Mabel« asked the bewildered hunter holding the
simple trinket in his hand »I have neither buckle nor button about me for I
wear nothing but leathern strings and them of good deerskins Its pretty to
the eye but it is prettier far on the spot it came from than it can be about
me«
»Nay put it in your hunting shirt it will become it well Remember
Pathfinder that it is a token of friendship between us and a sign that I can
never forget you or your services«
Mabel then smiled an adieu and bounding up the bank she was soon lost to
view behind the mounds of the fort
Chapter XII
»Lo dusky masses steal in dubious sight
Along the leaguerd wall and bristling bank
Of the armd river while with straggling light
The stars peep through the vapour dim and dank«
Byron Don Juan VIIlxxxvi68386
A few hours later Mabel Dunham was on the bastion that overlooked the river and
the lake seemingly in deep thought The evening was calm and soft and the
question had arisen whether the party for the Thousand Islands would be able to
get out that night or not on account of the total absence of wind The stores
arms and ammunition were already shipped and even Mabels effects were on
board but the small draft of men that was to go was still ashore there being
no apparent prospect of the cutters getting under way Jasper had warped the
Scud out of the cove and so far up the stream as to enable him to pass through
the outlet of the river whenever he chose but there he still lay riding at
single anchor The drafted men were lounging about the shore of the cove
undecided whether or not to pull off
The sports of the morning had left a quiet in the garrison that was in
harmony with the whole of the beautiful scene and Mabel felt its influence on
her feelings though probably too little accustomed to speculate on such
sensations to be aware of the cause Every thing near appeared lovely and
soothing while the solemn grandeur of the silent forest and placid expanse of
the lake lent a sublimity that other scenes might have wanted For the first
time Mabel felt the hold that the towns and civilization had gained on her
habits sensibly weakened and the warmhearted girl began to think that a life
passed amid objects such as these around her might be happy How far the
experience of the last ten days came in aid of that calm and holy eventide and
contributed towards producing that young conviction may be suspected rather
than affirmed in this early portion of our legend
»A charming sunset Mabel« said the hearty voice of her uncle so close to
the ear of our heroine as to cause her to start »a charming sunset girl for
a fresh water concern though we should think but little of it at sea«
»And is not nature the same on shore or at sea on a lake like this or on
the ocean Does not the sun shine on all alike dear uncle and can we not feel
gratitude for the blessings of Providence as strongly on this remote frontier
as in our own Manhattan«
»The girl has fallen in with some of her mothers books Though I should
think the serjeant would scarcely make a second march with such trumpery among
his baggage Is not nature the same indeed Now Mabel do you imagine that
the nature of a soldier is the same as that of a seafaring man Youve
relations in both callings and ought to be able to answer«
»But uncle I mean human nature «
»So do I girl the human nature of a seaman and the human nature of one of
these fellows of the 55th not even excepting your own father Here have they
had a shooting match target firing I should call it this day and what a
different thing has it been from a target firing afloat There we should have
sprung our broadside sported with round shot at an object half a mile off at
the very nearest and the potatoes if there happened to be any on board as
quite likely would not have been the case would have been left in the cooks
coppers It may be an honorable calling that of a soldier Mabel but an
experienced hand sees many follies and weaknesses in one of these forts As for
that bit of a lake you know my opinion of it already and I wish to disparage
nothing No real seafarer disparages any thing but de if I regard this here
Ontario as they call it as more than so much water in a ships scuttlebutt
Now look you here Mabel if you wish to understand the difference between the
ocean and a lake I can make you comprehend it with a single look This is what
one may call a calm seeing that there is no wind though to own the truth I
do not think the calms are as calm as them we get outside «
»Uncle there is not a breath of air I do not think it possible for the
leaves to be more immoveably still than those of the entire forest are at this
very moment«
»Leaves what are leaves child there are no leaves at sea If you wish to
know whether it is a dead calm or not try a mould candle your dips flaring
too much and then you may be certain whether there is or is not any wind If
you were in a latitude where the air was so still that you found a difficulty in
stirring it to draw it in in breathing you might fancy it a calm People are
often on a short allowance of air in the calm latitudes Here again look at
that water It is like milk in a pan with no more motion than there is in a
full hogshead before the bung is started Now on the ocean the water is never
still let the air be as quiet as it may«
»The water of the ocean never still uncle Cap Not even in a calm«
»Bless your heart no child The ocean breathes like a living being and
its bosom is always heaving as the poetizers call it though there be no more
air than is to be found in a syphon No man ever saw the ocean still like this
lake but it heaves and sets as if it had lungs«
»And this lake is not absolutely still for you perceive there is a little
ripple on the shore and you may even hear the surf plunging at moments
against the rocks«
»All dd poetry One may call a bubble a ripple if he will and washing
decks a surf but Lake Ontario is no more the Atlantic than a Powles Hook
periagua is a first rate That Jasper notwithstanding is a fine lad and wants
instruction only to make a man of him«
»Do you think him ignorant uncle« answered Mabel prettily adjusting her
hair in order to do which she was obliged or fancied she was obliged to turn
away her face »To me Jasper Eau douce appears to know more than most of the
young men of his class He has read but little for books are not plenty in this
part of the world but he has thought much at least so it seems to me for one
so young«
»He is ignorant he is ignorant as all must be who navigate an inland
water like this He can make a flat knot and a timber hitch it is true but he
has no more notion of crowning a cable now or of a carrick bend than you have
of catting an anchor No no Mabel we both owe something to Jasper and the
Pathfinder and I have been thinking how I can best serve them for I hold
ingratitude to be the vice of a hog Some people say it is the vice of a king
but I say it is the failing of a hog for treat the animal to your own dinner
and he would eat you for the dessert«
»Very true dear uncle and we ought indeed to do all we can to express our
proper sense of the services of both these brave men«
»Spoken like your mothers daughter girl and in a way to do credit to the
Cap family Now Ive hit upon a traverse that will just suit all parties and
as soon as we get back from this little expedition down the lake among them
there thousand islands and I am ready to return it is my intention to propose
it«
»Dearest uncle this is so considerate in you and will be so just May I
ask what your intentions are«
»I see no reason for keeping them a secret from you Mabel though nothing
need be said to your father about them for the serjeant has his prejudices and
might throw difficulties in the way Neither Jasper nor his friend Pathfinder
can ever make any thing hereabouts and I propose to take both with me down to
the coast and get them fairly afloat Jasper would find his sea legs in a
fortnight and a twelvemonths vyge would make him a man Although Pathfinder
might take more time or never get to be rated able yet one could make
something of him too particularly as a lookout for he has unusually good
eyes«
»Uncle do you think either would consent to this« said Mabel smiling
»Do I suppose them simpletons What rational being would neglect his own
advancement Let Jasper alone to push his way and the lad may yet die the
master of some square rigged craft«
»And would he be any the happier for it dear uncle How much better is it
to be the master of a square rigged craft than to be master of a round rigged
craft«
»Pooh Pooh Magnet you dont know what you are talking about you are
just fit to read lectures about ships before some hysterical society Leave
these things to me and theyll be properly managed Ah here is the Pathfinder
himself and I may just as well drop him a hint of my benevolent intentions as
regards himself Hope is a great encourager of our exertions«
Cap nodded his head and then ceased to speak while the hunter approached
not with his usual frank and easy manner but in a way to show that he was
slightly embarrassed if not distrustful of his reception
»Uncle and niece make a family party« said Pathfinder when near the two
»and a stranger may not prove a welcome companion«
»You are no stranger Master Pathfinder« returned Cap »and no one can be
more welcome than yourself We were talking of you but a moment ago and when
friends speak of an absent man he can guess what they have said«
»I ask no secrets I ask no secrets Every man has his inimies and I have
mine though I count neither you Master Cap nor pretty Mabel here among the
number As for the Mingos I will say nothing though they have no just cause to
hate me«
»That Ill answer for Pathfinder for you strike my fancy as being well
disposed and upright There is a method however of getting away from the
enmity of even these Mingos and if you choose to take it no one will more
willingly point it out than myself without a charge for my advice either«
»I wish no inimies Saltwater« for so the Pathfinder had begun to call Cap
having insensibly to himself adopted the term by translating the name given him
by the Indians in and about the fort »I wish no inimies Im as ready to bury
the hatchet with the Mingos as with the French though you know that it depends
on one greater than either of us so to turn the heart as to leave a man
without inimies«
»By lifting your anchor and accompanying me down to the coast friend
Pathfinder when we get back from this short cruise on which we are bound you
will find yourself beyond the sound of the warwhoop and safe enough from any
Indian bullet«
»And what should I do on the saltwater Hunt in your towns Follow the
trails of people going and coming from market and ambush dogs and poultry You
are no friend to my happiness Master Cap if you would lead me out of the shade
of the woods to put me in the sun of the clearins«
»I did not propose to leave you in the settlements Pathfinder but to carry
you out to sea where only a man can be said to breathe freely Mabel will tell
you that such was my intention before a word was said on the subject«
»And what does Mabel think would come of such a change She knows that a man
has his gifts and that it is as useless to pretend to others as to withstand
them that come from Providence I am a hunter and a scout or a guide
Saltwater and it is not in me to fly so much in the face of Heaven as to try
to become any thing else Am I right Mabel or are you so much a woman as to
wish to see a natur altered«
»I would wish to see no change in you Pathfinder« Mabel answered with a
cordial sincerity and frankness that went directly to the hunters heart »and
much as my uncle admires the sea and great as is all the good that he thinks
may come of it I could not wish to see the best and noblest hunter of the woods
transformed into an admiral Remain what you are my brave friend and you need
fear nothing short of the anger of God«
»Do you hear this Saltwater Do you hear what the Sarjeants daughter is
saying and she is much too upright and fairminded and pretty not to think
what she says So long as she is satisfied with me as I am I shall not fly in
the face of the gifts of Providence by striving to become any thing else I may
seem useless here in a garrison but when we get down among the Thousand
Islands there may be an opportunity to prove that a sure rifle is sometimes a
Godsend«
»You are then to be of our party« said Mabel smiling so frankly and so
sweetly on the guide that he would have followed her to the end of the earth
»I shall be the only female with the exception of one soldiers wife and shall
feel none the less secure Pathfinder because you will be among our
protectors«
»The sarjeant would do that Mabel the sarjeant would do that though you
were not of his kin No one will overlook you I should think your uncle here
would like an expedition of this sort where we shall go with sails and have a
look at our inland sea«
»Your inland sea is no great matter Master Pathfinder and I expect nothing
from it I confess however I should like to know the object of the cruise for
one does not wish to be idle and my brotherinlaw the serjeant is as
closemouthed as a free mason Do you know Mabel what all this means«
»Not in the least uncle I dare not ask my father any questions about his
duty for he thinks it is not a womans business and all I can say is that we
are to sail as soon as the wind will permit and that we are to be absent a
month«
»Perhaps Master Pathfinder can give me a useful hint for a vyge without
an object is never pleasant to an old sailor«
»There is no great secret Saltwater consarning our post and object though
it is forbidden to talk much about either in the garrison I am no soldier
howsever and can use my tongue as I please though as little given as another
to idle conversation I hope still as we sail so soon and you are both to be
of the party you may as well be told where you are to be carried You know that
there are such things as the Thousand Islands I suppose Master Cap«
»Ay what are so called hereaway though I take it for granted that they
are not real islands such as we fall in with on the ocean and that the
Thousand means some such matter as two or three like the killed and wounded of
a great battle«
»My eyes are good and yet have I often been foiled in trying to count them
very islands«
»Ay ay Ive known people who couldnt count beyond a certain number
Your real land birds never know their own roosts even in a land fall at sea
They are what I call all things to all men How many times have I seen the
beach and houses and churches when the passengers have not been able to see
any thing but water I have no idea that a man can get fairly out of sight of
land on fresh water The thing appears to me to be irrational and impossible«
»You dont know the lakes Master Cap or you would not say that Before we
get to the Thousand Islands you will have other notions of what natur has done
in this wilderness«
»I have my doubts whether you have such a thing as a real island in all this
region To my notion fresh water cant make a bony fidy island not what I call
an island«
»Well show you hundreds of them not exactly a thousand perhaps but so
many that eye cannot see them all or tongue count them«
»And what sort of things may they be«
»Land with water entirely around them«
»Ay but what sort of land and what sort of water Ill engage when the
truth comes to be known theyll turn out to be nothing but peninsulas or
promontories or continents though these are matters I dare say of which you
know little or nothing But islands or no islands what is the object of the
cruise Master Pathfinder«
»Why as you are the sarjeants brother and pretty Mabel here is his
dahter and we are all to be of the party there can be no harm in giving you
some idea of what we are going to do Being so old a sailor Master Cap youve
heard no doubt of such a port as Frontenac«
»Who hasnt I will not say Ive ever been inside the harbor but Ive
frequently been off the place«
»Then you are about to go upon ground with which you are acquainted though
how you could ever have got there from the ocean I do not understand These
great lakes you must know make a chain the water passing out of one into the
other until it reaches Erie which is a sheet off here to the westward as
large as Ontario itself Well out of Erie the water comes until it reaches a
low mountain like over the edge of which it passes «
»I should like to know how the devil it can do that«
»Why easy enough Master Cap« returned Pathfinder laughing »seeing that it
has only to fall down hill Had I said the water went up the mountain there
would have been natur agin it but we hold it no great matter for water to run
down hill that is fresh water«
»Ay ay but you speak of the water of a lakes coming down the side of a
mountain its in the teeth of reason if reason has any teeth«
»Well well we will not dispute the point but what Ive seen Ive seen
as for reasons having any teeth Ill say nothing but conscience has and
sharp ones too After getting into Ontario all the water of all the lakes
passes down into the sea by a river and in the narrow part of the sheet where
it is neither river nor lake lie the islands spoken of Now Frontenac is a
post of the Frenchers above these same islands and as they hold the garrisons
below their stores and ammunition are sent up the river to Frontenac to be
forwarded along the shores of this and the other lakes in order to enable the
inimy to play his deviltries among the savages and to take christian scalps«
»And will our presence prevent these horrible acts« demanded Mabel with
interest
»It may or it may not as Providence wills Lundie as they call him he
who commands this garrison sent a party down to take a station among the
islands to cut off some of the French boats and this expedition of ours will
be the second relief As yet theyve not done much though two batteaux loaded
with Indian goods have been taken but a runner came in last week and brought
such tidings that the Major is about to make a last effort to sarcumvent the
knaves Jasper knows the way and we shall be in good hands for the Sarjeant is
prudent and of the first quality at an ambushment yes he is both prudent
and alert«
»Is this all« said Cap contemptuously »by the preparations and
equipments I had thought there was a forced trade in the wind and that an
honest penny might be turned by taking an adventure I suppose there are no
shares in your fresh water prize money«
»Anan«
»I take it for granted the King gets all in these sogering parties and
ambushments as you call them«
»I know nothing about that Master Cap I take my share of the lead and
powder if any falls into our hands and say nothing to the King about it If
any one fares better it is not I though it is time I did begin to think of a
house and furniture and a home«
Although the Pathfinder did not dare to look at Mabel while he made this
direct allusion to his change of life he would have given the world to know
whether she were listening and what was the expression of her countenance
Mabel little suspected the nature of the allusion however and her countenance
was perfectly unembarrassed as she turned her eyes towards the river where the
appearance of some movement on board the Scud began to be visible
»Jasper is bringing the cutter out« observed the guide whose look was
drawn in the same direction by the fall of some heavy article on the deck »The
lad sees the signs of wind no doubt and wishes to be ready for it«
»Ay now we shall have an opportunity of learning seamanship « returned
Cap with a sneer »There is a nicety in getting a craft under her canvass that
shows the thoroughbred mariner as much as any thing else Its like a soger
buttoning his coat and one can see whether he begins at the top or the
bottom«
»I will not say that Jasper is equal to your seafarers below« observed
Pathfinder across whose upright mind an unworthy feeling of envy or of
jealousy never passed »but he is a bold boy and manages his cutter as
skilfully as any man can desire on this lake at least You didnt find him
backward at the Oswego Falls Master Cap where fresh water contrives to tumble
down hill with little difficulty«
Cap made no other answer than a dissatisfied ejaculation and then a general
silence followed all on the bastion studying the movements of the cutter with
the interest that was natural to their own future connection with the vessel It
was still a dead calm the surface of the lake literally glittering with the
last rays of the sun The Scud had been warped up to a kedge that lay a hundred
yards above the points of the outlet where she had room to manoeuvre in the
river which then formed the harbor of Oswego But the total want of air
prevented any such attempt and it was soon evident that the light vessel was to
be taken through the passage under her sweeps Not a sail was loosened but as
soon as the kedge was tripped the heavy fall of the sweeps was heard when the
cutter with her head up stream began to sheer towards the centre of the
current on reaching which the efforts of the men ceased and she drifted
towards the outlet In the narrow pass itself her movement was rapid and in
less than five minutes the Scud was floating outside of the two low gravelly
points that intercepted the waves of the lake No anchor was let go but the
vessel continued to set off from the land until her dark hull was seen resting
on the glassy surface of the lake fully a quarter of a mile beyond the low
bluff which formed the eastern extremity of what might be called the outer
harbor or roadstead Here the influence of the river current ceased and she
became virtually stationary
»She seems very beautiful to me uncle« said Mabel whose gaze had not been
averted from the cutter for a single moment while it had thus been changing
its position »I dare say you can find faults in her appearance and in the way
she is managed but to my ignorance both are perfect«
»Ay ay she drops down with the current well enough girl and so would a
chip But when you come to niceties an old tar like myself has no need of
spectacles to find fault«
»Well Master Cap« put in the guide who seldom heard any thing to Jaspers
prejudice without manifesting a disposition to interfere »Ive heard old and
experienced saltwater mariners confess that the Scud is as pretty a craft as
floats I know nothing of such matters myself but one may have his own notions
about a ship even though they be wrong notions and it would take more than one
witness to persuade me Jasper does not keep his boat in good order«
»I do not say that the cutter is downright lubberly Master Pathfinder but
she has faults and great faults«
»And what are they uncle if he knew them Jasper would be glad to mend
them«
»What are they Why fifty ay for that matter a hundred Very material
and manifest faults«
»Do name them sir and Pathfinder will mention them to his friend«
»Name them it is no easy matter to call off the stars for the simple
reason that they are so numerous Name them indeed Why my pretty niece
Miss Magnet what do you think of that main boom now To my ignorant eyes it is
topped at least a foot too high and then the pennant is foul and and ay
de if there isnt a topsail gasket adrift and it wouldnt surprise me at
all if there should prove to be a round turn in that hawser if the kedge were
to be let go this instant Faults indeed No seaman could look at her a moment
without seeing that she is as full of faults as a servant that has asked for
his discharge«
»This may be very true uncle though I much question if Jasper knows of
them I do not think he would suffer these things Pathfinder if they were
pointed out to him«
»Let Jasper manage his own cutter Mabel let him manage his own cutter His
gifts lie thataway and Ill answer for it no one can teach him how to keep
the Scud out of the hands of the Frontenackers or their devilish Mingo friends
Who cares for round turns in kedges and for hawsers that are topped too high
Master Cap so long as the craft sails well and keeps clear of the Frenchers I
will trust Jasper against all the seafarers of the coast up here on the lakes
but I do not say he has any gift for the ocean for there he has never been
tried«
Cap smiled condescendingly but he did not think it necessary to push his
criticisms any farther just at that moment His air and manner gradually became
more supercilious and lofty though he now wished to seem indifferent to any
discussions on points of which one of the parties was entirely ignorant By this
time the cutter had begun to drift at the mercy of the currents of the lake her
head turning in all directions though slowly and not in a way to attract
particular attention Just at this moment the jib was loosened and hoisted and
presently the canvass swelled towards the land though no evidences of air were
yet to be seen on the surface of the water Slight however as was the
impulsion the light hull yielded and in another minute the Scud was seen
standing across the current of the river with a movement so easy and moderate
as to be scarcely perceptible When out of the stream she struck an eddy and
shot up towards the land under the eminence where the fort stood when Jasper
dropped his kedge
»Not lubberly done « muttered Cap in a sort of soliloquy »not
overlubberly though he should have put his helm a starboard instead of a port
for a vessel ought always to come to with her head off shore whether she is a
league from the land or only a cables length since it has a careful look and
looks are something in this world«
»Jasper is a handy lad « suddenly observed Serjeant Dunham at his
brotherinlaws elbow »and we place great reliance on his skill in our
expeditions But come one and all we have but half an hour more of daylight
to embark in and the boats will be ready for us by the time we are ready for
them«
On this intimation the whole party separated each to find those trifles
which had not been shipped already A few taps of the drum gave the necessary
signal to the soldiers and in a minute all were in motion
Chapter XIII
»The goblin now the fool alarms
Hags meet to mumble oer their charms
The nightmare rides the dreaming ass
And fairies trip it on the grass«
Cotton »Night Quatrains« xvii6568
The embarkation of so small a party was a matter of no great delay or
embarrassment The whole force confided to the care of Serjeant Dunham consisted
of but ten privates and two noncommissioned officers though it was now
positively known that Mr Muir was to accompany the expedition The Quarter
Master however went as a volunteer while some duty connected with his own
department as had been arranged between him and his commander was the avowed
object To these must be added the Pathfinder and Cap with Jasper and his
subordinates one of whom was a boy The males of the entire party consequently
consisted of less than twenty men and a lad of fourteen Mabel and the wife of
a common soldier were the only females
Serjeant Dunham carried off his command in a large batteau and then
returned for his final orders and to see that his brotherinlaw and daughter
were properly attended to Having pointed out to Cap the boat that he and Mabel
were to use he ascended the hill to seek his last interview with Lundie The
Major was met on the bastion so often mentioned Leaving him and the serjeant
together for a short time we will return to the beach
It was nearly dark when Mabel found herself in the boat that was to carry
her off to the cutter So very smooth was the surface of the lake that it was
not found necessary to bring the batteaux into the river to receive their
freights but the beach outside being totally without surf and the water as
tranquil as that of a pond every body embarked there As Cap had said there
was no heaving and setting no working of vast lungs nor any respiration of an
ocean for on Ontario unlike the Atlantic gales were not agitating the
element at one point while calms prevailed at another This the distances did
not permit and it is the usual remark of mariners that the seas get up faster
and go down sooner on all the great lakes of the west than on the different
seas of their acquaintance When the boat left the land therefore Mabel would
not have known that she was afloat on so broad a sheet of water by any
movement that is usual to such circumstances The oars had barely time to give a
dozen strokes when the boat lay at the cutters side
Jasper was in readiness to receive his passengers and as the deck of the
Scud was but two or three feet above the water no difficulty was experienced in
getting on board her As soon as this was effected the young man pointed out to
Mabel and her companion the accommodations prepared for their reception and
they took possession of them The little vessel contained four apartments below
all between decks having been expressly constructed with a view to the
transportation of officers and men with their wives and families First in
rank was what was called the after cabin a small apartment that contained four
berths and which enjoyed the advantage of possessing small windows for the
admission of air and light This was uniformly devoted to females whenever any
were on board and as Mabel and her companion were alone they had ample space
and accommodations The main cabin was larger and lighted from above It was
now appropriated to the uses of the Quarter Master the Serjeant Cap and
Jasper the Pathfinder roaming through any part of the cutter he pleased the
female apartment excepted The corporals and common soldiers occupied the space
beneath the main hatch which had a deck for such a purpose while the crew were
berthed as usual in the forecastle Although the cutter did not measure quite
fifty tons the draft of officers and men was so light that there was ample
room for all on board there being space enough to accommodate treble the
number if necessary
As soon as Mabel had taken possession of her own really comfortable and
pretty cabin in doing which she could not abstain from indulging in the
pleasant reflection that some of Jaspers favor had been especially manifested
in her behalf she went on deck again Here all was momentarily in motion the
men were roving to and fro in quest of their knapsacks and other effects but
method and habit soon reduced things to order when the stillness on board
became even imposing for it was connected with the idea of future adventure
and ominous preparation
Darkness was now beginning to render objects on shore indistinct the whole
of the land forming one shapeless black outline of even forest summits that
was to be distinguished from the impending heavens only by the greater light of
the sky The stars however soon began to appear in the latter one after
another in their usual mild placid lustre bringing with them that sense of
quiet which ordinarily accompanies night There was something soothing as well
as exciting in such a scene and Mabel who was seated on the quarterdeck
sensibly felt both influences The Pathfinder was standing near her leaning as
usual on his long rifle and she fancied that through the growing darkness of
the hour she could trace even stronger lines of thought than usual in his
rugged countenance
»To you Pathfinder expeditions like this can be no great novelty« she
said »though I am surprised to find how silent and thoughtful the men appear to
be«
»We larn this by making war agin Injins Your militia are great talkers
and little doers in ginral but the soger who has often met the Mingos larns
to know the valu of a prudent tongue A silent army in the woods is doubly
strong and a noisy one doubly weak If tongues made soldiers the women of a
camp would generally carry the day«
»But we are neither an army nor in the woods There can be no danger of
Mingos in the Scud«
»Ask Jasper how he got to be master of this cutter and you will find
yourself answered as to that opinion No one is safe from a Mingo who does not
understand his very natur and even then he must act up to his own knowledge
and that closely Ask Jasper how he got command of this very cutter«
»And how did he get the command« inquired Mabel with an earnestness and
interest that delighted her simpleminded and truehearted companion who was
never better pleased than when he had an opportunity of saying aught in favor of
a friend »It is honorable to him that he has reached this station while yet
so young«
»That is it but he deserved it all and more A frigate wouldnt have
been too much to pay for so much spirit and coolness had there been such a
thing on Ontario as there is not howsever or likely to be«
»But Jasper you have not yet told me how he got the command of this
schooner«
»It is a long story Mabel and one your father the sarjeant can tell much
better than I for he was present while I was off on a distant scoutin Jasper
is not good at a story I will own that Ive heard him questioned about this
affair and he never made a good tale of it although every body knows it was a
good thing No no Jasper is not good at a story as his best friends must
own The Scud had near fallen into the hands of the French and the Mingos when
Jasper saved her in a way that none but a quickwitted mind and a bold heart
would have attempted The Sarjeant will tell the tale better than I can and I
wish you to question him some day when nothing better offers As for Jasper
himself there will be no use in worrying the lad since he will make a bungling
matter of it for he dont know how to give a history at all«
Mabel determined to ask her father to repeat the incidents of the affair
that very night for it struck her young fancy that nothing better could well
offer than to listen to the praises of one who was a bad historian of his own
exploits
»Will the Scud remain with us when we reach the islands« she asked after
a little hesitation about the propriety of the question »or shall we be left to
ourselves«
»Thats as may be Jasper does not often keep the cutter idle when any
thing is to be done and we may expect activity on his part My gifts howsever
run so little towards the water and vessels ginrally unless it be among
rapids and falls and in canoes that I pretend to know nothing about it We
shall have all right under Jasper I make no doubt who can find a trail on
Ontario as well as a Delaware can find one on the land«
»And our own Delaware Pathfinder the Big Serpent why is he not with us
tonight«
»Your question would have been more natral had you said why are you here
Pathfinder The Sarpent is in his place while I am not in mine He is out
with two or three more scouting the lake shore and will join us down among the
islands with the tidings he may gather The sarjeant is too good a soldier to
forget his rear while he is facing the inimy in front Its a thousand pities
Mabel your father wasnt born a ginral as some of the English are who come
among us for I feel sartain he wouldnt leave a Frencher in the Canadas a
week could he have his own way with them«
»Shall we have enemies to face in front« asked Mabel smiling and for the
first time feeling a slight apprehension about the dangers of the expedition
»Are we likely to have an engagement«
»If we have Mabel there will be men enough ready and willing to stand
atween you and harm But you are a soldiers daughter and we all know have the
spirit of one Dont let the fear of a battle keep your pretty eyes from
sleeping«
»I do feel braver out here in the woods Pathfinder than I ever felt
before amid the weaknesses of the towns although I have always tried to
remember what I owe to my dear father«
»Ay your mother was so before you You will find Mabel like her mother
no screamer or a fainthearted girl to trouble a man in his need but one who
would encourage her mate and help to keep his heart up when sorest pressed by
danger said the sarjeant to me before I ever laid eyes on that sweet
countenance of yours he did«
»And why should my father have told you this Pathfinder« the girl demanded
a little earnestly »Perhaps he fancied you would think the better of me if you
did not believe me a silly coward as so many of my sex love to make themselves
appear«
Deception unless it were at the expense of his enemies in the field nay
concealment of even a thought was so little in accordance with the Pathfinders
very nature that he was not a little embarrassed by this simple question To
own the truth openly he felt by a sort of instinct for which it would have
puzzled him to account would not be proper and to hide it agreed with neither
his sense of right nor his habits In such a strait he involuntarily took
refuge in a middle course not revealing that which he fancied ought not to be
told nor yet absolutely concealing it
»You must know Mabel« he said »that the sarjeant and I are old friends
and have stood side by side or if not actually side by side I a little in
advance as became a scout and your father with his own men as better suited a
soldier of the King on many a hard fout and bloody day Its the way of us
skirmishers to think little of the fight when the rifle has done cracking and
at night around our fires or on our marches we talk of the things we love
just as you young women convarse about your fancies and opinions when you get
together to laugh over your idees Now it was natral that the sarjeant having
such a daughter as you should love her better than any thing else and that he
should talk of her oftener than of any thing else while I having neither
daughter nor sister nor mother nor kith nor kin nor any thing but the
Delawares to love I natrally chimed in as it were and got to love you
Mabel afore I ever saw you yes I did just by talking about you so much«
»And now you have seen me« returned the smiling girl whose unmoved and
natural manner proved how little she was thinking of any thing more than
parental or fraternal regard »you are beginning to see the folly of forming
friendships for people before you know any thing about them except by hearsay«
»It wasnt friendship it isnt friendship Mabel that I feel for you I
am the friend of the Delawares and have been so from boyhood but my feelings
for them or for the best of them are not the same as them I got from the
sarjeant for you and especially now that I begin to know you better Im
sometimes afeard it isnt wholesome for one who is much occupied in a very
manly calling like that of a guide or a scout or a soldier even to form
friendships for women young women in particular as they seem to me to lessen
the love of enterprize and to turn the feelings away from their gifts and
natral occupations«
»You surely do not mean Pathfinder that a friendship for a girl like me
would make you less bold and more unwilling to meet the French than you were
before«
»Not so not so With you in danger for instance I fear I might become
fool hardy but afore we became so intimate as I may say I loved to think of
my scoutins and of my marches and outlyings and fights and other
adventures but now my mind cares less about them I think more of the barracks
and of evenings passed in discourse of feelings in which there are no
wranglings and bloodshed and of young women and of their laughs and their
cheerful soft voices their pleasant looks and their winning ways I sometimes
tell the sarjeant that he and his daughter will be the spoiling of one of the
best and most experienced scouts on the lines«
»Not they Pathfinder they will try to make that which is already so
excellent perfect You do not know us if you think that either wishes to see
you in the least changed Remain as at present the same honest upright
conscientious fearless intelligent trustworthy guide that you are and
neither my dear father nor myself can ever think of you differently from what
we now do«
It was too dark for Mabel to note the workings of the countenance of her
listener but her own sweet face was turned towards him as she spoke with an
energy equal to her frankness in a way to show how little embarrassed were her
thoughts and how sincere were her words Her countenance was a little flushed
it is true but it was with earnestness and truth of feeling though no nerve
thrilled no limb trembled no pulsation quickened In short her manner and
appearance were those of a sincereminded and frank girl making such a
declaration of good will and regard for one of the other sex as she felt that
his services and good qualities merited without any of the emotion that
invariably accompanies the consciousness of an inclination which might lead to
softer disclosures The Pathfinder was too unpractised however to enter into
distinctions of this kind and his humble nature was encouraged by the
directness and strength of the words he had just heard Unwilling if not unable
to say any more he walked away and stood leaning on his rifle and looking up
at the stars for quite ten minutes in profound silence
In the mean while the interview on the bastion to which we have already
alluded took place between Lundie and the Serjeant
»Have the mens knapsacks been examined« demanded Major Duncan after he
had cast his eye at a written report handed to him by the serjeant but which it
was too dark to read
»All your honor and all are right«
»The ammunition arms «
»All in order Major Duncan and fit for any service«
»You have the men named in my own draft Dunham«
»Without an exception sir Better men could not be found in the regiment«
»You have need of the best of our men serjeant This experiment has now
been tried three times always under one of the ensigns who have flattered me
with success but have as often failed After so much preparation and expense I
do not like to abandon the project entirely but this will be the last effort
and the result will mainly depend on you and on the Pathfinder«
»You may count on us both Major Duncan The duty you have given us is not
above our habits and experience and I think it will be well done I know that
the Pathfinder will not be wanting«
»On that indeed it will be safe to rely He is a most extraordinary man
Dunham one who long puzzled me but who now that I understand him commands
as much of my respect as any general in His Majestys service«
»I was in hopes sir that you would come to look at the proposed marriage
with Mabel as a thing I ought to wish and forward«
»As for that serjeant time will show« returned Lundie smiling though
here too the obscurity concealed the nicer shades of expression »one woman
is sometimes more difficult to manage than a whole regiment of men By the way
you know that your wouldbe soninlaw the Quarter Master will be of the
party and I trust you will at least give him an equal chance in the trial
for your daughters smiles«
»If respect for his rank sir did not cause me to do this your honors
wish would be sufficient«
»I thank you serjeant we have served much together and ought to value
each other in our several stations Understand me however I ask no more for
Davy Muir than a clear field and no favor In love as in war each man must
gain his own victories Are you certain that the rations have been properly
calculated«
»Ill answer for it Major Duncan but if they were not we cannot suffer
with two such hunters as Pathfinder and the Serpent in company«
»That will never do Dunham« interrupted Lundie sharply »and it comes of
your American birth and American training No thorough soldier ever relies on
any thing but his commissary for supplies and I beg no part of my regiment may
be the first to set an example to the contrary«
»You have only to command Major Duncan to be obeyed and yet if I might
presume sir «
»Speak freely serjeant you are talking with a friend«
»I was merely about to say that I find even the Scotch soldiers like
venison and birds quite as well as pork when they are difficult to be had«
»That may be very true but likes and dislikes have nothing to do with
system An army can rely on nothing but its commissaries The irregularity of
the provincials has played the devil with the Kings service too often to be
winked at any longer«
»Gen Braddock your honor might have been advised by Col Washington «
»Out upon your Washington Youre all provincials together man and
uphold each other as if you were of a sworn confederacy«
»I believe His Majesty has no more loyal subjects than the Americans your
honor«
»In that Dunham Im thinking youre right and I have been a little too
warm perhaps I do not consider you a provincial however serjeant for
though born in America a better soldier never shouldered a musket«
»And Col Washington your honor «
»Well and Col Washington may be a useful subject too He is the American
prodigy and I suppose I may as well give him all the credit you ask You have
no doubt of the skill of this Jasper Eau douce«
»The boy has been tried sir and found equal to all that can be required of
him«
»He has a French name and has passed much of his boyhood in the French
colonies has he French blood in his veins serjeant«
»Not a drop your honor Jaspers father was an old comrade of my own and
his mother came of an honest and loyal family in this very province«
»How came he then so much among the French and whence his name He speaks
the language of the Canadas too I find«
»That is easily explained Major Duncan The boy was left under the care of
one of our mariners in the old war and he took to the water like a duck Your
honor knows that we have no ports on Ontario that can be named as such and he
naturally passed most of his time on the other side of the lake where the
French have had a few vessels these fifty years He learned to speak their
language as a matter of course and got his name from the Indians and
Canadians who are fond of calling men by their qualities as it might be«
»A French master is but a poor instructor for a British sailor
notwithstanding«
»I beg your pardon sir Jasper Eau douce was brought up under a real
English seaman one that had sailed under the Kings Pennant and may be called
a thorough bred that is to say a subject born in the colonies but none the
worse at his trade I hope Major Duncan for that«
»Perhaps not serjeant perhaps not nor any better This Jasper behaved
well too when I gave him the command of the Scud no lad could have conducted
himself more loyally or better«
»Or more bravely Major Duncan I am sorry to see sir that you have doubts
as to the fidelity of Jasper«
»It is the duty of the soldier who is entrusted with the care of a distant
and important post like this Dunham never to relax in his vigilance We have
two of the most artful enemies that the world has ever produced in their
several ways to contend with the Indians and the French and nothing should be
overlooked that can lead to injury«
»I hope your honor considers me fit to be intrusted with any particular
reason that may exist for doubting Jasper since you have seen fit to intrust me
with this command«
»It is not that I doubt you Dunham that I hesitate to reveal all I may
happen to know but from a strong reluctance to circulate an evil report
concerning one of whom I have hitherto thought well You must think well of the
Pathfinder or you would not wish to give him your daughter«
»For the Pathfinders honesty I will answer with my life sir « returned
the serjeant firmly and not without a dignity of manner that struck his
superior »Such a man doesnt know how to be false«
»I believe you are right Dunham and yet this last information has
unsettled all my old opinions I have received an anonymous communication
serjeant advising me to be on my guard against Jasper Western or Jasper Eau
douce as he is called who it alleges has been bought by the enemy and giving
me reason to expect that further and more precise information will soon be
sent«
»Letters without signatures to them sir are scarcely to be regarded in
war«
»Or in peace Dunham No one can entertain a lower opinion of the writer of
an anonymous letter in ordinary matters than myself The very act denotes
cowardice meanness and baseness and it usually is a token of falsehood as
well as of other vices But in matters of war it is not exactly the same
thing Besides several suspicious circumstances have been pointed out to me «
»Such as is fit for an orderly to know your honor«
»Certainly one in whom I confide as much as in yourself Dunham It is
said for instance that your daughter and her party were permitted to escape the
Iroquois when they came in merely to gain Jasper credit with me I am told
that the gentry at Frontenac will care more for the capture of the Scud with
Serjeant Dunham and a party of men together with the defeat of our favorite
plan than for the capture of a girl and the scalp of her uncle«
»I understand the hint sir but I do not give it credit Jasper can hardly
be true and Pathfinder false and as for the last I would as soon distrust
your honor as distrust him«
»It would seem so serjeant it would indeed seem so But Jasper is not the
Pathfinder after all and I will own Dunham I should put more faith in the
lad if he didnt speak French«
»Its no recommendation in my eyes I assure your honor but the boy learned
it by compulsion as it were and ought not to be condemned too hastily for the
circumstance by your honors leave If he does speak French its because he
cant well help it«
»Its a dd lingo and never did any one good at least no British
subject for I suppose the French themselves must talk together in some
language or other I should have much more faith in this Jasper did he know
nothing of their language This letter has made me uneasy and were there
another to whom I could trust the cutter I would devise some means to detain
him here I have spoken to you already of a brotherinlaw who goes with you
serjeant and who is a sailor«
»A real seafaring man your honor and somewhat prejudiced against
freshwater I doubt if he could be induced to risk his character on a lake and
Im certain he never could find the station«
»The last is probably true and then the man cannot know enough of this
treacherous lake to be fit for the employment You will have to be doubly
vigilant Dunham I give you full powers and should you detect this Jasper in
any treachery make him a sacrifice at once to offended justice«
»Being in the service of the crown your honor he is amenable to martial
law «
»Very true then iron him from his head to his heels and send him up
here in his own cutter That brotherinlaw of yours must be able to find the
way back after he has once travelled the road«
»I make no doubt Major Duncan we shall be able to do all that will be
necessary should Jasper turn out as you seem to anticipate though I think I
would risk my life on his truth«
»I like your confidence it speaks well for the fellow but that infernal
letter There is such an air of truth about it nay there is so much truth in
it touching other matters «
»I think your honor said it wanted the name at the bottom a great omission
for an honest man to make«
»Quite right Dunham and no one but a rascal and a cowardly rascal in the
bargain would write an anonymous letter on private affairs It is different
however in war Despatches are feigned and artifice is generally allowed to be
justifiable«
»Military manly artifices sir if you will such as ambushes surprises
feints false attacks and even spies but I never heard of a true soldier who
could wish to undermine the character of an honest young man by such means as
these«
»I have met with many strange events and some stranger people in the
course of my experience But fare you well serjeant I must detain you no
longer You are now on your guard and I recommend to you untiring vigilance I
think Muir means shortly to retire and should you fully succeed in this
enterprize my influence will not be wanting in endeavoring to put you in the
vacancy to which you have many claims«
»I humbly thank your honor« coolly returned the serjeant who had been
encouraged in this manner any time for the preceding twenty years »and hope I
shall never disgrace my station whatever it may be I am what nature and
Providence have made me and I hope Im satisfied«
»You have not forgotten the howitzer«
»Jasper took it on board this morning sir«
»Be wary and do not trust that man unnecessarily Make a confidant of
Pathfinder at once he may be of service in detecting any villainy that may be
stirring His simple honesty will favor his observation by concealing it He
must be true«
»For him sir my own head shall answer or even my rank in the regiment I
have seen him too often tried to doubt him«
»Of all wretched sensations Dunham distrust where one is compelled to
confide is the most painful You have bethought you of the spare flints«
»A serjeant is a safe commander for all such details your honor«
»Well then give me your hand Dunham God bless you and may you be
successful Muir means to retire by the way let the man have an equal chance
with your daughter for it may facilitate future operations about the
promotion One would retire more cheerfully with such a companion as Mabel
than in cheerless widowerhood and with nothing but oneself to love and such a
self too as Davys«
»I hope sir my child will make a prudent choice and I think her mind is
already pretty much made up in favor of Pathfinder Still she shall have fair
play though disobedience is the next crime to mutiny«
»Have all the ammunition carefully examined and dried as soon as you
arrive the damp of the lake may affect it And now once more farewell
serjeant Beware of that Jasper and consult with Muir in any difficulty I
shall expect you to return triumphant this day month«
»God bless your honor if any thing should happen to me I trust to you
Major Duncan to care for an old soldiers character«
»Rely on me Dunham you will rely on a friend Be vigilant remember you
will be in the very jaws of the lion pshaw of no lion neither but of
treacherous tigers in their very jaws and beyond support Have the flints
counted and examined in the morning and farewell Dunham farewell«
The serjeant took the extended hand of his superior with proper respect
and they finally parted Lundie hastening into his own moveable abode while the
other left the fort descended to the beach and got into a boat
Duncan of Lundie had said no more than the truth when he spoke of the
painful nature of distrust Of all the feelings of the human mind it is that
which is the most treacherous in its workings the most insidious in its
approaches and the least at the command of a generous temperament While doubt
exists every thing may be suspected the thoughts having no definite facts to
set bounds to their wanderings and distrust once admitted it is impossible to
say to what extent conjecture may lead or whither credulity may follow That
which had previously seemed innocent assumes the hue of guilt as soon as this
uneasy tenant has taken possession of the thoughts and nothing is said or
done without being subjected to the colourings and disfigurations of jealousy
and apprehension If this is true in ordinary affairs it is doubly true when
any heavy responsibility involving life or death weighs on the unsettled mind
of its subject as in the case of the military commander or the agent in the
management of any grave political interest It is not to be supposed then that
Serjeant Dunham after he had parted from his commanding officer was likely to
forget the injunctions he had received He thought highly of Jasper in general
but distrust had been insinuated between his former confidence and the
obligations of duty and as he now felt that every thing depended on his own
vigilance by the time the boat reached the side of the Scud he was in a proper
humour to let no suspicious circumstance go unheeded or any unusual movement in
the young sailor pass without its comment As a matter of course he viewed
things in the light suited to his peculiar mood and his precautions as well as
his distrust partook of the habits opinions and education of the man
The Scuds kedge was lifted as soon as the boat with the serjeant who was
the last person expected was seen to quit the shore and the head of the cutter
was cast to the eastward by means of the sweeps A few vigorous strokes of the
latter in which the soldiers aided sent the light craft into the line of the
current that flowed from the river when she was suffered to drift into the
offing again As yet there was no wind the light and almost imperceptible air
from the lake that had existed previously to the setting of the sun having
entirely failed
All this time an unusual quiet prevailed in the cutter It appeared as if
those on board of her felt that they were entering upon an uncertain enterprize
in the obscurity of night and that their duty the hour and the manner of
their departure lent a solemnity to their movements Discipline also came in aid
of these feelings Most were silent and those who said anything spoke seldom
and in low voices In this manner the cutter set slowly out into the lake
until she had got as far as the rivercurrent would carry her when she became
stationary waiting for the usual land breeze An interval of half an hour
followed during the whole of which time the Scud lay as motionless as a log
floating on the water While the little changes just mentioned were occurring in
the situation of the vessel notwithstanding the general quiet that prevailed
all conversation had not been repressed for Serjeant Dunham having first
ascertained that both his daughter and her female companion were on the
quarterdeck led the Pathfinder to the aftercabin where closing the door
with great caution and otherwise making certain he was beyond the reach of
eavesdroppers he commenced as follows
»It is now many years my friend since you began to experience the
hardships and dangers of the woods in my company«
»It is sarjeant yes it is I sometimes fear I am too old for Mabel who
was not born until you and I had fout the Frenchers as comrades«
»No fear on that account Pathfinder I was near your age before I
prevailed on the mind of her mother and Mabel is a steady thoughtful girl one
that will regard character more than any thing else A lad like Jasper Eau
douce for instance will have no chance with her though he is both young and
comely«
»Does Jasper think of marrying« inquired the guide simply but earnestly
»I should hope not at least not until he has satisfied every one of his
fitness to possess a wife«
»Jasper is a gallant boy and one of great gifts in his way he may claim a
wife as well as another«
»To be frank with you Pathfinder I brought you here to talk about this
very youngster Major Duncan has received some information which has led him to
suspect that Eau douce is false and in the pay of the enemy I wish to hear
your opinion on the subject«
»Anan«
»I say the Major suspects Jasper of being a traitor a French spy or what
is worse of being bought to betray us He has received a letter to this effect
and has been charging me to keep an eye on the boys movements for he fears we
shall meet with enemies when we least suspect it and by his means«
»Duncan of Lundie has told you this Sarjeant Dunham«
»He has indeed Pathfinder and though I have been loth to believe any
thing to the injury of Jasper I have a feeling which tells me I ought to
distrust him Do you believe in presentiments my friend«
»In what Sarjeant«
»Presentiments a sort of secret foreknowledge of events that are about to
happen The Scotch of our regiment are great sticklers for such things and my
opinion of Jasper is changing so fast that I begin to fear there must be some
truth in their doctrines«
»But youve been talking with Duncan of Lundie consarning Jasper and his
words have raised misgivins«
»Not it not so in the least For while conversing with the Major my
feelings were altogether the other way and I endeavored to convince him all I
could that he did the boy injustice But there is no use in holding out against
a presentiment I find and I fear there is something in the suspicion after
all«
»I know nothing of presentiments Sarjeant but I have known Jasper Eau
douce since he was a boy and I have as much faith in his honesty as I have in
my own or that of the Sarpent himself«
»But the Serpent Pathfinder has his tricks and ambushes in war as well as
another«
»Ay them are his natral gifts and are such as belong to his people
Neither red skin nor pale face can deny natur but Chingachgook is not a man to
feel a presentiment agin«
»That I believe nor should I have thought ill of Jasper this very morning
It seems to me Pathfinder since Ive taken up this presentiment that the lad
does not bustle about his deck naturally as he used to do but that he is
silent and moody and thoughtful like a man who has a load on his conscience«
»Jasper is never noisy and he tells me noisy ships are generally ill worked
ships Master Cap agrees in this too No no I will believe naught against
Jasper until I see it Send for your brother sarjeant and let us question him
in this matter for to sleep with distrust of ones frind in the heart is like
sleeping with lead there I have no faith in your presentiments«
The serjeant although he scarce knew himself with what object complied
and Cap was summoned to join in the consultation As Pathfinder was more
collected than his companion and felt so strong a conviction of the good faith
of the party accused he assumed the office of spokesman
»We have asked you to come down Master Cap« he commenced »in order to
inquire if you have remarked any thing out of the common way in the movements
of Eau douce this evening«
»His movements are common enough I dare say for fresh water Master
Pathfinder though we should think most of his proceedings irregular down on
the coast«
»Yes yes we know you will never agree with the lad about the manner the
cutter ought to be managed but it is on another pint we wish your opinion«
The Pathfinder then explained to Cap the nature of the suspicions which the
Serjeant entertained and the reasons why they had been excited so far as the
latter had been communicated by Major Duncan
»The youngster talks French does he«
»They say he speaks it better than common« returned the Serjeant gravely
»Pathfinder knows this to be true«
»Ill not gainsay it Ill not gainsay it« answered the guide »at least
they tell me such is the fact But this would prove nothing agin a
Mississagua and least of all agin one like Jasper I speak the Mingo dialect
myself having larnt it while a prisoner among the reptyles but who will say I
am their frind Not that I am an inimy either according to Injin notions
though I am their inimy I will admit agreeable to christianity«
»Ay Pathfinder but Jasper did not get his French as a prisoner he took it
in in boyhood when the mind is easily impressed and gets its permanent
notions when nature has a presentiment as it were which way the character is
likely to incline«
»A very just remark« added Cap »for that is the time of life when we all
learn the catechism and other moral improvements The Serjeants observation
shows that he understands human nature and I agree with him perfectly it is a
damnable thing for a youngster up here on this bit of fresh water to talk
French If it were down on the Atlantic now where a seafaring man has occasion
sometimes to converse with a pilot or a linguister in that language I should
not think so much of it though we always look with suspicion even there at a
shipmate who knows too much of the tongue but up here on Ontario I hold it to
be a most suspicious circumstance«
»But Jasper must talk in French to the people on the other shore« said
Pathfinder »or hold his tongue as there are none but French to speak to«
»You dont mean to tell me Pathfinder that France lies hereaway on the
opposite coast« cried Cap jerking a thumb over his shoulder in the direction
of the Canadas »that one side of this bit of fresh water is York and the
other France«
»I mean to tell you this is York and that is Upper Canada and that English
and Dutch and Indian are spoken in the first and French and Indian in the last
Even the Mingos have got many of the French words in their dialect and it is no
improvement neither«
»Very true and what sort of people are the Mingos my friend« inquired the
serjeant touching the other on a shoulder by way of enforcing a remark the
inherent truth of which sensibly increased its value in the eyes of the speaker
»No one knows them better than yourself and I ask you what sort of a tribe
are they«
»Jasper is no Mingo Sarjeant«
»He speaks French and he might as well be in that particular Brother Cap
can you recollect no movement of this unfortunate young man in the way of his
calling that would seem to denote treachery«
»Not distinctly serjeant though he has gone to work wrong end fore most
half his time It is true that one of his hands coiled a rope against the sun
and he called it querling a rope too when I asked him what he was about but I
am not certain that any thing was meant by it though I dare say the French coil
half their running rigging the wrong way and may call it querling it down too
for that matter Then Jasper himself belayed the end of the jib halyards to a
stretcher in the rigging instead of bringing them into the mast where they
belong at least among British sailors«
»I dare say Jasper may have got some Canada notions about working his
craft from being so much on the other side « Pathfinder interposed »but
catching an idee or a word isnt treachery and bad faith I sometimes get an
idee from the Mingos themselves but my heart has always been with the
Delawares No no Jasper is true and the King might trust him with his
crown just as he would trust his own eldest son who as he is to wear it one
day ought to be the last man to wish to steal it«
»Fine talking fine talking « said Cap rising to spit out of the cabin
window as is customary with men when they most feel their own great moral
strength and happen to chew tobacco »all fine talking Master Pathfinder but
dd little logic In the first place the Kings Majesty cannot lend his crown
it being contrary to the Laws of the Realm which require him to wear it at all
times in order that his sacred person may be known just as the Silver Oar is
necessary to a sheriffs officer afloat In the next place its high treason by
law for the eldest son of His Majesty ever to covet the crown or to have a
child except in lawful wedlock as either would derange the succession Thus
you see friend Pathfinder that in order to reason truly one must get under
way as it might be on the right tack Law is reason and reason is philosophy
and philosophy is a steady drag whence it follows that crowns are regulated by
law reason and philosophy«
»I know little of all this Master Cap but nothing short of seeing and
feeling will make me think Jasper Western a traitor«
»There you are wrong again Pathfinder for there is a way of proving a
thing much more conclusively than by either seeing or feeling or by both
together and that is by a circumstance«
»It may be so in the settlements but it is not so here on the lines«
»It is so in nature which is monarch over all Now according to our
senses young Eau douce is this moment on deck and by going up there either of
us might see and feel him but should it afterwards appear that a fact was
communicated to the French at this precise moment which fact no one but Jasper
could communicate why we should be bound to believe that the circumstance was
true and that our eyes and fingers deceived us Any lawyer will tell you that«
»This is hardly right« said Pathfinder »nor is it possible seein that it
is agin fact«
»It is much more than possible my worthy guide it is law absolute Kings
law of the realm and as such to be respected and obeyed Id hang my own
brother on such testimony no reflections on the family being meant serjeant«
»God knows how far all this applies to Jasper though I do believe Mr Cap
is right as to the law Pathfinder circumstances being much stronger than the
senses on such occasions We must all of us be watchful and nothing suspicious
should be overlooked«
»Now I I recollect me« continued Cap again using the window »There was a
circumstance just after we came on board this evening that is extremely
suspicious and which may be set down at once as a makeweight against this
lad Jasper bent on the Kings ensign with his own hands and while he pretended
to be looking at Mabel and the soldiers wife giving directions about showing
them below here and all that he got the flag Union down«
»That might have been accident« returned the Serjeant »for such a thing
has happened to myself besides the halyards lead to a pulley and the flag
would have come right or not according to the manner in which the lad hoisted
it«
»A pulley« exclaimed Cap with strong disgust »I wish Serjeant Dunham I
could prevail on you to use proper terms An ensign halyardblock is no more a
pulley than your halbert is a boarding pike It is true that by hoisting on one
part another part would go uppermost but I look upon that affair of the
ensign now you have mentioned your suspicions as a circumstance and shall
bear it in mind I trust supper is not to be overlooked however even if we
have a hold full of traitors«
»It will be duly attended to Brother Cap but I shall count on you for aid
in managing the Scud should any thing occur to induce me to arrest Jasper«
»Ill not fail you serjeant and in such an event youll probably learn
what this cutter can really perform for as yet I fancy it is pretty much
matter of guess work«
»Well for my part« said Pathfinder drawing a heavy sigh »I shall cling
to the hope of Jaspers innocence and recommend plain dealing by asking the
lad himself without further delay whether he is or is not a traitor Ill
put Jasper Western agin all the presentiments and circumstances in the Colony«
»That will never do« rejoined the Serjeant »The responsibility of this
affair rests with me and I request and enjoin that nothing be said to any one
without my knowledge We will all keep watchful eyes about us and take proper
note of circumstances«
»Ay ay circumstances are the things after all« returned Cap »One
circumstance is worth fifty facts That I know to be the law of the realm Many
a man has been hanged on circumstances«
The conversation now ceased and after a short delay the whole party
returned to the deck each individual disposed to view the conduct of the
suspected Jasper in the manner most suited to his own habits and character
Chapter XIV
»Even such a man so faint so spiritless
So dull so dead in look so woebegone
Drew Priams curtain in the dead of night
And would have told him half his Troy was burned «
2 Henry IV Ii7073
All this time matters were elsewhere passing in their usual train Jasper like
the weather and his vessel seemed to be waiting for the land breeze while the
soldiers accustomed to early rising had to a man sought their pallets in the
main hold None remained on deck but the people of the cutter Mr Muir and the
two females The Quarter Master was endeavoring to render himself agreeable to
Mabel while our heroine herself little affected by his assiduities which she
ascribed partly to the habitual gallantry of a soldier and partly perhaps to
her own pretty face was enjoying the peculiarities of a scene and situation
that to her were full of the charms of novelty
The sails had been hoisted but as yet not a breath of air was in motion
and so still and placid was the lake that not the smallest motion was
perceptible in the cutter She had drifted in the rivercurrent to a distance a
little exceeding a quarter of a mile from the land and there she lay beautiful
in her symmetry and form but like a fixture Young Jasper was on the
quarterdeck near enough to hear occasionally the conversation which passed
but too diffident of his own claim and too intent on his duties to attempt to
mingle in it The fine blue eyes of Mabel followed his motions in curious
expectation and more than once the Quarter Master had to repeat his compliments
ere she heard them so intent was she on the little occurrences of the vessel
and we might add so indifferent to the eloquence of her companion At length
even Lt Muir became silent and there was a deep stillness on the water
Presently an oar blade fell in a boat beneath the fort and the sound reached
the cutter as distinctly as if it had been produced on her deck Then came a
murmur like a sigh of the night a fluttering of the canvass the creaking of
the boom and the flap of the jib These well known sounds were followed by a
slight heel in the cutter and by the bellying of all the sails
»Heres the wind Anderson « called out Jasper to the oldest of his sailors
»take the helm«
This brief order was obeyed the helm was put up the cutters bows fell
off and in a few minutes the water was heard murmuring under her head as the
Scud glanced through the lake at the rate of five miles in the hour All this
passed in profound silence when Jasper again gave the order ease off the
sheets a little and keep her along the land
It was at this instant that the party from the after cabin reappeared on the
quarterdeck
»Youve no inclination Jasper lad to trust yourself too near our
neighbours the French« observed Muir who took that occasion to recommence the
discourse »Well well your prudence will never be questioned by me for I like
the Canadas as little as you can possibly like them yoursel«
»I hug this shore Mr Muir on account of the wind The land breeze is
always freshest close in provided you are not so near as to make a lee of the
trees We have Mexico Bay to cross and that on the present course will give
us quite offing enough«
»Im right glad its not the Bay of Mexico« put in Cap »which is a part of
the world I would rather not visit in one of your inland craft Does your cutter
bear a weather helm Master Oh the deuce«
»She is easy on her rudder Master Cap but likes looking up at the breeze
as well as another when in lively motion«
»I suppose you have such things as reefs though you can hardly have
occasion to use them«
Mabels bright eye detected the smile that gleamed for an instant on
Jaspers handsome face but no one else saw that momentary exhibition of
surprise and contempt
»We have reefs and often have occasion to use them« quietly returned the
young man »Before we get in Master Cap an opportunity may offer to show you
the manner in which we do so for there is easterly weather brewing and the
wind cannot chop even on the ocean itself more readily than it flies round on
Lake Ontario«
»So much for knowing no better I have seen the wind on the Atlantic fly
round like a coach wheel in a way to keep your sails shaking for an hour and
the ship would become perfectly motionless from not knowing which way to turn«
»We have no such sudden changes here certainly« Jasper mildly answered
»though we think ourselves liable to unexpected shifts of wind I hope however
to carry this land breeze as far as the first islands after which there will be
less danger of our being seen and followed by any of the lookout boats from
Frontenac«
»Do you think the French keep spies out on the broad lake Jasper« inquired
the Pathfinder
»We know they do one was off Oswego during the night of Monday last A
bark canoe came close in with the eastern point and landed an Indian and an
officer Had you been outlying that night as usual we should have secured one
if not both of them«
It was too dark to betray the colour that deepened on the weather burned
features of the guide for he felt the consciousness of having lingered in the
fort that night listening to the sweet tones of Mabels voice as she sang
ballads to her father and gazing at a countenance that to him was radiant
with charms Probity in thought and deed being the distinguishing quality of
this extraordinary mans mind while he felt that a sort of disgrace ought to
attach to his idleness on the occasion mentioned the last thought that could
occur would be to attempt to palliate or deny his negligence
»I confess it Jasper I confess it« he said humbly »Had I been out that
night and I now remember no sufficient reason why I was not it might indeed
have turned out as you say«
»It was the evening you passed with us Pathfinder« Mabel innocently
remarked »surely one who lives so much of his time in the forest in front of
the enemy may be excused for giving a few hours of his time to an old friend
and his daughter«
»Nay nay Ive done little else but idle since we reached the garrison«
returned the other sighing »and it is well that the lad should tell me of it
The idler needs a scoldin yes he needs a scoldin«
»Scolding Pathfinder I never dreamed of saying any thing disagreeable and
least of all would I think of rebuking you because a solitary spy and an
Indian or two have escaped us Now I know where you were I think your absence
the most natural thing in the world«
»I think nothing of it Jasper I think nothing of what you said since it
was desarved We are all human and all do wrong«
»This is unkind Pathfinder«
»Give me your hand lad give me your hand It wasnt you that gave the
lesson it was conscience«
»Well well« interrupted Cap »now this latter matter is settled to the
satisfaction of all parties perhaps you will tell us how it happened to be
known that there were spies near us so lately This looks amazingly like a
circumstance«
As the mariner uttered the last sentence he pressed a foot slyly on that of
the Serjeant and nudged the guide with his elbow winking at the same time
though this sign was lost in the obscurity
»It is known because their trail was found next day by the Serpent and it
was that of a military boot and a moccasin One of our hunters moreover saw
the canoe crossing towards Frontenac next morning«
»Did the trail lead near the garrison Jasper« Pathfinder asked in a manner
so meek and subdued that it resembled the tone of a rebuked school boy »Did the
trail lead near the garrison lad«
»We thought not though of course it did not cross the river It was
followed down to the eastern point at the rivers mouth where what was doing
in port might be seen but it did not cross as we could discover«
»And why didnt you get under way Master Jasper« Cap demanded »and give
chase On Tuesday morning it blew a good breeze one in which this cutter might
have run nine knots«
»That may do on the ocean Master Cap« put in Pathfinder »but it would not
do here Water leaves no trail and a Mingo and a Frenchman are a match for the
devil in a pursuit«
»Who wants a trail when the chase can be seen from the deck as Jasper
here said was the case with this canoe and it mattered nothing if there were
twenty of your Mingos and Frenchmen with a good Britishbuilt bottom in their
wake Ill engage Master Ohthedeuce had you given me a call that said
Tuesday morning that we should have overhauled the blackguards«
»I dare say Master Cap that the advice of as old a seaman as you might
have done no harm to as young a sailor as myself but it is a long and a
hopeless chase that has a bark canoe in it«
»You would have had only to press it hard to drive it ashore«
»Ashore Master Cap You do not understand our lake navigation at all if
you suppose it an easy matter to force a bark canoe ashore As soon as they find
themselves pressed these bubbles paddle right into the winds eye and before
you know it you find yourself a mile or two dead under their lee«
»You dont wish me to believe Master Jasper that any one is so heedless
of drowning as to put off into this lake in one of them egg shells when there
is any wind«
»I have often crossed Ontario in a bark canoe even when there has been a
good deal of sea on Well managed they are the driest boats of which we have
any knowledge«
Cap now led his brotherinlaw and Pathfinder aside when he assured him
that the admission of Jasper concerning the spies was a circumstance and a
strong circumstance and as such it deserved his deliberate investigation
while his account of the canoes was so improbable as to wear the appearance of
browbeating the listeners Jasper spoke confidently of the character of the two
individuals who had landed and this Cap deemed pretty strong proof that he knew
more about them than was to be gathered from a mere trail As for moccasins he
said that they were worn in that part of the world by white men as well as by
Indians he had purchased a pair himself and boots it was notorious did not
particularly make a soldier Although much of this logic was thrown away on the
Serjeant still it produced some effect He thought it a little singular
himself that there should have been spies detected so near the fort and he
know nothing of it nor did he believe that this was a branch of knowledge that
fell particularly within the sphere of Jasper It was true that the Scud had
once or twice been sent across the lake to land men of this character or to
bring them off but then the part played by Jasper to his own certain
knowledge was very secondary the master of the cutter remaining as ignorant as
any one else of the purport of the visits of those whom he had carried to and
fro nor did he see why he alone of all present should know any thing of the
late visit Pathfinder viewed the matter differently With his habitual
diffidence he reproached himself with a neglect of duty and that knowledge of
which the want struck him as a fault in one whose business it was to possess it
appeared a merit in the young man He saw nothing extraordinary in Jaspers
knowing the facts he had related while he did feel it was unusual not to say
disgraceful that he himself now heard of them for the first time
»As for moccasins Master Cap« he said when a short pause invited him to
speak »they may be worn by pale faces as well as by red skins it is true
though they never leave the same trail on the foot of one as on the foot of the
other Any one who is used to the woods can tell the footstep of an Injin from
the footstep of a white man whether it be made by a boot or a moccasin It
will need better evidence than this to make me believe that Jasper is false«
»You will allow Pathfinder that there are such things in the world as
traitors« put in Cap logically
»I never knew an honestminded Mingo one that you could put faith in if he
had a temptation to deceive you Cheatin seems to be their gift and I
sometimes think they ought to be pitied for it rather than parsecuted«
»Then why not believe that this Jasper may have the same weakness A man is
a man and human nature is sometimes but a poor concern as I know by
experience I may say we all know by experience at least I speak for my own
human nature«
This was the opening of another long and desultory conversation in which
the probability of Jaspers guilt or innocence was argued pro and con until
both the serjeant and his brotherinlaw had nearly reasoned themselves into
settled convictions in favor of the first while their companion grew sturdier
and sturdier in his defense of the accused and still more fixed in his opinions
of his being unjustly charged with treachery In this there was nothing out of
the common course of things for there is no more certain way of arriving at any
particular notion than by undertaking to defend it and among the most
obstinate of our opinions may be classed those which are derived from
discussions in which we affect to search for truth while in reality we are only
fortifying prejudice By this time the serjeant had reached a state of mind
that disposed him to view every act of the young sailor with distrust and he
soon got to coincide with his relative in deeming the peculiar knowledge of
Jasper in reference to the spies a branch of information that certainly did
not come within the circle of his regular duties as a circumstance
While this matter was thus discussed near the taffrail Mabel sat silent by
the companionway Mr Muir having gone below to look after his personal
comforts and Jasper standing a little aloof with his arms crossed and his eyes
wandering from the sails to the clouds from the clouds to the dusky outline of
the shore from the shore to the lake and from the lake back again to the
sails Our heroine too began to commune with her own thoughts The excitement
of the late journey the incidents which marked the day of her arrival at the
fort the meeting with a father who was virtually a stranger to her the novelty
of her late situation in the garrison and her present voyage formed a vista
for the minds eye to look back through that seemed lengthened into months She
could with difficulty believe that she had so recently left the town with all
its usages of civilized life and she wondered in particular that the
incidents which had occurred during the descent of the Oswego had made so
little impression on her mind Too inexperienced to know that events when
crowded have the effect of time or that the quick succession of novelties that
pass before us in travelling elevate objects in a measure to the dignity of
events she drew upon her memory for days and dates in order to make certain
that she had known Jasper and the Pathfinder and her own father but little
more than a fortnight Mabel was a girl of heart rather than of imagination
though by no means deficient in the last and she could not easily account for
the strength of her feelings in connection with those who were so lately
strangers to her for she was not sufficiently accustomed to analyze her
sensations to understand the nature of the influences that have just been
mentioned As yet however her pure mind was free from the blight of distrust
and she had no suspicion of the views of either of her suitors and one of the
last thoughts that could have voluntarily disturbed her confidence would have
been to suppose it possible either of her companions was a traitor to his King
and Country
America at the time of which we are writing was remarkable for its
attachment to the German family that then sat on the British throne for as is
the fact with all provinces the virtues and qualities that are proclaimed near
the centre of power as incense and policy get to be a part of political faith
with the credulous and ignorant at a distance This truth is just as apparent
today in connection with the prodigies of the republic as it then was in
connection with those distant rulers whose merits it was always safe to
applaud and whose demerits it was treason to reveal It is a consequence of
this mental dependence that public opinion is so much placed at the mercy of
the designing and the world in the midst of its idle boasts of knowledge and
improvement is left to receive its truth on all such points as touch the
interests of the powerful and managing through such a medium and such a medium
only as may serve the particular views of those who pull the wires Pressed
upon by the subjects of France who were then encircling the British colonies
with a belt of forts and settlements that completely secured the savages for
allies it would have been difficult to say whether the Americans loved the
English more than they hated the French and those who then lived probably would
have considered the alliance which took place between the cisAtlantic subjects
and the ancient rivals of the British crown some twenty years later as an
event entirely without the circle of probabilities In a word as fashions are
exaggerated in a province so are opinions and the loyalty that at London
merely formed a part of a political scheme at New York was magnified into a
faith that might almost have moved mountains Disaffection was consequently a
rare offence and most of all would treason that should favor France or
Frenchmen have been odious in the eyes of the provincials The last thing that
Mabel would suspect of Jasper was the very crime with which he now stood
secretly charged and if others near her endured the pain of distrust she at
least was filled with the generous confidence of a woman As yet no whisper had
reached her ear to disturb the feeling of reliance with which she had early
regarded the young sailor and her own mind would have been the last to suggest
such a thought of itself The pictures of the past and of the present
therefore that exhibited themselves so rapidly to her active imagination were
unclouded with a shade that might affect any in whom she felt an interest and
ere she had mused in the manner related a quarter of an hour the whole scene
around her was filled with unalloyed satisfaction
The season and the night to represent them truly were of a nature to
stimulate the sensations which youth health and happiness are wont to associate
with novelty The weather was warm as is not always the case in that region
even in summer while the air that came off the land in breathing currents
brought with it the coolness and fragrance of the forest The wind was far from
being fresh though there was enough of it to drive the Scud merrily ahead and
perhaps to keep attention alive in the uncertainty that more or less
accompanies darkness Jasper however appeared to regard it with complacency
as was apparent by what he said in a short dialogue that now occurred between
him and Mabel
»At this rate Eau douce« for so Mabel had also learned to style the young
sailor »we cannot be long in reaching our place of destination«
»Has your father then told you where that is Mabel«
»He has told me nothing my father is too much of a soldier and too little
used to have a family around him to talk of such matters Is it forbidden to
say whither we are bound«
»It cannot be far while we steer in this direction for sixty or seventy
miles will take us into the St Lawrence which the French might make too hot
for us and no voyage on this lake can be very long«
»So says my uncle Cap but to me Jasper Ontario and the ocean appear very
much the same«
»You have then been on the ocean while I who pretend to be a sailor have
never yet seen salt water You must have a great contempt for such a mariner as
myself in your heart Mabel Dunham«
»Then I have no such thing in my heart Jasper Eau douce What right have
I a girl without experience or knowledge to despise any much less one like
you who are trusted by the Major and who command a vessel like this I have
never been on the ocean though I have seen it and I repeat I see no
difference between this lake and the Atlantic«
»Nor in them that sail on both I was afraid Mabel your uncle has said so
much against us freshwater sailors that you had begun to look upon us as
little better than pretenders«
»Give yourself no uneasiness on that account Jasper for I know my uncle
and he says as many things against those who live ashore when at York as he
now says against those who sail on fresh water No no neither my father
nor myself think any thing of such opinions My uncle Cap if he spoke openly
would be found to have even a worse notion of a soldier than of a sailor who
never saw the sea«
»But your father Mabel has a better opinion of soldiers than of any one
else he wishes you to be the wife of a soldier«
»Jasper Eau douce I the wife of a soldier My father wishes it Why
should he wish any such thing what soldier is there in the garrison that I
could marry that he could wish me to marry«
»One may love a calling so well as to fancy it will cover a thousand
imperfections«
»But one is not likely to love his own calling so well as to cause him to
overlook every thing else You say my father wishes me to marry a soldier and
yet there is no soldier at Oswego that he would be likely to give me to I am
in an awkward position for while I am not good enough to be the wife of one of
the gentlemen of the garrison I think even you will admit Jasper I am too
good to be the wife of one of the common soldiers«
As Mabel spoke thus frankly she blushed she knew not why though the
obscurity concealed the fact from her companion and she laughed faintly like
one who felt that the subject however embarrassing it might be deserved to be
treated fairly Jasper it would seem viewed her position differently from
herself
»It is true Mabel« he said »you are not what is called a lady in the
common meaning of the word «
»Not in any meaning Jasper« the generous girl eagerly interrupted »on
that head I have no vanities I hope Providence has made me the daughter of a
serjeant and I am content to remain in the station in which I was born«
»But all do not remain in the stations in which they were born Mabel for
some rise above them and some fall below them Many serjeants have become
officers even generals and why may not serjeants daughters become officers
ladies«
»In the case of Serjeant Dunhams daughter I know no better reason than the
fact that no officer is likely to wish to make her his wife« returned Mabel
laughing
»You may think so but there are some in the 55th that know better There
is certainly one officer in that regiment Mabel who does wish to make you his
wife«
Quick as the flashing lightning the rapid thoughts of Mabel Dunham glanced
over the five or six subalterns of the corps who by age and inclinations would
be the most likely to form such a wish and we should do injustice to her
habits perhaps were we not to say that a lively sensation of pleasure rose
momentarily in her bosom at the thought of being raised above a station which
whatever might be her professions of contentment she felt that she had been too
well educated to fill with perfect satisfaction But this emotion was as
transient as it was sudden for Mabel Dunham was a girl of too much pure and
womanly feeling to view the marriage tie through any thing so worldly as the
mere advantages of station The passing emotion was a thrill produced by habit
while the more settled opinion which remained was the offspring of nature and
principles
»I know no officer in the 55th or any other regiment who would be likely
to do so foolish a thing nor do I think I myself would do so foolish a thing
as to marry an officer«
»Foolish Mabel«
»Yes foolish Jasper You know as well as I can know what the world would
think of such matters and I should be sorry very sorry to find that my
husband ever regretted that he had so far yielded to a fancy for a face or a
figure as to have married the daughter of one so much his inferior as a
serjeant«
»Your husband Mabel will not be so likely to think of the father as to
think of the daughter«
The girl was talking with spirit though feeling evidently entered into her
part of the discourse but she paused for near a minute after Jasper had made
the last observation before she uttered another word Then she continued in a
manner less playful and one critically attentive might have fancied in a manner
that was slightly melancholy
»Parent and child ought so to live as not to have two hearts or two modes
of feeling and thinking A common interest in all things I should think as
necessary to happiness in man and wife as between the other members of the
same family Most of all ought neither the man nor the woman to have any
unusual cause for unhappiness the world furnishing so many of itself«
»Am I to understand then Mabel you would refuse to marry an officer
merely because he was an officer«
»Have you a right to ask such a question Jasper« said Mabel smiling
»No other right than what a strong desire to see you happy can give which
after all may be very little My anxiety has been increased from happening to
know that it is your fathers intention to persuade you to marry Lt Muir«
»My dear dear father can entertain no notion so ridiculous no notion so
cruel«
»Would it then be cruel to wish you the wife of a quarter master«
»I have told you what I think on that subject and cannot make my words
stronger Having answered you so frankly Jasper I have a right to ask how you
know that my father thinks of any such thing«
»That he has chosen a husband for you I know from his own mouth for he has
told me this much during our frequent conversations while he has been
superintending the shipment of the stores and that Mr Muir is to offer for
you I know from the officer himself who has told me as much By putting the
two things together I have come to the opinion mentioned«
»May not my dear father Jasper « Mabels face glowed like fire while she
spoke though her words escaped her slowly and by a sort of involuntary impulse
»May not my dear father have been thinking of another It does not follow
from what you say that Mr Muir was in his mind«
»Is it not probable Mabel from all that has passed What brings the
Quarter Master here He has never found it necessary before to accompany the
parties that have gone below he thinks of you for his wife and your father has
made up his own mind that you shall be so You must see Mabel that Mr Muir
follows you«
Mabel made no answer Her feminine instinct had indeed told her that she was
an object of admiration with the Quarter Master though she had hardly supposed
to the extent that Jasper believed and she too had even gathered from the
discourse of her father that he thought seriously of having her disposed of in
marriage but by no process of reasoning could she ever have arrived at the
inference that Lt Muir was to be the man She did not believe it now though
she was far from suspecting the truth Indeed it was her opinion that those
casual remarks of her father which had struck her had proceeded from a general
wish to have her settled rather than from any desire to see her united to any
particular individual These thoughts however she kept secret for self
respect and feminine reserve showed her the impropriety of making them the
subject of discussion with her present companion By way of changing the
conversation therefore after the pause had lasted long enough to be
embarrassing to both parties she said
»Of one thing you may be certain Jasper and that is all I wish to say on
the subject Lt Muir though he were a colonel will never be the husband of
Mabel Dunham And now tell me of our voyage when will it end«
»That is uncertain Once afloat we are at the mercy of the winds and waves
Pathfinder will tell you that he who begins to chase the deer in the morning
cannot tell where he will sleep at night«
»But we are not chasing a deer nor is it morning so Pathfinders moral is
thrown away«
»Although we are not chasing a deer we are after that which may be as hard
to catch I can tell you no more than I have said already for it is our duty to
be closemouthed whether any thing depends on it or not I am afraid however
I shall not keep you long enough in the Scud to show you what she can do in
fair and foul«
»I think a woman unwise who ever marries a sailor« said Mabel abruptly and
almost involuntarily
»This is a strange opinion why do you hold it«
»Because a sailors wife is certain to have a rival in his vessel My uncle
Cap too says that a sailor should never marry«
»He means saltwater sailors« returned Jasper laughing »If he thinks wives
not good enough for those who sail on the ocean he will fancy them just suited
to those who sail on the lakes I hope Mabel you do not take your opinions of
us freshwater mariners from all that Master Cap says«
»Sail ho« exclaimed the very individual of whom they were conversing »or
boat ho would be nearer the truth«
Jasper ran forward and sure enough a small object was discernible about a
hundred yards ahead of the cutter and nearly on her lee bow At the first
glance he saw it was a bark canoe for though the darkness prevented hues from
being distinguished the eye that had got to be accustomed to the night might
discern forms at some little distance and the eye which like Jaspers had
long been familiar with things aquatic could not be at a loss in discovering
the outlines necessary to come to the conclusion he did
»This may be an enemy« the young man coolly remarked »and it may be well
to overhaul him«
»He is paddling with all his might lad« observed the Pathfinder »and
means to cross your bows and get to windward when you might as well chase a
fullgrown buck on snow shoes«
»Let her luff « cried Jasper to the man at the helm »Luff up till she
shakes There steady and hold all that«
The helmsman complied and as the Scud was now dashing the water aside
merrily a minute or two put the canoe so far to leeward as to render escape
impracticable Jasper now sprang to the helm himself and by judicious and
careful handling he got so near his chase that it was secured by a boat hook
On receiving an order the two persons who were in the canoe left it and no
sooner had they reached the deck of the cutter than they were found to be
Arrowhead and his wife
Chapter XV
»What pearl is it that rich men cannot buy
That learning is too proud to gather up
But which the poor and the despised of all
Seek and obtain and often find unsought
Tell me and I will tell thee what is truth«
Cowper The Task III28589
The meeting with the Indian and his wife excited no surprise in the majority of
those who witnessed the occurrence but Mabel and all who knew of the manner in
which this chief had been separated from the party of Cap simultaneously
entertained suspicions which it was far easier to feel than to follow out by
any plausible clue to certainty Pathfinder who alone could converse freely
with the prisoners for such they might now be considered took Arrowhead aside
and held a long conversation with him concerning the reasons of the latter for
having deserted his charge and the manner in which he had been since employed
The Tuscarora met these inquiries and he gave his answers with the
stoicism of an Indian As respects the separation his excuses were very simply
made and they seemed to be sufficiently plausible When he found that the party
was discovered in its place of concealment he naturally sought his own safety
which he secured by plunging into the woods for he made no doubt that all who
could not effect this much would be massacred on the spot In a word he had
run away in order to save his life
»This is well« returned Pathfinder affecting to believe the others
apologies »my brother did very wisely but his woman followed«
»Do not the Pale Faces women follow their husbands Would not Pathfinder
have looked back to see if one he loved was coming«
This appeal was made to the guide while he was in a most fortunate frame of
mind to admit its force for Mabel and her blandishments and constancy were
getting to be images familiar to his thoughts The Tuscarora though he could
not trace the reason saw that his excuse was admitted and he stood with quiet
dignity awaiting the next inquiry
»This is reasonable and natral« returned Pathfinder in English passing
from one language to the other insensibly to himself as his feelings or habit
dictated »this is natral and may be so A woman would be likely to follow the
man to whom she had plighted faith and husband and wife are one flesh Mabel
herself would have been likely to follow the sarjeant had he been present and
retreated in this manner and no doubt no doubt the warm girl would have
followed her husband Your words are honest Tuscarora« changing the language
to the dialect of the other »your words are honest and very pleasant and
just But why has my brother been so long from the fort his friends have
thought of him often but have never seen him«
»If the doe follows the buck ought not the buck to follow the doe«
answered the Tuscarora smiling and laying a finger significantly on the
shoulder of his interrogator »Arrowheads wife followed Arrowhead it was right
in Arrowhead to follow his wife She lost her way and they made her cook in a
strange wigwam«
»I understand you Tuscarora The woman fell into the hands of the Mingos
and you kept upon their trail«
»Pathfinder can see a reason as easily as he can see the moss on the trees
It is so«
»And how long have you got the woman back and in what manner has it been
done«
»Two suns The Dew of June was not long in coming when her husband
whispered to her the path«
»Well well all this seems natral and according to materimony But
Tuscarora how did you get that canoe and why are you paddling towards the St
Lawrence instead of the garrison«
»Arrowhead can tell his own from that of another This canoe is mine I
found it on the shore near the fort«
»That sounds reasonable too for the canoe does belong to the man and an
Injin would make few words about taking it Still it is extrordnary that we
saw nothing of the fellow and his wife for the canoe must have left the river
before we did ourselves«
This idea which passed rapidly through the mind of the guide was now put
to the Indian in the shape of a question
»Pathfinder knows that a warrior can have shame The father would have asked
me for his daughter and I could not give her to him I sent the Dew of June for
the canoe and none spoke to the woman A Tuscarora woman would not be free in
speaking to strange men«
All this too was plausible and in conformity with Indian character and
Indian customs As was usual Arrowhead had received one half of his
compensation previously to quitting the Mohawk and his refraining to demand
the residue was a proof of that conscientious consideration of mutual rights
that quite as often distinguishes the morality of a savage as that of a
christian To one as upright as Pathfinder Arrowhead had conducted himself with
delicacy and propriety though it would have been more in accordance with his
own frank nature to have met the father and abided by the simple truth Still
accustomed to the ways of Indians he saw nothing out of the ordinary track of
things in the course the other had taken
»This runs like water flowing down hill Arrowhead« he answered after a
little reflection »and truth obliges me to own it It was the gift of a red
skin to act in this way though I do not think it was the gift of a Pale Face
You would not look upon the grief of the girls father«
Arrowhead made a quiet inclination of the body as if to assent
»One thing more my brother will tell me« continued Pathfinder »and there
will be no cloud between his wigwam and the strong house of the Yengeese If he
can blow away this bit of fog his friends will look at him as he sits by his
own fire and he can look at them as they lay aside their arms and forget that
they are warriors Why was the head of Arrowheads canoe looking towards the
St Lawrence where there are none but inimies to be found«
»Why were the Pathfinder and his friends looking the same way« asked the
Tuscarora calmly »A Tuscarora may look in the same direction as a Yengeese«
»Why to own the truth Arrowhead we are out scouting like that is
sailing in other words we are on the Kings business and we have a right to
be here though we may not have a right to say why we are here«
»Arrowhead saw the big canoe and he loves to look on the face of Eau douce
He was going towards the sun at evening in order to seek his wigwam but
finding that the young sailor was going the other way he turned that he might
look in the same direction Eau douce and Arrowhead were together on the last
trail«
»This may all be true Tuscarora and you are welcome You shall eat of our
venison and then we must separate The setting sun is behind us and both of us
move quick my brother will get too far from that which he seeks unless he
turns round«
Pathfinder now returned to the others and reported the result of his
examination He appeared himself to believe that the account of Arrowhead might
be true though he admitted that caution would be prudent with one he disliked
but his auditors Jasper excepted seemed less disposed to put faith in the
explanations
»This chap must be ironed at once Brother Dunham« said Cap as soon as
Pathfinder finished his narration »he must be turned over to the Master at
Arms if there is any such officer on fresh water and a court martial ought to
be ordered as soon as we reach port«
»I think it wisest to detain the fellow« the serjeant answered »but irons
are unnecessary so long as he remains in the cutter In the morning the matter
shall be inquired into«
Arrowhead was now summoned and told the decision The Indian listened
gravely and made no objections On the contrary he submitted with the calm and
reserved dignity with which the American Aborigines are known to yield to fate
and he stood apart an attentive but calm observer of what was passing Jasper
caused the cutters sails to be filled and the Scud resumed her course
It was now getting towards the hour to set the watch and when it was usual
to retire for the night Most of the party went below leaving no one on deck
but Cap the Serjeant Jasper and two of the crew Arrowhead and his wife also
remained the former standing aloof in proud reserve and the latter exhibiting
by her attitude and passiveness the meek humility that characterizes an Indian
woman
»You will find a place for your wife below Arrowhead where my daughter
will attend to her wants« said the Serjeant kindly who was himself on the
point of quitting the deck »yonder is a sail where you may sleep yourself«
»I thank my father The Tuscaroras are not poor The woman will look for my
blankets in the canoe«
»As you wish my friend We think it necessary to detain you but not
necessary to confine or to maltreat you Send your squaw into the canoe for the
blankets and you may follow her yourself and hand us up the paddles As there
may be some sleepy heads in the Scud Eau douce« added serjeant in a lower
tone »it may be well to secure the paddles«
Jasper assented and Arrowhead and his wife with whom resistance appeared
to be out of the question silently complied with the directions A few
expressions of sharp rebuke passed from the Indian to his wife while both were
employed in the canoe which the latter received with submissive quiet
immediately repairing an error she had made by laying aside the blanket she had
taken and searching another that was more to her tyrants mind
»Come bear a hand Arrowhead« said the Serjeant who stood at the gunwale
overlooking the movements of the two which were proceeding too slowly for the
impatience of a drowsy man »it is getting late and we soldiers have such a
thing as reveillé Early to bed and early to rise«
»Arrowhead is coming « was the answer as the Tuscarora stepped towards the
head of his canoe
One blow of his keen knife severed the rope which held the boat when the
cutter glanced ahead leaving the light bubble of bark which instantly lost its
way almost stationary So suddenly and dexterously was this manoeuvre
performed that the canoe was on the lee quarter of the Scud before the
serjeant was aware of the artifice and quite in her wake ere he had time to
announce it to his companions
»Hard alee« shouted Jasper letting fly the jib sheet with his own hands
when the cutter came swiftly up to the breeze with all her canvass flapping or
was running into the winds eye as seamen term it until the light craft was a
hundred feet to windward of her former position Quick and dexterous as was this
movement and ready as had been the expedient it was not quicker or more
ready than that of the Tuscarora With an intelligence that denoted some
familiarity with vessels he had seized his paddle and was already skimming the
water aided by the efforts of his wife The direction he took was
southwesterly or on a line that led him equally towards the wind and the
shore while it also kept him so far aloof from the cutter as to avoid the
danger of the latters falling on board of him when she filled on the other
tack
Swiftly as the Scud had shot into the wind and far as she had forged ahead
Jasper knew it was necessary to cast her ere she lost her way and it was not
two minutes from the time the helm had been put down before the lively little
craft was aback forward and rapidly falling off in order to allow her sails to
fill on the opposite tack
»He will escape« said Jasper the instant he caught a glimpse of the
relative bearings of the cutter and the canoe »The cunning knave is paddling
dead to windward and the Scud can never overtake him«
»You have a canoe« exclaimed the serjeant manifesting the eagerness of a
boy to join in the pursuit »Let us launch it and give chase«
»Twill be useless If Pathfinder had been on deck there might have been a
chance but there is none now To launch the canoe would have taken three or
four minutes and the time lost would have been sufficient for the purposes of
Arrowhead«
Both Cap and the serjeant saw the truth of this which would have been
nearly self evident even to one unaccustomed to vessels The shore was distant
less than half a mile and the canoe was already glancing into its shadows at a
rate to show that it would reach the land ere its pursuers could probably get
half the distance The canoe itself might have been seized but it would have
been a useless prize for Arrowhead in the woods would be more likely to reach
the other shore without detection than if he still possessed the means to
venture on the lake again though it might be and probably would be at greater
bodily labor to himself The helm of the Scud was reluctantly put up again and
the cutter wore short round on her heel coming up to her course on the other
tack as if acting on instinct All this was done by Jasper in profound silence
his assistants understanding what was necessary and lending their aid in a sort
of mechanical imitation While these manoeuvres were in the course of execution
Cap took the Serjeant by a button and led him towards the cabin door where he
was out of earshot and began to unlock his stores of thought
»Harkee Brother Dunham« he said with an ominous face »this is a matter
that requires mature thought and much circumspection«
»The life of a soldier Brother Cap is one of constant thought and
circumspection On this frontier were we to overlook either our scalps might
be taken from our heads in the first nap«
»But I consider this capture of Arrowhead as a circumstance and I might
add his escape as another This Jasper Freshwater must look to it«
»They are both circumstances truly brother but they tell different ways
If it is a circumstance against the lad that the Indian has escaped it is a
circumstance in his favor that he was first taken«
»Ay ay but two circumstances do not contradict each other like two
negatives If you will follow the advice of an old seaman serjeant not a
moment is to be lost in taking the steps necessary for the security of the
vessel and all on board of her The cutter is now slipping through the water at
the rate of six knots and as the distances are so short on this bit of a pond
we may all find ourselves in a French port before morning and in a French
prison before night«
»This may be true enough what would you advise me to do brother«
»In my opinion you should put this Master Freshwater under arrest on the
spot send him below under the charge of a sentinel and transfer the command
of the cutter to me All this you have power to perform the craft belonging to
the army and you being the commanding officer of the troops present«
Serjeant Dunham deliberated more than an hour on the propriety of this
proposal for though sufficiently prompt when his mind was really made up he
was habitually thoughtful and wary The habit of superintending the personal
police of the garrison had made him acquainted with character and he had long
been disposed to think well of Jasper Still that subtle poison suspicion had
entered his soul and so much were the artifices and intrigues of the French
dreaded that especially warned as he had been by his commander it is not to
be wondered the recollection of years of good conduct should vanish under the
influence of a distrust so keen and seemingly so plausible In this
embarrassment the Serjeant consulted the Quarter Master whose opinion as his
superior he felt bound to respect though at the moment independent of his
control It is an unfortunate occurrence for one who is in a dilemma to ask
advice of another who is desirous of standing well in his favor the party
consulted being almost certain to try to think in the manner which will be the
most agreeable to the party consulting In the present instance it was equally
unfortunate as respects a candid consideration of the subject that Cap
instead of the Serjeant himself made the statement of the case for the earnest
old sailor was not backward in letting his listener perceive to which side he
was desirous that the Quarter Master should lean Lt Muir was much too politic
to offend the uncle and father of the woman he hoped and expected to win had he
really thought the case admitted of doubt but in the manner in which the facts
were submitted to him he was seriously inclined to think that it would be well
to put the control of the Scud temporarily into the management of Cap as a
precaution against treachery This opinion then decided the serjeant who
forthwith set about the execution of the necessary measures
Without entering into any explanations Serjeant Dunham simply informed
Jasper that he felt it to be his duty to deprive him temporarily of the
command of the cutter and to confer it on his own brotherinlaw A natural and
involuntary burst of surprise which escaped the young man was met by a quiet
remark reminding him that military service was often of a nature that required
concealment and a declaration that the present duty was of such a character
that this particular arrangement had become indispensable Although Jaspers
astonishment remained undiminished the serjeant cautiously abstaining from
making any allusions to his suspicions the young man was accustomed to obey
with military submission and he quietly acquiesced with his own mouth
directing the little crew to receive their future orders from Cap until another
change should be effected When however he was told the case required that not
only he himself but his principal assistant who on account of his long
acquaintance with the lake usually was termed the pilot were to remain below
there was an alteration in his countenance and manner that denoted deep
mortification though it was so well mastered as to leave even the distrustful
Cap in doubt as to its meaning As a matter of course however when distrust
existed it was not long before the worst construction was put upon it
As soon as Jasper and the pilot were below the sentinel at the hatch
received private orders to pay particular attention to both to allow neither to
come on deck again without giving instant notice to the person who might then
be in charge of the cutter and to insist on his return below as soon as
possible This precaution however was uncalled for Jasper and his assistant
both throwing themselves silently on their pallets which neither quitted again
that night
»And now Serjeant« said Cap as soon as he found himself master of the
deck »you will just have the goodness to give me the courses and distance that
I may see the boat keeps her head the right way«
»I know nothing of either Brother Cap« returned Dunham not a little
embarrassed at the question »We must make the best of our way to the station
among the Thousand Islands where we shall land relieve the party that is
already out and get information for our future government Thats it nearly
word for word as it stands in the written orders«
»But you can muster a chart something in the way of bearings and
distances that I may see the road«
»I do not think Jasper ever had any thing of the sort to go by«
»No chart Serjeant Dunham«
»Not a scrap of a pen even Our sailors navigate this lake without any aid
from maps«
»The devil they do They must be regular Yahoos And do you suppose
Serjeant Dunham that I can find one island out of a thousand without knowing
its name or its position without even a course or a distance«
»As for the name Brother Cap you need not be particular for not one of
the whole thousand has a name and so a mistake can never be made on that score
As for the position never having been there myself I can tell you nothing
about it nor do I think its position of any particular consequence provided we
find the spot Perhaps one of the hands on deck can tell us the way«
»Hold on Serjeant hold on a moment if you please Serjeant Dunham If I
am to command this craft it must be done if you please without holding any
councils of war with the cook and cabin boy A shipmaster is a shipmaster and
he must have an opinion of his own even if it be a wrong one I suppose you
know service well enough to understand that it is better in a commander to go
wrong than to go nowhere At all events the Lord High Admiral couldnt
command a yawl with dignity if he consulted the cockswain every time he wished
to go ashore No no if I sink I sink but de Ill go down shipshape and
with dignity«
»But Brother Cap I have no wish to go down any where unless it be to the
station among the Thousand Islands whither we are bound«
»Well well serjeant rather than ask advice that is direct barefaced
advice of a foremast hand or any other than a quarterdeck officer I would go
round to the whole thousand and examine them one by one until we got the right
haven But there is such a thing as coming at an opinion without manifesting
ignorance and I will manage to rowse all there is out of these hands and make
them think all the while that I am cramming them with my own experience We
are sometimes obliged to use the glass at sea when there is nothing in sight
or to heave the lead long before we strike soundings I suppose you know in the
army serjeant that the next thing to knowing that which is desirable is to
seem to know all about it When a youngster I sailed two vyges with a man who
navigated his ship pretty much by the latter sort of information which
sometimes answers«
»I know we are steering in the right direction at present« returned the
serjeant »but in the course of a few hours we shall be up with a headland
where we must feel our way with more caution«
»Leave me to pump the man at the wheel brother and you shall see that I
will make him suck in a very few minutes«
Cap and the serjeant now walked aft until they stood by the sailor who was
at the helm Cap maintaining an air of security and tranquillity like one who
was entirely confident of his own powers
»This is a wholesome air my lad« Cap observed as it might be
incidentally and in the manner that a superior on board a vessel sometimes
condescends to use to a favored inferior »Of course you have it in this
fashion off the land every night«
»At this season of the year sir« the man returned touching his hat out
of respect to his new commander and Serjeant Dunhams connection
»The same thing I take it among the Thousand Islands The wind will
stand of course though we shall then have land on every side of us«
»When we get further east sir the wind will probably shift for there can
then be no particular land breeze«
»Ay ay so much for your fresh water It has always some trick that is
opposed to nature Now down among the WestIndia islands one is just as
certain of having a land breeze as he is of having a sea breeze In that
respect there is no difference though its quite in rule it should be
different up here on this bit of fresh water Of course my lad you know all
about these said Thousand Islands«
»Lord bless you Master Cap nobody knows all about them or any thing about
them They are a puzzle to the oldest sailor on the lake and we dont pretend
to know even their names For that matter most of them have no more names than
a child that dies before it is christened«
»Are you a Roman Catholic « demanded the serjeant sharply
»No sir nor any thing else Im a generalizer about religion never
troubling that which dont trouble me«
»Hum a generalizer that is no doubt one of the new sects that afflict
the country« muttered Mr Dunham whose grandfather had been a NewJersey
quaker his father a presbyterian and who had joined the church of England
himself after he entered the army
»I take it John« resumed Cap »Your name is Jack I believe«
»No sir I am called Robert«
»Ay Robert its very much the same thing Jack or Bob we use the two
indifferently I say Bob its good holding ground is it down at this same
station for which we are bound«
»Bless you sir I know no more about it than one of the Mohawks or a
soldier of the 55th«
»Did you never anchor there«
»Never sir Master Eau douce always makes fast to the shore«
»But in running in for the town you kept the lead going out of question
and must have tallowed as usual«
»Tallow and town too Bless you heart Master Cap there is no more town
than there is on your chin and not half as much tallow«
The serjeant smiled grimly but his brotherinlaw did not detect this proof
of facetiousness
»No church tower nor light nor fort ha There is a garrison as you call
it hereaway at least«
»Ask Serjeant Dunham sir if you wish to know that All the garrison is on
board the Scud«
»But in running in Bob which of the channels do you think the best the
one you went last or or or ay or the other«
»I cant say sir I know nothing of either«
»You didnt go to sleep fellow at the wheel did you«
»Not at the wheel sir but down in the fore peak in my berth Eau douce
sent us below sogers and all with the exception of the pilot and we know no
more of the road than if we had never been over it This he has always done in
going in and coming out and for the life of me I could tell you nothing of
the channel or of the course after we are once fairly up with the islands No
one knows any thing of either but Jasper and the pilot«
»Heres a circumstance for you serjeant« said Cap leading his
brotherinlaw a little aside »There is no one on board to pump for they all
suck from ignorance at the first stroke of the brake How the devil am I to
find the way to this station«
»Sure enough Brother Cap your question is more easily put than answered
Is there no such thing as figuring it out by navigation I thought you
saltwater mariners were able to do as small a thing as that I have often read
of their discovering islands surely«
»That you have brother that you have and this discovery would be the
greatest of them all for it would not only be discovering one island but one
island out of a thousand I might make out to pick up a single needle on this
deck old as I am but I much doubt if I could pick one out of a haystack«
»Still the sailors of the lake have a method of finding the places they
wish to go to«
»If I have understood you serjeant this station or block house is
particularly private«
»It is indeed the utmost care having been taken to prevent a knowledge of
its position from reaching the enemy«
»And you expect me a stranger on your lake to find this place without
chart course distance latitude longitude or soundings ay de or
tallow Allow me to ask if you think a mariner runs by his nose like one of
Pathfinders hounds«
»Well brother you may yet learn something by questioning the young man at
the helm I can hardly think that he is as ignorant as he pretends to be«
»Hum this looks like another circumstance For that matter the case is
getting to be so full of circumstances that one hardly knows how to foot up the
evidence But we will soon see how much the lad knows«
Cap and the serjeant now returned to their station near the helm and the
former renewed his inquiries
»Do you happen to know what may be the latitude and longitude of this said
island my lad« he asked
»The what sir«
»Why the latitude or the longitude one or both Im not particular which
as I merely inquire in order to see how they bring up young men on this bit of
fresh water«
»Im not particular about either myself sir and so I do not happen to
know what you mean«
»Not what I mean You know what latitude is«
»Not I sir« returned the man hesitating »though I believe it is French
for the Upper Lakes«
»Wheeew« whistled Cap drawing out his breath like the broken stop of
an organ »Latitude French for upper lakes Harkee young man do you know
what longitude means«
»I believe I do sir that is five feet six the regulation height for
soldiers in the Kings service«
»Theres the longitude found out for you serjeant in the rattling of a
brace block You have some notion about a degree and minutes and seconds I
hope«
»Yes sir degree means my betters and minutes and seconds are for the
short or long loglines We all know these things as well as the saltwater
people«
»De Brother Dunham if I think even Faith can get along on this lake
much as they say it can do with mountains Im sure character is in no security
Well my lad you understand the azimuth and measuring distances and how to
box the compass«
»As for the first sir I cant say I do The distances we all know as we
measure them from point to point and as for boxing the compass I will turn my
back to no admiral in His Majestys fleet Nothenothe and by east nothenothe
east nothe east and by nothe nothe east nothe east and by east east nothe
east east and by nothe east «
»That will do that will do Youll bring about a shift of wind if you go
on in this manner I see very plainly serjeant« walking away again and
dropping his voice »weve nothing to hope for from that chap Ill stand on
two hours longer on this tack when well heaveto and get the soundings after
which we will be governed by circumstances«
To this the serjeant who to coin a word was very much of an
idiosyncratist made no objections and as the wind grew lighter as usual with
the advance of night and there were no immediate obstacles to the navigation
he made a bed of a sail on deck and was soon lost in the sound sleep of a
soldier Cap continued to walk the deck for he was one whose iron frame set
fatigue at defiance and not once that night did he close his eyes
It was broad daylight when Serjeant Dunham awoke and the exclamation of
surprise that escaped him as he rose to his feet and began to look about him
was stronger than it was usual for one so drilled to suffer to be heard He
found the weather entirely changed the view bounded by driving mist that
limited the visible horizon to a circle of about a mile in diameter the lake
raging and covered with foam and the Scud lying to A brief conversation with
his brotherinlaw let him into the secrets of all these sudden changes
According to the account of Master Cap the wind had died away to a calm
about midnight or just as he was thinking of heaving to to sound for islands
ahead were beginning to be seen At one AM it began to blow from the north
east accompanied by a drizzle and he stood off to the northward and westward
knowing that the coast of New York lay in the opposite direction At half past
one he stowed the staysail reefed the mainsail and took the bonnet off the
jib At two he was compelled to get a second reef aft and by half past two he
had put a balance reef in the sail and was lying to
»I cant say but the boat behaves well Serjeant« the old sailor added
»but it blows forty two pounders I had no idea there were any such currents of
air up here on this bit of fresh water though I care not the knotting of a
yarn for it as your lake has now somewhat of a natural look and « spitting
from his mouth with distaste a dash of the spray that had just wetted his
face »and if this dd water had a savor of salt about it one might be
comfortable«
»How long have you been heading in this direction Brother Cap« enquired
the prudent soldier »And at what rate may we be going through the water«
»Why two or three hours mayhap and she went like a horse for the first
pair of them Oh weve a fine offing now for to own the truth little
relishing the neighborhood of them said islands although they are to windward
I took the helm myself and run her off free for some league or two We are
well to leeward of them Ill engage I say to leeward for though one might
wish to be well to windward of one island or even half a dozen when it comes
to a thousand the better way is to give it up at once and to slide down under
their lee as fast as possible No no there they are up yonder in the
drizzle and there they may stay for any thing Charles Cap cares«
»As the north shore lies only some five or six leagues from us Brother and
I know there is a large bay in that quarter might it not be well to consult
some of the crew concerning our position if indeed we do not call up Jasper
Eau douce and tell him to carry us back to Oswego It is quite impossible we
should ever reach the station with this wind directly in our teeth«
»There are several serious professional reasons serjeant against all your
propositions In the first place an admission of ignorance on the part of a
commander would destroy discipline No matter brother I understand your
shake of the head but nothing capsizes discipline so much as to confess
ignorance I once knew a master of a vessel who went a week on a wrong course
rather than allow he had made a mistake and it was surprising how much he rose
in the opinions of his people just because they could not understand him«
»That may do on salt water Brother Cap but it will hardly do on fresh
Rather than wreck my command on the Canada shore I shall feel it a duty to take
Jasper out of arrest«
»And make a haven in Frontenac No serjeant the Scud is in good hands and
will now learn something of seamanship We have a fine offing and no one but a
madman would think of going upon a coast in a gale like this I shall ware every
watch and then we shall be safe against all dangers but those of the drift
which in a light low craft like this without top hamper will be next to
nothing Leave it all to me serjeant and I pledge you the character of Charles
Cap that all will go well«
Serjeant Dunham was fain to yield He had great confidence in his
connections professional skill and hoped that he would take such care of the
cutter as would amply justify his good opinion On the other hand as distrust
like love grows by what it feeds on he entertained so much apprehension of
treachery that he was quite willing any one but Jasper should just then have
the control of the fate of the whole party Truth moreover compels us to admit
another motive The particular duty on which he was now sent should have been
confided to a commissioned officer of right and Major Duncan had excited a
good deal of discontent among the subalterns of the garrison by having confided
it to one of the Serjeants humble station To return without having even
reached the point of destination therefore the latter felt would be a failure
from which he was not likely soon to recover and the measure would at once be
the means of placing a superior in his shoes
Chapter XVI
»Thou glorious mirror where the Almightys form
Glasses itself in tempests in all time
Calm or convulsed in breeze or gale or storm
Icing the pole or in the torrid clime
Dark heaving boundless endless and sublime
The image of Eternity the throne
Of the Invisible even from out thy slime
The monsters of the deep are made each zone
Obeys thee thou goest forth dread fathomless alone«
Byron Childe Harolds Pilgrimage IVclxxxiii
As the day advanced the portion of the inmates of the vessel that had the
liberty of doing so appeared on deck As yet the sea was not very high from
which it was inferred that the cutter was still under the lee of the islands
but it was apparent to all who understood the lake that they were about to
experience one of the heavy autumnal gales of that region Land was nowhere
visible and the horizon on every side exhibited that gloomy void which lends
to all views on vast bodies of water the sublimity of mystery The swells or
as landsmen term them the waves were short and curling breaking of necessity
sooner than the longer seas of the ocean while the element itself instead of
presenting that beautiful hue which rivals the deep tint of the southern sky
looked green and angry though wanting in the lustre that is derived from the
rays of the sun
The soldiers were soon satisfied with the prospect and one by one they
disappeared until none were left on deck but the crew the Serjeant Cap
Pathfinder the Quarter Master and Mabel There was a shade on the brow of the
latter who had been made acquainted with the real state of things and who had
fruitlessly ventured an appeal in favor of Jaspers restoration to the command
A nights rest and a nights reflection appeared also to have confirmed the
Pathfinder in his opinion of the young mans innocence and he too had made a
warm appeal in behalf of his friend though with the same want of success
Several hours passed away the wind gradually getting to be heavier and the
sea rising until the motion of the cutter compelled Mabel and the Quarter
Master to retreat also Cap wore several times and it was now evident that the
Scud was drifting into the broader and deeper parts of the lake the seas raging
down upon her in a way that none but a vessel of superior mould and build could
have long ridden and withstood All this however gave Cap no uneasiness but
like the hunter that pricks his ears at the sound of the horn or the war horse
that paws and snorts with pleasure at the roll of the drum the whole scene
awakened all that was man within him and instead of the captious supercilious
and dogmatic critic quarrelling with trifles and exaggerating immaterial
things he began to exhibit the qualities of the hardy and experienced seaman
that he truly was The hands soon imbibed a respect for his skill and though
they wondered at the disappearance of their old commander and the pilot for
which no reason had been publicly given they soon yielded an implicit and
cheerful obedience to the new one
»This bit of fresh water after all Brother Dunham has some spirit I
find« cried Cap about noon rubbing his hands in pure satisfaction at finding
himself once more wrestling with the elements »The wind seems to be an honest
oldfashioned gale and the seas have a fanciful resemblance to those of the
Gulph Stream I like this serjeant I like this and shall get to respect your
lake if it hold out twenty four hours longer in the fashion in which it has
begun«
»Land ho« shouted the man who was stationed on the forecastle
Cap hurried forward and there sure enough the land was visible through
the drizzle at the distance of about half a mile the cutter heading directly
towards it The first impulse of the old seaman was to give an order to stand
by to ware off shore but the cool headed soldier restrained him
»By going a little nearer« said the serjeant »some of us may recognize the
place Most of us know the American shore in this part of the lake and it will
be something gained to learn our position«
»Very true very true if indeed there is any chance of that we will
hold on What is this off here a little on our weather bow It looks like a
low headland«
»The garrison by Jove« exclaimed the other whose trained eye sooner
recognized the military outlines than the less instructed senses of his
connection
The Serjeant was not mistaken There was the fort sure enough though it
looked dim and indistinct through the fine rain as if it were seen in the dusk
of evening or the haze of morning The low sodded and verdant ramparts the
sombre palisades now darker than ever with water the roof of a house or two
the tall solitary flagstaff with its halyards blown steadily out into a
curve that appeared traced in immovable lines in the air were all soon to be
seen though no sign of animated life could be discovered Even the sentinel was
housed and at first it was believed that no eye would detect the presence of
their own vessel But the unceasing vigilance of a border garrison did not
slumber One of the look outs probably made the interesting discovery a man or
two were seen on some elevated stands and then the entire ramparts next the
lake were dotted with human beings
The whole scene was one in which sublimity was singularly relieved by the
picturesque The raging of the tempest had a character of duration that
rendered it easy to imagine it might be a permanent feature of the spot The
roar of the wind was without intermission and the raging water answered to its
dull but grand strains with hissing spray a menacing wash and sullen surges
The drizzle made a medium for the eye which closely resembled that of a thin
mist softening and rendering mysterious the images it revealed while the
genial feeling that is apt to accompany a gale of wind on water contributed to
aid the milder influences of the moment The dark interminable forest hove up
out of the obscurity grand sombre and impressive while the solitary peculiar
and picturesque glimpses of life that were caught in and about the fort formed
a refuge for the eye to retreat to when oppressed with the more imposing
objects of nature
»They see us« said the Serjeant »and think we have returned on account of
the gale and have fallen to leeward of the port Yes there is Major Duncan
himself on the north eastern bastion I know him by his height and by the
officers around him«
»Serjeant it would be worth standing a little jeering if we could fetch
into the river and come safely to an anchor In that case too we might land
this Master Oh the deuce and purify the boat«
»It would indeed but poor sailor as I am I well know it cannot be done
Nothing that sails the lake can turn to windward against this gale and there is
no anchorage outside in weather like this«
»I know it I see it serjeant and pleasant as is that sight to you
landsmen we must leave it For myself I am never so happy in heavy weather
as when I am certain that the land is behind me«
The Scud had now forged so near in that it became indispensable to lay her
head off shore again and the necessary orders were given The storm staysail
was set forward the gaff lowered the helm put up and the light craft that
seemed to sport with the elements like a duck fell off a little drew ahead
swiftly obeyed her rudder and was soon flying away on the top of the surges
dead before the gale While making this rapid flight though the land still
remained in view on her larboard beam the fort and the groups of anxious
spectators on its ramparts were swallowed up in the mist Then followed the
evolutions necessary to bring the head of the cutter up to the wind when she
again began to wallow her weary way towards the north shore
Hours now passed before any further change was made the wind increasing in
force until even the dogmatical Cap fairly admitted it was blowing a thorough
gale of wind About sunset the Scud wore again to keep her off the north shore
during the hours of darkness and at midnight her temporary master who by
questioning the crew in an indirect manner had obtained some general knowledge
of the size and shape of the lake believed himself to be about midway between
the two shores The height and length of the seas aided this impression and it
must be added that Cap by this time began to feel a respect for fresh water
that twenty four hours earlier he would have derided as impossible Just as the
night turned the fury of the wind became so great that he found it impossible
to bear up against it the water falling on the deck of the little craft in such
masses as to cause her to shake to the centre and though a vessel of
singularly lively qualities to threaten to bury her beneath its weight The
people of the Scud averred that never before had they been out in such a
tempest which was true for possessing a perfect knowledge of all the rivers
and headlands and havens Jasper would have carried the cutter in shore long
ere this and placed her in safety in some secure anchorage But Cap still
disdained to consult the young master who continued below determining to act
like a mariner of the broad ocean
It was one in the morning when the storm staysail was again got on the
Scud the head of the mainsail lowered and the cutter put before the wind
Although the canvass now exposed was merely a rag in surface the little craft
nobly justified the use of the name she bore For eight hours did she scud in
truth and it was almost with the velocity of the gulls that wheeled wildly over
her in the tempest apparently afraid to alight in the boiling caldron of the
lake The dawn of day brought little change for no other horizon became
visible than the narrow circle of drizzling sky and water already described
in which it seemed as if the elements were rioting in chaotic confusion During
this time the crew and passengers of the cutter were of necessity passive
Jasper and the pilot remained below but the motion of the vessel having become
easier nearly all the rest were on deck The morning meal had been taken in
silence and eye met eye as if their owners asked each other in dumb show
what was to be the end of this strife in the elements Cap however was
perfectly composed and his face brightened his step grew firmer and his whole
air more assured as the storm increased making larger demands on his
professional skill and personal spirit He stood on the forecastle his arms
crossed balancing his body with a seamans instinct while his eyes watched the
caps of the seas as they broke and glanced past the reeling cutter itself in
such swift motion as if they were the scud flying athwart the sky At this
sublime instant one of the hands gave the unexpected cry of a sail
There was so much of the wild and solitary character of the wilderness about
Ontario that one scarcely expected to meet with a vessel on its waters The
Scud herself to those who were in her resembled a man threading the forest
alone and the meeting was like that of two solitary hunters beneath the broad
canopy of leaves that then covered so many millions of acres on the continent
of America The peculiar state of the weather served to increase the romantic
almost supernatural appearance of the passage Cap alone regarded it with
practised eyes and even he felt his iron nerves thrill under the sensations
that were awakened by the wild features of the scene
The strange vessel was about two cables length ahead of the Scud standing
by the wind athwart her bows and steering a course to render it probable that
the latter would pass within a few yards of her She was a fullrigged ship and
seen through the misty medium of the tempest the most experienced eye could
detect no imperfection in her gear or construction The only canvass she had
set was a close reefed maintopsail and two small storm staysails one
forward and the other aft Still the power of the wind pressed so hard upon her
as to bear her down nearly to her beamends whenever the hull was not righted
by the buoyancy of some wave under her lee Her spars were all in their places
and by her motion through the water which might have equalled four knots in the
hour it was apparent that she steered a little free
»The fellow must know his position well« said Cap as the cutter flew down
towards the ship with a velocity almost equalling that of the gale »for he is
standing boldly to the southward where he expects to find anchorage or a haven
No man in his senses would run off free in that fashion that was not driven to
scudding like ourselves who did not perfectly understand where he was going«
»We have made an awful run captain« returned the man to whom this remark
had been addressed »That is the French Kings ship Lee My Calm le Montcalm
and she is standing in for the Niagara where her owner has a garrison and a
port Weve made an awful run of it«
»Ay bad luck to him Frenchman like he skulks into port the moment he
sees an English bottom«
»It might be well for us if we could follow him« returned the man shaking
his head despondingly »for we are getting into the end of a bay up here at the
head of the lake and it is uncertain whether we ever get out of it again«
»Poh man poh We have plenty of sea room and a good English hull
beneath us We are no Johnny Crapauds to hide ourselves behind a point or a
fort on account of a puff of wind Mind your helm sir«
The order was given on account of the menacing appearance of the approaching
passage The Scud was now heading directly for the forefoot of the Frenchman
and the distance between the two vessels having diminished to a hundred yards
it was momentarily questionable if there was room to pass
»Port sir port« shouted Cap »Port your helm and pass astern«
The crew of the Frenchman were seen assembling to windward and a few
muskets were pointed as if to order the people of the Scud to keep off
Gesticulations were observed but the scene was too wild and menacing to admit
of the ordinary expedients of war The water was dripping from the muzzles of
two or three light guns on board the ship but no one thought of loosening them
for service in such a tempest Her black sides as they emerged from a wave
glistened and seemed to frown but the wind howled through her rigging
whistling the thousand notes of a ship and the hails and cries that escape a
Frenchman with so much readiness were inaudible
»Let him hollow himself hoarse« growled Cap »This is no weather to
whisper secrets in Port sir port«
The man at the helm obeyed and the next send of the sea drove the Scud down
upon the quarter of the ship so near her that the old mariner himself
recoiled a step in a vague expectation that at the next surge ahead she would
drive bows foremost into the planks of the other vessel But this was not to be
Rising from the crouching posture she had taken like a panther about to leap
the cutter dashed onward and at the next instant she was glancing past the
stern of her enemy just clearing the end of his spanker boom with her own
lower yard
The young Frenchman who commanded the Montcalm leaped on the taffrail and
with that high toned courtesy which relieves even the worst acts of his
countrymen he raised his cap and smiled a salutation as the Scud shot past
There were bonhommie and good taste in this act of courtesy when circumstances
allowed of no other communications but they were lost on Cap who with an
instinct quite as true to his race shook his fist menacingly and muttered to
himself
»Ay ay its dd lucky for you Ive no armament on board here or Id
send you in to get new cabin windows fitted Serjeant hes a humbug«
»T was civil Brother Cap« returned the other lowering his hand from the
military salute which his pride as a soldier had induced him to return »t
was civil and thats as much as you can expect from a Frenchman What he really
meant by it no one can say«
»He is not heading up to this sea without an object neither Well let him
run in if he can get there we will keep the lake like hearty English
mariners«
This sounded gloriously but Cap eyed with envy the glittering black mass
of the Montcalms hull her waving topsail and the misty tracery of her spars
as she grew less and less distinct and finally disappeared in the drizzle in a
form as shadowy as that of some unreal image Gladly would he have followed in
her wake had he dared for to own the truth the prospect of another stormy
night in the midst of the wild waters that were raging around him brought
little consolation Still he had too much professional pride to betray his
uneasiness and those under his care relied on his knowledge and resources with
the implicit and blind confidence that the ignorant are apt to feel
A few hours succeeded and darkness came again to increase the perils of the
Scud A lull in the gale however had induced Cap to come by the wind once
more and throughout the night the cutter was lyingto as before head reaching
as a matter of course and occasionally waring to keep off the land It is
unnecessary to dwell on the incidents of this night which resembled those of
any other gale of wind There were the pitching of the vessel the hissing of
the waters the dashing of spray the shocks that menaced annihilation to the
little craft as she plunged into the seas the undying howlings of the wind and
the fearful drift The last was the most serious danger for though exceedingly
weatherly under her canvass and totally without tophamper the Scud was so
light that the combing of the swells would seem at times to wash her down to
leeward with a velocity as great as that of the surges themselves
During this night Cap slept soundly and for several hours The day was just
dawning when he felt himself shaken by the shoulder and on rousing himself he
found the Pathfinder standing at his side During the gale the guide had
appeared little on deck for his natural modesty told him that seamen alone
should interfere with the management of the vessel and he was willing to show
the same reliance on those who had charge of the Scud as he expected those who
followed through the forest ought to manifest in his own skill But he now
thought himself justified in interfering which he did in his own
unsophisticated and peculiar manner
»Sleep is sweet Master Cap« he said as soon as the eyes of the latter
were fairly open and his consciousness had sufficiently returned »Sleep is
sweet as I know from experience but life is sweeter still Look about you and
say if this is exactly the moment for a commander to be off his feet«
»How now how now Master Pathfinder« growled Cap in the first moments
of his awakened faculties »Are you too getting on the side of the grumblers
When ashore I admired your sagacity in running through the worst shoals
without a compass and since we have been afloat your meekness and submission
have been as pleasant as your confidence on your own ground I little expected
such a summons from you«
»As for myself Master Cap I feel I have my gifts and I believe theyll
interfere with those of no other man but the case may be different with Mabel
Dunham She has her gifts too it is true but they are not rude like ourn but
gentle and womanish as they ought to be Its on her account that I speak and
not on my own«
»Ay ay I begin to understand The girl is a good girl my worthy friend
but she is a soldiers daughter and a sailors niece and ought not to be too
taut or too tender in a gale Does she show any fear«
»Not she not she Mabel is a woman but she is reasonable and silent Not
a word have I heard from her consarning our doings though I do think Master
Cap she would like it better if Jasper Eau douce were put into his proper
place and things were restored to their old situation like This is human
natur«
»Ill warrant it Girl like and Dunham like too Any thing is better
than an old uncle and every body knows more than an old seaman This is human
natur Master Pathfinder and de if Im the man to sheer a fathom
starboard or port for all the human natur that can be found in a minx of
twenty ay or « lowering his voice a little »for all that can be paraded
in His Majestys 55th regiment of Foot Ive not been at sea forty years to
come up on this bit of fresh water to be taught human natur How this gale
holds out It blows as hard at this moment as if Boreas had just clapped his
hand upon the bellows And what is all this to leeward« rubbing his eyes
»Land as sure as my name is Cap and high land too«
The Pathfinder made no immediate answer but shaking his head he watched
the expression of his companions face with a look of strong anxiety in his
own
»Land as certain as this is the Scud « repeated Cap »A lee shore and
that too within a league of us with as pretty a line of breakers as one
could find on the beach of all Long Island«
»And is that encouraging or is it disheartening« demanded the Pathfinder
»Ha Encouraging disheartening Why neither No no there is nothing
encouraging about it and as for disheartening nothing ought to dishearten a
seaman You never get disheartened or afraid in the woods my friend«
»Ill not say that Ill 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 howsever 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 Dunham on board But here comes her father and
he will natrally feel for his own child«
»We are seriously situated I believe Brother Cap« said the serjeant 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 rueful face and then
looked to windward with an expression of ferocity as if he would have gladly
quarrelled with the weather
»It may be well brother« the serjeant 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 circumstances 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 wellmanaged questions will bring
the truth out of him Ill 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 countenance 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 peril 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 highlands
to leeward when the whole truth burst upon him at once
»Ive sent for you Master Jasper« said Cap folding his arms and
balancing his body with the dignity of the forecastle »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 to run the cutter 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 Pathfinder clapping his hand kindly on
Jaspers shoulder »The lad is as true as the best compass that ever run a
boundary or brought a man off from a blind trail It is a moral 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 Niagara 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 chance 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 every thing considered you may be fitted
to advise even your own father At all events you can speak and I can judge of
your opinion 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 Oh the deuce 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 Harkee young
man Ive been a seafaring animal boy and man forty one years and I never yet
heard of such a thing Id 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 dare say 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 knownothing an exploit Why Pathfinder here has
more seamanship in him than that comes to You can go below again Master Oh
thedeuce«
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 The Progress of Error ll 55053
As the soldiers wife was sick in her berth Mabel Dunham was the only person in
the outer cabin when Jasper returned to it for by an act of grace in the
serjeant 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 feelings 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 every thing 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« she said
eagerly or with that forgetfulness of self with which the youthful of her sex
are wont to betray their feelings when a strong and generous interest has
obtained 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 that your father seems to believe me to be«
»My dear father is a soldier and is obliged to act as one My fathers
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 Im 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 behind the teeming word
at which Jasper hesitated but the indefinable and controlling sense of womanly
diffidence made her suppress her womanly 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 any thing but there are ideas and
feelings that her sex prefer to have expressed before they yield them all their
own sympathies and she had a vague consciousness that these of Jaspers might
properly be enumerated in the class With a readiness 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« she said speaking now
with a firmness that denoted confidence 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 strong 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
scarce 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 older and
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 is in any danger« demanded Mabel as 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 managing the Scud
You know the lake you know the cutter you must be the best judge of our real
situation«
»My concern for you Mabel may make me more cowardly 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
Mabels heart beat quick and a gleam of grateful satisfaction 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 that was naturally uppermost
»My uncles obstinacy must not be permitted to occasion this disaster Go
once more on deck Jasper and ask my father to come into the cabin«
While the young man was complying with this request Mabel sat listening to
the howling of the storm and the dashing of the water against the cutter in a
dread to which she had hitherto been a stranger Constitutionally an excellent
sailor as the term is used among passengers she had not hitherto bethought
her of any danger and had passed her time since the commencement of the gale
in such womanly employments as her situation allowed but now alarm was
seriously awakened she did not fail to perceive that never before had she been
on the water in such a tempest The minute or two that elapsed ere the serjeant
came appeared an hour and she scarcely breathed before she saw him and Jasper
descending the ladder in company Quick as language could express her meaning
she acquainted her father with Jaspers opinion of their situation and
intreated him if he loved her or had any regard for his own life or for those
of his men to interpose with her uncle and to induce him to yield the control
of the cutter again to its proper commander
»Jasper is true father« she added earnestly »and if false he could have
no motive in wrecking us in this distant part of the lake at the risk of all
our lives his own included I will pledge my own life for his truth«
»Ay this is well enough for a young woman who is frightened« answered the
more phlegmatick parent »but it might not be so prudent or excusable in one in
command of an expedition Jasper may think the chance of drowning in getting
ashore fully repaid by the chance of escaping as soon as he reaches the land«
»Serjeant Dunham«
»Father«
These exclamations were made simultaneously but they were uttered in tones
expressive of different feelings In Jasper surprise was the emotion uppermost
in Mabel reproach The old soldier however was too much accustomed to deal
frankly with subordinates to heed either and after a moments thought he
continued as if neither had spoken
»Nor is Brother Cap a man likely to submit to be taught his duty on board a
vessel«
»But father when all our lives are in the utmost jeopardy«
»So much the worse The fair weather commander is no great matter it is
when things go wrong that the best officer shows himself in his true colours
Charley Cap will not be likely to quit the helm because the ship is in danger
Besides Jasper Eau douce he says your proposal in itself has a suspicious
air about it and sounds more like treachery than reason«
»He may think so but let him send for the pilot and hear his opinion It
is well known I have not seen the man since yesterday evening«
»This does sound reasonably and the experiment shall be tried Follow me on
deck then that all may be honest and above board«
Jasper obeyed and so keen was the interest of Mabel that she too
ventured as far as the companion way where her garments were sufficiently
protected against the violence of the wind and her person from the spray Here
maiden modesty induced her to remain though an absorbed witness of what was
passing
The pilot soon appeared and there was no mistaking the look of concern that
he cast around at the scene as soon as he was in the open air Some rumours of
the situation of the Scud had found their way below it is true but in this
instance rumour had lessened instead of magnifying the dangers He was allowed
a few minutes to look about him and then the question was put as to the course
that he thought it prudent to follow
»I see no means of saving the cutter but to anchor« he answered simply and
without hesitation
»What out here in the lake« enquired Cap as he had previously done of
Jasper
»No but closer in just at the outer line of the breakers«
The effect of this communication was to leave no doubt in the mind of Cap
that there was a secret arrangement between her commander and the pilot to cast
away the Scud most probably with the hope of effecting their escape He
consequently treated the opinion of the latter with the indifference he had
manifested towards that of the former
»I tell you Brother Dunham« he said in answer to the remonstrances of the
serjeant against his turning a deaf ear to this double representation »that no
seaman would give such an opinion honestly To anchor on a lee shore in a gale
of wind would be an act of madness that I could never excuse to the
underwriters under any circumstances as long as a rag can be set but to
anchor close to breakers would be insanity«
»His Majesty underwrites the Scud Brother and I am responsible for the
lives of my command These men are better acquainted with Lake Ontario than we
can possibly be and I do think their telling the same tale entitles them to
some credit«
»Uncle« said Mabel earnestly but a gesture from Jasper induced the girl
to restrain her feelings
»We are drifting down upon the breakers so rapidly« said the young man
»that little need be said on the subject Half an hour must settle the matter
one way or the other but I warn Master Cap that the surest footed man among us
will not be able to keep his feet an instant on the deck of this low craft
should she fairly get within them Indeed I make little doubt that we shall
fill and founder before the second line of rollers is passed«
»And how would anchoring help the matter« demanded Cap furiously as if he
felt that Jasper was responsible for the effects of the gale as well as for the
opinion he had just given
»It would at least do no harm« Eau douce mildly replied »By bringing the
cutter head to sea we should lessen her drift and even if we dragged through
the breakers it would be with the least possible danger I hope Master Cap
you will allow the pilot and myself to prepare for anchoring since the
precaution may do good and can do no harm«
»Overhaul your ranges if you will and get your anchors clear with all my
heart We are now in a situation that cannot be much affected by any thing of
that sort Serjeant a word with you aft here if you please«
Cap led his brotherinlaw out of earshot and then with more of human
feeling in his voice and manner than he was apt to exhibit he opened his heart
on the subject of their real situation
»This is a melancholy affair for poor Mabel« he said blowing his nose and
speaking with a slight tremor »You and I Serjeant are old fellows and used
to being near death if not to actually dying Our trades fit us for such
scenes but poor Mabel she is an affectionate and kindhearted girl and I had
hoped to see her comfortably settled and a mother before my time came Well
well we must take the bad with the good in every vyge and the only serious
objection that an old seafaring man can with propriety make to such an event is
that it should happen on this bit of dd fresh water«
Serjeant Dunham was a brave man and had shown his spirit in scenes that
looked much more appalling than this But on all such occasions he had been
able to act his part against his foes while here he was pressed upon by an
enemy whom he had no means of resisting For himself he cared far less than
for his daughter feeling some of that selfreliance which seldom deserts a man
of firmness who is in vigorous health and who has been accustomed to personal
exertions in moments of jeopardy But as respects Mabel he saw no means of
escape and with a fathers fondness he at once determined that if either was
doomed to perish he and his daughter must perish together
»Do you think this must come to pass« he asked of Cap firmly but with
strong feeling
»Twenty minutes will carry us into the breakers and look for yourself
serjeant what chance will even the stoutest man among us have in that cauldron
to leeward«
The prospect was indeed little calculated to encourage hope By this time
the Scud was within a mile of the shore on which the gale was blowing at right
angles with a violence that forbade the idea of showing any additional canvass
with a view to claw off The small portion of the mainsail that was actually
set and which merely served to keep the head of the Scud so near the wind as to
prevent the waves from breaking over her quivered under the gusts as if at
each moment the stout threads which held the complicated fabric together were
about to be torn asunder The drizzle had ceased but the air for a hundred
feet above the surface of the lake was filled with dazzling spray which had an
appearance not unlike that of a brilliant mist while above all the sun was
shining gloriously in a cloudless sky Jasper had noted the omen and had
foretold that it announced a speedy termination to the gale though the next
hour or two must decide their fate Between the cutter and the shore the view
was still more wild and appalling The breakers extended near half a mile while
the water within their line was white with foam the air above them was so far
filled with vapor and spray as to render the land beyond hazy and indistinct
Still it could be seen that the latter was high not a usual thing for the
shores of Ontario and that it was covered with the verdant mantle of the
interminable forest
While the serjeant and Cap were gazing at this scene in silence Jasper and
his people were actively engaged on the forecastle No sooner had the young man
received permission to resume his old employment than appealing to some of the
soldiers for aid he mustered five or six assistants and set about in earnest
the performance of a duty that had been too long delayed On these narrow
waters anchors are never stowed in board or cables that are intended for
service unbent and Jasper was saved much of the labor that would have been
necessary in a vessel at sea The two bowers were soon ready to be let go
ranges of the cables were overhauled and then the party paused to look about
them No change for the better had occurred but the cutter was falling slowly
in and each instant rendered it more certain that she could not gain an inch to
windward
One long earnest survey of the lake ended Jasper gave new orders in a
manner to prove how much he thought that the time pressed Two kedges were got
on deck and hawsers were bent to them The inner ends of the hawsers were bent
in their turns to the crowns of the anchors and every thing was got ready to
throw them overboard at the proper moment These preparations completed
Jaspers manner changed from the excitement of exertion to a look of calm but
settled concern He quitted the forecastle where the seas were dashing inboard
at every plunge of the vessel the duty just mentioned having been executed with
the bodies of the crew frequently buried in the water and walked to a drier
part of the deck aft Here he was met by the Pathfinder who was standing near
Mabel and the Quarter Master Most of those on board with the exception of the
individuals who have already been particularly mentioned were below some
seeking relief from physical suffering on their pallets and others tardily
bethinking them of their sins For the first time most probably since her keel
had dipped into the limpid waters of Ontario the voice of prayer was heard on
board the Scud
»Jasper« commenced his friend the guide »I have been of no use this
morning for my gifts are of little account as you know in a vessel like this
but should it please God to let the sarjeants daughter reach the shore alive
my acquaintance with the forest may still carry her through in safety to the
garrison«
»Tis a fearful distance thither Pathfinder« Mabel rejoined the party
being so near together that all which was said by one was overheard by the
others »I am afraid none of us could live to reach the fort«
»It would be a risky path Mabel and a crooked one though some of your sex
have undergone even more than that in this wilderness But Jasper either you
or I or both of us must man this bark canoe Mabels only chance will lie in
getting through the breakers in that«
»I would willingly man any thing to save Mabel« answered Jasper with a
melancholy smile »but no human hand Pathfinder could carry that canoe through
yonder breakers in a gale like this I have hopes from anchoring after all
for once before have we saved the Scud in an extremity nearly as great as
this«
»If we are to anchor Jasper« the serjeant enquired »why not do it at
once Every foot we lose in drifting now would come into the distance we shall
probably drag when the anchors are let go«
Jasper drew nearer to the Serjeant and took his hand pressing it
earnestly and in a way to denote strong almost uncontrollable feelings
»Serjeant Dunham« he said solemnly »you are a good man though you have
treated me harshly in this business You love your daughter«
»That you cannot doubt Eau douce« returned the serjeant huskily
»Will you give her give us all the only chance for life that is left«
»What would you have me do boy what would you have me do I have acted
according to my judgment hitherto what would you have me do«
»Support me against Master Cap for five minutes and all that man can now
do towards saving the Scud shall be done«
The serjeant hesitated for he was too much of a disciplinarian to fly in
the face of regular orders He disliked the appearance of vacillation too and
then he had a profound respect for his kinsmans seamanship While he was
deliberating Cap came from the post he had some time occupied which was at the
side of the man at the helm and drew near the group
»Master Eaudeuce« he said as soon as near enough to be heard »I have
come to enquire if you know any spot nearby where this cutter can be beached
The moment has arrived when we are driven to this hard alternative«
That instant of indecision on the part of Cap secured the triumph of
Jasper Looking at the Serjeant the young man received a nod that assured him
of all he asked and he lost not one of those moments that were getting to be so
very precious
»Shall I take the helm« he inquired of Cap »and see if we can reach a
creek that lies to leeward«
»Do so do so « said the other hemming to clear his throat for he felt
oppressed by a responsibility that weighed all the heavier on his shoulders on
account of his ignorance »Do so Ohthedeuce since to be frank with you I
can see nothing better to be done We must beach or swamp«
Jasper required no more springing aft he soon had the tiller in his own
hands The pilot was prepared for what was to follow and at a sign from his
young commander the rag of sail that had so long been set was taken in At that
moment Jasper watching his time put the helm up the head of a staysail was
loosened forward and the light cutter as if conscious she was now under the
control of familiar hands fell off and was soon in the trough of the sea This
perilous instant was passed in safety and at the next moment the little
vessel appeared flying down toward the breakers at a rate that threatened
instant destruction The distance had got to be so short that five or six
minutes sufficed for all that Jasper wished and he put the helm down again
when the bows of the Scud came up to the wind notwithstanding the turbulence of
the waters as gracefully as the duck varies its line of direction on the glassy
pond A sign from Jasper set all in motion on the forecastle and a kedge was
thrown from each bow The fearful nature of the drift was now apparent even to
Mabels eyes for the two hawsers ran out like towlines As soon as they
straightened to a slight strain both anchors were let go and cable was given
to each nearly to the better ends It was not a difficult task to snub so light
a craft with ground tackle of a quality better than common and in less than
ten minutes from the moment when Jasper went to the helm the Scud was riding
head to sea with the two cables stretched ahead in lines that resembled bars of
iron
»This is not well done Master Jasper« angrily exclaimed Cap as soon as he
perceived the trick that had been played him »This is not well done sir I
order you to cut and to beach the cutter without a moments delay«
No one however seemed disposed to comply with this order for so long as
Eau douce saw fit to command his own people were disposed to obey Finding that
the men remained passive Cap who believed they were in the utmost peril
turned fiercely to Jasper and renewed his remonstrances
»You did not head for your pretended creek« he added after dealing in some
objurgatory remarks that we do not deem it necessary to record »but steered for
that bluff where every soul on board would have been drowned had we gone
ashore«
»And you wish to cut and put every soul ashore at that very spot« Jasper
retorted a little drily
»Throw a lead line over board and ascertain the drift « Cap now roared to
the people forward A sign from Jasper sustaining this order it was instantly
obeyed All on deck gathered around the spot and watched with nearly
breathless interest the result of the experiment The lead was no sooner on the
bottom than the line tended forward and in about two minutes it was seen that
the cutter had drifted her length dead in towards the bluff Jasper looked
grave for he well knew nothing would hold the vessel did she get within the
vortex of the breakers the first line of which was appearing and disappearing
about a cables length directly under their stern
»Traitor« exclaimed Cap shaking a finger at the young commander though
passion choked the rest »You must answer for this with your life« he added
after a short pause »If I were at the head of this expedition Serjeant I
would hang him at the end of the mainboom lest he escape drowning«
»Moderate your feelings brother be more moderate I beseech you Jasper
appears to have done all for the best and matters may not be as bad as you
believe them«
»Why did he not run for the creek he mentioned why has he brought us
here dead to windward of that bluff and to a spot where even the breakers are
only of half the ordinary width as if in a hurry to drown all on board«
»I headed for the bluff for the precise reason that the breakers are so
narrow at this spot« answered Jasper mildly though his gorge had risen at the
language the other held
»Do you mean to tell an old seaman like me that this cutter could live in
those breakers«
»I do not sir I think she would fill and swamp if driven into the first
line of them I am certain she would never reach the shore on her bottom if
fairly entered I hope to keep her clear of them altogether«
»With a drift of her length in a minute«
»The backing of the anchors does not yet fairly tell nor do I even hope
that they will entirely bring her up«
»On what then do you rely To moor a craft head and stern by faith hope
and charity«
»No sir I trust to the undertow I headed for the bluff because I knew
that it was stronger at that point than at any other and because we could get
nearer in with the land without entering the breakers«
This was said with spirit though without any particular show of resentment
Its effect on Cap was marked the feeling that was uppermost being evidently
that of surprise
»Undertow« he repeated »Who the devil ever heard of saving a vessel from
going ashore by the undertow«
»This may never happen on the ocean sir« Jasper answered modestly »but we
have known it to happen here«
»The lad is right brother« put in the serjeant »for though I do not well
understand it I have often heard the sailors of the lake speak of such a thing
We shall do well to trust to Jasper in this strait«
Cap grumbled and swore but as there was no remedy he was compelled to
acquiesce Jasper being now called on to explain what he meant by the undertow
gave this account of the matter The water that was driven up on the shore by
the gale was necessarily compelled to find its level by returning to the lake
by some secret channels This could not be done on the surface where both wind
and waves were constantly urging it towards the land and it necessarily formed
a sort of lower eddy by means of which it flowed back again to its ancient and
proper bed This inferior current had received the name of the undertow and as
it would necessarily act on the bottom of a vessel that drew as much water as
the Scud Jasper trusted to the aid of this reaction to keep his cables from
parting In short the upper and lower currents would in a manner counteract
each other
Simple and ingenious as was this theory however as yet there was little
evidence of its being reduced to practice The drift continued though as the
kedges and hawsers with which the anchors were backed took the strains it
became sensibly less At length the man at the lead announced the joyful
intelligence that the anchors had ceased to drag and that the vessel had
brought up At this precise moment the first line of the breakers was about a
hundred feet astern of the Scud even appearing to approach much nearer as the
foam vanished and returned on the raging surges Jasper sprang forward and
casting a glance over the bows he smiled in triumph as he pointed exultingly
to the cables Instead of resembling bars of iron in rigidity as before they
were curving downwards and to a seamans senses it was evident that the cutter
rose and fell on the seas as they came in with the ease of a ship in a
tidesway when the power of the wind is relieved by the counteracting pressure
of the water
»Tis the undertow« he exclaimed with delight fairly bounding along the
deck to steady the helm in order that the cutter might ride still easier
»Providence has placed us directly in its current and there is no longer any
danger«
»Ay ay Providence is a good seaman « growled Cap »and often helps
lubbers out of difficulty Under tow or upper tow the gale has abated and
fortunately for us all the anchors have met with good holding ground Then this
dd fresh water has an unnatural way with it«
Men are seldom inclined to quarrel with good fortune but it is in distress
that they grow clamorous and critical Most on board were disposed to believe
that they had been saved from shipwreck by the skill and knowledge of Jasper
without regarding the opinions of Cap whose remarks were now little heeded
There was half an hour of uncertainty and doubt it is true during which
period the lead was anxiously watched and then a feeling of security came over
all and the weary slept without dreaming of instant death
Chapter XVIII
»It is to be all made of sighs and tears
It is to be all made of faith and service
It is to be all made of fantasy
All made of passion and all made of wishes
All adoration duty and observance
All humbleness all patience and impatience
All purity all trial all observance«
As You Like It Vii84 89 9498
It was near noon when the gale broke and then its force abated as suddenly as
its violence had arisen In less than two hours after the wind fell the surface
of the lake though still agitated was no longer glittering with foam and in
double that time the entire sheet presented the ordinary scene of disturbed
water that was unbroken by the violence of a tempest Still the waves came
rolling incessantly towards the shore and the lines of breakers remained
though the spray had ceased to fly the combing of the swells was more moderate
and all that there was of violence proceeded from the impulsion of wind that had
abated
As it was impossible to make head against the sea that was still up with
the light opposing air that blew from the eastward all thoughts of getting
under way that afternoon were abandoned Jasper who had now quietly resumed
the command of the Scud busied himself however in heaving up to the anchors
which were lifted in succession The kedges that backed them were weighed and
every thing was got in readiness for a prompt departure as soon as the state of
the weather would allow In the mean time they who had no concern with these
duties sought such means of amusement as their peculiar circumstances allowed
As is common with those who are unused to the confinement of a vessel Mabel
cast wistful eyes towards the shore nor was it long before she expressed a wish
that it were possible to land The Pathfinder was near her at the time and he
assured her that nothing would be easier as they had a bark canoe on deck
which was the best possible mode of conveyance to go through a surf in After
the usual doubts and misgivings the Serjeant was appealed to His opinion
proved to be favorable and preparations to carry the whim into effect were
immediately made
The party that was to land consisted of Serjeant Dunham his daughter and
the Pathfinder Accustomed to the canoe Mabel took her seat in the centre with
great steadiness her father was placed in the bows while the guide assumed the
office of conductor by steering in the stern There was little need of
impelling the canoe by means of the paddle for the rollers sent it forward at
moments with a violence that put every effort to govern its movements at
defiance More than once ere the shore was reached Mabel repented of her
temerity but Pathfinder encouraged her and really manifested so much
selfpossession coolness and strength of arm himself that even a female might
have hesitated about owning all her apprehensions Our heroine was no coward
and while she felt the novelty of her situation she also experienced a fair
proportion of its wild delight At moments indeed her heart was in her mouth
as the bubble of a boat floated on the very crest of a foaming breaker
appearing to skim the water like a swallow and then she flushed and laughed
as left by the glancing element they appeared to linger behind ashamed at
having been outdone in the headlong race A few minutes sufficed for this
excitement for though the distance between the cutter and the land
considerably exceeded a quarter of a mile the intermediate space was passed in
a very few minutes
On landing the Serjeant kissed his daughter kindly for he was so much of a
soldier as always to feel more at home on terra firma then when afloat and
taking his gun he announced his intention to pass an hour in quest of game
»Pathfinder will remain near you girl and no doubt he will tell you some
of the traditions of this part of the world or some of his own experiences with
the Mingos«
The guide laughed promised to have a care of Mabel and in a few minutes
the father had ascended a steep acclivity and disappeared in the forest The
others took another direction which after a few minutes of a sharp ascent also
brought them to a small naked point on the promontory where the eye overlooked
an extensive and very peculiar panorama Here Mabel seated herself on a fragment
of fallen rock to recover her breath and strength while her companion on
whose sinews no personal exertion seemed to make any impression stood at her
side leaning in his own and not ungraceful manner on his long rifle Several
minutes passed and neither spoke Mabel in particular being lost in
admiration of the view
The position the two had obtained was sufficiently elevated to command a
wide reach of the lake which stretched away towards the north east in a
boundless sheet glittering beneath the rays of an afternoons sun and yet
betraying the remains of that agitation which it had endured while tossed by the
late tempest The land set bounds to its limits in a huge crescent
disappearing in distance towards the southeast and the north Far as the eye
could reach nothing but forest was visible not even a solitary sign of
civilization breaking in upon the uniform and grand magnificence of nature The
gale had driven the Scud beyond the line of those posts with which the French
were then endeavoring to gird the English North American possessions for
following the channels of communications between the great lakes their posts
were on the banks of the Niagara while our adventurers had reached a point many
leagues westward of that celebrated streight The cutter rode at single anchor
without the breakers resembling some well imagined and accurately executed toy
that was intended rather for a glass case than for the struggles with the
elements which she had so lately gone through while the canoe lay on the narrow
beach just out of reach of the waves that came booming upon the land a speck
upon the shingle
»We are very far here from human habitations« exclaimed Mabel when
after a long and musing survey of the scene its principal peculiarities forced
themselves on her active and even brilliant imagination »this is indeed being
on a frontier«
»Have they more sightly scenes than this nearer the sea and around their
large towns« demanded Pathfinder with an interest he was apt to discover in
such a subject
»I will not say that there is more to remind one of his fellow beings
there than here less perhaps to remind one of God«
»Ay Mabel that is what my own feelings say I am but a poor hunter I know
untaught and unlarned but God is as near me in this my home as he is near the
king in his royal palace«
»Who can doubt it « returned Mabel looking from the view up into the
hardfeatured but honest face of her companion though not without surprise at
the energy of his manner »One feels nearer to God in such a spot I think
than when the mind is distracted by the objects of the towns«
»You say all I wish to say myself Mabel but in so much plainer speech
that you make me ashamed of wishing to let others know what I feel on such
matters I have coasted this lake in sarch of skins afore the war and have
been here already not at this very spot for we landed yonder where you may see
the blasted oak that stands above the cluster of hemlocks «
»How Pathfinder can you remember all these trifles so accurately«
»These are our streets and houses our churches and palaces Remember them
indeed I once made an appointment with the Big Sarpent to meet at twelve
oclock at noon near the foot of a certain pine at the end of six months when
neither of us was within three hundred miles of the spot The tree stood and
stands still unless the judgment of Providence has lighted on that too in the
midst of the forest fifty miles from any settlement but in a most
extraordinary neighborhood for beaver«
»And did you meet at that very spot and hour«
»Does the sun rise and set When I reached the tree I found the Sarpent
leaning against its trunk with torn leggings and muddied moccasins The
Delaware had got into a swamp and it worried him not a little to find his way
out of it but as the sun which comes over the eastern hills in the morning goes
down behind the western at night so was he true to time and place No fear of
Chingachgook when there is either a friend or an enemy in the case He is
equally sartain with each«
»And where is the Delaware now why is he not with us today«
»He is scouting on the Mingo trail where I ought to have been too but for
a great human infirmity«
»You seem above beyond superior to all infirmity Pathfinder I never yet
met with a man who appeared to be so little liable to the weaknesses of
nature«
»If you mean in the way of health and strength Mabel Providence has been
kind to me though I fancy the open air long hunts or actyve scoutings
forest fare and the sleep of a good conscience may always keep the doctors at a
distance But Im human after all yes I find Im very human in some of my
feelins«
Mabel looked surprised and it would be no more than delineating the
character of her sex if we added that her sweet countenance expressed a good
deal of curiosity too though her tongue was more discreet
»There is something bewitching in this wild life of yours Pathfinder« she
exclaimed the tinge of enthusiasm mantling her cheeks »I find Im fast getting
to be a frontier girl and am coming to love all this grand silence of the
woods The towns seem tame to me and as my father will probably pass the
remainder of his days here where he has already lived so long I begin to feel
that I should be happy to continue with him and not return to the seashore«
»The woods are never silent Mabel to such as understand their meaning
Days at a time have I travelled them alone without feeling the want of
company and as for conversation for such as can comprehend their language
there is no want of rational and instructive discourse«
»I believe you are happier when alone Pathfinder than when mingling with
your fellow creatures«
»I will not say that I will not say exactly that I have seen the time
when I have thought that God was sufficient for me in the forest and that I
craved no more than his bounty and his care But other feelins have got
uppermost and I suppose natur will have its way All other creaturs mate
Mabel and it was intended man should do so too«
»And have you never bethought you of seeking a wife Pathfinder to share
your fortunes« enquired the girl with the directness and simplicity that the
pure of heart and undesigning are the most apt to manifest and with that feeling
of affection which is inbred in her sex »To me it seems you only want a home
to return to from your wanderings to render your life completely happy Were I
a man it would be my delight to roam through these forests at will or to sail
over this beautiful lake«
»I understand you Mabel and God bless you for thinking of the welfare of
men as humble as we are We have our pleasures it is true as well as our
gifts but we might be happier yes I do think we might be happier«
»Happier In what way Pathfinder In this pure air with these cool and
shaded forests to wander through this lovely lake to gaze at and sail upon
with clear consciences and abundance for all the real wants men ought to be
nothing less than as perfectly happy as their infirmities will allow«
»Every creatur has its gifts Mabel and men have theirn« answered the
guide looking stealthily at his beautiful companion whose cheeks had flushed
and eyes brightened under the ardor of feelings excited by the novelty of a
striking situation »and all must obey them Do you see yonder pigeon that is
just alightin on the beech here in a line with the fallen chestnut«
»Certainly it is the only thing stirring with life in it besides
ourselves that is to be seen in this vast solitude«
»Not so Mabel not so Providence makes nothing that lives to live quite
alone Here is its mate just rising on the wing it has been feedin near the
other beech but it will not long be separated from its companion«
»I understand you Pathfinder« returned Mabel smiling sweetly though as
calmly as if the discourse was with her father »But a hunter may find a mate
even in this wild region The Indian girls are affectionate and true I know
for such was the wife of Arrowhead to a husband who oftener frowned than
smiled«
»That would never do Mabel and good would never come of it Kind must
cling to kind and country to country if one would find happiness If indeed
I could meet with one like you who would consent to be a hunters wife and who
would not scorn my ignorance and rudeness then indeed would all the toil of
the past appear like the sporting of the young deer and all the future like
sunshine«
»One like me A girl of my years and indiscretion would hardly make a fit
companion for the boldest scout and surest hunter on the lines«
»Ah Mabel I fear me that I have been improving a red skins gifts with a
Pale faces natur Such a character would insure a wife in an Injin village«
»Surely surely Pathfinder you would not think of choosing one as
ignorant as frivolous as vain and as inexperienced as I for your wife«
Mabel would have added »and as young« but an instinctive feeling of delicacy
repressed the words
»And why not Mabel If you are ignorant of frontier usages you know more
than all of us of pleasant anecdotes and town customs as for frivolous I know
not what it means but if it signifies beauty Ahs me I fear it is no fault
in my eyes Vain you are not as is seen by the kind manner in which you listen
to all my idle tales about scoutings and trails and as for experience that
will come with years Besides Mabel I fear men think little of these matters
when they are about to take wives I do«
»Pathfinder your words your looks surely all this is meant in trifling
you speak in pleasantry«
»To me it is always agreeable to be near you Mabel and I should sleep
sounder this blessed night than I have done for a week past could I think that
you find such discourse as pleasant as I do«
We shall not say that Mabel Dunham had not believed herself a favorite with
the guide This her quick feminine sagacity had early discovered and perhaps
she had occasionally thought there had mingled with his regard and friendship
some of that manly tenderness which the ruder sex must be coarse indeed not to
show on occasions to the gentler but the idea that he seriously sought her
for his wife had never before crossed the mind of the spirited and ingenuous
girl Now however a gleam of something like the truth broke in upon her
imagination less induced by the words of her companion perhaps than by his
manner Looking earnestly into the rugged honest countenance of the scout
Mabels own features became concerned and grave and when she spoke again it
was with a gentleness of manner that attracted him to her even more powerfully
than the words themselves were calculated to repel
»You and I should understand each other Pathfinder« she said with an
earnest sincerity »nor should there be any cloud between us You are too
upright and frank to meet with any thing but sincerity and frankness in return
Surely surely all this means nothing has no other connection with your
feelings than such a friendship as one of your wisdom and character would
naturally feel for a girl like me«
»I believe its all natral Mabel yes I do the Sarjeant tells me he had
such feelings towards your own mother and I think Ive seen something like it
in the young people I have from time to time guided through the wilderness
Yes yes I dare say its all natral enough and that makes it come so easy
and is a great comfort to me«
»Pathfinder your words make me uneasy Speak plainer or change the subject
forever You do not cannot mean that you cannot wish me to understand «
even the tongue of the spirited Mabel faultered and she shrunk with maiden
shame from adding what she wished so earnestly to say Rallying her courage
however and determined to know all as soon and as plainly as possible after a
moments hesitation she continued »I mean Pathfinder that you do not wish me
to understand that you seriously think of me as a wife«
»I do Mabel thats it thats just it and you have put the matter in a
much better point of view than I with my forest gifts and frontier ways would
ever be able to do The Sarjeant and I have concluded on the matter if it is
agreeable to you as he thinks is likely will be the case though I doubt my own
power to please one who deserves the best husband America can produce«
Mabels countenance changed from uneasiness to surprise and then by a
transition still quicker from surprise to pain
»My father« she exclaimed »My dear father has thought of my becoming your
wife Pathfinder«
»Yes he has Mabel he has indeed He has even thought such a thing might
be agreeable to you and has almost encouraged me to fancy it might be true«
»But you yourself you certainly can care nothing whether this singular
expectation shall ever be realized or not«
»Anan«
»I mean Pathfinder that you have talked of this match more to oblige my
father than any thing else that your feelings are no way concerned let my
answer be what it may«
The scout looked earnestly into the beautiful face of Mabel which had
flushed with the ardor and novelty of her sensations and it was impossible to
mistake the intense admiration that betrayed itself in every lineament of his
ingenuous countenance
»I have often thought myself happy Mabel when ranging the woods on a
successful hunt breathing the pure air of the hills and filled with vigor and
health but I now feel that it has all been idleness and vanity compared with
the delight it would give me to know that you thought better of me than you
think of most others«
»Better of you I do indeed think better of you Pathfinder than of most
others I am not certain that I do not think better of you than of any other
for your truth honesty simplicity justice and courage are scarcely equalled
by any of earth«
»Ah Mabel These are sweet and encouraging words from you and the
sarjeant ater all was not as near wrong as I feared«
»Nay Pathfinder in the name of all that is sacred and just do not let us
misunderstand each other in a matter of so much importance While I esteem
respect nay reverence you almost as much as I reverence my own dear father
it is impossible that I should ever become your wife that I «
The change in her companions countenance was so sudden and so great that
the moment the effect of what she had uttered became visible in the face of the
Pathfinder Mabel arrested her own words notwithstanding her strong desire to
be explicit the reluctance with which she could at any time cause pain being
sufficient of itself to induce the pause Neither spoke for some time the shade
of disappointment that crossed the rugged lineaments of the hunter amounting so
nearly to anguish as to frighten his companion while the sensation of choking
became so strong in the Pathfinder that he fairly griped his throat like one
who sought physical relief for physical suffering The convulsive manner in
which his fingers worked actually struck the alarmed girl with a feeling of awe
»Nay Pathfinder« Mabel eagerly added the instant she could command her
voice »I may have said more than I mean for all things of this nature are
possible and women they say are never sure of their own minds What I wish you
to understand is that it is not likely that you and I should ever think of each
other as man and wife ought to think of each other«
»I do not I shall never think in that way again Mabel « gasped forth
the Pathfinder who appeared to utter his words like one just raised above the
pressure of some suffocating substance »No no I shall never think of you
or any one else again in that way«
»Pathfinder dear Pathfinder understand me do not attach more meaning
to my words than I do myself A match like that would be unwise unnatural
perhaps «
»Yes unnatral agin natur and so I told the sarjeant but he would
have it otherwise«
»Pathfinder Oh this is worse than I could have imagined take my hand
excellent Pathfinder and let me see that you do not hate me For Gods sake
smile upon me again«
»Hate you Mabel Smile upon you Ahs me«
»Nay give you your hand your hardy true and manly hand both both
Pathfinder for I shall not be easy until I feel certain that we are friends
again and that all this has been a mistake«
»Mabel« said the guide looking wistfully into the face of the generous and
impetuous girl as she held his two hard and sunburnt hands in her own pretty
and delicate fingers and laughing in his own silent and peculiar manner while
anguish gleamed over lineaments which seemed incapable of deception even while
agitated with emotions so conflicting »Mabel the sarjeant was wrong«
The pentup feelings would endure no more and the tears rolled down the
cheeks of the scout like rain His fingers again worked convulsively at his
throat and his breast heaved as if it possessed a tenant of which it would be
rid by any effort however desperate
»Pathfinder Pathfinder« Mabel almost shrieked »any thing but this
any thing but this Speak to me Pathfinder smile again say one kind word
any thing to prove you can forgive me«
»The sarjeant was wrong « exclaimed the guide laughing amid his agony in
a way to terrify his companion by the unnatural mixture of anguish and
lightheartedness »I knowed it I knowed it and said it yes the sarjeant
was wrong ater all«
»We can be friends though we cannot be man and wife« continued Mabel
almost as much disturbed as her companion scarce knowing what she said »we can
always be friends and always will«
»I thought the sarjeant was mistaken« resumed the Pathfinder when a great
effort had enabled him to command himself »for I did not think my gifts were
such as would please the fancy of a town bred gal It would have been better
Mabel had he not overpersuaded me into a different notion and it might have
been better too had you not been so pleasant and friendly like yes it
would«
»If I thought any error of mine had raised false expectations in you
Pathfinder however unintentionally on my part I should never forgive myself
for believe me I would rather endure pain in my own feelings than you should
suffer«
»Thats just it Mabel thats just it These speeches and opinions spoken
in so soft a voice and in a way Im so unused to in the woods have done the
mischief But I now see plainly and begin to understand the difference between
us better and will strive to keep down thought and to go abroad agin as I
used to do looking for the game and the inimy Ahs me Mabel I have indeed
been on a false trail since we met«
»But you will now travel on the true one In a little while you will forget
all this and think of me as a friend who owes you her life«
»This may be the way in the towns but I doubt if its natral to the woods
With us when the eye sees a lovely sight it is apt to keep it long in view or
when the mind takes in an upright and proper feeling it is loath to part with
it«
»But it is not a proper feeling that you should love me nor am I a lovely
sight You will forget it all when you come seriously to recollect that I am
altogether unsuited to be your wife«
»So I told the sarjeant but he would have it otherwise I knowed you were
too young and beautiful for one of middle age like myself and who never was
comely to look at even in youth and then your ways have not been my ways nor
would a hunters cabin be a fitting place for one who was edicated among chiefs
as it were If I were younger and comelier though like Jasper Eau douce «
»Never mind Jasper Eau douce « interrupted Mabel impatiently »we can
talk of something else«
»Jasper is a worthy lad Mabel ay and a comely« returned the guileless
guide looking earnestly at the girl as if he distrusted her judgment in
speaking slightingly of his friend »Were I only half as comely as Jasper
Western my misgivings in this affair would not have been so great and they
might not have been so true«
»We will not talk of Jasper Western« repeated Mabel the colour mounting to
her temples »he may be good enough in a gale or on the lake but he is not
good enough to talk of here«
»I fear me Mabel he is better than the man who is likely to be your
husband though the sarjeant says that never can take place But the sarjeant
was wrong once and he may be wrong twice«
»And who is likely to be my husband Pathfinder This is scarcely less
strange than what has just passed between us«
»I know it is natral for like to seek like and for them that have
consorted much with officers ladies to wish to be officers ladies themselves
But Mabel I may speak plainly to you I know and I hope my words will not
give you pain for now I understand what it is to be disappointed in such
feelings I wouldnt wish to cause even a Mingo sorrow on this head But
happiness is not always to be found in a marquee any more than in a tent and
though the officers quarters may look more tempting than the rest of the
barracks there is often great misery between husband and wife inside of their
doors«
»I do not doubt it in the least Pathfinder and did it rest with me to
decide I would sooner follow you to some cabin in the woods and share your
fortune whether it might be better or worse than go inside the door of any
officer I know with an intention of remaining there as its masters wife«
»Mabel this is not what Lundie hopes or Lundie thinks«
»And what care I for Lundie He is Major of the 55th and may command his
men to wheel and march about as he pleases but he cannot compel me to wed the
greatest or the meanest of his mess Besides what can you know of Lundies
wishes on such a subject«
»From Lundies own mouth The sarjeant had told him that he wished me for a
soninlaw and the Major being an old and a true friend conversed with me on
the subject He put it to me plainly whether it would not be more ginerous in
me to let an officer succeed than to strive to make you share a hunters
fortune I owned the truth I did and that was that I thought it might but
when he told me that the Quarter Master would be his choice I would not abide
by the conditions No no Mabel I know Davy Muir well and though he may
make you a lady he can never make you a happy woman or himself a gentleman I
say this honestly I do for I now plainly see that the sarjeant has been
wrong«
»My father has been very wrong if he has said or done aught to cause you
sorrow Pathfinder and so great is my respect for you so sincere my
friendship that were it not for one I mean that no person need fear Lt
Muirs influence with me I would rather remain as I am to my dying day than
become a lady at the cost of being his wife«
»I do not think you would say that which you do not feel Mabel« returned
Pathfinder earnestly
»Not at such a moment on such a subject and least of all to you No Lt
Muir may find wives where he can my name shall never be on his catalogue«
»Thank you thank you for that Mabel for though there is no longer any
hope for me I could never be happy were you to take to the Quarter Master I
feared the commission might count for something I did and I know the man It
is not jealousy that makes me speak in this manner but truth for I know the
man Now were you to fancy a desarving youth one like Jasper Western for
instance «
»Why always mention Jasper Eau douce Pathfinder he can have no concern
with our friendship Let us talk of yourself and of the manner in which you
intend to pass the winter«
»Ahs me Im little worth at the best Mabel unless it may be on a trail
or with the rifle and less worth now that Ive discovered the sarjeants
mistake There is no need therefore of talking of me It has been very
pleasant to me to be near you so long and even to fancy that the sarjeant was
right but that is all over now I shall go down the lake with Jasper and then
there will be business to occupy us and that will keep useless thoughts out of
the mind«
»And you will forget this forget me no not forget me either
Pathfinder but you will resume your old pursuits and cease to think a girl of
sufficient importance to disturb your peace«
»I never knowd it afore Mabel but girls as you call them though gals
is the name Ive been taught to use are of more account in this life than I
could have believed Now afore I knowd you the newborn babe did not sleep
more sweetly than I used to could my head was no sooner on the root or the
stone or mayhap on the skin than all was lost to the senses unless it might be
to go over in the night the business of the day in a dream like and there I
lay till the moment came to be stirring and the swallows were not more certain
to be on the wing with the light than I to be afoot at the moment I wished to
be All this seemed a gift and might be calculated on even in the midst of a
Mingo camp for Ive been outlying in my time in the very villages of the
vagabonds«
»And all this will return to you Pathfinder for one so upright and sincere
will never waste his happiness on a mere fancy You will dream again of your
hunts of the deer you have slain and of the beaver you have taken«
»Ahs me Mabel I wish never to dream again Before we met I had a sort
of pleasure in following up the hounds in fancy as it might be and even in
striking a trail of the Iroquois nay Ive been in skrimmages and
ambushments in thought like and found satisfaction in it according to my
gifts but all those things have lost their charms since Ive made acquaintance
with you Now I think no longer of any thing rude in my dreams but the very
last night we staid in the garrison I imagined I had a cabin in a grove of
sugar maples and at the root of every tree was a Mabel Dunham while the birds
that were among the branches sung ballads instead of the notes that natur
gave and even the deer stopped to listen I tried to shoot a faan but
Killdeer missed fire and the creatur laughed in my face as pleasantly as a
young girl laughs in her merriment and then it bounded away looking back as
if expecting me to follow«
»No more of this Pathfinder well talk no more of these things « said
Mabel dashing the tears from her eyes for the simple earnest manner in which
this hardy woodsman betrayed the deep hold she had taken of his feelings nearly
proved too much for her own generous heart »Now let us look for my father he
cannot be distant as I heard his gun quite near«
»The sarjeant was wrong yes he was wrong and its of no use to attempt
to make the doe consort with the wolf«
»Here comes my dear father« interrupted Mabel »let us look cheerful and
happy Pathfinder as such good friends ought to look and keep each others
secrets«
A pause succeeded the serjeants foot was heard crushing the dried twigs
hard by and then his form appeared shoving aside the bushes of a copse quite
near As he issued into the open ground the old soldier scrutinised his
daughter and her companion and speaking goodnaturedly he said
»Mabel child you are young and light of foot look for a bird Ive shot
that fell just beyond the thicket of young hemlocks on the shore and as
Jasper is showing signs of an intention of getting under way you need not take
the trouble to clamber up this hill again but we will meet you on the beach
in a few minutes«
Mabel obeyed bounding down the hill with the elastic step of youth and
health But notwithstanding the lightness of her steps the heart of the girl
was heavy and no sooner was she hid from observation by the thicket than she
threw herself on the root of a tree and wept as if her heart would break The
serjeant watched her until she disappeared with a fathers pride and then
turned to his companion with a smile as kind and as familiar as his habits
would allow him to use towards any
»She has her mothers lightness and activity my friend with somewhat of
her fathers force« he said »Her mother was not quite as handsome I think
myself but the Dunhams were always thought comely whether men or women Well
Pathfinder I take it for granted youve not overlooked the opportunity but
have spoken plainly to the girl Women like frankness in matters of this sort«
»I believe Mabel and I understand each other at last sarjeant« returned
the other looking another way to avoid the soldiers face
»So much the better Some people fancy that a little doubt and uncertainty
make love all the livelier but I am one of those who think the plainer the
tongue speaks the easier the mind will comprehend Was Mabel surprised«
»I fear she was sarjeant I fear she was taken quite by surprise yes I
do«
»Well well surprises in love are like an ambush in war and quite as
lawful though it is not as easy to tell when a woman is surprised as to tell
when it happens to an enemy Mabel did not run away my worthy friend did she«
»No sarjeant Mabel did not try to escape that I can say with a clear
conscience«
»I hope the girl was not too willing neither Her mother was shy and coy
for a month at least but frankness after all is a recommendation in man or
woman«
»That it is that it is and judgment too«
»You are not to look for too much judgment in a young creature of twenty
Pathfinder but let it come with experience A mistake in you or in me for
instance might not be so easily overlooked but in a girl of Mabels years one
is not to strain at a gnat lest they swallow a camel«
The muscles of the listeners face twitched as the serjeant was thus
delivering his sentiments though the former had now recovered a portion of that
stoicism which formed so large a part of his character and which he had
probably imbibed from long association with the Indians His eyes rose and fell
and once a gleam shot athwart his hard features as if he were about to indulge
in his peculiar laugh but the joyous feeling if it really existed was as
quickly lost in a look allied to anguish It was this unusual mixture of wild
and keen mental agony with native simple joyousness that had most struck
Mabel who in the interview just related had a dozen times been on the point
of believing that her suitors heart was only lightly touched as images of
happiness and humour gleamed over a mind that was almost infantine in its
simplicity and nature an impression however that was soon driven away by the
discovery of emotions so painful and so deep that they seemed to harrow the
very soul Indeed in this respect the Pathfinder was a mere child Unpractised
in the ways of the world he had no idea of concealing a thought of any kind
and his mind received and reflected each emotion with the pliability and
readiness of that period of life The infant scarcely yielded its wayward
imagination to the passing impression with greater facility than this man so
simple in all his personal feelings so stern stoical masculine and severe in
all that touched his ordinary pursuits
»You say true sarjeant« Pathfinder answered »a mistake in one like you
is indeed a more serious matter«
»You will find Mabel sincere and honest in the end give her but a little
time«
»Ahs me Sarjeant«
»A man of your merits would make an impression on a rock give him time
Pathfinder«
»Sarjeant Dunham we are old fellow campaigners that is as campaigns are
carried on here in the wilderness and we have done so many kind acts to each
other that we can afford to be candid what has caused you to believe that a
girl like Mabel could ever fancy one as rude as I am«
»What Why a variety of reasons and good reasons too my friend Those
same acts of kindness perhaps and the campaigns you mention moreover you are
my sworn and tried comrade«
»All this sounds well so far as you and I be consarned but they do not
touch the case of your pretty daghter She may think these very campaigns have
destroyed the little comeliness I may once have had and I am not quite sartain
that being an old friend of her father would lead any young maidens mind into a
particular affection for a suitor Like loves like I tell you sarjeant and my
gifts are not altogether the gifts of Mabel Dunham«
»These are some of your old modest qualms Pathfinder and will do you no
credit with the girl Women distrust men who distrust themselves and take to
men who distrust nothing Modesty is a capital thing in a recruit I grant you
or in a young subaltern who has just joined for it prevents his railing at the
noncommissioned officers before he knows what to rail at Im not sure it is
out of place in a commissary or a parson but its the devil and all when it
gets possession of either a real soldier or a lover Have as little to do with
it as possible if you would win a womans heart As for your doctrine that like
loves like it is as wrong as possible in matters of this sort If like loved
like women would love one another and men also No no like loves dislike
« the serjeant was merely a scholar of the camp »and you have nothing to fear
from Mabel on that score Look at Lt Muir the man has had five wives already
they tell me and there is no more modesty in him than there is in a
catoninetails«
»Lt Muir will never be the husband of Mabel Dunham let him ruffle his
feathers as much as he may«
»That is a sensible remark of yours Pathfinder for my mind is made up that
you shall be my soninlaw If I were an officer myself Mr Muir might have
some chance but time has placed one door between my child and myself and I
dont intend there shall be that of a marquee also«
»Sarjeant we must let Mabel follow her own fancy she is young and light of
heart and God forbid that any wish of mine should lay the weight of a feather
on a mind that is all gaiety now or take one note of happiness from her
laughter«
»Have you conversed freely with the girl« the serjeant demanded quickly
and with some asperity of manner
Pathfinder was too honest to deny a truth plain as that which the answer
required and yet too honorable to betray Mabel and expose her to the
resentment of one whom he well knew to be stern in his anger
»We have laid open our minds« he said »and though Mabels is one that any
man might love to look at I find little there sarjeant to make me think any
better of myself«
»The girl has not dared to refuse you to refuse her fathers best friend«
Pathfinder turned his face away to conceal the look of anguish that
consciousness told him was passing athwart it but he continued the discourse in
his own quiet manly tones
»Mabel is too kind to refuse any thing or to utter harsh words to a dog I
have not put the question in a way to be downright refused sarjeant«
»And did you expect my daughter to jump into your arms before you asked
her She would not have been her mothers child had she done any such thing nor
do I think she would have been mine The Dunhams like plain dealing as well as
the Kings Majesty but they are no jumpers Leave me to manage this matter for
you Pathfinder and there shall be no unnecessary delay Ill speak to Mabel
myself this very evening using your name as principal in the affair«
»Id rather not Id rather not sarjeant Leave the matter to Mabel and
me and I think all will come right in the ind Young gals be like timorsome
birds they do not over relish being hurried or spoken harshly to nither Leave
the matter to Mabel and me«
»On one condition I will my friend and that is that you promise me on
the honor of a scout that you will put the matter plainly to Mabel the first
suitable opportunity and no mincing of words«
»I will ask her sarjeant yes I will ask her on condition that you
promise not to meddle in the affair yes I will promise to ask Mabel the
question whether she will marry me even though she laugh in my face at my
doing so on that condition«
Serjeant Dunham gave the desired promise very cheerfully for he had
completely wrought himself up into the belief that the man he so much esteemed
and respected himself must be acceptable to his daughter He had married a
woman much younger than himself and he saw no unfitness in the respective years
of the intended couple Mabel was educated so much above him too that he was
not aware of the difference which actually existed between the parent and child
in this respect for it is one of the most unpleasant features in the
intercourse between knowledge and ignorance taste and unsophistication
refinement and vulgarity that the higher qualities are often necessarily
subjected to the judgments of those who have absolutely no perceptions of their
existence It followed that Serjeant Dunham was not altogether qualified to
appreciate his daughters tastes or to form a very probable conjecture of the
direction taken by those feelings which oftener depend on impulses and passion
than on reason Still the worthy soldier was not so wrong in his estimate of
the Pathfinders chances as might at first appear Knowing as he well did
all the sterling qualities of the man his truth integrity of purpose courage
self devotion disinterestedness it was far from unreasonable to suppose that
qualities like these would produce a deep impression on any female heart where
there was an opportunity to acquire a knowledge of their existence and the
father erred principally in fancying that the daughter might know as it might
be by intuition what he himself had acquired by years of intercourse and
adventure
As Pathfinder and his military friend descended the hill to the shore of the
lake the discourse did not flag The latter continued to endeavor to persuade
the former that his diffidence alone prevented complete success with Mabel
and that he had only to persevere in order to prevail Pathfinder was much too
modest by nature and had been too plainly though so delicately discouraged
in the recent interview to believe all he heard still the father used so many
arguments that seemed plausible and it was so grateful to fancy that the
daughter might yet be his the reader is not to be surprised when he is told
that this unsophisticated being did not view Mabels recent conduct in precisely
the light in which he may be inclined to view it himself He did not credit all
that the Serjeant told him it is true but he began to think virgin coyness
and ignorance of her own feelings might have induced Mabel to use the language
she had
»The Quarter Master is no favorite« said Pathfinder in answer to one of
his companions remarks »Mabel will never look on him as more than one who has
had four or five wives already«
»Which is more than his share A man may marry twice without offence to
good morals and decency I allow but four times is an aggravation«
»I should think even marrying once what Master Cap calls a circumstance«
put in Pathfinder laughing in his quiet way for by this time his spirits
had recovered some of their buoyancy
»It is indeed my friend and a most solemn circumstance 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«
»Ahs me sarjeant I fear you are mistaken«
Chapter XIX
»Thus was this place
A happy rural seat of various view«
Paradise Lost IV24647
Mabel was in waiting on the beach and the canoe was soon launched Pathfinder
carried the party out through the surf in the same skilful manner he had
brought it in and though Mabels colour heightened with excitement 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 quicktempered man sudden to be angered 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 appeared
and vanished like the returning waves produced by the stone that has been
dropped into a pool The cable of the Scud was scarce 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 canvass
It was just sunset as the cutters 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 succeeded 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 subject at all times to the control
and interference of the old seaman To this Jasper consented in preference to
exposing Mabel any longer to the 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
suspicions 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 commanded the ship of the enemy would quit his anchorage under the fort at
Niagara and stand up the lake as soon as wind abated in order to ascertain
the fate of the Scud keeping mid 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
passing 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 serjeants 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 ere morning Jasper had apparently dropped quietly into
all his former authority issuing his orders freely and meeting with obedience
without 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 visible 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 appeared ahead
and then the massive walls of a châteaulooking house with outworks bastions
blockhouses and palisadoes frowned on a headland that bordered the outlet of
a broad stream Just as the post 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 brotherinlaw
»The dirty tablecloth hung up to air as my name is Charles Cap« he
muttered »and we hugging this d d shore as if it were our wife and
children met on the return from an India vyge Harkee 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 hope of passing the enemys ship without being
seen for I think she must be somewhere down here to leeward«
»Ay ay this sounds well and I hope it may turn out as you say I trust
there is no undertow here«
»We are on a weather shore now« said Jasper smiling »and I think you
will admit Master Cap that a strong undertow makes an easy cable We owe all
our lives to the undertow of this very lake«
»French flummery« growled Cap though he did not care to be heard by
Jasper »Give me a fair honest EnglishYankeeAmerican 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 dare say 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 reconnoitre the enemys post
at Niagara Brother for such I take this fort to be« put in the Serjeant »Let
us be all eyes in passing and remember that we are almost in face of the
enemy«
This advice of the serjeants 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 undertow there Master Cap but all the water that
strikes the rocks stays there so far as going back agin is consarned That
is old Niagara that you hear or this noble stream tumbling 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 dare say you
beat us down on the ocean Ahs 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 Pathfinder« the girl eagerly
enquired
»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 traditions 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 natral corps like and not the 55th with which I have
sojourned so much of late but there are so many terrible liars in all
rigiments that I hardly believed half they 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 today we were disappinted 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 agin there
is a calm over all as if his spirit lay in quiet along the arth Well we came
suddenly 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 that is 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 prevailed 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 backward like an arrow and
disappeared the bows 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 skin 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 cutters mast an
admonition to approach 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 an hour in
perfectly smooth water Although the scene had one feature of monotony the
outline of unbroken forest it was not without its interest and pleasure
Various headlands presented themselves and the cutter in running from one to
another stretched across bays so deep as almost to deserve the names of
gulphs 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 appeared and disappeared without bringing with them a single
trace of a human habitation
Of all on board the Pathfinder viewed the scene with the most unmingled
delight His eyes feasted on the endless line of forest and more than once
that day notwithstanding he found it so grateful to be near Mabel listening to
her pleasant voice and echoing in feelings at least her joyous laugh did his
soul pine to be wandering beneath 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 churchtowers beacons or
roadsteds with their shipping Such another coast he protested the world did
not contain and taking the serjeant aside he gravely assured him that the
region could never come to any thing 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 humours 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 Serjeant 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 her
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 canvass 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 minutes and the circumstances called
for a prompt decision After a short consultation the serjeant 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 every thing 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 Montcalm 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 canvass
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 Jasper said it would be possible for the cutter to conceal her future
movements Although Cap and the serjeant and particularly Lt 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 Quarter
Master discreetly observed that Jasper could not well betray them without
running openly into the enemys 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 oclock 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 notion of its position lest a deserter
might betray the little garrison to the enemy
The Scud was broughtto 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
unless 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
»Hows 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 unless at a moment when the people were below
for he does not wish there should be more pilots in these waters than the King
has need of«
»Wheeew 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
nothing 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 youll be safe from any circumstances that
I can control«
»Humph«
Cap was obliged to acquiesce and as every thing around him had the
appearance of Jaspers 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 as long established and as well known on the
frontiers as Frontenac 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 Scuds 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 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 dl«
»Nay nay Saltwater tis the parfection 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
moccasins on leaves as plainly as we can see the sun in the heavens«
»De if I believe there is even any compass«
»Stand by to haul down the jib « called out Jasper who merely smiled at
the remarks of his companion »Haul down starboard your helm starboard hard
so melt her gently there with the helm touch her lightly now jump
ashore with the fast lad No heave there are some of our people ready to
take it«
All this passed so quickly as barely to allow the spectators time to note
the different evolutions ere the Scud had been thrown into the wind until her
mainsail shivered next cast a little by the use of the rudder only and then
she set bodily along side of a natural rocky quay where she was immediately
secured by good fasts run to the shore In a word the station was reached and
the men of the 55th were greeted by their expecting comrades with the
satisfaction that a relief usually brings
Mabel sprang upon the shore with a delight which she did not care to
express and her father led his men after her with an alacrity which proved how
wearied he had become of the cutter The station as the place was familiarly
termed by the soldiers of the 55th was indeed a spot to raise expectations of
enjoyment among those who had been cooped up so long in a vessel of the
dimensions of the Scud None of the islands were high though all lay at a
sufficient elevation above the water to render them perfectly healthy and
secure Each had more or less of wood and the greater number at that distant
day were clothed with the virgin forest The one selected by the troops for
their purpose was small containing about twenty acres of land and by some of
the accidents of the wilderness it had been partly stripped of its trees
probably centuries before the period of which we are writing and a little
grassy glade covered nearly half its surface It was the opinion of the officer
who had made the selection of this spot for a military post that a sparkling
spring near by had early caught the attention of the Indians and that they had
long frequented this particular place in their hunts or when fishing for
salmon a circumstance that had kept down the second growth and given time for
the natural grasses to take root and to gain dominion over the soil Let the
cause be what it might the effect was to render this island far more beautiful
than most of those around it and to lend it an air of civilization that was
then wanting in so much of that vast region of country
The shores of Station Island were completely fringed with bushes and great
care had been taken to preserve them as they answered as a screen to conceal
the persons and things collected within their circle Favored by this shelter
as well as by that of several thickets of trees and different copses some six
or eight low huts had been erected to be used as quarters for the officer and
his men to contain stores and to serve the purposes of kitchen hospital etc
These huts were built of logs in the usual manner had been roofed by bark
brought from a distance lest the signs of labour should attract attention and
as they had now been inhabited some months were as comfortable as dwellings of
that description usually ever get to be
At the eastern extremity of the island however was a small densely wooded
peninsula with thickets of underbrush so closely matted as nearly to prevent
the possibility of seeing across it so long as the leaves remained on the
branches Near the narrow neck that connected this acre with the rest of the
island a small blockhouse had been erected with some attention to its means
of resistance The logs were bulletproof squared and jointed with a care to
leave no defenceless points the windows were loopholes the door massive and
small and the roof like the rest of the structure was framed of hewn timber
covered properly with bark to exclude the rain The lower apartment as usual
contained stores and provisions here indeed the party kept all their supplies
the second story was intended for a dwelling as well as for the citadel and a
low garret was subdivided into two or three rooms and could hold the pallets of
some ten or fifteen persons All the arrangements were exceedingly simple and
cheap but they were sufficient to protect the soldiers against the effects of a
surprise As the whole building was considerably less than forty feet high its
summit was concealed by the tops of the trees except from the eyes of those who
had reached the interior of the island On that side the view was open from the
upper loops though bushes even there more or less concealed the base of the
wooden tower
The object being purely defence care had been taken to place the block
house so near an opening in the limestone rock that formed the base of the
island as to admit of a buckets being dropped into the water in order to
obtain that great essential in the event of a siege In order to facilitate
this operation and to enfilade the base of the building the upper stories
projected several feet beyond the lower in the manner usual to block houses
and pieces of wood filled the apertures cut in the log flooring which were
intended as loops and traps The communications between the different stories
were by means of ladders If we add that these blockhouses were intended as
citadels for garrisons or settlements to retreat to in cases of attack the
general reader will obtain a sufficiently correct idea of the arrangements it is
our wish to explain
But the situation of the island itself formed its principal merit as a
military position Lying in the midst of twenty others it was not an easy
matter to find it since boats might pass quite near it and by the glimpses
caught through the openings this particular island would be taken for a part of
some other Indeed the channels between the islands that lay around the one we
have been describing were so narrow that it was even difficult to say which
portions of the land were connected or which separated even as one stood in
their centre with the express desire of ascertaining the truth The little bay
in particular that Jasper used as a harbor was so embowered with bushes and
shut in with islands that the sails of the cutter being lowered her own
people on one occasion had searched for hours before they could find the
Scud in their return from an excursion among the adjacent channels in quest
of fish In short the place was admirably adapted to its present uses and its
natural advantages had been as ingeniously improved as economy and the limited
means of a frontier post would very well allow
The hour that succeeded the arrival of the Scud was one of hurried
excitement The party in possession had done nothing worthy of being mentioned
and wearied with their seclusion they were all eager to return to Oswego The
Serjeant and the officer he came to relieve had no sooner gone through the
little ceremonial of transferring the command than the latter hurried on board
the Scud with his whole party and Jasper who would gladly have passed the day
on the island was required to get under way forthwith the wind promising a
quick passage up the river and across the lake Before separating however Lt
Muir Cap and the Serjeant had a private conference with the ensign who had
been relieved in which the latter was made acquainted with the suspicions that
existed against the fidelity of the young sailor Promising due caution the
officer embarked and in less than three hours from the time when she had
arrived the cutter was again in motion
Mabel had taken possession of a hut and with female readiness and skill
she made all the simple little domestic arrangements of which the circumstances
would admit not only for her own comfort but for that of her father To save
labor a mess table was prepared in a hut set apart for that purpose where all
the heads of the detachment were to eat the soldiers wife performing the
necessary labor The hut of the Serjeant which was the best on the island
being thus freed from any of the vulgar offices of a household admitted of such
a display of womanly taste that for the first time since her arrival on the
frontier the girl felt proud of her home As soon as these important duties
were discharged she strolled out on the island taking a path that led through
the pretty glade and which conducted to the only point that was not covered
with bushes Here she stood gazing at the limpid water which lay with scarcely
a ruffle on it at her feet musing on the novel situation in which she was
placed and permitting a pleasing and deep excitement to steal over her
feelings as she remembered the scenes through which she had so lately passed
and conjectured those which still lay veiled in the future
»Youre a beautiful fixture in a beautiful spot Mistress Mabel« said
David Muir suddenly appearing at her elbow »and Ill no engage youre not just
the handsomest of the two«
»I will not say Mr Muir that compliments on my person are altogether
unwelcome for I should not gain credit for speaking the truth perhaps«
answered Mabel with spirit »but I will say that if you would condescend to
address to me some remarks of a different nature I may be led to believe you
think I have sufficient faculties to understand them«
»Hoot your mind beautiful Mabel is polished just like the barrel of a
soldiers musket and your conversation is only too discreet and wise for a poor
dl who has been chewing birch these four years up here on the lines instead
of receiving it in an application that has the virtue of imparting knowledge
But you are no sorry I take it young lady that youve got your pretty foot on
terra firma once more«
»I thought so two hours since Mr Muir but the Scud looks so beautiful
as she sails through these vistas of trees that I almost regret I am no longer
one of her passengers«
As Mabel ceased speaking she waved her handkerchief in return to a
salutation from Jasper who kept his eyes fastened on her form until the white
sails of the cutter had swept round a point and were nearly lost behind its
green fringe of leaves
»There they go and Ill no say joy go with them but may they have the luck
to return safely for without them we shall be in danger of passing the winter
on this island unless indeed we have the alternative of the castle at Quebec
Yon Jasper Eau douce is a vagrant sort of a lad and they have reports of him in
the garrison that it pains my very heart to hear Your worthy father and
almostasworthy uncle have none of the best opinion of him«
»I am sorry to hear it Mr Muir I doubt not that time will remove all
their distrust«
»If time would only remove mine pretty Mabel« rejoined the Quarter Master
in a wheedling tone »I should feel no envy of the commander in chief I think
if I were in a condition to retire the serjeant would just step into my shoes«
»If my dear father is worthy to step into your shoes Mr Muir« returned
the girl with malicious pleasure »Im sure that the qualification is mutual
and that you are every way worthy to step into his«
»The deuce is in the child You would not reduce me to the rank of a
noncommissioned officer Mabel«
»No indeed sir I was not thinking of the army at all as you spoke of
retiring My thoughts were more egotistical and I was thinking how much you
reminded me of my dear father by your experience wisdom and suitableness to
take his place as the head of a family«
»As its bridegroom pretty Mabel but not as its parent or natural chief I
see how it is with you loving your repartee and brilliant with wit Well I
like spirit in a young woman so it be not the spirit of a scold This
Pathfinder is an extraordinair Mabel if truth may be said of the man«
»Truth should be said of him or nothing Pathfinder is my friend my very
particular friend Mr Muir and no evil can be said of him in my presence
that I shall not deny«
»I shall say nothing evil of him I can assure you Mabel but at the same
time I doubt if much good can be said in his favor«
»He is at least expert with the rifle« returned Mabel smiling »That you
cannot deny«
»Let him have all the credit of his exploits in that way if you please but
he is as illiterate as a Mohawk«
»He may not understand Latin but his knowledge of Iroquois is greater than
that of most men and it is the more useful language of the two in this part of
the world«
»If Lundie himself were to call on me for an opinion which I admired most
your person or your wit beautiful and caustic Mabel I should be at a loss to
answer My admiration is so nearly divided between them that I often fancy this
is the one that bears off the palm and then the other Ah The late Mrs Muir
was a paragon in that way also«
»The latest Mrs Muir did you say sir« asked Mabel looking up innocently
at her companion
»Hoot hoot That is some of Pathfinders scandal Now I dare say that
the fellow has been trying to persuade you Mabel that I have had more than one
wife already«
»In that case his time would have been thrown away sir as every body
knows that you have been so unfortunate as to have had four«
»Only three as sure as my name is David Muir The fourth is pure scandal
or rather pretty Mabel she is yet in petto as they say at Rome and that
means in matters of love in the heart my dear«
»Well Im glad Im not that fourth person in petto or in any thing else
as I should not like to be a scandal«
»No fear of that charming Mabel for were you the fourth all the others
would be forgotten and your wonderful beauty and merit would at once elevate
you to be the first No fear of your being the fourth in any thing«
»There is consolation in that assurance Mr Muir« said Mabel laughing
»whatever there may be in your other assurance for I confess I should prefer
being even a fourthrate beauty to being a fourth wife«
So saying she tripped away leaving the Quarter Master to meditate on his
want of success Mabel had been induced to use her female means of defence thus
freely partly because her suitor had of late been so pointed as to stand in
need of a pretty strong repulse and partly on account of his innuendoes against
Jasper and the Pathfinder Though full of spirit and quick of intellect she was
not naturally pert but on the present occasion she thought circumstances
called for more than usual decision When she left her companion therefore she
believed she was now finally released from attentions that she thought as ill
bestowed as they were certainly disagreeable Not so however with David Muir
Accustomed to rebuffs and familiar with the virtue of perseverance he saw no
reason to despair though the half menacing half selfsatisfied manner in which
he shook his head towards the retreating girl might have betrayed designs as
sinister as they were determined While he was thus occupied the Pathfinder
approached and got within a few feet of him unseen
»Twill never do Quarter Master twill never do« commenced the latter
laughing in his noiseless way »she is young and actyve and none but a quick
foot can overtake her They tell me you are her suitor if youre not her
follower«
»And I hear the same of yourself man though the presumption would be so
great that I scarce can think it true«
»I fear youre right I do yes I fear youre right When I consider
myself what I am how little I know and how rude my life has been I
altogether distrust my claim even to think a moment of one so tutored and gay
and light of heart and delicate «
»You forget handsome « coarsely interrupted Muir
»And handsome too I fear« returned the meek and selfabased guide »I
might have said handsome at once among her other qualities for the young
faan just as it learns to bound is not more pleasant to the eye of the hunter
than Mabel is lovely in mine I do indeed fear that all the thoughts I have
harbored about her are vain and presumptuous«
»If you think this my friend of your own accord and natural modesty as
it might be my duty to you as an old fellow campaigner compels me to say «
»Quarter Master « interrupted the other regarding his companion keenly
»you and I have lived together much behind the ramparts of forts but very
little in the open woods or in front of the inimy«
»Garrison or tent it all passes for part of the same campaign you know
Pathfinder and then my duty keeps me much within sight of the storehouses
greatly contrary to my inclinations as ye may well suppose having yourself the
ardor of battle in your temperament But had ye heard what Mabel has just been
saying of you yed no think another minute of making yourself agreeable to the
saucy and uncompromising hussy«
Pathfinder looked earnestly at the lieutenant for it was impossible he
should not feel an interest in what might be Mabels opinion but he had too
much of the innate and true feeling of a gentleman to ask to hear what another
had said of him Muir however was not to be foiled by this self denial and
self respect for believing he had a man of great truth and simplicity to deal
with he determined to practise on his credulity as one means of getting rid of
his rivalry He therefore pursued the subject as soon as he perceived that his
companions self denial was stronger than his curiosity
»You ought to know her opinion Pathfinder« he continued »and I think
every man ought to hear what his friends and acquaintances say of him and so
by way of proving my own regard for your character and feelings Ill just tell
you in as few words as possible You know that Mabel has a wicked malicious way
with those eyes of hers or when she has a mind to be hard upon ones feelings«
»To me her eyes Lieutenant Muir have always seemed winning and soft
though I will acknowledge that they sometimes laugh yes I have known them to
laugh and that right heartily and with downright good will«
»Well it was just that there Her eyes were laughing with all their might
as it were and in the midst of all her fun she broke out with an exclamation
to this effect I hope twill no hurt your sensibility Pathfinder«
»I will not say Quarter Master I will not say Mabels opinion of me is
of more account than that of most others«
»Then Ill no tell ye but just keep discretion on the subject And why
should a man be telling another what his friends say of him especially when
they happen to say that which may not be pleasant to hear Ill not add another
word to this present communication«
»I cannot make you speak Quarter Master if you are not so minded and
perhaps it is better for me not to know Mabels opinion as you seem to think it
is not in my favor Ahs me if we could be what we wish to be instead of
being only what we are there would be a great difference in our characters and
knowledge and appearance One may be rude and coarse and ignorant and yet
happy if he does not know it but it is hard to see our own failings in the
strongest light just as we wish to hear the least about them«
»Thats just the rationale as the French say of the matter and so I was
telling Mabel when she ran away and left me You noticed the manner in which
she skipped off as you approached«
»It was very observable « answered Pathfinder drawing a long breath and
clenching the barrel of his rifle as if the fingers would bury themselves in
the iron
»It was more than observable it was flagrant thats just the word and
the dictionary wouldnt supply a better after an hours search Well you must
know Pathfinder for I cannot reasonably deny you the gratification of hearing
this so you must know the minx bounded off in that manner in preference to
hearing what I had to say in your justification«
»And what could you find to say in my behalf Quarter Master«
»Why dye understand my friend I was ruled by circumstances and no
ventured indiscreetly into generalities but was preparing to meet particulars
as it might be with particulars If you were thought wild halfsavage or of a
frontier formation I could tell her ye know that it came of the frontier
wild and halfsavage life yed led and all her objections must cease at once
or there would be a sort of misunderstanding with Providence«
»And did you tell her this Quarter Master«
»Ill no swear to the exact words but the idea was prevalent in my mind
yell understand The girl was impatient and would not hear the half I had to
say but away she skipped as ye saw with your own eyes Pathfinder as if her
opinion were fully made up and she cared to listen no longer I fear her mind
may be said to have come to its conclusion«
»I fear it has indeed Quarter Master and her father after all is
mistaken Yes yes the sarjeant has fallen into a grievous error«
»Well man why need ye lament and undo all the grand reputation yeve been
so many years making Shoulder the rifle that ye use so well and off into the
woods with ye for theres not the female breathing that is worth a heavy heart
for a minute as I know from experience Tak the word of one who knows the sax
and has had two wives that women after all are very much the sort of
creatures we do not imagine them to be Now if you would really mortify Mabel
here is as glorious an occasion as any rejected lover could desire«
»The last wish I have Lieutenant would be to mortify Mabel«
»Well yell come to that in the end notwithstanding for its human nature
to desire to give unpleasant feelings to them that give unpleasant feelings to
us But a better occasion never offered to make your friends love you than is
to be had at this very moment and that is the certain means of causing ones
enemies to envy us«
»Quarter Master Mabel is not my inimy and if she was the last thing I
could desire would be to give her an uneasy moment«
»Ye say so Pathfinder ye say so and I dare say ye think so but reason
and nature are both against you as yell find in the end Yeve heard the
saying of love me love my dog well now that means read backwards dont
love me dont love my dog Now listen to what is in your power to do You
know we occupy an exceedingly precarious and uncertain position here almost in
the jaws of the lion as it were«
»Do you mean the Frenchers by the lion and this island as his jaws
lieutenant«
»Metaphorically only my friend for the French are no lions and this
island is not a jaw unless indeed it may prove to be what I greatly fear
may come true the jawbone of an ass«
Here the Quarter Master indulged in a sneering laugh that proclaimed any
thing but respect and admiration for his friend Lundies sagacity in selecting
that particular spot for his operations
»The post is as well chosen as any I ever put foot in« said Pathfinder
looking around him as one surveys a position
»Ill no deny it Ill no deny it Lundie is a great soldier in a small
way and his father was a great laird with the same qualifications I was born
on the estate and have followed the Major so long that Ive got to reverence
all he says and does Thats just my weakness yell know Pathfinder Well
this post may be the post of an ass or of a Solomon as men fancy but its
most critically placed as is apparent by all Lundies precautions and
injunctions There are savages out scouting through these thousand islands and
over the forest searching for this very spot as is known to Lundie himself on
certain information and the greatest service you can render the 55th is to
discover their trails and lead them off on a false scent Unhappily Serjeant
Dunham has taken up the notion that the danger is to be apprehended from up
stream because Frontenac lies above us whereas all experience tells us that
Indians come on the side that is most contrary to reason and consequently are
to be expected from below Take your canoe therefore and go down stream among
the islands that we may have notice if any danger approaches from that quarter
If ye should look a few miles on the main especially on the York side the
information youd bring in would be all the more accurate and consequently the
more valuable
The Big Sarpent is on the look out in that quarter and as he knows the
station well no doubt he will give us timely notice should any wish to
sarcumvent us in that direction«
»He is but an Indian after all Pathfinder and this is an affair that
calls for the knowledge of a white man Lundie will be eternally grateful to the
man that shall help this little enterprise to come off with flying colours To
tell you the truth my friend he is conscious it should never have been
attempted but he has too much of the old lairds obstinacy about him to own an
error though it be as manifest as the morning star«
The Quarter Master then continued to reason with his companion in order to
induce him to quit the island without delay using such arguments as first
suggested themselves sometimes contradicting himself and not unfrequently
urging at one moment a motive that at the next was directly opposed by another
The Pathfinder simple as he was detected these flaws in the Lieutenants
philosophy though he was far from suspecting that they proceeded from a desire
to clear the coast of Mabels suitor He met bad reasons by good ones resisted
every inducement that was not legitimate by his intimate acquaintance with his
peculiar duties and was blind as usual to the influence of every incentive
that could not stand the test of integrity He did not exactly suspect the
secret objects of Muir but he was far from being blind to his sophistry The
result was that the two parted after a long dialogue unconvinced and
distrustful of each others motives though the distrust of the guide like all
that was connected with the man partook of his own upright disinterested and
ingenuous nature
A conference that took place soon after between Serjeant Dunham and the
Lieutenant led to more consequences When it was ended secret orders were
issued to the men the blockhouse was taken possession of the huts were
occupied and one accustomed to the movements of soldiers might have detected
that an expedition was in the wind In fact just as the sun was setting the
Serjeant who had been much occupied at what was called the harbor came into his
own hut followed by Pathfinder and Cap and as he took his seat at the neat
table that Mabel had prepared for him he opened the budget of his intelligence
»You are likely to be of some use here my child« the old soldier
commenced »as this tidy and well ordered supper can testify and I trust when
the proper moment arrives you will show yourself to be the descendant of those
who know how to face their enemies«
»You do not expect me dear father to play Joan of Arc and to lead the men
to battle«
»Play whom child Did you ever hear of the person Mabel mentions
Pathfinder«
»Not I sarjeant but what of that I am ignorant and onedicated and it is
too great a pleasure to me to listen to her voice and take in her words to be
particular about persons«
»I know her« said Cap decidedly »She sailed a privateer out of Morlaix
in the last war and good cruises she made of them«
Mabel blushed at having inadvertently made an allusion that went beyond her
fathers reading to say nothing of her uncles dogmatism and perhaps a little
at the Pathfinders simple ingenuous earnestness but she did not forbear the
less to smile
»Why father I am not expected to fall in with the men and help defend the
island«
»And yet women have often done such things in this quarter of the world
girl as our friend the Pathfinder here will tell you But lest you should be
surprised at not seeing us when you awake in the morning it is proper that I
now tell you we intend to march in the course of this very night«
»We father and leave me and Jennie on this island alone«
»No my daughter not quite as unmilitary as that We shall leave Lt Muir
brother Cap Corporal McNab and three men to compose the garrison during our
absence Jennie will remain with you in this hut and brother Cap will occupy
my place«
»And Mr Muir« said Mabel half unconscious of what she uttered though she
foresaw a great deal of unpleasant persecution in the arrangement
»Why he can make love to you if you like it girl for he is an amorous
youth and having already disposed of four wives is impatient to show how much
he honors their memories by taking a fifth«
»The Quarter Master tells me« said Pathfinder innocently »that when a
mans feelings have been harrowed by so many losses there is no wiser way to
soothe them than by ploughing up the soil anew in such a manner as to leave no
traces of what have gone over it afore«
»Ay that is just the difference between ploughing and harrowing« returned
the Serjeant with a grim smile »But let him tell Mabel his mind and there will
be an end of his suit I very well know that my daughter will never be the wife
of Lieutenant Muir«
This was said in a way that was tantamount to declaring that no daughter of
his ever should become the wife of the person in question Mabel had coloured
trembled half laughed and looked uneasy but rallying her spirit she said in
a voice so cheerful as completely to conceal her agitation
»But father we might better wait until Mr Muir manifests a wish that your
daughter would have him or rather a wish to have your daughter lest we get
the fable of sour grapes thrown into our faces«
»And what is that fable Mabel« eagerly demanded Pathfinder who was any
thing but learned in the ordinary lore of white men »tell it to us in your
own pretty way I dare say the sarjeant never heard it«
Mabel repeated the well known fable and as her suitor had desired in her
own pretty way which was a way to keep his eyes rivetted on her face and the
whole of his honest countenance covered with a smile
»That was like a fox« cried Pathfinder when she had ceased »ay and like
a Mingo too Cunning and cruel that is the way with both the riptyles As to
grapes they are sour enough in this part of the country even to them that can
get at them though I dare say there are seasons and times and places where
they are sourer to them that cant I should judge now my scalp is very sour
in Mingo eyes«
»The sour grapes will be the other way child and it is Mr Muir who will
make the complaint You would never marry that man Mabel«
»Not she« put in Cap »a fellow who is only half a soldier after all The
story of them there grapes is quite a circumstance«
»I think little of marrying any one dear father and dear uncle and would
rather talk about it less if you please But did I think of marrying at all I
do believe a man whose affections have already been tried by three or four wives
would scarcely be my choice«
The serjeant nodded at the guide as much as to say you see how the land
lies and then he had sufficient consideration for his daughters feelings to
change the subject
»Neither you nor Mabel brother Cap« he resumed »can have any legal
authority with the garrison I leave behind on the island but you may counsel
and influence Strictly speaking Corporal McNab will be the commanding officer
and I have endeavored to impress him with a sense of his dignity lest he might
give way too much to the superior rank of Lieutenant Muir who being a
volunteer can have no right to interfere with the duty I wish you to sustain
the corporal brother Cap for should the Quarter Master once break through the
regulations of the expedition he may pretend to command me as well as McNab«
»More particularly should Mabel really cut him adrift while you are
absent Of course Serjeant youll leave every thing that is afloat under my
care The most dle confusion has grown out of misunderstandings between
commanders in chief ashore and afloat«
»In one sense brother though in a general way the corporal is commander
in chief History does indeed tell us that a division of command leads to
difficulties and I shall avoid that danger The corporal must command but you
can counsel freely particularly in all matters relating to the boats of which
I shall leave one behind to secure your retreat should there be occasion I
know the corporal well he is a brave man and a good soldier and one that may
be relied on if the Santa Cruz can be kept from him But then he is a
Scotchman and will be liable to the Quarter Masters influence against which I
desire both you and Mabel to be on your guard«
»But why leave us behind dear father I have come thus far to be a
comfort to you and why not go farther«
»You are a good girl Mabel and very like the Dunhams But you must halt
here We shall leave the island tomorrow before the day dawns in order not to
be seen by any prying eyes coming from our cover and we shall take the two
largest boats leaving you the other and one bark canoe We are about to go
into the channel used by the French where we shall lie in wait perhaps a week
to intercept their supply boats that are about to pass up on their way to
Frontenac loaded in particular with a heavy amount of Indian goods«
»Have you looked well to your papers brother« Cap anxiously demanded »Of
course you know a capture on the high seas is piracy unless your boat is
regularily commissioned either as a public or a private armed cruiser«
»I have the honor to hold the colonels appointment as Serjeant Major of the
55th« returned the other drawing himself up with dignity »and that will be
sufficient even for the French King If not I have Major Duncans written
orders«
»No papers them for a warlike cruiser«
»They must suffice brother as I have no other It is of vast importance to
His Majestys interests in this part of the world that the boats in question
should be captured and carried into Oswego They contain the blankets trinkets
rifles ammunition in short all the stores with which the French bribe their
accursed savage allies to commit their unholy acts setting at naught our holy
religion and its precepts the laws of humanity and all that is sacred and dear
among men By cutting off these supplies we shall derange their plans and gain
time on them for the articles cannot be sent across the ocean again this
autumn«
»But father does not His Majesty employ Indians also« asked Mabel with
some curiosity
»Certainly girl and he has a right to employ them God bless him Its a
very different thing whether an Englishman or a Frenchman employs a savage as
every body can understand«
»That is plain enough brother Dunham but I do not see my way so clear
in the matter of the ships papers«
»An English colonels appointment ought to satisfy any Frenchman of my
authority and what is more brother it shall«
»But I do not see the difference father between an Englishmans and a
Frenchmans employing savages in war«
»All the odds in the world child though you may not be able to see it In
the first place an Englishman is naturally humane and considerate while a
Frenchman is naturally ferocious and timid«
»And you may add brother that he will dance from morning till night if
youll let him«
»Very true« gravely returned the Serjeant
»But father I cannot see that all this alters the case If it be wrong in
a Frenchman to hire savages to fight his enemies it would seem to be equally
wrong in an Englishman You will admit this Pathfinder«
»Its reasonable its reasonable and I have never been one of them that
has raised a cry agin the Frenchers for doing the very thing we do ourselves
Still it is worse to consort with a Mingo than to consort with a Delaware If
any of that just tribe were left I should think it no sin to send them out
agin the foe«
»And yet they scalp and slay young and old women and children«
»They have their gifts Mabel and are not to be blamed for following them
Natur is natur though the different tribes have different ways of showing it
For my part I am white and endivor to maintain white feelings«
»This is all unintelligible to me« answered Mabel »What is right in King
George it would seem ought to be right in King Lewis«
»The King of Frances real name is Caput« observed Cap with his mouth full
of venison »I once carried a great scholar as a passenger and he told me that
these Lewises thirteenth fourteenth and fifteenth were all humbugs and that
the mens real name was Caput which is French for foot meaning that they ought
to be put at the foot of the ladder until ready to go up to be hanged«
»Well this does look like being given to scalping as a natral gift«
Pathfinder remarked with the air of surprise with which one receives a novel
idea »and I shall have less compunction than ever in sarving agin the
miscreants though I cant say I ever yet felt any worth naming«
As all parties Mabel excepted seemed satisfied with the course the
discussion had taken no one appeared to think it necessary to pursue the
subject The trio of men indeed in this particular so much resembled the
great mass of their fellow creatures who usually judge of character equally
without knowledge and without justice that we might not have thought it
necessary to record the discourse had it not some bearing in its facts on the
incidents of the legend and in its opinions on the motives of the characters
Supper was no sooner ended than the Serjeant dismissed his guests and then
held a long and confidential dialogue with his daughter He was little addicted
to giving way to the gentler emotions but the novelty of his present situation
awakened feelings that he was unused to experience The soldier or the sailor
so long as he acts under the immediate supervision of a superior thinks little
of the risks he runs but the moment he feels the responsibility of command all
the hazards of his undertaking begin to associate themselves in his mind with
the chances of success or failure While he dwells less on his own personal
danger perhaps than when that is the principal consideration he has more
lively general perceptions of all the risks and submits more to the influence
of the feelings which doubt creates Such was now the case with Serjeant Dunham
who instead of looking forward to victory as certain according to his usual
habits began to feel the possibility that he might be parting with his child
forever
Never before had Mabel struck him as so beautiful as she appeared that
night Possibly she never had displayed so many engaging qualities to her
father for concern on his account had begun to be active in her breast and
then her sympathies met with unusual encouragement through those which had been
stirred up in the sterner bosom of the veteran She had never been entirely at
her ease with her parent the great superiority other education creating a sort
of chasm which had been widened by the military severity of manner he had
acquired by dealing so long and intimately with beings who could only be kept
in subjection by an unremitted discipline On the present occasion however or
after they were left alone the conversation between the father and daughter
became more confidential than usual until Mabel rejoiced to find that it was
gradually becoming endearing a state of feeling that the warmhearted girl had
silently pined for in vain ever since her arrival
»Then mother was about my height« Mabel said as she held one of her
fathers hands in both her own looking up into his face with humid eyes »I
had thought her taller«
»That is the way with most children who get a habit of thinking of their
parents with respect until they fancy them larger and more commanding than they
actually are Your mother Mabel was as near your height as one woman could be
to another«
»And her eyes father«
»Her eyes were like thine child too blue and soft and inviting like
though hardly so laughing«
»Mine will never laugh again dearest father if you do not take care of
yourself in this expedition«
»Thank you Mabel hem thank you child but I must do my duty I wish I
had seen you comfortably married before we left Oswego My mind would be
easier«
»Married To whom father«
»You know the man I wish you to love You may meet with many gayer and many
dressed in finer clothes but with none with so true a heart and just a mind«
»None father«
»I know of none in these particulars Pathfinder has few equals at least«
»But I need not marry at all You are single and I can remain to take care
of you«
»God bless you Mabel I know you would and I do not say that the feeling
is not right for I suppose it is and yet I believe there is another that is
more so«
»What can be more right than to honor ones parents«
»It is just as right to honor ones husband my dear child«
»But I have no husband father«
»Then take one as soon as possible that you may have a husband to honor I
cannot live forever Mabel but must drop off in the course of nature ere long
if I am not carried off in the course of war You are young and may yet live
long and it is proper that you should have a male protector who can see you
safe through life and take care of you in age as you now wish to take care of
me«
»And do you think father « said Mabel playing with his sinewy fingers
with her own little hands and looking down at them as if they were subjects of
intense interest though her lips curled in a slight smile as the words came
from them »And do you think father that Pathfinder is just the man to do
this Is he not within ten or twelve years as old as yourself«
»What of that His life has been one of moderation and exercise and years
are less to be counted girl than constitution Do you know another more likely
to be your protector«
Mabel did not at least another who had expressed a desire to that effect
whatever might have been her hopes and her wishes
»Nay father we are not talking of another but of the Pathfinder« she
answered evasively »If he were younger I think it would be more natural for me
to think of him for a husband«
»Tis all in the constitution I tell you child Pathfinder is a younger
man than half our subalterns«
»He is certainly younger than one sir Lieutenant Muir«
Mabels laugh was joyous and lighthearted as if just then she felt no
care
»That he is young enough to be his grandson he is younger in years too
God forbid Mabel that you should ever become an officers lady at least until
you are an officers daughter«
»There will be little fear of that father if I marry Pathfinder« returned
the girl looking up archly in the serjeants face again
»Not by the Kings commission perhaps though the man is even now the
friend and companion of generals I think I could die happy Mabel if you were
his wife«
»Father«
»Tis a sad thing to go into battle with the weight of an unprotected
daughter laid upon the heart«
»I would give the world to lighten yours of its load my dear sir«
»It might be done « said the serjeant looking fondly at his child »though
I could not wish to put a burthen on yours in order to do so«
The voice was deep and tremulous and never before had Mabel witnessed such
a show of affection in her parent The habitual sternness of the man lent an
interest to his emotions that they might otherwise have wanted and the
daughters heart yearned to relieve the fathers mind
»Father speak plainly« she cried almost convulsively
»Nay Mabel it might not be right your wishes and mine may be very
different«
»I have no wishes know nothing of what you mean would you speak of my
future marriage«
»If I could see you promised to Pathfinder know that you were pledged to
become his wife let my own fate be what it might I think I could die happy
But I will ask no pledge of you my child I will not force you to do what you
might repent Kiss me Mabel and go to your bed«
Had Serjeant Dunham exacted of Mabel the pledge that he really so much
desired he would have encountered a resistance that he might have found
difficult to overcome but by letting nature have its course he enlisted a
powerful ally on his side and the warmhearted generousminded Mabel was ready
to concede to her affections much more than she would ever have yielded to
menace At that touching moment she thought only of her parent who was about to
quit her perhaps forever and all of that ardent love for him which had
possibly been as much fed by the imagination as by any thing else but which had
received a little check by the restrained intercourse of the last fortnight now
returned with a force that was increased by pure and intense feeling Her father
seemed all in all to her and to render him happy there was no proper sacrifice
that she was not ready to make One painful rapid almost wild gleam of thought
shot across the brain of the girl and her resolution wavered but endeavoring
to trace the foundation of the pleasing hope on which it was based she found
nothing positive to support it Trained like a woman to subdue her most ardent
feelings her thoughts reverted to her father and to the blessings that awaited
the child who yielded to a parents wishes
»Father« she said quietly almost with a holy calm »God blesses the
dutiful daughter«
»He will Mabel we have the good book for that«
»I will marry whomever you desire«
»Nay nay Mabel you may have a choice of your own «
»I have no choice that is none have asked me to have a choice but
Pathfinder and Mr Muir and between them neither of us would hesitate No
father I will marry whomever you may choose«
»Thou knowest my choice beloved girl none other can make thee as happy as
the noblehearted guide«
»Well then if he wish it if he ask me again for father you would not
have me offer myself or that any one should do that office for me « and the
blood stole across the pallid cheeks of Mabel as she spoke for high and
generous resolution had driven back the stream of life to her heart »no one
must speak to him of it but if he seek me again and knowing all that a true
girl ought to tell the man she marries and he then wishes to make me his wife
I will be his«
»Bless you my Mabel God in Heaven bless you and reward you as a pious
daughter deserves to be rewarded«
»Yes father put your mind at peace go on this expedition with a light
heart and trust in God For me you will have now no care In the spring I
must have a little time father but in the spring I will marry Pathfinder
if that noble hearted hunter shall then desire it«
»Mabel he loves you as I loved your mother I have seen him weep like a
child when speaking of his feelings towards you«
»Yes I believe it Ive seen enough to satisfy me that he thinks better
of me than I deserve and certainly the man is not living for whom I have more
respect than for Pathfinder not even for you dear father«
»That is as it should be child and the union will be blessed May I not
tell Pathfinder this«
»I would rather you would not father Let it come of itself come
naturally the man should seek the woman and not the woman the man « The
smile that illuminated Mabels handsome face was angelic as even her parent
thought though one better practised in detecting the passing emotions as they
betray themselves in the countenance might have traced something wild and
unnatural in it »No no we must let things take their course but father
you have my solemn promise«
»That will do that will do Mabel now kiss me God bless and protect
you girl you are a good daughter«
Mabel threw herself into her fathers arms it was the first time in her
life and sobbed on his bosom like an infant The stern old soldiers heart was
melted and the tears of the two mingled But Serjeant Dunham soon started as
if ashamed of himself and gently forcing his daughter from him he bade her
good night and sought his pallet Mabel went sobbing to the rude corner that
had been prepared for her reception and in a few minutes the hut was
undisturbed by any sound save the heavy breathing of the veteran
Chapter XX
»Wandering I found on my ruinous walk
By the dial stone aged and green
One rose of the wilderness left on its stalk
To mark where a garden had been«
Campbell »Lines Written on Visiting a
Scene in Argyleshire« ll 1013
It was not only broad daylight when Mabel awoke but the sun had actually been
up some time Her sleep had been tranquil for she rested on an approving
conscience and fatigue contributed to render it sweet and no sound of those
who had been so early in motion had interfered with her rest Springing to her
feet and rapidly dressing herself the girl was soon breathing the fragrance of
the morning in the open air For the first time she was sensibly struck with
the singular beauties as well as with the profound retirement of her present
situation The day proved to be one of those of the autumnal glory so common to
a climate that is more abused than appreciated and its influence was in every
way inspiriting and genial Mabel was benefitted by this circumstance for as
she fancied her heart was heavy on account of the dangers to which a father
whom she now began to love as women love when confidence is created was about
to be exposed
But the island seemed absolutely deserted The previous night the bustle of
the arrival had given the spot an appearance of life that was now entirely
gone and our heroine had turned her eyes nearly around on every object in
sight before she caught a view of a single human being to remove the sense of
utter solitude Then indeed she beheld all who were left behind collected in
a group around a fire which might be said to belong to the camp The person of
her uncle to whom she was so much accustomed reassured the girl and she
examined the remainder with a curiosity natural to her situation Besides Cap
and the Quarter Master there were the corporal the three soldiers and the
woman who was cooking The huts were silent and empty and the low but
towerlike summit of the blockhouse rose above the bushes by which it was half
concealed in picturesque beauty The sun was just casting its brightness into
the open places of the glade and the vault over her head was impending in the
soft sublimity of the blue void Not a cloud was visible and she secretly
fancied the circumstance might be taken as a harbinger of peace and security
Perceiving that all the others were occupied with that great concern of
human nature a breakfast Mabel walked unobserved towards an end of the
island where she was completely shut out of view by the trees and bushes Here
she got a stand on the very verge of the water by forcing aside the low
branches and stood watching the barely perceptible flow and reflow of the
miniature waves that laved the shore a sort of physical echo to the agitation
that prevailed on the lake fifty miles above her The glimpses of natural
scenery that offered were very soft and pleasing and our heroine who had a
quick and true eye for all that was lovely in nature was not slow in selecting
the more striking bits of landscape She gazed through the different vistas
formed by the openings between the islands and thought she had never looked on
aught more lovely
While thus occupied Mabel was suddenly alarmed by fancying that she caught
a glimpse of a human form among the bushes that lined the shore of the island
that lay directly before her The distance across the water was not a hundred
yards and though she might be mistaken and her fancy was wandering when the
form passed before her sight still she did not think she could be deceived
Aware that her sex would be no protection against a rifle bullet should an
Iroquois get a view of her the girl instinctively drew back taking care to
conceal her person as much as possible by the leaves while she kept her own
look rivetted on the opposite shore vainly waiting for some time in the
expectation of the stranger She was about to quit her post in the bushes and
hasten to her uncle in order to acquaint him of her suspicions when she saw the
branch of an alder thrust beyond the bushes on the other island and waved
towards her significantly and as she fancied in a token of amity This was a
breathless and a trying moment to one as inexperienced in frontier warfare as
our heroine and yet she felt the great necessity that existed for preserving
her recollections and of acting with steadiness and discretion
It was one of the peculiarities of the exposure to which those who dwelt on
the frontiers of America were liable to bring out the moral qualities of the
women to a degree that they must themselves under other circumstances have
believed they were incapable of manifesting and Mabel well knew that the
borderers loved to dwell in their legends on the presence of mind fortitude
and spirit that their wives and sisters had displayed under circumstances the
most trying Her emulation had been awakened by what she had heard on such
subjects and it at once struck her that now was the moment for her to show
that she was truly Serjeant Dunhams child The motion of the branch was such
as she believed indicated amity and after a moments hesitation she broke
off a twig fastened it to a stick and thrusting it through an opening waved
it in return imitating as closely as possible the manner of the other
This dumb show lasted two or three minutes on both sides when Mabel
perceived that the bushes opposite were cautiously pushed aside and a human
face appeared at an opening A glance sufficed to let Mabel see that it was the
countenance of a red skin as well as of a woman A second and a better look
satisfied her that it was the face of the Dew of June the wife of Arrowhead
During the time she had travelled in company with this woman Mabel had been won
by the gentleness of manner the meek simplicity and the mingled awe and
affection with which she regarded her husband Once or twice in the course of
the journey she fancied the Tuscarora had manifested towards herself an
unpleasant degree of attention and on those occasions it had struck her that
his wife exhibited sorrow and mortification As Mabel however had more than
compensated for any pain she might in this way unintentionally have caused her
companion by her own kindness of manner and attentions the woman had shown
much attachment to her and they had parted with a deep conviction on the mind
of our heroine that in the Dew of June she had lost a friend
It is useless to attempt to analyze all the ways by which the human heart is
led into confidence Such a feeling however had the young Tuscarora woman
awakened in the breast of our heroine and the latter under the impression that
this extraordinary visit was intended for her own good felt every disposition
to have a closer communication She no longer hesitated about showing herself
clear of the bushes and was not sorry to see the Dew of June imitate her
confidence by stepping fearlessly out of her own cover The two girls for the
Tuscarora though married was even younger than Mabel now openly exchanged
signs of friendship and the latter beckoned to her friend to approach though
she knew not the manner herself in which this object could be effected But
the Dew of June was not slow in letting it be seen that it was in her power for
disappearing a moment she soon showed herself again in the end of a bark canoe
the bows of which she had drawn to the edge of the bushes and of which the body
still lay in a sort of covered creek Mabel was about to invite her to cross
when her own name was called aloud in the stentorian voice of her uncle Making
a hurried gesture for the Tuscarora girl to conceal herself Mabel sprang from
the bushes and tripped up the glade towards the sound and perceived that the
whole party had just seated themselves at breakfast Cap having barely put his
appetite under sufficient restraint to summon her to join them That this was
the most favorable instant for the interview flashed on the mind of Mabel and
excusing herself on the plea of not being prepared for the meal she bounded
back to the thicket and soon renewed her communications with the young Indian
woman
Dew of June was quick of comprehension and with half a dozen noiseless
strokes of the paddle her canoe was concealed in the bushes of Station Island
In another minute Mabel had her hand and was leading her through the grove
towards her own hut Fortunately the latter was so placed as to be completely
hidden from the sight of those at the fire and they both entered it unseen
Hastily explaining to her guest in the best manner she could the necessity of
quitting her for a short time Mabel first placing the Dew of June in her own
room with a full certainty that she would not quit it until told to do so went
to the fire and took her seat among the rest with all the composure it was in
her power to command
»Late come late served Mabel« said her uncle between two mouthfuls of
broiled salmon for though the cookery might be very unsophisticated on that
remote frontier the viands were generally delicious »late come late served
it is a good rule and keeps laggards up to their work«
»I am no laggard uncle for I have been stirring near an hour and
exploring our island«
»Its little youll make o that Mistress Mabel« put in Muir »thats
little by nature Lundie or it might be better to style him Major Duncan in
this presence « this was said in consideration of the corporal and the common
men though they were taking their meal a little apart »it might be better to
style him Major Duncan in this presence has not added an empire to His
Majestys dominions in getting possession of this island which is likely to
equal that of the celebrated Sancho in revenues and profits Sancho of whom
doubtless Master Cap youll often have been reading in your leisure hours
more especially in calms and moments of inactivity«
»I know the spot you mean Quarter Master Sanchos Island coral rock of
new formation and as bad a land fall in a dark night and blowing weather as a
sinner could wish to keep clear of Its a famous place for cocoa nuts and
bitter water that Sanchos Island«
»Its no very famous for dinners« returned Muir repressing the smile that
was struggling to his lips out of respect to Mabel »nor do I think therell be
much to choose between its revenue and that of this spot In my judgment
Master Cap this is a very unmilitary position and I look to some calamitys
befalling it sooner or later«
»It is to be hoped not until our turn of duty is over« observed Mabel »I
have no wish to study the French language«
»We might think ourselves happy did it not prove to be the Iroquois I have
reasoned with Major Duncan on the occupation of this position but a wilfu man
maun ha his way My first object in accompanying this party was to endeavour
to make myself acceptable and useful to your beautiful niece Master Cap and
the second was to take such an account of the stores that belong to my
particular department as shall leave no question open to controversy
concerning the manner of expenditure when they shall have disappeared by means
of the enemy«
»Do you look upon matters as so serious« demanded Cap actually suspending
his mastication of a bit of venison for he passed alternately like a modern
élégant from fish to flesh and back again in the interest he took in the
answer »Is the danger pressing«
»Ill no say just that and Ill no say just the contrary There is always
danger in war and there is more of it at the advanced posts than at the main
encampment It ought therefore to occasion no surprise were we to be visited
by the French at any moment«
»And what the devil is to be done in that case Six men and two women
would make but a poor job in defending such a place as this should the enemy
invade us as no doubt Frenchmen like they would take very good care to come
strong handed«
»That we may depend on Some very formidable force at the very lowest A
military disposition might be made in defence of the island out of all
question and according to the art of war though we would probably fail in the
force necessary to carry out the design in any very creditable manner In the
first place a detachment should be sent off to the shore with orders to annoy
the enemy in landing A strong party ought instantly to be thrown into the
blockhouse as the citadel for on that all the different detachments would
naturally fall back for support as the French advanced and an entrenched camp
might be laid out around the stronghold as it would be very unmilitary
indeed to let the foe get near enough to the foot of the walls to mine them
Chevaux de frise would keep the cavalry in check and as for the artillery
redoubts should be thrown up under cover of yon woods Strong skirmishing
parties moreover would be exceedingly serviceable in retarding the march of
the enemy and these different huts if properly picketted and ditched could be
converted into very eligible positions for that object«
»Wheeew Quarter Master And who the dl is to find all the men to
carry out such a plan«
»The King out of all question Master Cap It is his quarrel and its just
he should bear the burthen o it«
»And we are only six This is fine talking with a vengeance You could be
sent down to the shore to oppose the landing Mabel might skirmish with her
tongue at least the soldiers wife might act chevaux de frise to entangle the
cavalry the corporal should command the entrenched camp his three men could
occupy the five huts and I would take the blockhouse Wheeew you describe
well Lieutenant and should have been a limner instead of a soldier«
»Na Ive been very literal and upright in my exposition of matters That
there is no greater force here to carry out the plan is a fault of His
Majestys ministers and none of mine«
»But should an enemy really appear« asked Mabel with more interest than
she might have shown had she not remembered the guest in the hut »what course
ought we to pursue«
»My advice would be to attempt to achieve that Pretty Mabel which rendered
Xenophon so justly celebrated«
»I think you mean a retreat though I half guess at your allusion«
»Youve imagined my meaning from the possession of a strong native sense
young lady I am aware that your worthy father has pointed out to the corporal
certain modes and methods by which he fancies this island could be held in case
the French should discover its position but the excellent serjeant though your
father and as good a man in his duties as ever wielded a spontoon is not the
great Lord Stair or even the Duke of Marlborough Ill no deny the serjeants
merits in his particular sphere though I cannot exaggerate qualities however
excellent into those of men who may be in some trifling degree his superiors
Serjeant Dunham has taken counsel of his heart instead of his head in
resolving to issue such orders but if the post fall the blame will lie on him
that ordered it to be occupied and not on him whose duty it was to defend it
Whatever may be the determination of the latter should the French and their
allies land a good commander never neglects the precautions necessary to effect
a retreat and I would advise Master Cap who is the admiral of our navy to
have a boat in readiness to evacuate the island if need comes to need The
largest boat that we have left carries a very ample sail and by hauling it
round here and mooring it under those bushes there will be a convenient place
for a hurried embarkation and then youll perceive Pretty Mabel that it is
scarce fifty yards before we shall be in a channel between two other islands
and hid from the sight of those who may happen to be on this«
»All that you say is very true Mr Muir but may not the French come from
that quarter themselves If it is so good for a retreat it is equally good for
an advance«
»Theyll no have the sense to do so discreet a thing« returned Muir
looking furtively and a little uneasily around him »theyll no have sufficient
discretion Your French are a headoverheels nation and usually come forward
in a random way so we may look for them if they come at all on the other
side of the island «
The discourse now became exceedingly desultory touching principally
however on the probabilities of an invasion and the best means of meeting it
To most of this Mabel paid but little attention though she felt some
surprise that Lt Muir an officer whose character for courage stood well
should openly recommend an abandonment of what appeared to her to be doubly a
duty her fathers character being connected with the defence of the island Her
mind however was so much occupied with her guest that siezing the first
favorable moment she left the table and was soon in her own hut again
Carefully fastening the door and seeing that the simple curtain was drawn
before the single little window Mabel next led the Dew of June or June as she
was familiarly termed by those who spoke to her in English into the outer room
making signs of affection and confidence
»I am glad to see you June« said Mabel with one of her sweetest smiles
and in her own winning voice »very glad to see you but what has brought you
hither and how did you discover the island«
»Talk slow« said June returning smile for smile and pressing the little
hand she held with one of her own that was scarcely larger though it had been
hardened by labor »more slow too quick«
Mabel repeated her questions endeavoring to repress the impetuosity of her
feelings and she succeeded in speaking so distinctly as to be understood
»June friend « returned the Indian woman
»I believe you June from my soul I believe you What has this to do with
your visit«
»Friend come to see friend« answered June again smiling openly in the
others face
»There is some other reason June else would you never run this risk and
alone You are alone June«
»June wid you no one else June come alone paddle canoe«
»I hope so I think so nay I know so You would not be treacherous with
me June«
»What treacherous«
»You would not betray me would not give me to the French to the Iroquois
to Arrowhead « June shook her head earnestly » you would not sell my
scalp«
Here June passed her arm fondly around the slender waist of Mabel and
pressed her to her heart with a tenderness and affection that brought tears
into the eyes of our heroine It was done in the fond caressing manner of a
woman and it was scarcely possible that it should not obtain credit for
sincerity with a young and ingenuous person of the same sex Mabel returned the
pressure and then held the other off at the length of her arm looked her
steadily in the face and continued her inquiries
»If June has something to tell her friend let her speak plainly« she said
»My ears are open«
»June fraid Arrowhead kill her«
»But Arrowhead will never know it « Mabels blood mounted to her temples
as she said this for she felt that she was urging a wife to be treacherous to
her husband »That is Mabel will not tell him«
»He bury tomahawk in Junes head«
»That must never be dear June I would rather you should say no more than
run this risk«
»Block house good place to sleep good place to stay«
»Do you mean that I may save my life by keeping in the blockhouse June
Surely surely Arrowhead will not hurt you for telling me that He cannot wish
me any great harm for I never injured him«
»Arrowhead wish no harm to handsome Pale face« returned June averting her
face and though she always spoke in the soft gentle voice of an Indian girl
permitting its notes to fall so low as to cause them to sound melancholy and
timid »Arrowhead love pale face girls«
Mabel blushed she knew not why and for a moment her questions were
repressed by a feeling of inherent delicacy But it was necessary to know more
for her apprehensions had been keenly awakened and she resumed her inquiries
»Arrowhead can have no reason to love or to hate me« she said »Is he near
you«
»Husband always near wife here« said June laying her hand on her heart
»Excellent creature But tell me June ought I to keep in the
blockhouse today this morning now«
»Blockhouse very good good for squaw Blockhouse got no scalp«
»I fear I understand you only too well June Do you wish to see my
father«
»No here gone away«
»You cannot know that June you see the island is full of his soldiers«
»No full gone away « here June held up four of her fingers »so many red
coat«
»And Pathfinder would you not like to see the Pathfinder he can talk to
you in the Iroquois tongue«
»Tongue gone wid him « said June laughing »keep tongue in his mout«
There was something so sweet and contagious in the infantile laugh of an
Indian girl that Mabel could not refrain from joining in it much as her fears
were aroused by all that had passed
»You appear to know or to think you know all about us June But if
Pathfinder be gone Eau douce can speak French too You know Eau douce shall I
run and bring him to talk with you«
»Eau douce gone too all but heart that there« As June said this she
laughed again looked in different directions as if unwilling to confuse the
other and laid her hand on Mabels bosom
Our heroine had often heard of the wonderful sagacity of the Indians and of
the surprising manner in which they noted all things while they appeared to
regard none but she was scarce prepared for the direction the discourse had so
singularly taken Willing to change it and at the same time truly anxious to
learn how great the danger that impended over them might really be she rose
from the campstool on which she had been seated and by assuming an attitude
of less affectionate confidence she hoped to hear more of that she really
desired to learn and to avoid allusions to that which she found so
embarrassing
»You know how much or how little you ought to tell me June« she said
»and I hope you love me well enough to give me the information I ought to hear
My dear uncle too is on the island and you are or ought to be his friend
as well as mine and both of us will remember your conduct when we get back to
Oswego«
»Maybe never get back who know« This was said doubtingly or as one lays
down an uncertain proposition and not with a taunt or a desire to alarm
»No one knows what will happen but God Our lives are in his hands Still
I think you are to be his instrument in saving us«
This passed Junes comprehension and she only looked her ignorance for it
was evident she wished to be of use
»Blockhouse very good« she repeated as soon as her countenance ceased to
express uncertainty laying strong emphasis on the two last words
»Well I understand this June and will sleep in it tonight Of course I
am to tell my uncle what you have said«
The Dew of June started and she discovered a very manifest uneasiness at
the interrogatory
»No no no no « she answered with a volubility and vehemence that was
imitated from the French of the Canadas »no good to tell Saltwater He much
talk and long tongue Think woods all water understand noting Tell
Arrowhead and June die«
»You do my dear uncle injustice for he would be as little likely to betray
you as any one«
»No understand Saltwater got tongue but no eye no ear no nose noting
but tongue tongue tongue«
Although Mabel did not exactly coincide in this opinion she saw that Cap
had not the confidence of the young Indian woman and that it was idle to expect
she would consent to his being admitted to their interview
»You appear to think you know our situation pretty well June« Mabel
continued »have you been on the island before this visit«
»Just come«
»How then do you know that what you say is true my father the Pathfinder
and Eau douce may all be here within sound of my voice if I choose to call
them«
»All gone« said June positively smiling good at the same time
»Nay this is more than you can say certainly not having been over the
island to examine it«
»Got good eyes see boat with men go away see ship with Eau douce«
»Then you have been some time watching us I think however you have not
counted them that remain«
June laughed held up her four fingers again and then pointed to her two
thumbs passing a finger over the first she repeated the words redcoat and
touching the last she added Saltwater Quarter Master All this was being
very accurate and Mabel began to entertain serious doubts of the propriety of
her permitting her visiter to depart without her becoming more explicit Still
it was so repugnant to her feelings to abuse the confidence this gentle and
affectionate creature had evidently reposed in her that Mabel had no sooner
admitted the thought of summoning her uncle than she rejected it as unworthy
of herself and unjust to her friend To aid this good resolution too there
was the certainty that June would reveal nothing but take refuge in a stubborn
silence if any attempt was made to coerce her
»You think then June« Mabel continued as soon as these thoughts had
passed through her mind »that I had better live in the blockhouse«
»Good place for squaw Blockhouse got no scalp Logs tick«
»You speak confidently June as if you had been in it and had measured its
walls«
June laughed and she looked knowing though she said nothing
»Does any one but yourself know how to find this island have any of the
Iroquois seen it«
June looked sad and she cast her eyes warily about her as if distrusting a
listener
»Tuscarora everywhere Oswego here Frontenac Mohawk everywhere If he
see June kill her«
»But we thought that no one knew of this island and that we had no reason
to fear our enemies while on it«
»Much eye Iroquois«
»Eyes will not always do June This spot is hid from ordinary sight and
few of even our own people know how to find it«
»One man can tell Some Yengeese talk French«
Mabel felt a chill at her heart All the suspicions against Jasper which
she had hitherto disdained entertaining crowded in a body on her thoughts and
the sensation that they brought was so sickening that for an instant she
imagined she was about to faint Arousing herself and remembering her promise
to her father she arose and walked up and down the hut for a minute fancying
that Jaspers delinquencies were naught to her though her inmost heart yearned
with the desire to think him innocent
»I understand your meaning June« she then said »You wish me to know that
some one has treacherously told your people where and how to find the island«
June laughed for in her eyes artifice in war was oftener a merit than a
crime but she was too true to her tribe herself to say more than the occasion
required Her object was to save Mabel and Mabel only and she saw no
sufficient reason for travelling out of the record as the lawyers express it
in order to do any thing else
»Pale face know now « she added »Blockhouse good for girls no matter
for men and warriors«
»But it is much matter with me June for one of these men is my uncle whom
I love and the others are my countrymen and friends I must tell them what has
passed«
»Then June be kill « returned the young Indian quietly though she spoke
with concern
»No they shall not know that you have been here Still they must be on
their guard and we can all go into the blockhouse«
»Arrowhead know see every thing and June be kill June come to tell young
pale face friend not to tell men Every warrior watch his own scalp June
squaw and tell squaw no tell men«
Mabel was greatly distressed at this declaration of her wild friend for it
was now evident the young creature understood that her communication was to go
no farther She was ignorant how far these people considered the point of honor
interested in her keeping the secret and most of all was she unable to say how
far any indiscretion of her own might actually commit June and endanger her
life All these considerations flashed on her mind and reflection only rendered
their influence more painful June too manifestly viewed the matter gravely
for she began to gather up the different little articles she had dropped in
taking Mabels hand and was preparing to depart To attempt detaining her was
out of the question and to part from her after all she had hazarded to serve
her was repugnant to all the just and kind feelings of our heroines nature
»June« she said eagerly folding her arms around the gentle but uneducated
being »we are friends From me you have nothing to fear for no one shall know
of your visit If you could give me some signal just before the danger comes
some sign by which to know when to go into the blockhouse how to take care of
myself«
June paused for she had been in earnest in her intention to depart and
then she said quietly
»Bring June pigeon«
»A pigeon Where shall I find a pigeon to bring you«
»Next hut bring old one June go to canoe«
»I think I understand you June but had I not better lead you back to the
bushes lest you meet some of the men«
»Go out first count men one two tree four five six« here
June held up her fingers and laughed »All out of way good all but one call
him one side Then sing and fetch pigeon«
Mabel smiled at the readiness and ingenuity of the girl and prepared to
execute her requests At the door however she stopped and looked back
entreatingly at the Indian woman
»Is there no hope of your telling me more June« she said
»Know all now Blockhouse good pigeon tell Arrowhead kill«
The last words sufficed for Mabel could not urge further communications
when her companion herself told her that the penalty of her revelations might
be death by the hand of her husband Throwing open the door she made a sign of
adieu to June and went out of the hut Mabel resorted to the simple expedient
of the young Indian girl to ascertain the situation of the different
individuals on the island Instead of looking about her with the intention of
recognizing faces and dresses she merely counted them and found that three
still remained at the fire while two had gone to the boat one of whom was Mr
Muir The sixth man was her uncle and he was coolly arranging some fishing
tackle at no great distance from the fire The woman was just entering her own
hut and this accounted for the whole party Mabel now affecting to have
dropped something returned nearly to the hut she had left warbling an air
stooped as if to pick up some object from the ground and hurried towards the
hut June had mentioned This was a dilapidated structure and it had been
converted by the soldiers of the last detachment into a sort of store house for
their live stock Among other things it contained a few dozen pigeons which
were regaling on a pile of wheat that had been brought off from one of the
farms plundered on the Canada shore Mabel had not much difficulty in catching
one of these pigeons although they fluttered and flew about the hut with a
noise like that of drums and concealing it in her dress she stole back towards
her own hut with the prize It was empty and without doing more than cast a
glance in at the door the eager girl hurried down to the shore She had no
difficulty in escaping observation for the trees and bushes made a complete
cover to her person At the canoe she found June who took the pigeon placed
it in a basket of her own manufacturing and repeating the words Blockhouse
good she glided out of the bushes and across the narrow passage as noiselessly
as she had come Mabel waited some time to catch a signal of leave taking or
amity after her friend had landed but none was given The adjacent islands
without exception were as quiet as if no one had ever disturbed the sublime
repose of nature and nowhere could any sign or symptom be discovered as Mabel
then thought that might denote the proximity of the sort of danger of which
June had given notice
On returning however from the shore Mabel was struck with a little
circumstance that in an ordinary situation would have attracted no attention
but which now that her suspicions had been aroused did not pass before her
uneasy eye unnoticed A small piece of red bunting such as is used in the
ensigns of ships was fluttering at the lower branch of a small tree fastened
in a way to permit it to blow out or to droop like a vessels pennant
Now that Mabels fears were awakened June herself could not have manifested
greater quickness in analyzing facts that she believed might affect the safety
of the party She saw at a glance that this bit of cloth could be observed from
an adjacent island that it lay so near the line between her own hut and the
canoe as to leave no doubt that June had passed near it if not directly under
it and that it might be a signal to communicate some important fact connected
with the mode of attack to those who were probably lying in ambush near them
Tearing the little strip of bunting from the tree Mabel hastened on scarce
knowing what duty next required June might be false to her but her manner her
looks her affection and her disposition as Mabel had known it in the journey
forbade the idea Then came the allusion to Arrowheads admiration of the Pale
face beauties some dim recollections of the looks of the Tuscarora and a
painful consciousness that few wives could view with kindness one who had
estranged a husbands affections None of these images were distinct and clear
but they rather gleamed over the mind of our heroine than rested in it and they
quickened her pulses as they did her step without bringing with them the
prompt and clear decisions that usually followed her reflections She had
hurried onwards towards the hut occupied by the soldiers wife intending to
remove at once to the blockhouse with the woman though she could persuade no
other to follow when her impatient walk was interrupted by the voice of Muir
»Whither so fast Pretty Mabel« he cried »and why so given to solitude
The worthy serjeant will deride my breeding if he hear that his daughter passes
the mornings alone and unattended to though he well knows that it is my ardent
wish to be her slave and companion from the beginning of the year to its end«
»Surely Mr Muir you must have some authority here« Mabel suddenly
arrested her steps to say »One of your rank would be listened to at least by
a corporal«
»I dont know that I dont know that « interrupted Muir with an
impatience and appearance of alarm that might have excited Mabels attention at
another moment »Command is command discipline discipline and authority
authority Your good father would be sore grieved did he find me interfering to
sully or carry off the laurels he is about to win and I cannot command the
corporal without equally commanding the serjeant The wisest way will be for me
to remain in the obscurity of a private individual in this enterprize and it is
so that all parties from Lundie down understand the transaction«
»This I know and it may be well nor would I give my dear father any cause
of complaint but you may influence the corporal to his own good«
»Ill no say that« returned Muir in his sly Scotch way »it would be far
safer to promise to influence him to his injury Mankind pretty Mabel have
their peculiarities and to influence a fellow being to his own good is one of
the most difficult tasks of human nature while the opposite is just the
easiest Youll no forget this my dear but bear it in mind for your
edification and government but what is that youre twisting round your
slender finger as you may be said to twist hearts«
»It is nothing but a bit of cloth a sort of flag a trifle that is hardly
worth our attention at this grave moment If «
»A trifle its no so trifling as ye may imagine Mistress Mabel« taking
the bit of bunting from her and stretching it at full length with both his arms
extended while his face grew grave and his eye watchful »Yell no ha been
finding this Mabel Dunham in the breakfast«
Mabel simply acquainted him with the spot where and the manner in which she
had found the bit of cloth While she was speaking the eye of the Quarter
Master was not quiet for a moment glancing from the rag to the face of our
heroine then back again to the rag That his suspicions were awakened was easy
to be seen nor was he long in letting it be known what direction they had
taken
»We are not in a part of the world where our ensigns and gauds ought to be
spread abroad to the winds Mabel Dunham« he said with an ominous shake of his
head
»I thought as much myself Mr Muir and brought away the little flag lest
it might be the means of betraying our presence here to the enemy even though
nothing is intended by its display Ought not my uncle to be made acquainted
with the circumstance«
»I no see the necessity for that pretty Mabel for as you justly say it is
a circumstance and circumstances sometimes worry the worthy mariner But this
flag if flag it can be called belongs to a seamans craft You may perceive
that it is made of what is called bunting and that is a description of cloth
used only by vessels for such purposes our colours being of silk as you may
understand or painted canvass Its surprisingly like the fly of the Scuds
ensign And now I recollect me to have observed that a piece had been cut from
that very flag«
Mabel felt her heart sink but she had sufficient self command not to
attempt an answer
»It must be looked to« Muir continued »and after all I think it may be
well to hold a short consultation with Master Cap than whom a more loyal
subject does not exist in the British Empire«
»I have thought the warning so serious« Mabel rejoined »that I am about to
remove to the block and to take the woman with me«
»I do not see the prudence of that Mabel The blockhouse will be the first
spot assailed should there really be an attack and its no well provided for a
siege that must be allowed If I might advise in so delicate a contingency I
would recommend your taking refuge in the boat which as you may now perceive
is most favorably placed to retreat by that channel opposite where all in it
would be hid by the islands in one or two minutes Water leaves no trail as
Pathfinder well expresses it and there appear to be so many different passages
in that quarter that escape would be more than probable Ive always been of
opinion that Lundie hazarded too much in occupying a post as far advanced and
as much exposed as this«
»Its too late to regret it now Mr Muir and we have only to consult our
own security«
»And the Kings honor pretty Mabel Yes His Majestys arms and his
glorious name are not to be overlooked on any occasion«
»Then I think it might be better if we all turned our eyes towards the
place that has been built to maintain them instead of the boat« said Mabel
smiling »and so Mr Muir I am for the blockhouse with a disposition to
await there the return of my father and his party He would be sadly grieved
at finding we had fled when he got back successful himself and filled with
the confidence of our having been as faithful to our duties as he has been to
his own«
»Nay nay for Heavens sake do not misunderstand me Mabel« Muir
interrupted with some alarm of manner »I am far from intimating that any but
you females ought to take refuge in the boat The duty of us men is sufficiently
plain no doubt and my resolution has been formed from the first to stand or
fall by the blockhouse«
»And did you imagine Mr Muir that two females could row that heavy boat
in a way to escape the bark canoe of an Indian«
»Ah my pretty Mabel love is seldom logical and its fears and misgivings
are apt to warp the faculties I only saw your sweet person in possession of the
means of safety and overlooked the want of ability to use them But youll no
be so cruel lovely creature as to impute to me as a fault my intense anxiety
on your own account«
Mabel had heard enough Her mind was too much occupied with what had passed
that morning and with her fears to wish to linger further to listen to love
speeches that in her most joyous and buoyant moments she would have found
unpleasant She took a hasty leave of her companion and was about to trip away
towards the hut of the other woman when Muir arrested the movement by laying a
hand on her arm
»One word Mabel« he said »before you leave me This little flag may or
it may not have a particular meaning if it has now that we are aware of its
being shown may it not be better to put it back again while we watch
vigilantly for some answer that may betray the conspiracy and if it mean
nothing why nothing will follow«
»This may be all right Mr Muir though if the whole is accidental the
flag might be the occasion of the posts being discovered«
Mabel stayed to utter no more but she was soon out of sight running into
the hut towards which she had been first proceeding The Quarter Master remained
on the very spot and in the precise attitude in which she had left him for
quite a minute first looking at the bounding figure of the girl and then at
the bit of bunting which he still held before him in a way to denote
indecision His irresolution lasted but for this minute however for he was
soon beneath the tree where he fastened the mimic flag to a branch again
though from his ignorance of the precise spot from whence it had been taken by
Mabel he left it fluttering from a part of the oak where it was still more
exposed than before to the eyes of any passengers on the river though less in
view from the island itself
Chapter XXI
»Each one has had his supping mess
The cheese is put into the press
The pans and bowls clean scalded all
Reared up against the milk house wall«
Cotton »Evening Quatrains« ll 3336
It seemed strange to Mabel Dunham as she passed along on her way to find her
female companion that others should be so composed while she herself felt as
if the responsibilities of life and death rested on her shoulders It is true
that distrust of Junes motives mingled with her forebodings but when she came
to recall the affectionate and natural manner of the young Indian girl and all
the evidences of good faith and sincerity that she had seen in her conduct
during the familiar intercourse of their journey she rejected the idea with
the willingness of a generous disposition to believe the best of others She
saw however that she could not put her companions properly on their guard
without letting them into the secret of her conference with June and she found
herself compelled to act cautiously and with a forethought to which she was
unaccustomed more especially in a matter of so much moment
The soldiers wife was told to transport the necessaries into the
blockhouse and admonished not to be far from it at any time during the day
Mabel did not explain her reasons She merely stated that she had detected some
signs in walking about the island that induced her to apprehend that the enemy
had more knowledge of its position than had been previously believed and that
they two at least would do well to be in readiness to seek a refuge at the
shortest notice It was not difficult to arouse the apprehension of this person
who though a stouthearted Scotch woman was ready enough to listen to any
thing that confirmed her dread of Indian cruelties As soon as Mabel believed
that her companion was sufficiently frightened to render her wary she threw out
some hints touching the inexpediency of letting the soldiers know the extent of
their own fears This was done with a view to prevent discussions and inquiries
that might embarrass our heroine she determining to render her uncle the
corporal and his men more cautious by adopting a different course
Unfortunately the British army could not have furnished a worse person for the
particular duty that he was now required to discharge than Corporal McNab the
individual who had been left in command during the absence of Serjeant Dunham
On the one hand he was resolute prompt familiar with all the details of a
soldiers life and used to war on the other he was supercilious as regards
the provincials opinionated on every subject connected with the narrow limits
of his professional practice and much disposed to fancy the British empire the
centre of all that is excellent in the world and Scotland the focus of at least
all moral excellence in that empire In short he was an epitome though on a
scale suited to his rank of those very qualities which were so peculiar to the
servants of the crown that were sent into the colonies as these servants
estimated themselves in comparison with the natives of the country or in other
words he considered the American as an animal inferior to the parent stock and
viewed all his notions of military service in particular as undigested and
absurd Braddock himself was not less disposed to take advice from a
provincial than his humble imitator and he had been known on more than one
occasion to demur to the directions and orders of two or three commissioned
officers of the corps who happened to be born in America simply for that
reason taking care at the same time with true Scotch wariness to protect
himself from the pains and penalties of positive disobedience A more
impracticable subject therefore could not well have offered for the purposes
of Mabel and yet she felt obliged to lose no time in putting her plan in
execution
»My father has left you a responsible command corporal« she said as soon
as she could catch McNab a little apart from the rest of the soldiers »for
should the island fall into the hands of the enemy not only would we be
captured but the party that is now out would in all probability become their
prisoners also«
»It needs no journey from Scotland to this place to learn the facts needful
to be o that way of thinking« returned McNab drily
»I do not doubt your understanding it as well as myself Mr McNab but Im
fearful that you veterans accustomed as you are to dangers and battles are a
little apt to overlook some of the precautions that may be necessary in a
situation as peculiar as ours«
»They say Scotland is no conquered country young woman but Im thinking
there must be some mistak in the matter as we her children are so drowsy
headed and apt to be oertaken when we least expect it«
»Nay my good friend you mistake my meaning In the first place Im not
thinking of Scotland at all but of this island and then I am far from doubting
your vigilance when you think it necessary to practise it but my great fear is
that there may be danger to which your courage will make you indifferent«
»My courage Mistress Dunham is doubtless of a very poor quality being
nothing but Scottish courage your fathers is yankee and were he here amang
us we should see different preparations beyond a doubt Well times are getting
wrang when foreigners hold commissions and carry halberds in Scottish corps
and I no wonder that battles are lost and campaigns go wrang end foremost«
Mabel was almost in despair but the quiet warning of June was still too
vividly impressed on her mind to allow her to yield the matter She changed her
mode of operating therefore still clinging to the hope of getting the whole
party within the blockhouse without being compelled to betray the source
whence she obtained her notices of the necessity of vigilance
»I dare say you are right Corporal McNab« she resumed »for Ive often
heard of the heroes of your country who have been among the first of the
civilized world if what they tell me of them is true«
»Have you read the history of Scotland Mistress Dunham« demanded the
corporal looking up at his pretty companion for the first time with something
like a smile on his hard repulsive countenance
»I have read a little of it corporal but Ive heard much more The lady
who brought me up had Scottish blood in her veins and was fond of the subject«
»Ill warrant ye the serjeant no troubled himself to expatiate on the
renown of the country where his regiment was raised«
»My father has other things to think of and the little I know was got from
the lady I have mentioned«
»Shell no be forgetting to tall ye o Wallace«
»Of him Ive even read a good deal«
»And o Bruce and the affair o Bannockburn«
»Of that too as well as of Culloden Muir«
The last of these battles was then a recent event it having actually been
fought within the recollection of our heroine whose notions of it however
were so confused that she scarcely appreciated the effect her allusion might
produce on her companion She knew it had been a victory and had often heard
the guests of her patroness mention it with triumph and she fancied their
feelings would find a sympathetic chord in those of every British soldier
Unfortunately McNab had fought throughout that luckless day on the side of the
Pretender and a deep scar that garnished his face had been left there by the
sabre of a German soldier in the service of the House of Hanover He fancied
that his wound bled afresh at Mabels allusion and it is certain that the
blood rushed to his face in a torrent as if it would pour out of his skin at
the cicatrix
»Hoot Hoot awa« he fairly shouted »with your Cullodens and Sherrif
Muirs young woman yell no be understanding the subject at all and will
manifast not only wisdom but modesty in speaking o your ain country and its
many failings King George has some loyal subjects in the colonies na doubt
but t will be a lang time bafore he sees or knows any guid of them«
Mabel was surprised at the corporals heat for she had not the smallest
idea where the shoe pinched but she was determined not to give up the point
»Ive always heard that the Scotch had two of the great qualities of
soldiers« she said »courage and circumspection and I feel persuaded that
Corporal McNab will sustain the national renown«
»Ask yer own father Mistress Dunham he is acquaint with Corporal McNab
and will no be backward to point out his demerits We have been in battle
thgither and he is my superior officer and has a sort o official right to
give the characters of his subordinates«
»My father thinks well of you McNab or he would not have left you in
charge of this island and all it contains his own daughter included Among
other things I well know that he calculates largely on your prudence He expects
the blockhouse in particular to be strictly attended to«
»If he wishes to defend the honor of the 55th behind logs he ought to have
remained in command himsal for to speak frankly it goes against a Scotsmans
bluid and opinions to be beaten out of the field even before he is attacked
We are broadsword men and love to stand foot to foot with the foe This
American mode of fighting that is getting into so much favor will destroy the
reputation of His Majestys army if it no destroy its spirit«
»No true soldier despises caution even Major Duncan himself than whom
there is none braver is celebrated for his care of his men«
»Lundie ha his weaknesses and is fast forgetting the broadsword and open
heaths in his tree and rifle practice but Mistress Mabel tak the word of an
old soldier who has seen his fiftyfifth year when he talls ye that there is
no surer method to encourage your enemy than to seem to fear him and that
there is no danger in this Indian warfare that the fancies and imaginations of
your Americans have not augmented and enlarged upon until they see a savage in
every bush We Scots come from a naked region and have no need and less relish
for covers and so yell be seeing Mistress Dunham «
The corporal gave a spring into the air fell forward on his face and
rolled over on his back the whole passing so suddenly that Mabel had scarcely
heard the sharp crack of the rifle that sent a bullet through his body Our
heroine did not shriek did not even tremble for the occurrence was too sudden
too awful and too unexpected for that exhibition of weakness On the contrary
she stepped hastily forward with a natural impulse to aid her companion There
was just enough of life left in McNab to betray his entire consciousness of all
that had passed His countenance had the wild look of one who had been overtaken
by death by surprise and Mabel in her calmer moments fancied that it showed
the tardy repentance of a wilful and obstinate sinner
»Yell be getting into the blockhouse as fast as possible« McNab
whispered as Mabel leaned over him to catch his dying words
Then came over our heroine the full consciousness of her situation and of
the necessity of exertion She cast a rapid glance at the body at her feet saw
that it had ceased to breathe and fled It was but a few minutes run to the
blockhouse the door of which Mabel had barely gained when it was closed
violently in her face by Jennie the soldiers wife who in blind terror
thought only of her own safety The reports of five or six rifles were heard
while Mabel was calling out for admittance and the additional terror they
produced prevented the woman within from undoing quickly the very fastenings
she had been so expert in applying After a minutes delay however Mabel
found the door reluctantly yielding to her constant pressure and she forced her
slender body through the opening the instant it was large enough to allow of
its passage By this time Mabels heart ceased to beat tumultuously and she
gained sufficient selfcommand to act collectedly Instead of yielding to the
almost convulsive efforts of her companion to close the door again she held
it open long enough to ascertain that none of her own party was in sight or
likely on the instant to endeavor to gain admission then she allowed the
opening to be shut Her orders and proceedings now became more calm and
rational But a single bar was crossed and Jennie was directed to stand in
readiness to remove even that at an application from a friend She then
ascended the first ladder to the room above where by means of loopholes she
was enabled to get as good a view of the island as the surrounding bushes would
allow Admonishing her associate below to be firm and steady she made as
careful an examination of the environs as her situation permitted
To her great surprise Mabel could not at first see a living soul on the
island friend or enemy Neither Frenchman nor Indian was visible though a
small straggling white cloud that was floating before the wind told her in
which quarter she ought to look for them The rifles had been discharged from
the direction of the island whence June had come though whether the enemy were
on that island or had actually landed on her own Mabel could not say Going to
the loop that commanded a view of the spot where McNab lay her blood curdled
at perceiving all three of his soldiers lying apparently lifeless at his side
These men had rushed to a common centre at the first alarm and had been shot
down almost simultaneously by the invisible foe whom the corporal had affected
to despise
Neither Cap nor Lieutenant Muir was to be seen With a beating heart Mabel
examined every opening through the trees and ascended even to the upper story
or garret of the blockhouse where she got a full view of the whole island so
far as its covers would allow but with no better success She had expected to
see the body of her uncle lying on the grass like those of the soldiers but
it was nowhere visible Turning towards the spot where the boat lay Mabel saw
that it was still fastened to the shore and then she supposed that by some
accident Muir had been prevented from effecting his retreat in that quarter In
short the island lay in the quiet of the grave the bodies of the soldiers
rendering the scene as fearful as it was extraordinary
»For Gods holy sake Mistress Mabel« called out the woman from below for
though her fear had got to be too ungovernable to allow her to keep silence our
heroines superior refinement more than the regimental station of her father
still controlled her mode of address »For His Holy Sake Mistress Mabel tell
me if any of our friends are living I think I hear groans that grow fainter and
fainter and fear that they will all be tomahawked«
Mabel now remembered that one of the soldiers was this womans husband and
she trembled at what might be the immediate effect of her sorrow should his
death become suddenly known to her The groans too gave a little hope though
she feared they might come from her uncle who lay out of view
»We are in his holy keeping Jennie« she answered »We must trust in
Providence while we neglect none of its benevolent means of protecting
ourselves Be careful with the door on no account open it without my
directions«
»Oh Tell me Mistress Mabel if you can anywhere see Sandy If I could
only lat him know that Im in safety the guid man would be easier in his mind
whather free or a prisoner«
Sandy was Jennies husband and he lay dead in plain view of the loop from
which our heroine was then looking
»You no tall me if youre seeing of Sandy« the woman repeated from below
impatient at Mabels silence
»There are some of our people gathered about the body of McNab« was the
answer for it seemed sacrilegious in her eyes to tell a direct untruth under
the awful circumstances in which she was placed
»Is Sandy amang them« demanded the woman in a voice that sounded appalling
by its hoarseness and energy
»He may be certainly for I see one two three four and all in the
scarlet coats of the regiment«
»Sandy« called out the woman frantically »Why dye no care for yoursal
Sandy Come hither the instant man and share your wifes fortunes in weal or
woe Its no a moment for your silly discipline and vainglorious notions of
honor Sandy Sandy«
Mabel heard the bar turn and then the door creaked on its hinges
Expectation not to say terror held her in suspense at the loop and she soon
beheld Jennie rushing through the bushes in the direction of the cluster of the
dead It took the woman but an instant to reach the fatal spot So sudden and
unexpected had been the blow that she in her terror did not appear to
comprehend its weight Some wild and half frantic notion of a deception troubled
her fancy and she imagined that the men were trifling with her fears She took
her husbands hand and it was still warm while she thought a covert smile was
struggling on his lip
»Why will ye fool life away Sandy« she cried pulling at the arm »Yell
all be murdered by these accursed Indians and you no takin to the block like
trusty soldiers Awa awa and no be losing the precious moments«
In her desperate efforts the woman pulled the body of her husband in a way
to cause the head to turn completely over when the small hole in the temple
caused by the entrance of a rifle bullet and a few drops of blood trickling
over the skin revealed the meaning of her husbands silence As the horrid
truth flashed in its full extent on her mind the woman clasped her hands
gave a shriek that pierced the glades of every island near and fell at length
on the dead body of the soldier Thrilling heartreaching appalling as was
that shriek it was melody to the cry that followed it so quickly as to blend
the sounds The terrific warwhoop arose out of the covers of the island and
some twenty savages horrible in their paint and the other devices of Indian
ingenuity rushed forward eager to secure the covetted scalps Arrowhead was
foremost and it was his tomahawk that brained the insensible Jennie and her
reeking hair was hanging at his girdle as a trophy in less than two minutes
after she had quitted the blockhouse His companions were equally active and
McNab and his soldiers no longer presented the quiet aspects of men who
slumbered They were left in their gore unequivocally butchered corpses
All this passed in much less time than has been required to relate it and
all this did Mabel witness She had stood riveted to the spot gazing on the
whole horrible scene as if enchained by some charm nor did the idea of self
or of her own danger once obtrude itself on her thoughts But no sooner did
she perceive the place where the men had fallen covered with savages exulting
in the success of their surprise than it occurred to her that Jennie had left
the blockhouse door unbarred Her heart beat violently for that defence alone
stood between her and immediate death and she sprang towards the ladder with
the intention of descending to make sure of it Her foot had not yet reached the
floor of the second story however when she heard the door grating on its
hinges and she gave herself up for lost Sinking on her knees the terrified
but courageous girl endeavored to prepare herself for death and to raise her
thoughts to God The instinct of life however was too strong for prayer and
while her lips moved the jealous senses watched every sound beneath When her
ears heard the bars which went on pivots secured to the centre of the door
turning into their fastenings not one as she herself had directed with a view
to admit her uncle should he apply but all three she started again to her
feet all spiritual contemplations vanishing in her actual temporal condition
and it seemed as if all her faculties were absorbed in the sense of hearing
The thoughts are active in a moment so fearful At first Mabel fancied that
her uncle had entered the blockhouse and she was about to descend the ladder
and throw herself into his arms then the idea that it might be an Indian who
had barred the door to shut out intruders while he plundered at leisure
arrested the movement The profound stillness below was unlike the bold
restless movements of Cap and it seemed to savor more of the artifices of an
enemy If a friend at all it could only be her uncle or the Quarter Master
for the horrible conviction now presented itself to our heroine that to these
two and herself were the whole party suddenly reduced if indeed the two first
survived This consideration held Mabel in check and for quite two minutes
more a breathless silence reigned in the building During this time the girl
stood at the foot of the upper ladder the trap which led to the lower opening
on the opposite side of the floor The eyes of Mabel were riveted on this spot
for she now began to expect to see at each instant the horrible sight of a
savage face at the hole This apprehension soon became so intense that she
looked about her for a place of concealment The procrastination of the
catastrophe she now fully expected though it were only for a moment afforded a
relief The room contained several barrels and behind two of these Mabel
crouched placing her eyes at an opening by which she could still watch the
trap She made another effort to pray but the moment was too horrible for that
relief She thought too that she heard a low rustling as if one was ascending
the lower ladder with an effort at caution so great as to betray itself by its
own excess Then followed a creaking that she was certain came from one of the
steps of the ladder which had made the same noise under her own light weight
as she ascended This was one of those instants into which are compressed the
sensations of years of ordinary existence Life death eternity and extreme
bodily pain were all standing out in bold relief from the plane of everyday
occurrences and she might have been taken at that moment for a beautiful
pallid representation of herself equally without motion and without vitality
But while such was the outward appearance of the form never had there been a
time in her brief career when Mabel heard more acutely saw more clearly or
felt more vividly As yet nothing was visible at the trap but her ears
rendered exquisitely sensitive by intense feeling distinctly acquainted her
that some one was within a few inches of the opening in the floor Next followed
the evidence of her eyes which beheld the dark hair of an Indian rising so
slowly through the passage that the movement of the head might be likened to
that of the minute hand of a clock Then came the dark skin and wild features
until the whole of the swarthy face had risen above the floor The human
countenance seldom appears to advantage when partially concealed and Mabel
imagined many additional horrors as she first saw the black roving eyes and
the expression of wildness as the savage countenance was revealed as it might
be inch by inch But when the entire head was raised above the floor a second
and better look assured our heroine that she saw the gentle anxious and even
handsome face of June
Chapter XXII
» Spectre though I be
I am not sent to scare thee or deceive
But in reward of thy fidelity«
Wordsworth Laodamia ll 3840
It would be difficult to say which evinced the most satisfaction when Mabel
sprang to her feet and appeared in the centre of the room our heroine on
finding that her visiter was the wife of Arrowhead and not Arrowhead himself
or June at discovering that her advice had been followed and that the
blockhouse contained the person she had so anxiously and almost hopelessly
sought They embraced each other and the unsophisticated Tuscarora woman
laughed in her sweet accents as she held her friend at arms length and made
certain of her presence
»Blockhouse good« said the young Indian »got no scalp«
»It is indeed good June« Mabel answered with a shudder veiling her eyes
at the same time as if to shut out a view of the horrors she had so lately
witnessed »Tell me for Gods sake if you know what has become of my dear
uncle I have looked in all directions without being able to see him«
»No here in blockhouse« June asked with some curiosity
»Indeed he is not I am quite alone in this place Jennie the woman who
was with me having rushed out to join her husband and perishing for her
imprudence«
»June know June see Very bad Arrowhead no feel for any wife no feel
for his own«
»Ah June your life at least is safe«
»Dont know Arrowhead kill me if he knows all«
»God bless and protect you June he will bless and protect you for your
humanity Tell me what is to be done and if my poor uncle is still living«
»Dont know Saltwater has boat maybe he go on river«
»The boat is still on the shore but neither my uncle nor the Quarter
Master is anywhere to be seen«
»No kill or June would see Hide away Red man hide no shame for
paleface«
»It is not the shame that I fear for them but the opportunity Your attack
was awfully sudden June«
»Tuscarora « returned the other smiling with exultation at the dexterity
of her husband »Arrowhead great warrior«
»You are too good and gentle for his sort of life June You cannot be happy
in such scenes«
Junes countenance grew clouded and Mabel fancied there was some of the
savage fire of a chief in her frown as she answered
»Yengeese too greedy take away all hunting grounds chase Six Nation from
morning to night wicked king wicked people Pale Face very bad«
Mabel knew that even in that distant day there was much truth in this
opinion though she was too well instructed not to understand that the monarch
in this as in a thousand other cases was blamed for acts of which he was most
probably ignorant She felt the justice of the rebuke therefore too much to
attempt an answer and her thoughts naturally reverted to her own situation
»And what am I to do June« she demanded »It cannot be long before your
people will assault this building«
»Blockhouse good got no scalp«
»But they will soon discover that it has got no garrison too if they do
not know it already You yourself told me the number of people that were on
the island and doubtless you learned it from Arrowhead«
»Arrowhead know« answered June holding up six fingers to indicate the
number of the men »All red men know Four lose scalp already two got em
yet«
»Do not speak of it June the horrid thought curdles my blood Your people
cannot know that I am alone in the blockhouse but may fancy my uncle and the
Quarter Master with me and may set fire to the building in order to dislodge
them They tell me that fire is the great danger to such places«
»No burn blockhouse« said June quietly
»You cannot know that my good June and I have no means to keep them off«
»No burn blockhouse Blockhouse good got no scalp«
»But tell me why June I fear they will burn it«
»Blockhouse wet much rain logs green no burn easy Red man know it
first ting then no burn it to tell Yengeese that Iroquois been here Fader
come back miss blockhouse no land No no Injin too cunning no touch any
thing«
»I understand you June and hope your prediction may be true for as
regards my dear father should he escape perhaps he is already dead or
captured June«
»No touch fader dont know where he gone Water got no trail redman
cant follow No burn blockhouse blockhouse good got no scalp«
»Do you think it possible for me to remain here safely until my father
returns«
»Dont know daughter tell best when fader come back«
Mabel felt uneasy at the glance of Junes dark eye as she uttered this for
the unpleasant surmise arose that her companion was endeavoring to discover a
fact that might be useful to her own people while it would lead to the
destruction of her parent and his party She was about to make an evasive
answer when a heavy push at the outer door suddenly drew all her thoughts to
the immediate danger
»They come« she exclaimed »Perhaps June it is my uncle or the Quarter
Master I cannot keep out even Mr Muir at a moment like this«
»Why no look plenty loophole made purpose«
Mabel took the hint and going to one of the downward loops that had been
cut through the logs in the part that overhung the basement she cautiously
raised the little block that ordinarily filled the small hole and caught a
glance at what was passing at the door The start and changing countenance told
her companion that some of her own people were below
»Red men« said June lifting a finger in admonition to be prudent
»Four and horrible in their paint and bloody trophies Arrowhead is among
them«
June had moved to a corner where several spare rifles were deposited and
had already taken one into her hand when the name of her husband appeared to
arrest her movements It was but for an instant however for she immediately
went to the loop and was about to thrust the muzzle of the piece through it
when a feeling of natural aversion induced Mabel to seize her arm
»No no no June« said the latter »not against your own husband
though my life be the penalty«
»No hurt Arrowhead « returned June with a slight shudder »no hurt red
man at all No fire at em only scare«
Mabel now comprehended the intention of June and no longer opposed it The
latter thrust the muzzle of the rifle through the loophole and taking care to
make noise enough to attract attention she pulled the trigger The piece had no
sooner been discharged than Mabel reproached her friend for the very act that
was intended to serve her
»You declared it was not your intention to fire« she said »and you may
have destroyed your own husband«
»All run away before I fire « returned June laughing and going to another
loop to watch the movements of her friends laughing still heartier »See
get cover every warrior Think Saltwater and Quarter Master here Take good
care now«
»Heaven be praised And now June I may hope for a little time to compose
my thoughts to prayer that I may not die like Jennie thinking only of life and
the things of the world«
June laid aside the rifle and came and seated herself near the box on which
Mabel had sunk under that physical reaction which accompanies joy as well as
sorrow She looked steadily in our heroines face and the latter thought that
her countenance had an expression of severity mingled with its concern
»Arrowhead great warrior « said the Tuscaroras wife »All the gals of
tribe look at him much The pale face beauty has eyes too«
»June What do these words that look imply what would you say«
»Why you so fraid June shoot Arrowhead«
»Would it not have been horrible to see a wife destroy her own husband No
June rather would I have died myself«
»Very sure dat all«
»That was all June as God is my judge and surely that was enough No
no there have been sufficient horrors today without increasing them by an act
like this What other motive can you suspect«
»Dont know Poor Tuscarora gal very foolish Arrowhead great chief and
look all round him Talk of pale face beauty in his sleep Great chief like
many wives«
»Can a chief possess more than one wife June among your people«
»Have as many as he can keep Great hunter marry often Arrowhead got only
June now but he look too much see too much talk too much of Pale Face gal«
Mabel was conscious of this fact which had distressed her not a little in
the course of their journey but it shocked her to hear this allusion coming
as it did from the mouth of the wife herself She knew that habit and opinions
made great differences in such matters but in addition to the pain and
mortification she experienced at being the unwilling rival of a wife she felt
an apprehension that jealousy would be but an equivocal guarantee for her
personal safety in her present situation A closer look at June however
reassured her for while it was easy to trace in the unpractised features of
this unsophisticated being the pain of blighted affections no distrust could
have tortured the earnest expression of her honest countenance into that of
treachery or hate
»You will not betray me June« Mabel said pressing the others hand and
yielding to an impulse of generous confidence »You will not give up one of your
own sex to the tomahawk«
»No tomahawk touch you Arrowhead no let em If June must have sisterwife
love to have you«
»No June my religion my feelings both forbid it and if I could be the
wife of an Indian at all I would never take the place that is yours in a
wigwam«
June made no answer but she looked gratified and even grateful She knew
that few perhaps no Indian girl within the circle of Arrowheads acquaintance
could compare with herself in personal attractions and though it might suit
her husband to marry a dozen wives she knew of no one beside Mabel whose
influence she could really dread So keen an interest however had she taken in
the beauty winning manners kindness and feminine gentleness of our heroine
that when jealousy came to chill these feelings it had rather lent strength to
that interest and under its wayward influence had actually been one of the
strongest of the incentives that had induced her to risk so much in order to
save her imaginary rival from the consequences of the attack that she so well
knew was about to take place In a word June with a wifes keenness of
perception had detected Arrowheads admiration of Mabel and instead of feeling
that harrowing jealousy that might have rendered her rival hateful as would
have been apt to be the case with a woman unaccustomed to defer to the superior
rights of the lordly sex she had studied the looks and character of the pale
face beauty until meeting with nothing to repel her own feelings but every
thing to encourage them she had got to entertain an admiration and love for
her which though certainly very different was scarcely less strong than that
of her husband Arrowhead himself had sent her to warn Mabel of the coming
danger though he was ignorant that she had stolen upon the island in the rear
of the assailants and was now entrenched in the citadel along with the object
of their joint care On the contrary he supposed as his wife had said that
Cap and Muir were in the blockhouse with Mabel and that the attempt to repel
him and his companions had been made by the men
»June sorry the Lily« for so the Indian in her poetical language had
named our heroine »June sorry the Lily no marry Arrowhead His wigwam big and
a great chief must get wives enough to fill it«
»I thank you June for this preference which is not according to the
notions of us white women« returned Mabel smiling in spite of the fearful
situation in which she was placed »but I may not probably never shall marry at
all«
»Must have good husband « said June »marry Eau douce if dont like
Arrowhead«
»June this is not a fit subject for a girl who scarce knows if she is to
live another hour or not I would obtain some signs of my dear uncles being
alive and safe if possible«
»June go see«
»Can you will you would it be safe for you to be seen on the island
Is your presence known to the warriors and would they be pleased to find a
woman on the warpath with them«
All this Mabel asked in rapid connection fearing that the answer might not
be as she wished She had thought it extraordinary that June should be of the
party and improbable as it seemed she had fancied that the woman had covertly
followed the Iroquois in her own canoe and had got in their advance merely to
give her the notice which had probably saved her life But in all this she was
mistaken as June in her imperfect manner now found means to let her know
Arrowhead though a chief was in disgrace with his own people and was
acting with the Iroquois temporarily though with a perfect understanding He
had a wigwam it is true but was seldom in it feigning friendship for the
English he had passed the summer ostensibly in their service while he was in
truth acting for the French and his wife journeyed with him in his many
migrations most of the distances being passed over in canoes In a word her
presence was no secret her husband seldom moving without her Enough of this to
embolden Mabel to wish that her friend might go out to ascertain the fate of
her uncle did June succeed in letting the other know and it was soon settled
between them that the Indian woman should quit the block house with that
object the moment a favorable opportunity offered
They first examined the island as thoroughly as their position would allow
from the different loops and found that its conquerors were preparing for a
feast having seized upon the provisions of the English and rifled the huts
Most of the stores were in the blockhouse but enough were found outside to
reward the Indians for an attack attended by so little risk A party had already
removed the dead bodies and Mabel saw that their arms were collected in a pile
near the spot chosen for the banquet June suggested that by some signs she
understood the dead themselves were carried into a thicket and either buried
or concealed from view None of the more prominent objects on the island
however were disturbed it being the desire of the conquerors to lure the party
of the Serjeant into an ambush on its return June made her companion observe a
man in a tree a lookout as she said to give timely notice of the approach of
any boat although the departure of the expedition being so recent nothing but
some unexpected event would be likely to bring it back so soon There did not
appear to be any design to attack the blockhouse immediately but every
indication as understood by June rather showed that it was the intention of
the Indians to keep it besieged until the return of the Serjeants party lest
the signs of an assault should give a warning to eyes as practised as those of
Pathfinder The boat however had been secured and was removed to the spot
where the canoes of the Indians were hid in the bushes
June now announced her intention of joining her friends the moment being
particularly favorable for her to quit the blockhouse Mabel felt some distrust
as they descended the ladder but at the next instant she was ashamed of the
feeling as unjust to her companion and unworthy of herself and by the time
they both stood on the ground her confidence was restored The process of
unbarring the door was conducted with the utmost caution and when the last bar
was ready to be turned June took her station near the spot where the opening
must necessarily be The bar was just turned free of the brackets the door was
opened merely wide enough to allow her body to pass and June glided through the
space Mabel closed the door again with a convulsive movement and as the bar
turned into its place her heart beat audibly She then felt secure and the two
other bars were turned down in a more deliberate manner When all were fast
again she ascended to the first floor where alone she could get a glimpse of
what was going on without
Long and painfully melancholy hours passed during which Mabel had no
intelligence from June She heard the yells of the savages for liquor had
carried them beyond the bounds of precaution occasionally caught glimpses of
their mad orgies through the loops and at all times was conscious of their
fearful presence by sounds and sights that would have chilled the blood of one
who had not so lately witnessed scenes so much more terrible Towards the middle
of the day she fancied she saw a white man on the island though his dress and
wild appearance at first made her take him for a newly arrived savage A view of
his face although it was swarthy naturally and much darkened by exposure left
no doubt that her conjecture was true and she felt as if there was now one of a
species more like her own present and one to whom she might appeal for succor
in the last emergency Mabel little knew alas how small was the influence
exercised by the whites over their savage allies when the latter had begun to
taste of blood or how slight indeed was the disposition to divert them from
their cruelties
The day seemed a month by Mabels computation and the only part of it that
did not drag were the minutes spent in prayer She had recourse to this relief
from time to time and at each effort she found her spirit firmer her mind more
tranquil and her tendency to resignation more confirmed She understood the
reasoning of June and believed it highly probable that the blockhouse would
be left unmolested until the return of her father in order to entice him into
an ambuscade and she felt much less apprehension of immediate danger in
consequence but the future offered little grounds of hope and her thoughts had
already begun to calculate the chances of her captivity At such moments
Arrowhead and his offensive admiration filled a prominent part in the
background for our heroine well knew that the Indians usually carried off to
their villages for the purposes of adoption such captives as they did not
slay and that many instances had occurred in which individuals of her sex had
passed the remainder of their lives in the wigwams of their conquerors Such
thoughts as these invariably drove her to her knees and to her prayers
While the light lasted the situation of our heroine was sufficiently
alarming but as the shades of evening gradually gathered over the island it
became fearfully appalling By this time the savages had wrought themselves up
to the point of fury for they had possessed themselves of all the liquor of the
English and their outcries and gesticulations were those of men truly possessed
of evil spirits All the efforts of their French leader to restrain them were
entirely fruitless and he had wisely withdrawn to an adjacent island where he
had a sort of bivouac that he might keep at a safe distance from friends so apt
to run into excesses Before quitting the spot however this officer at great
risk to his own life succeeded in extinguishing the fire and in securing the
ordinary means to relight it This precaution he took lest the Indians should
burn the blockhouse the preservation of which was necessary to the success of
his future plans He would gladly have removed all the arms also but this he
found impracticable the warriors clinging to their knives and tomahawks with
the tenacity of men who regarded a point of honor as long as a faculty was
left and to carry off the rifles and leave behind him the very weapons that
were generally used on such occasions would have been an idle expedient The
extinguishing of the fire proved to be the most prudent measure for no sooner
was the officers back turned than one of the warriors in fact proposed to
fire the blockhouse Arrowhead had also withdrawn from the group of drunkards
as soon as he found that they were losing their senses and had taken possession
of a hut where he had thrown himself on the straw and sought the rest that two
wakeful and watchful nights rendered necessary It followed that no one was left
among the Indians to care for Mabel if indeed any knew of her existence at all
and the proposal of the drunkard was received with yells of delight by eight or
ten more as much intoxicated and habitually as brutal as himself
This was the fearful moment for Mabel The Indians in their present
condition were reckless of any rifles that the blockhouse might hold though
they did retain dim recollections of its containing living beings an additional
incentive to their enterprise and they approached its base whooping and leaping
like demons As yet they were excited not overcome by the liquor they had
drunk The first attempt was made at the door against which they ran in a body
but the solid structure which was built entirely of logs defied their efforts
The rush of a hundred men with the same object would have been useless This
Mabel however did not know and her heart seemed to leap into her mouth as
she heard the heavy shock at each renewed effort At length when she found
that the door resisted these assaults as if it were of stone neither trembling
nor yielding and only betraying its not being a part of the wall by rattling a
little on its heavy hinges her courage revived and she seized the first moment
of a cessation to look down through the loop in order if possible to learn
the extent of her danger A silence for which it was not easy to account
stimulated her curiosity for nothing is so alarming to those who are conscious
of the presence of imminent danger as to be unable to trace its approach
Mabel found that two or three of the Iroquois had been raking the embers
where they had found a few small coals and with these they were endeavoring to
light a fire The interest with which they labored the hope of destroying and
the force of habit enabled them to act intelligently and in unison so long as
their fell object was kept in view A white man would have abandoned the attempt
to light a fire in despair with coals that came out of the ashes resembling
sparks but these children of the forests had many expedients that were unknown
to civilization By the aid of a few dry leaves which they alone knew where to
seek a blaze was finally kindled and then the addition of a few light sticks
made sure of the advantage that had been obtained When Mabel stooped down over
the loop the Indians were making a pile of brush against the door and as she
remained gazing at their proceedings she saw the twigs ignite the flame dart
from branch to branch until the whole pile was cracking and snapping under a
bright blaze The Indians now gave a yell of triumph and returned to their
companions well assured that the work of destruction was commenced Mabel
remained looking down scarcely able to tear herself away from the spot so
intense and engrossing was the interest she felt in the progress of the fire As
the pile kindled throughout however the flames mounted until they flashed so
near her eyes as to compel her to retreat Just as she reached the opposite
side of the room to which she had retired in her alarm a forked stream shot up
through the loophole the lid of which she had left open and illuminated the
rude apartment with Mabel and her desolation Our heroine now naturally enough
supposed that her hour was come for the door the only means of retreat had
been blocked up by the brush and fire with hellish ingenuity and she addressed
herself as she believed for the last time to her maker in prayer Her eyes
were closed and for more than a minute her spirit was abstracted but the
interests of the world too strongly divided her feelings to be altogether
suppressed and when they involuntarily opened again she perceived that the
streak of flame was no longer flaring in the room though the wood around the
little aperture had kindled and the blaze was slowly mounting under the
impulsion of a current of air that sucked inward A barrel of water stood in a
corner and Mabel acting more by instinct than by reason caught up a vessel
filled it and pouring it on the wood with a trembling hand succeeded in
extinguishing the fire at that particular spot The smoke prevented her from
looking down again for a couple of minutes but when she did her heart beat
high with delight and hope at finding that the pile of blazing brush had been
overturned and scattered and that water had been thrown on the logs of the
door which were still smoking though no longer burning
»Who is there« said Mabel with her mouth at the loop »What friendly hand
has a merciful Providence sent to my succour«
A light footstep was audible below and one of those gentle pushes at the
door was heard which just moved the massive beams on the hinges
»Who wishes to enter Is it you dear dear uncle«
»Saltwater no here St Lawrence sweet water « was the answer »Open
quick want to come in«
The step of Mabel was never lighter or her movements more quick and
natural than while she was descending the ladder and turning the bars for all
her motions were earnest and active This time she thought only of her escape
and she opened the door with a rapidity that did not admit of caution Her first
impulse was to rush into the open air in the blind hope of quitting the
blockhouse but June repulsed the attempt and entering she coolly barred the
door again before she would notice Mabels eager efforts to embrace her
»Bless you bless you June« cried our heroine most fervently »you are
sent by Providence to be my guardian angel«
»No hug so tight « answered the Tuscarora woman »Pale face women all cry
or all laugh Let June fasten door«
Mabel became more rational and in a few minutes the two were again in the
upper room seated as before hand in hand all feeling of distrust or rivalry
between them being banished on the one side by the consciousness of favors
received and on the other by the consciousness of favors conferred
»Now tell me June« Mabel commenced as soon as she had given and received
one warm embrace »have you seen or heard aught of my poor uncle«
»Dont know No one see him no one hear him no one know any ting
Saltwater run into river I tink for I no find him Quarter Master gone too
I look and look and look but no see em one tother no where«
»Blessed be God They must have escaped though the means are not known to
us I thought I saw a Frenchman on the island June«
»Yes French captain come but he go away too Plenty of Injin on
island«
»Oh June June are there no means to prevent my beloved father from
falling into the hands of his enemies«
»Dont no tink dat Warriors wait in ambush and Yengeese must lose
scalps«
»Surely surely June you who have done so much for the daughter will not
refuse to help the father«
»Dont know fader dont love fader June help her own people help
Arrowhead husband love scalps«
»June this is not yourself I cannot will not believe that you wish to see
our men murdered«
June turned her dark eyes quietly on Mabel and for a moment her look was
stern though it soon changed into one of melancholy compassion
»Lily Yengeese gal« she said as one asks a question
»Certainly and as a Yengeese girl I would save my countrymen from
slaughter«
»Very good if can June no Yengeese June Tuscarora got Tuscarora
husband Tuscarora heart Tuscarora feelings all over Tuscarora Lily
wouldnt run and tell French dat her fader was coming to gain victory«
»Perhaps not« returned Mabel pressing a hand on a brain that felt
bewildered »perhaps not but you serve me aid me have saved me June Why
have you done this if you only feel as a Tuscarora«
»Dont only feel as Tuscarora feel as gal feel as squaw Love pretty
Lily and put it in my bosom«
Mabel melted into tears and she pressed the affectionate creature to her
heart It was near a minute before she could renew the discourse but then she
succeeded in speaking more calmly and with greater coherence
»Let me know the worst June« she said »Tonight your people are
feasting what do they intend to do tomorrow«
»Dont know afraid to see Arrowhead afraid to ask questions tink
hide away till Yengeese come back«
»Will they not attempt any thing against the blockhouse You have seen
what they can threaten if they will«
»Too much rum Arrowhead sleep or no dare French captain gone away or no
dare All go to sleep now«
»And you think I am safe for this night at least«
»Too much rum If Lily was like June might do much for her people«
»I am like you June if a wish to serve my countryman can make a
resemblance with one as courageous as yourself«
»No no no « muttered June in a low voice »no got heart and June no
let you if had Junes moder prisoner once and warriors got drunk moder
tomahawked em all Such the way red skin women do when people in danger and
want scalps«
»You say what is true« returned Mabel shuddering and unconsciously
dropping Junes hand »I cannot do that I have neither the strength the
courage nor the will to dip my hands in blood«
»Tink that too then stay where you be blockhouse good got no scalp«
»You believe then that I am safe here at least until my father and his
people return«
»Know so No one dare touch blockhouse in morning Hark All still now
drink rum till head falls down and sleep like log«
»Might I not escape Are there not several canoes on the island might I
not get one and go and give my father notice of what has happened«
»Know how to paddle« demanded June glancing her eye furtively at her
companion
»Not as well as yourself perhaps but enough to get out of sight before
morning«
»What do then couldnt paddle six ten eight mile«
»I do not know I would do much to warn my father and the excellent
Pathfinder and all the rest of the danger they are in«
»Like Pathfinder«
»All like him who know him you would like him nay love him if you only
knew his heart«
»No like him at all Too good rifle too good eye too much shoot
Iroquois and Junes people Must get his scalp if can«
»And I must save it if I can June In this respect then we are opposed
to each other I will go and find a canoe the instant they are all asleep and
quit the island«
»No can June wont let you Call Arrowhead«
»June You could not betray me you would not give me up after all you
have done for me«
»Just so « returned June making a backward gesture with her hand and
speaking with a warmth and earnestness Mabel had never witnessed in her before
»Call Arrowhead in loud voice One call from wife wake a warrior up June no
let Lily help enemy no let Injin hurt Lily«
»I understand you June and feel the nature and justice of your sentiments
and after all it were better that I should remain here for I have most
probably overrated my strength But tell me one thing if my uncle comes in
the night and asks to be admitted you will let me open the door of the block
house that he may enter«
»Sartain He prisoner here and June like prisoner better than scalp
Scalp good for honor prisoner good for feeling But SaltWater hide so close
he dont know where he be himself«
Here June laughed in her girlish mirthful way for to her scenes of
violence were too familiar to leave impressions sufficiently deep to change her
natural character A long and discursive dialogue now followed in which Mabel
endeavored to obtain clearer notions of her actual situation under a faint hope
that she might possibly be enabled to turn some of the facts she thus learned
to advantage June answered all her interrogatories simply but with a caution
which showed she fully distinguished between that which was immaterial and that
which might endanger the safety or embarrass the future operations of her
friends Our heroine was incapable of making an attempt to entrap her companion
though she plainly perceived that could she have been guilty of the meanness
she would have found the undertaking one of extreme difficulty June however was
not required to exercise more than a discreet discrimination about what she
revealed and the substance of the information she gave may be summed up as
follows
Arrowhead had long been in communication with the French though this was
the first occasion on which he had ever entirely thrown aside the mask He no
longer intended to trust himself among the English for he had discovered traces
of distrust particularly in Pathfinder and with Indian bravado he now rather
wished to blazon than to conceal his treachery He had led the party of
warriors in the attack on the island subject however to the supervision of the
Frenchman who has been mentioned though June declined saying whether he had
been the means of discovering the position of a place that had been thought to
be so concealed from the eyes of the enemy or not On this point she would say
nothing but she admitted that she and her husband had been watching the
departure of the Scud at the time they were overtaken and captured by the
cutter The French had obtained their information of the precise position of the
station but very recently and Mabel felt a pang like that of some sharp
instrument piercing her heart when she thought that there was covert allusion
of the Indian woman which would convey the meaning that the intelligence had
come from a pale face in the employment of Duncan of Lundie This was
intimated however rather than said and when Mabel had time to reflect on her
companions words and to remember how sententious and brief her periods were
she found room to hope that she had misunderstood her and that Jasper Western
would yet come out of the affair freed from every injurious imputation
June did not hesitate to confess that she had been sent to the island to
ascertain the precise number and the occupations of those who had been left on
it though she also betrayed in her naïve way that the wish to serve Mabel had
induced her principally to consent to come In consequence of her report and
information otherwise obtained the enemy was aware of precisely the force that
could be brought against them They also knew the number of men that had gone
with Serjeant Dunham and were acquainted with the object he had in view though
they were ignorant of the spot where he expected to meet the French boats It
would have been a pleasant sight to witness the eager desire of each of these
two sincere females to ascertain all that might be of consequence to their
respective friends and yet the native delicacy with which each refrained from
pressing the other to make revelations that would have been improper as well as
the sensitive almost intuitive feeling with which each avoided saying aught
that might prove injurious to her own nation As respects each other there was
perfect confidence as regarded their respective people entire fidelity June
was quite as anxious as Mabel could be on any other point to know where the
Serjeant had gone and when he was expected to return but she abstained from
putting the question with a delicacy that would have done honor to the highest
civilization nor did she once frame any other inquiry in a way to lead
indirectly to a betrayal of the much desired information on that particular
point though when Mabel of her own accord touched on any matter that might by
possibility throw light on the subject she listened with an intentness that
almost suspended respiration
In this manner the hours passed away unheeded for both were too much
interested to think of rest Nature asserted her rights however towards
morning and Mabel was persuaded to lie down on one of the straw beds provided
for the soldiers where she soon fell into a deep sleep June lay near her and
a quiet reigned on the whole island as profound as if the dominion of the
forest had never been invaded by man
When Mabel awoke the light of the sun was streaming in through the
loopholes and she found that the day was considerably advanced June still lay
near her sleeping as tranquilly as if she reposed on we will not say down
for the superior civilization of our own times repudiates the simile but on a
French mattress and as profoundly as if she had never experienced concern The
movements of Mabel notwithstanding soon awakened one so accustomed to
vigilance and then the two took a survey of what was passing around them by
means of the friendly apertures
Chapter XXIII
»What had th Eternal Maker need of thee
The world in his continuall course to keepe
That dost all things deface ne lettest see
The beautie of his worke Indeede in sleepe
The slouthfull body that doth love to steepe
His lustless limbs and drowne his baser mind
Doth praise thee oft and oft from Stygian deepe
Calles thee his goddesse in his errour blind
And great dame Natures handmaide chearing every kind«
The Faerie Queene IIIiv5619
The tranquillity of the previous night was not contradicted by the movements of
the day Although Mabel and June went to every loophole not a sign of the
presence of a living being on the island was at first to be seen themselves
excepted There was a smothered fire on the spot where McNab and his comrades
had cooked as if the smoke that curled upwards from it was intended as a lure
to the absent and all around the huts had been restored to former order and
arrangement Mabel started involuntarily when her eye at length fell on a group
of three men dressed in the scarlet of the 55th seated on the grass in
lounging attitudes as if they chatted in listless security and her blood
curdled as on a second look she traced the bloodless faces and glassy eyes of
the dead They were quite near the blockhouse so near indeed as to have been
overlooked at the first eager inquiry and there was a mocking levity in their
postures and gestures for their limbs were stiffening in different attitudes
intended to resemble life at which the soul revolted Still horrible as these
objects were to those near enough to discover the frightful discrepancy between
their assumed and their real characters the arrangement had been made with an
art that would have deceived a negligent observer at the distance of a hundred
yards After carefully examining the shores of the island June pointed out to
her companion the fourth soldier seated with his feet hanging over the water
his back fastened to a sapling and holding a fishingrod in his hands The
scalpless heads were covered with their caps and all appearance of blood had
been carefully washed from each countenance
Mabel sickened at this sight which not only did so much violence to all her
notions of propriety but which was in itself so revolting and so opposed to
natural feeling She withdrew to a seat and hid her face in her apron for
several minutes until a low call from June again drew her to a loophole The
latter then pointed out the body of Jennie seemingly standing in the door of a
hut leaning forward as if to look at the group of men her cap fluttering in
the wind and her hand grasping a broom The distance was too great to
distinguish the features very accurately but Mabel fancied that the jaw had
been depressed as if to distort the mouth into a sort of horrible laugh
»June June« she exclaimed »this exceeds all I have ever even heard or
imagined as possible in the treachery and artifices of your people«
»Tuscarora very cunning « said June in a way to show that she rather
approved of than condemned the uses to which the dead bodies had been applied
»Do soldier no harm now do Iroquois good Got the scalps first now make
bodies work By and by bum em«
This speech told Mabel how far she was separated from her friend in
character and it was several minutes before she could again address her But
this temporary aversion was lost on June who set about preparing their simple
breakfast in a way to show how insensible she was to feelings in others that
her own habits taught her to discard Mabel ate sparingly and her companion as
if nothing had happened Then they had leisure again for their thoughts and for
further surveys of the island Our heroine though devoured with a feverish
desire to be always at the loops seldom went that she did not immediately quit
them in disgust though compelled by her apprehensions to return again in a few
minutes called by the rustling of leaves or the sighing of the wind It was
indeed a solemn thing to look out upon that deserted spot peopled by the dead
in the panoply of the living and thrown into the attitudes and acts of careless
merriment and rude enjoyment The effect on our heroine was much as if she had
found herself an observer of the revelries of demons
Throughout the livelong day not an Indian nor a Frenchman was to be seen
and night closed over the frightful but silent masquerade with the steady and
unalterable progress with which the earth obeys her laws indifferent to the
petty actors and petty scenes that are in daily bustle and daily occurrence on
her bosom The night was far more quiet than that which had preceded it and
Mabel slept with an increasing confidence for she now felt satisfied that her
own fate would not be decided until the return of her father The following day
he was expected however and when our heroine awoke she ran eagerly to the
loops in order to ascertain the state of the weather and the aspect of the
skies as well as the condition of the island There lounged the fearful group
on the grass the fisherman still hung over the water seemingly intent on his
sport and the distorted countenance of Jennie glared from out the hut in
horrible contortions But the weather had changed The wind blew fresh from the
southward and though the air was bland it was filled with the elements of
storm
»This grows more and more difficult to bear June« Mabel said when she
left the window »I could even prefer to see the enemy than to look any longer
on this fearful array of the dead«
»Hush here they come June thought hear a cry like a warriors shout
when he take scalp«
»What mean you There is no more butchery There can be no more«
»Saltwater« exclaimed June laughing as she stood peeping through a
loophole
»My dear uncle Thank God he then lives Oh June June you will not
let them harm him«
»June poor squaw What warrior tink of what she say Arrowhead bring him
here«
By this time Mabel was at a loop and sure enough there were Cap and the
Quarter Master in the hands of the Indians eight or ten of whom were conducting
them to the foot of the block for by this capture the enemy now well knew
that there could be no man in the building Mabel scarcely breathed until the
whole party stood ranged directly before the door when she was rejoiced to see
that the French officer was among them A low conversation followed in which
both the white leader and Arrowhead spoke earnestly to their captives when the
Quarter Master called out to her in a voice loud enough to be heard
»Pretty Mabel Pretty Mabel« he said »look out of one of the
loopholes and pity our condition We are threatened with instant death unless
you open the door to the conquerors Relent then or well no be wearing our
scalps half an hour from this blessed moment«
Mabel thought there were mockery and levity in this appeal and its manner
rather fortified than weakened her resolution to hold the place as long as
possible
»Speak to me uncle« she said with her mouth at a loop »and tell me what
I ought to do«
»Thank God Thank God« ejaculated Cap »the sound of your sweet voice
Magnet lightens my heart of a heavy load for I feared you had shared the fate
of poor Jennie My breast has felt the last four and twenty hours as if a ton
of kentledge had been stowed in it You ask me what you ought to do child and
I do not know how to advise you though you are my own sisters daughter The
most I can say just now my poor girl is most heartily to curse the day you or
I ever saw this bit of fresh water «
»But uncle is your life in danger do you think I ought to open the
door«
»A round turn and two halfhitches make a fast belay and I would counsel no
one who is out of the hands of these devils to unbar or unfasten any thing in
order to fall into them As to the Quarter Master and myself we are both
elderly men and not of much account to mankind in general as honest Pathfinder
would say and it can make no great odds to him whether he balances the
pursers books this year or the next and as for myself why if I were on the
seaboard I should know what to do but up here in this watery wilderness I
can only say that if I were behind that bit of a bulwark it would take a great
deal of Indian logic to rowse me out of it«
»Youll no be minding all your uncle says Pretty Mabel« put in Muir »for
distress is obviously fast unsettling his faculties and he is far from
calculating all the necessities of the emergency We are in the hands here of
very considerate and gentlemanly pairsons it must be acknowledged and one has
little occasion to apprehend disagreeable violence The casualties that have
occurred are the common incidents of war and can no change our sentiments of
the enemy for they are far from indicating that any injustice will be done the
prisoners Im sure that neither Master Cap nor myself has any cause of
complaint since we have given ourselves up to Master Arrowhead here who
reminds me of a Roman or a Spartan by his virtues and moderation but yell
be remembering that usages differ and that our scalps may be lawful sacrifices
to appease the manes of fallen foes unless you save them by capitulation«
»I shall do wiser to keep within the blockhouse until the fate of the
island is settled« returned Mabel »Our enemies can feel no concern on account
of one like me knowing that I can do them no harm and I greatly prefer to
remain here as more befitting my sex and years«
»If nothing but your convenience were concerned Mabel we should all
cheerfully acquiesce in your wishes but these gentlemen fancy that the work
will aid their operations and they have a strong desire to possess it To be
frank with you finding myself and your uncle in a very peculiar situation I
acknowledge that to avert consequences I have assumed the power that belongs
to His Majestys commission and entered into a verbal capitulation by which I
have engaged to give up the blockhouse and the whole island It is the fortune
of war and must be submitted to so open the door Pretty Mabel forthwith and
confide yourself to the care of those who know how to treat beauty and virtue in
distress Theres no courtier in Scotland more complaisant than this chief or
who is more familiar with the laws of decorum«
»No leave blockhouse« muttered June who stood at Mabels side attentive
to all that passed »Blockhouse good got no scalp«
Our heroine might have yielded but for this appeal for it began to appear
to her that the wisest course would be to conciliate the enemy by concessions
instead of exasperating him by resistance They must know she thought now that
Muir and her uncle were in their power that there was no man in the building
and she feared they might proceed to batter down the door or to cut their way
through the logs with axes if she obstinately refused to give them peaceable
admission since there was no longer any reason to dread the rifle But the
words of June induced her to hesitate and the earnest pressure of the hand and
entreating looks of her companion strengthened a resolution that was faltering
»No prisoner yet « whispered June »Let em make prisoner before ey take
prisoner Talk big June manage em«
Mabel now began to parley more resolutely with Muir for her uncle seemed
disposed to quiet his conscience by holding his tongue and she plainly
intimated that it was not her intention to yield the building
»You forget the capitulation Mistress Mabel« said Muir »the honor of one
of His Majestys servants is concerned and the honor of His Majesty through his
servant You will remember the finesse and delicacy that belong to military
honor«
»I know enough Mr Muir to understand that you have no command in this
expedition and therefore can have no right to yield the blockhouse and I
remember moreover to have heard my father say that a prisoner loses all his
authority for the time being«
»Rank sophistry Pretty Mabel and treason to the king as well as
dishonoring his commission and discrediting his name Youll no be persevering
in your intentions when your better judgment has had leisure to reflect and to
make conclusions on matters and circumstances«
»Ay« put in Cap »this is a circumstance and be dd to it«
»No mind what e uncle say« ejaculated June who was occupied in a far
corner of the room »Blockhouse good got no scalp«
»I shall remain as I am Mr Muir until I get some tidings of my father He
will return in the course of the next ten days«
»Ah Mabel this artifice will no deceive the enemy who by means that
would be unintelligible did not our suspicions rest on an unhappy young man
with too much plausibility are familiar with all our doings and plans and well
know that the sun will not set before the worthy serjeant and his companions
will be in their power Aweel Submission to Providence is truly a christian
virtue«
»Mr Muir you appear to be deceived in the strength of this work and to
fancy it weaker than it is Do you desire to see what I can do in the way of
defence if so disposed«
»I dinna mind if I do« answered the Quarter Master who always grew
Scotch as he grew interested
»What do you think of that then Look at the loop of the upper story«
As soon as Mabel had spoken all eyes were turned upward and beheld the
muzzle of a rifle cautiously thrust through a hole June having resorted again
to a ruse that had already proved so successful The result did not disappoint
expectation No sooner did the Indians catch a sight of the fatal weapon than
they leaped aside and in less than a minute every man among them had sought a
cover The French officer kept his eye on the barrel of the piece in order to
ascertain that it was not pointed in his particular direction and he coolly
took a pinch of snuff As neither Muir nor Cap had any thing to apprehend from
the quarter in which the others were menaced they kept their ground
»Be wise my pretty Mabel be wise« exclaimed the former »and no be
provoking a useless contention In the name of all the Kings of Albin who have
ye closeted with you in that wooden tower that seemeth so bloodyminded
There is necromancy about this matter and all our characters may be involved in
the explanation«
»What do ye think of the Pathfinder Master Muir for a garrison to so
strong a post« cried Mabel resorting to an equivocation that the circumstances
rendered very excusable »What will your French and Indian companions think of
the aim of Pathfinders rifle«
»Bear gently on the unfortunate Pretty Mabel and do not confound the
Kings servants may Heaven bless him and all his royal lineage with the Kings
enemies If Pathfinder be indeed in the blockhouse let him speak and we will
hold our negotiations directly with him He knows us as friends and we fear no
evil at his hands and least of all to myself for a generous mind is apt to
render rivalry in a certain interest a sure ground of respect and amity since
admiration of the same woman proves a community of feeling and tastes«
The reliance on Pathfinders friendship did not extend beyond the Quarter
Master and Cap however for even the French officer who had hitherto stood his
ground so well shrunk back at the sound of the terrible name So unwilling
indeed did this individual a man of iron nerves and one long accustomed to
the dangers of the peculiar warfare in which he was engaged appear to be to
remain exposed to the assaults of Killdeer whose reputation throughout all that
frontier was as well established as that of Marlborough in Europe that he did
not disdain to seek a cover insisting that his two prisoners should follow him
Mabel was too glad to be rid of her enemies to lament the departure of her
friends though she kissed her hand to Cap through the loop and called out to
him in the terms of affection as he moved slowly and unwillingly away
The enemy now seemed disposed to abandon all attempts on the blockhouse for
the present and June who had ascended to a trap in the roof whence the best
view was to be obtained reported that the whole party had assembled to eat on
a distant and sheltered part of the island where Muir and Cap were quietly
sharing in the good things that were going as if they had no concern on their
minds This information greatly relieved Mabel and she began to turn her
thoughts again to the means of effecting her own escape or at least of
letting her father know of the danger that awaited him The Serjeant was
expected to return that afternoon and she knew that a moment gained or lost
might decide his fate
Three or four hours flew by The island was again buried in a profound
quiet the day was wearing away and yet Mabel had decided on nothing June was
in the basement preparing their frugal meal and Mabel herself had ascended to
the roof which was provided with a trap that allowed her to go out on the top
of the building whence she commanded the best view of surrounding objects that
the island possessed Still it was limited and much obstructed by the tops of
trees The anxious girl did not dare to trust her person in sight knowing well
that the unrestrained passions of some savage might induce him to send a bullet
through her brain She merely kept her head out of the trap therefore whence
in the course of the afternoon she made as many surveys of the different
channels about the island as Anne sister Anne took of the environs of the
castle of Blue Beard
The sun had actually set no intelligence had been received from the boats
and Mabel ascended to the roof to take a last look hoping that the party would
arrive in the darkness which would at least prevent the Indians from rendering
their ambuscade as fatal as it might otherwise prove and which possibly might
enable her to give some more intelligible signal by means of fire than it
would otherwise be in her power to do Her eye had turned carefully round the
whole horizon and she was just on the point of drawing in her person when an
object that struck her as new caught her attention The islands lay grouped so
closely that six or eight different channels or passages between them were in
view and in one of the most covered concealed in a great measure by the bushes
of the shore lay what a second look assured her was a bark canoe It
contained a human being beyond a question Confident that if an enemy her
signal could do no harm and if a friend that it might do good the eager girl
waved a little flag towards the stranger which she had prepared for her father
taking care that it should not be seen from the island
Mabel had repeated her signal eight or ten times in vain and she began to
despair of its being noticed when a sign was given in return by the wave of a
paddle and the man so far discovered himself as to let her see it was
Chingachgook Here then at last was a friend one too who was able and she
doubted not would be willing to aid her From that instant her courage and her
spirits revived The Mohican had seen her must have recognised her as he knew
that she was of the party and no doubt as soon as it was sufficiently dark he
would take the steps necessary to release her That he was aware of the presence
of the enemy was apparent by the great caution he observed and she had every
reliance on his prudence and address The principal difficulty now existed with
June for Mabel had seen too much of her fidelity to her own people relieved as
it was by sympathy for herself to believe she would consent to a hostile
Indians entering the blockhouse or indeed to her leaving it with a view to
defeat Arrowheads plans The half hour that succeeded the discovery of the
presence of the Great Serpent was the most painful of Mabel Dunhams life She
saw the means of effecting all she wished as it might be within reach of her
hand and yet it eluded her grasp She knew Junes decision and coolness
notwithstanding all her gentleness and womanly feeling and at last she came
reluctantly to the conclusion that there was no other way of attaining her end
than by deceiving her tried companion and protector It was revolting to one as
sincere and natural as pure of heart and as much disposed to ingenuousness as
Mabel Dunham to practice deception on a friend like June but her own fathers
life was at stake her companion would receive no positive injury and she had
feelings and interests directly touching herself that would have removed
greater scruples
As soon as it was dark Mabels heart began to beat with violence and she
adopted and changed her plan of proceedings at least a dozen times in the
course of a single hour June was always the source of her greatest
embarrassment for she did not well see firstly how she was to ascertain when
Chingachgook was at the door where she doubted not he would soon appear and
secondly how she was to admit him without giving the alarm to her watchful
companion Time pressed however for the Mohican might come and go away again
unless she was ready to receive him It would be too hazardous to the Delaware
to remain long on the island and it became absolutely necessary to determine on
some course even at the risk of choosing one that was indiscreet After running
over various projects in her mind therefore Mabel came to her companion and
said with as much calmness as she could assume
»Are you not afraid June now your people believe Pathfinder is in the
blockhouse that they will come and try to set it on fire«
»No tink such ting No burn blockhouse Blockhouse good got no scalp«
»June we cannot know They hid because they believed what I told them of
Pathfinders being with us«
»Believe fear Fear come quick go quick Fear make run away wit make come
back Fear make warrior fool as well as young girl«
Here June laughed as her sex is apt to laugh when any thing particularly
ludicrous crosses their youthful fancies
»I feel uneasy June and wish you yourself would go up again to the roof
and look out upon the island to make certain that nothing is plotting against
us you know the signs of what your people intend to do better than I«
»June go Lily wish but very well know that Injin asleep wait for e
fader Warrior eat drink sleep all time when dont fight and go on war
trail Den never sleep eat drink never feel Warrior sleep now«
»God send it may be so but go up dear June and look well about you
danger may come when we least expect it«
June arose and prepared to ascend to the roof but she paused with her foot
on the first round of the ladder Mabels heart beat so violently that she was
fearful its throbs would be heard and she fancied that some gleamings of her
real intentions had crossed the mind of her friend She was right in part the
Indian woman having actually stopped to consider whether there was any
indiscretion in what she was about to do At first the suspicion that Mabel
intended to escape flashed across her mind then she rejected it on the ground
that the pale face had no means of getting off the island and that the
blockhouse was much the most secure place she could find The next thought was
that Mabel had detected some sign of the near approach of her father This idea
lasted but an instant for June entertained some such opinion of her companions
ability to understand symptoms of this sort symptoms that had escaped her own
sagacity as a woman of high fashion entertains of the accomplishments of her
maid Nothing else in the same way offering she began slowly to mount the
ladder Just as she reached the upper floor a lucky thought suggested itself to
our heroine and by expressing it in a hurried but natural manner she gained a
great advantage in executing her projected scheme
»I will go down« she said »and listen by the door June while you are on
the roof and we will thus be on our guard at the same time above and below«
Though June thought this savored of unnecessary caution well knowing no one
could enter the building unless aided from within nor any serious danger menace
them from the exterior without giving sufficient warning she attributed the
proposition to Mabels ignorance and alarm and as it was apparently made with
frankness it was received without distrust By these means our heroine was
enabled to descend to the door as her friend ascended to the roof and June
felt no unusual inducement to watch her The distance between the two was now
too great to admit of conversation and for three or four minutes one was
occupied in looking about her as well as the darkness would allow and the
other in listening at the door with as much intentness as if all her senses
were absorbed in the single faculty of hearing
June discovered nothing from her elevated stand The obscurity indeed almost
forbade the hope of such a result but it would not be easy to describe the
sensation with which Mabel thought she perceived a slight and guarded push
against the door Fearful that all might not be as she wished and anxious to
let Chingachgook know that she was near she began though in tremulous and low
notes to sing So profound was the stillness at the moment that the sound of
the unsteady warbling ascended to the roof and in a minute June began to
descend A slight tap at the door was heard immediately after Mabel was
bewildered for there was no time to lose Hope proved stronger than fear and
with unsteady hands she commenced unbarring the door The moccasin of June was
heard on the floor above her when only a single bar was turned The second was
released as her form reached halfway down the lower ladder
»What you do« exclaimed June angrily »Run away mad leave
blockhouse Blockhouse good« The hands of both were on the last bar and it
would have been cleared from the fastenings but for a vigorous shove from
without which jammed the wood A short struggle ensued though both were
disinclined to violence June would probably have prevailed had not another and
more vigorous push from without forced the bar past the trifling impediment that
held it when the door opened The form of a man was seen to enter and both the
females rushed up the ladder as if equally afraid of the consequences The
stranger secured the door and first examining the lower room with great care
he cautiously ascended the ladder June as soon as it became dark had closed
the loops of the principal floor and lighted a candle By means of this dim
taper then the two females stood in expectation waiting to ascertain the
person of their visiter whose wary ascent of the ladder was distinctly audible
though sufficiently deliberate It would not be easy to say which was the most
astonished on finding when the stranger had got through the trap that
Pathfinder stood before them
»God be Praised« Mabel exclaimed for the idea that the blockhouse would
be impregnable with such a garrison at once crossed her mind »Oh Pathfinder
what has become of my father«
»The sarjeant is safe as yet and victorious though it is not in the gift
of man to say what will be the ind of it Is not that the wife of Arrowhead
skulking in the corner there«
»Speak not of her reproachfully Pathfinder I owe her my life my present
security Tell me what has happened to my fathers party why you are here and
I will relate all the horrible events that have passed upon this island«
»Few words will do the last Mabel for one used to Indian deviltries needs
but little explanations on such a subject Every thing turned out as we had
hoped with the expedition for the Sarpent was on the look out and he met us
with all the information heart could desire We ambushed three boats druv the
Frenchers out of them got possession and sunk them according to orders in the
deepest part of the channel and the Savages of Upper Canada will fare badly for
Indian goods this winter Both powder and ball too will be scarcer among them
than keen hunters and actyve warriors may relish We did not lose a man or have
even a skin barked nor do I think the inimy suffered to speak of In short
Mabel it has been just such an expedition as Lundie likes much harm to the
foe and little harm to ourselves«
»Ah Pathfinder I fear when Major Duncan comes to hear the whole of the sad
tale he will find reason to regret he ever undertook the affair«
»I know what you mean I know what you mean but by telling my story
straight you will understand it better As soon as the sarjeant found himself
successful he sent me and the Sarpent off in canoes to tell you how matters
had turned out and he is following with the two boats which being so much
heavier cannot arrive afore morning I parted from Chingachgook this forenoon
it being agreed that he should come up one set of channels and I another to
see that the path was clear Ive not seen the chief since«
Mabel now explained the manner in which she had discovered the Mohican and
her expectation that he would yet come to the blockhouse
»Not he not he A regular scout will never get behind walls or logs so
long as he can keep the open air and find useful employment I should not have
come myself Mabel but I promised the sarjeant to comfort you and to look
ater your safety Ahs me I reconnoitred the island with a heavy heart this
forenoon and there was a bitter hour when I fancied you might be among the
slain«
»By what lucky accident were you prevented from paddling up boldly to the
island and from falling into the hands of the enemy«
»By such an accident Mabel as Providence employs to tell the hound where
to find the deer and the deer how to throw off the hound No no these
artifices and deviltries with dead bodies may deceive the soldiers of the 55th
and Kings officers but they are all lost upon men who have passed their days
in the forest I came down the channel in face of the pretended fisherman and
though the riptyles have set up the poor wretch with art it was not ingenious
enough to take in a practysed eye The rod was held too high for the 55th have
learned to fish at Oswego if they never knew how afore and then the man was
too quiet for one who got neither prey nor bite But we never come in upon a
post blindly and I have lain outside a garrison a whole night because they had
changed their sentries and their mode of standing guard Neither the Sarpent
nor myself would be likely to be taken in by these contrivances which were
most probably intended for the Scotch who are cunning enough in some
particulars though any thing but witches when Indian sarcumventions are in the
wind«
»Do you think my father and his men may yet be deceived« said Mabel
quickly
»Not if I can prevent it Mabel You say the Sarpent is on the lookout
too so there is a double chance of our succeeding in letting him know his
danger though it is by no means sartain by which channel the party may come«
»Pathfinder « said our heroine solemnly for the frightful scenes she had
witnessed had clothed death with unusual horrors »Pathfinder you have
professed love for me a wish to make me your wife«
»I did ventur to speak on that subject Mabel and the sarjeant has even
lately said that you are kindly disposed but I am not a man to parsecute the
thing I love«
»Hear me Pathfinder I respect you honor you revere you save my
father from this dreadful death and I can worship you Here is my hand as a
solemn pledge for my faith when you come to claim it«
»Bless you bless you Mabel this is more than I desarve more I fear
than I shall know how to profit by as I ought It was not wanting howsever to
make me sarve the sarjeant We are old comrades and owe each other a life
though I fear me Mabel being a fathers comrade is not always the best
recommendation with the daughter«
»You want no other recommendation than your own acts your courage your
fidelity all that you do and say Pathfinder my reason approves and the
heart will nay it shall follow«
»This is a happiness I little expected this night but we are in Gods
hands and he will protect us in his own way These are sweet words Mabel but
they were not wanting to make me do all that man can do in the present
sarcumstances they will not lessen my endivors neither«
»Now we understand each other Pathfinder « Mabel added hoarsely »let us
not lose one of the precious moments which may be of incalculable value Can we
not get into your canoe and go and meet my father«
»That is not the course I advise I dont know by which channel the
sarjeant will come and there are twenty rely on it the Sarpent will be
winding his way through them all No no my advice is to remain here The
logs of this blockhouse are still green and it will not be easy to set them on
fire and I can make good the place bating a burning agin a tribe The
Iroquois nation cannot dislodge me from this fortress so long as we can keep
the flames from it The Sarjeant is now camped on some island and will not
come in until morning If we hold the block we can give him timely warning by
firing rifles for instance and should he determine to attack the savages as a
man of his temper will be very likely to do the possession of this building
will be of great account in the affair No no my judgment says remain if
the object be to sarve the sarjeant though escape for our two selves will be
no very difficult matter«
»Stay « murmured Mabel »Stay for Gods sake Pathfinder Any thing
every thing to save my father«
»Yes that is natur I am glad to hear you say this Mabel for I own a
wish to see the sarjeant fairly supported As the matter now stands he has
gained himself credit and could he once drive off these miscreants and make an
honorable retreat laying the huts and block in ashes no doubt no doubt
Lundie would remember it and sarve him accordingly Yes yes Mabel we must
not only save the sarjeants life but we must save his ripitation«
»No blame can rest on my father on account of the surprise of this island«
»Theres no tellin theres no tellin Military glory is a most unsartain
thing Ive seen the Delawares routed when they desarved more credit than at
other times when theyve carried the day A man is wrong to set his heart on
success of any sort and worst of all on success in war I know little of the
settlements or of the notions that men hold in them but up hereaway even the
Indians rate a warriors character according to his luck The principal thing
with a soldier is never to be whipt not do I think mankind stops long to
consider how the day was won or lost For my part Mabel I make it a rule when
facing the inimy to give him as good as I can send and to try to be moderate
as I can when we get the better as for feeling moderate after a defeat
little need be said on that score as a flogging is one of the most humbling
things in natur The parsons preach about humility in the garrisons but if
humility would make christians the Kings troops ought to be saints for
theyve done little as yet this war but take lessons from the French
beginning at Fort du Quesne and ending at Ty«
»My father could not have suspected that the position of the island was
known to the enemy« resumed Mabel whose thoughts were running on the probable
effect of the recent events on the Serjeant
»That is true nor do I well see how the Frenchers found it out The spot is
well chosen and it is not an easy matter even for one who has travelled the
road to and from it to find it again There has been treachery I fear yes yes
there must have been treachery«
»Oh Pathfinder can this be«
»Nothing is easier Mabel for treachery comes as natral to some men as
eating Now when I find a man all fair words I look close to his deeds for
when the heart is right and raally intends to do good it is generally satisfied
to let the conduct speak instead of the tongue«
»Jasper Western is not one of these« said Mabel impetuously »No youth can
be more sincere in his manner or less apt to make the tongue act for the
heart«
»Jasper Western Tongue and heart are both right with that lad depend on
it Mabel and the notion taken up by Lundie and the Quarter Master and the
Sarjeant and your uncle too is as wrong as it would be to think that the sun
shone by night and the stars shone by day No no Ill answer for Eau
douces honesty with my own scalp or at need with my own rifle«
»Bless you bless you Pathfinder« exclaimed Mabel extending her own hand
and pressing the iron fingers of her companion under a state of feeling that
far surpassed her own consciousness of its strength »You are all that is
generous all that is noble God will reward you for it«
»Ah Mabel I fear me if this be true I should not covet such a wife as
yourself but would leave you to be sued for by some gentleman of the garrison
as your desarts require«
»We will not talk of this any more to night « Mabel answered in a voice so
smothered as to sound nearly choked »We must think less of ourselves just
now Pathfinder and more of our friends But I rejoice from my soul that you
believe Jasper innocent Now let us talk of other things ought we not to
release June«
»Ive been thinking about the woman for it will not be safe to shut our
eyes and leave hers open on this side of the blockhouse door If we put her
in the upper room and take away the ladder shell be a prisoner at least«
»I cannot treat one thus who has saved my life It would be better to let
her depart I think she is too much my friend to do any thing to harm me«
»You do not know the race Mabel you do not know the race Its true shes
not fullblooded Mingo but she consorts with the vagabonds and must have
larned some of their tricks What is that«
»It sounds like oars some boat is passing through the channel«
Pathfinder closed the trap that led to the lower room to prevent June from
escaping extinguished the candle and went hastily to a loop Mabel looking
over his shoulder in breathless curiosity These several movements consumed a
minute or two and by the time the eye of the scout had got a dim view of things
without two boats had swept past and shot up to the shore at a spot some
fifty yards beyond the block where there was a regular landing The obscurity
prevented more from being seen and Pathfinder whispered to Mabel that the new
comers were as likely to be foes as friends for he did not think her father
could possibly have arrived so soon A number of men were now seen to quit the
boats and then followed three hearty English cheers leaving no further doubts
of the character of the party Pathfinder sprang to the trap raised it glided
down the ladder and began to unbar the door with an earnestness that proved
how critical he deemed the moment Mabel had followed but she rather impeded
than aided his exertions and but a single bar was turned when a heavy discharge
of rifles was heard They were still standing in breathless suspense when the
warwhoop rang in all the surrounding thickets The door now opened and both
Pathfinder and Mabel rushed into the open air All human sounds had ceased
After listening half a minute however Pathfinder thought he heard a few
stifled groans near the boats but the wind blew so fresh and the rustling of
the leaves mingled so much with the murmurs of the passing air that he was far
from certain But Mabel was borne away by her feelings and she rushed by him
taking the way towards the boats
»This will not do Mabel « said the Scout in an earnest but low voice
seizing her by an arm »This will not do Sartain death would follow and that
without sarving any one We must return to the block«
»Father My poor dear murdered father« said the girl wildly though
habitual caution even at that trying moment induced her to speak low
»Pathfinder if you love me let me go to my dear father«
»This will not do Mabel It is singular that no one speaks no one
returns the fire from the boats and I have left Killdeer in the block But
of what use would a rifle be when no one is to be seen«
At that moment the quick eye of Pathfinder which while he held Mabel
firmly in his grasp had never ceased to roam over the dim scene caught an
indistinct view of five or six dark crouching forms endeavoring to steal past
him doubtless with the intention of intercepting their retreat to the
blockhouse Catching up Mabel and putting her under an arm as if she were an
infant the sinewy frame of the woodsman was exerted to the utmost and he
succeeded in entering the building The tramp of his pursuers seemed immediately
at his heels Dropping his burthen he turned closed the door and had fastened
one bar as a rush against the solid mass threatened to force it from the
hinges To secure the other bars was the work of an instant
Mabel now ascended to the first floor while Pathfinder remained as a
sentinel below Our heroine was in that state in which the body exerts itself
apparently without the control of the mind She relighted the candle
mechanically as her companion had desired and returned with it below where he
was waiting her reappearance No sooner was Pathfinder in possession of the
light than he examined the place carefully to make certain no one was
concealed in the fortress ascending to each floor in succession after
assuring himself that he left no enemy in his rear The result was the
conviction that the blockhouse now contained no one but Mabel and himself June
having escaped When perfectly convinced on this material point Pathfinder
rejoined our heroine in the principal apartment setting down the light and
examining the priming of Killdeer before he seated himself
»Our worst fears are realized« said Mabel to whom the hurry and excitement
of the last five minutes appeared to contain the emotions of a life »My
beloved father and all his party are slain or captured«
»We dont know that morning will tell us all I do not think the affair
as settled as that or we should hear the vagabond Mingos yelling out their
triumph around the blockhouse Of one thing we may be sartain if the inimy
has really got the better he will not be long in calling upon us to surrender
The squaw will let him into the secret of our situation and as they well know
the place cannot be fired by daylight so long as Killdeer continues to desarve
his ripitation you may depend on it that they will not be backward in making
their attempt while darkness helps them«
»Surely I hear a groan«
»Tis fancy Mabel When the mind gets to be skeary especially a womans
mind she often concaits things that have no reality Ive known them that
imagined there was truth in dreams «
»Nay I am not deceived there is surely one below and in pain«
Pathfinder was compelled to own that the quick senses of Mabel had not
deceived her He cautioned her however to repress her feelings and reminded
her that the savages were in the practice of resorting to every artifice to
attain their ends and that nothing was more likely than that the groans were
feigned with a view to lure them from the blockhouse or at least to induce
them to open the door
»No no no « said Mabel hurriedly »there is no artifice in those
sounds and they come from anguish of body if not of spirit They are fearfully
natural«
»Well we shall soon know whether a friend is there or not Hide the light
again Mabel and I will speak the person from a loop«
Not a little precaution was necessary according to Pathfinders judgment
and experience in performing even this simple act for he had known the
careless slain by their want of a proper attention to what might have seemed to
the ignorant supererogatory means of safety He did not place his mouth to the
loop itself but so near it that he could be heard without raising his voice
and the same precaution was observed as regards his ear
»Who is below« Pathfinder demanded when his arrangements were made to his
mind »Is any one in suffering If a friend speak boldly and depend on our
aid«
»Pathfinder« answered a voice that both Mabel and the person addressed at
once knew to be the Serjeants »Pathfinder in the name of God tell me what
has become of my daughter«
»Father I am here unhurt safe and oh that I could think the same
of you«
The ejaculation of thanksgiving that followed was distinctly audible to the
two but it was clearly mingled with a groan of pain
»My worst forebodings are realized« said Mabel with a sort of desperate
calmness »Pathfinder my father must be brought within the block though we
hazard every thing to do it«
»This is natur and it is the law of God But Mabel be calm and endivor
to be cool All that can be effected for the sarjeant by human inventions shall
be done I only ask you to be cool«
»I am I am Pathfinder Never in my life was I more calm more collected
than at this moment But remember how precious may be every instant for
Heavens sake what we do let us do without delay«
Pathfinder was struck with the firmness of Mabels tones and perhaps he was
a little deceived by the forced tranquillity and selfpossession she had
assumed At all events he did not deem any farther exhortations necessary but
descended forthwith and began to unbar the door This delicate process was
conducted with the usual caution but as he warily permitted the mass of timber
to swing back on the hinges he felt a pressure against it that had nearly
induced him to close it again But catching a glimpse of the cause through the
crack the door was permitted to swing back when the body of Serjeant Dunham
which was propped against it fell partly within the block To draw in the legs
and secure the fastenings occupied the Pathfinder but a moment Then there
existed no obstacle to their giving their undivided care to the wounded man
Mabel in this trying scene conducted herself with the sort of unnatural
energy that her sex when aroused is apt to manifest She got the light
administered water to the parched lips of her father and assisted Pathfinder in
forming a bed of straw for his body and a pillow of clothes for his head All
this was done earnestly and almost without speaking nor did Mabel shed a tear
until she heard the blessings of her father murmured on her head for this
tenderness and care All this time Mabel had merely conjectured the condition
of her parent Pathfinder however showed greater attention to the physical
danger of the serjeant He ascertained that a rifle ball had passed through the
body of the wounded man and he was sufficiently familiar with injuries of this
nature to be certain that the chances of his surviving the hurt were very
trifling if any
Chapter XXIV
»There drink my tears while yet they fall
Would that my bosoms blood were balm
And well thou knowest Id shed it all
To give thy brow one minutes calm«
Moore Lalla Rookh »Paradise
and the Peri« ll 27477
The eyes of Serjeant Dunham had not ceased to follow the form of his beautiful
daughter from the moment that the light appeared He next examined the door of
the block to ascertain its security for he was left on the ground below there
being no available means of raising him to the upper floor Then he sought the
face of Mabel for as life wanes fast the affections resume their force and we
begin to value that most which we feel we are about to lose forever
»God be praised my child you at least have escaped their murderous
rifles« he said for he spoke with strength and seemingly with no additional
pain »Give me the history of this sad business Pathfinder«
»Ahs me sarjeant it has been sad as you say That there has been
treachery and the position of the island has been betrayed is now as sartain
in my judgment as that we still hold the block But «
»Major Duncan was right« interrupted Dunham laying a hand on the others
arm
»Not in the sense you mean sarjeant no not in that pint of view never
At least not in my opinion I know that natur is weak human natur I mean
and that we should none of us vaunt of our gifts whether red or white but I do
not think a truerhearted lad lives on the lines than Jasper Western«
»Bless you bless you for that Pathfinder« burst forth from Mabels very
soul while a flood of tears gave vent to emotions that were so varied while
they were so violent »Oh bless you Pathfinder bless you the brave should
never desert the brave the honest should sustain the honest«
The fathers eyes were fastened anxiously on the face of his daughter until
the latter hid her countenance in her apron to conceal her tears and then they
turned with inquiry to the hard features of the guide The latter merely wore
their usual expression of frankness sincerity and uprightness and the serjeant
motioned to him to proceed
»You know the spot where the Sarpent and I left you sarjeant« Pathfinder
resumed »and I need say nothing of all that happened afore It is now too late
to lament what is gone and passed but I do think if I had staid with the boats
this would not have come to pass Other men may be as good guides I make no
doubt they are but then natur bestows its gifts and some must be better than
other some I dare say poor Gilbert who took my place has suffered for his
mistake«
»He fell at my elbow « the serjeant answered in a low melancholy tone
»we have indeed all suffered for our mistakes«
»No no sarjeant I meant no condemnation on you for men were never
better commanded than yourn in this very expedition I never beheld a prettier
flanking and the way in which you carried your own boat up agin their
howitzer might have teached Lundie himself a lesson«
The eyes of the Serjeant brightened and his face even wore an expression of
military triumph though it was of a degree that suited the humble sphere in
which he had been an actor
»Twas not badly done my friend« he said »and we carried their log
breastwork by storm«
»Twas nobly done sarjeant though I fear when all the truth comes to be
known it will be found that these vagabonds have got their howitzer back agin
Well well put a stout heart upon it and try to forget all that is
disagreeable and to remember only the pleasant part of the matter That is your
truest philosophy ay and truest religion too If the inimy has got the
howitzer agin theyve only got what belonged to them afore and what we
couldnt help They havnt got the blockhouse yet nor are they likely to
get it unless they fire it in the dark Well sarjeant the Sarpent and I
separated about ten miles down the river for we thought it wisest not to come
upon even a friendly camp without the usual caution What has become of
Chingachgook I cannot say though Mabel tells me he is not far off and I make
no question the noble hearted Delaware is doing his duty although he is not
now visible to our eyes Mark my words sarjeant before this matter is over we
shall hear of him at some critical time and that in a discreet and creditable
manner Ah the Sarpent is indeed a wise and virtuous chief and any white man
might covet his gifts though his rifle is not quite as sure as Killdeer it
must be owned Well as I came near the island I missed the smoke and that put
me on my guard for I knew the men of the 55th were not cunning enough to
conceal that sign notwithstanding all that has been told them of its danger
This made me more careful until I came in sight of their mock fisherman as
Ive just told Mabel and then the whole of their infernal arts was as plain
afore me as if I saw it on a map I need not tell you sarjeant that my first
thoughts were of Mabel and that finding she was in the block I came here in
order to live or die in her company«
The father turned a gratified look upon his child and Mabel felt a sinking
of the heart that at such a moment she could not have thought possible when
she wished to believe all her concern centered in the situation of her parent
As the latter held out his hand she took it in her own and kissed it Then
kneeling at his side she wept as if her heart would break
»Mabel« he said steadily »the will of God must be done It is useless to
attempt deceiving either you or myself my time has come and it is a
consolation to me to die like a soldier Lundie will do me justice for our
good friend Pathfinder will tell him what has been done and how all came to
pass You do not forget our last conversation«
»Nay father my time has probably come too « exclaimed Mabel who felt
just then as if it would be a relief to die »I cannot hope to escape and
Pathfinder would do well to leave us and return to the garrison with the sad
news while he can«
»Mabel Dunham« said Pathfinder reproachfully though he took her hand with
kindness »I have not desarved this I know I am wild and uncouth and ungainly
«
»Pathfinder«
»Well well well forget it you did not mean it you could not think it
It is useless now to talk of escaping for the sarjeant cannot be moved and
the blockhouse must be defended cost what it will Maybe Lundie will get the
tidings of our disaster and send a party to raise the siege«
»Pathfinder Mabel « said the serjeant who had been writhing with pain
until the cold sweat stood on his forehead »come both to my side You
understand each other I hope«
»Father say nothing of that it is all as you wish«
»Thank God Give me your hand Mabel here Pathfinder take it I can do
no more than give you the girl in this way I know you will make her a kind
husband Do not wait on account of my death but there will be a chaplain in
the fort before the season closes and let him marry you at once My brother
if living will wish to go back to his vessel and then the child will have no
protector Mabel your husband will have been my friend and that will be some
consolation to you I hope«
»Trust this matter to me sarjeant« put in Pathfinder »Leave it all on my
hands as your dying request and depend on it all will go as it should«
»I do I do I put all confidence in you my trusty friend and empower
you to act as I could act myself in every particular Mabel child hand me
the water you will never repent this night Bless you my daughter God
bless and have you in his holy keeping«
This tenderness was inexpressibly touching to one of Mabels feelings and
she felt at that moment as if her future union with Pathfinder had received a
solemnization that no ceremony of the church could render more holy Still a
weight as that of a mountain lay upon her heart and she thought it would be
happiness to die Then followed a short pause when the serjeant in broken
sentences briefly related what had passed since he parted with Pathfinder and
the Delaware The wind had come more favorable and instead of encamping on an
island agreeably to the original intention he had determined to continue on
and reach the station that night Their approach would have been unseen and a
portion of the calamity averted he thought had they not grounded on the point
of a neighboring island where no doubt the noise made by the men in getting
off the boat gave notice of their approach and enabled the enemy to be in
readiness to receive them They had landed without the slightest suspicion of
danger though surprised at not finding any sentinel and had actually left
their arms in the boats with the intention of first securing their knapsacks
and provisions The fire had been so close that notwithstanding the obscurity
it was very deadly Every man had fallen two or three however subsequently
arose and disappeared Four or five of the soldiers had been killed outright
or so nearly so as to survive but a few minutes though for some unknown
reason the enemy did not make the usual rush for the scalps Serjeant Dunham
fell with the others and he had heard the voice of Mabel as she rushed from the
blockhouse This frantic appeal aroused all his parental feelings and enabled
him to crawl as far as the door of the building where he had raised himself
against the logs in the manner already mentioned
After this simple explanation was made the serjeant was so weak as to need
repose and his companions while they ministered to his wants suffered some
time to pass in silence Pathfinder took the occasion to reconnoitre from the
loops and the roof and he examined the condition of the rifles of which there
were a dozen kept in the building the soldiers having used their regimental
muskets in the expedition But Mabel never left her fathers side for an
instant and when by his breathing she fancied he slept she bent her knees and
prayed
The half hour that succeeded was awfully solemn and still The moccasin of
Pathfinder was barely heard over head and occasionally the sound of the breech
of a rifle fell upon the floor for he was busied in examining the pieces with
a view to ascertain the state of their charges and their primings Beyond this
nothing was so loud as the breathing of the wounded man Mabels heart yearned
to be in communication with the father she was so soon to lose and yet she
would not disturb his apparent repose But Dunham slept not He was in that
state when the world suddenly loses its attractions its illusions and its
power and the unknown future fills the mind with its conjectures its
revelations and its immensity He had been a moral man for one of his mode of
life but he had thought little of this all important moment Had the din of
battle been ringing in his ears his martial ardor might have endured to the
end but there in the silence of that nearly untenanted blockhouse with no
sound to enliven him no appeal to keep alive factitious sentiment no hope of
victory to impel things began to appear in their true colours and this state
of being to be estimated at its just value He would have given treasures for
religious consolation and yet he knew not where to turn to seek it He thought
of Pathfinder but he distrusted his knowledge He thought of Mabel but for the
parent to appeal to the child for such succor appeared like reversing the order
of nature Then it was that he felt the full responsibility of the parental
character and had some clear glimpses of the manner in which he himself had
discharged the trust towards an orphan child While thoughts like these were
rising in his mind Mabel who watched the slightest change in his breathing
heard a guarded knock at the door Supposing it might be Chingachgook she rose
undid two of the bars and held the third in her hand as she asked who was
there The answer was in her uncles voice and he implored her to give him
immediate admission Without an instant of hesitation she turned the bar and
Cap entered He had barely passed the opening when Mabel closed the door again
and secured it as before for practice had rendered her expert in this portion
of her duties
The sturdy seaman when he had made sure of the state of his brotherinlaw
and that Mabel as well as himself was safe was softened nearly to tears His
own appearance he explained by saying that he had been carelessly guarded
under the impression that he and the Quarter Master were sleeping under the
fumes of liquor with which they had been plied with a view to keep them quiet
in the expected engagement Muir had been left asleep or seeming to sleep but
Cap had run into the bushes on the alarm of the attack and having found
Pathfinders canoe had only succeeded at that moment in getting to the
blockhouse whither he had come with the kind intent of escaping with his
niece by water It is scarcely necessary to say that he changed his plan when
he ascertained the state of the serjeant and the apparent security of his
present quarters
»If the worst comes to the worst Master Pathfinder« he said »we must
strike and that will entitle us to quarter We owe it to our manhood to hold
out a reasonable time and to ourselves to haul down the ensign in season to
make saving conditions I wished Master Muir to do the same thing when we were
captured by these chaps you call vagabonds and rightly are they named for
viler vagabonds do not walk the earth «
»Youve found out their characters« interrupted Pathfinder who was always
as ready to chime in with abuse of the Mingos as with the praises of his
friends »Now had you fallen into the hands of the Delawares you would have
larned the difference«
»Well to me they seem much of a muchness blackguards fore and aft always
excepting our friend the Serpent who is a gentleman for an Injin But when
these savages made the assault on us killing Corporal McNab and his men as if
they had been so many rabbits Lt Muir and myself took refuge in one of the
holes of this here island of which there are so many among the rocks regular
geological underground burrows made by the water as the Lieutenant says and
there we remained stowed away like two leaguers in a ships hold until we gave
out for want of grub A man may say that grub is the foundation of human nature
I desired the Quarter Master to make terms for we could have defended ourselves
for an hour or two in the place bad as it was but he declined on the ground
that the knaves wouldnt keep faith if any of them were hurt and so there was
no use in asking them to I consented to strike on two principles one that we
might be said to have struck already for running below is generally thought to
be giving up the ship and the other that we had an enemy in our stomachs that
was more formidable in his attacks than the enemy on deck Hunger is a dle
circumstance as any man who has lived on it eight and forty hours will
acknowledge«
»Uncle« said Mabel in a mournful voice and with an expostulating manner
»my poor father is sadly sadly hurt«
»True Magnet true I will sit by him and do my best at consolation Are
the bars well fastened girl for on such an occasion the mind should be
tranquil and undisturbed«
»We are safe I believe from all but this heavy blow of Providence«
»Well then Magnet do you go up to the deck above and try to compose
yourself while Pathfinder runs aloft and takes a look out from the crosstrees
Your father may wish to say something to me in private and it may be well to
leave us alone These are solemn scenes and inexperienced people like myself
do not always wish what they say to be overheard«
Although the idea of her uncles affording religious consolation by the side
of a deathbed certainly never obtruded itself on the imagination of Mabel she
thought there might be a propriety in the request with which she was
unacquainted and she complied accordingly Pathfinder had already ascended to
the roof to make his survey and the brothersinlaw were left alone Cap took
a seat by the side of the serjeant and bethought him seriously of the grave
duty he had before him A silence of several minutes succeeded during which
brief space the mariner was digesting the substance of his intended discourse
»I must say Serjeant Dunham« Cap at length commenced in his peculiar
manner »that there has been mismanagement somewhere in this unhappy expedition
and the present being an occasion when truth ought to be spoken and nothing
but the truth I feel it my duty to say as much in plain language In short
serjeant on this point there cannot well be two opinions for seaman as I am
and no soldier I can see several errors myself that it needs no great
education to detect«
»What would you have Brother Cap« returned the other in a feeble voice
»what is done is done and it is now too late to remedy it«
»Very true Brother Dunham but not to repent of it The good book tells us
it is never too late to repent and Ive always heard that this is the precious
moment If youve any thing on your mind serjeant hoist it out freely for you
know you trust it to a friend You were my own sisters husband and poor
little Magnet is my own sisters daughter and living or dead I shall always
look upon you as a brother Its a thousand pities that you didnt lie off and
on with the boats and send a canoe ahead to reconnoitre in which case your
command would have been saved and this disaster would not have befallen us all
Well serjeant we are all mortal that is some consolation I make no doubt
and if you go before a little why we must follow Yes that must give him
consolation«
»I know all this Brother Cap and hope Im prepared to meet a soldiers
fate There is poor Mabel «
»Ay ay thats a heavy drag I know but you wouldnt take her with you
if you could serjeant and so the better way is to make as light of the
separation as you can Mabel is a good girl and so was her mother before her
she was my sister and it shall be my care to see that her daughter gets a good
husband if our lives and scalps are spared for I suppose no one would care
about entering into a family that has no scalps«
»Brother my child is betrothed she will become the wife of Pathfinder«
»Well Brother Dunham every man has his opinions and his manner of viewing
things and to my notion this match will be any thing but agreeable to Mabel I
have no objection to the age of the man Im not one of them that thinks it is
necessary to be a boy to make a girl happy but on the whole I prefer a man of
about fifty for a husband still there ought not to be any circumstance between
the parties to make them unhappy Circumstances play the devil with materimony
and I set it down as one that Pathfinder dont know as much as my niece
Youve seen but little of the girl serjeant and have not got the run of her
knowledge but let her pay it out freely as she will do when she gets to be
thoroughly acquainted and youll fall in with but few schoolmasters that can
keep their luffs in her company«
»Shes a good child a dear good child « muttered the serjeant his eyes
filling with tears »and it is my misfortune that I have seen so little of
her«
»She is indeed a good girl and knows altogether too much for poor
Pathfinder who is a reasonable man and an experienced man in his own way but
who has no more idea of the main chance than you have of spherical trigonometry
serjeant«
»Ah Brother Cap had Pathfinder been with us in the boats this sad affair
might not have happened«
»That is quite likely for his worst enemy will allow that the man is a good
guide but serjeant if the truth must be spoken you have managed this
expedition in a loose way altogether you should have hoveto off your haven
and sent in a boat to reconnoitre as I told you before That is a matter to be
repented of and I tell it to you because truth in such a case ought to be
spoken«
»My errors are dearly paid for Brother and poor Mabel I fear will be the
sufferer I think however that the calamity would not have happened had there
not been treason I fear me Brother that Jasper Eau douce has played us
false«
»That is just my notion for this freshwater life must sooner or later
undermine any mans morals Lieutenant Muir and myself talked this matter over
while we lay in a bit of a hole out here on this island and we both came to
the conclusion that nothing short of Jaspers treachery could have brought us
all into this infernal scrape Well serjeant you had better compose your mind
and think of other matters for when a vessel is about to enter a strange port
it is more prudent to think of the anchorage inside than to be underrunning
all the events that have turned up during the vyge Theres the logbook
expressly to note all these matters in and what stands there must form the
column of figures thats to be footed up for or against us How now
Pathfinder is there any thing in the wind that you come down the ladder like
an Indian in the wake of a scalp«
The guide raised a finger for silence and then beckoned to Cap to ascend
the first ladder and to allow Mabel to take his place at the side of the
serjeant
»We must be prudent and we must be bold too« he said in a low voice
»The riptyles are in earnest in their intention to fire the block for they know
there is now nothing to be gained by letting it stand I hear the voice of that
vagabond Arrowhead among them and he is urging them to set about their
diviltry this very night We must be stirring Saltwater and doing too
Luckily there are four or five barrels of water in the block and these are
something towards a siege My reckoning is wrong too or we shall yet reap some
advantage from that honest fellow the Sarpent being at liberty«
Cap did not wait for a second invitation but starting up he was soon in
the upper room with Pathfinder while Mabel took his post at the side of her
fathers humble bed Pathfinder had opened a loop having so far concealed the
light that it would not expose him to a treacherous shot and expecting a
summons he stood with his face near the hole ready to answer The stillness
that succeeded was at length broken by the voice of Muir
»Master Pathfinder« called out the Scotchman »a friend summons you to a
parley Come freely to one of the loops for youve nothing to fear so long as
you are in converse with an officer of the 55th «
»What is your will Quarter Master what is your will I know the 55th and
believe it to be a brave rigiment though I rather incline to the 60th as my
favorite and to the Delawares more than to either But what would you have
Quarter Master it must be a pressing errand that brings you under the loops of
a block house at this hour of the night with the sartainty of Killdeers being
inside of it«
»Oh youll no harm a friend Pathfinder Im certain and thats my
security Youre a man of judgment and have gained too great a name on this
frontier for bravery to feel the necessity of foolhardiness to obtain a
character Youll very well understand my good friend there is as much credit
to be gained by submitting gracefully when resistance becomes impossible as by
obstinately holding out contrary to the rules of war The enemy is too strong
for us my brave comrade and I come to counsel you to give up the block on
condition of being treated as a prisoner of war«
»I thank you for this advice Quarter Master which is the more acceptable
as it costs nothing But I do not think it belongs to my gifts to yield a place
like this while food and water last«
»Well Id be the last Pathfinder to recommend any thing against so brave
a resolution did I see the means of maintaining it But yell remember that
Master Cap has fallen «
»Not he not he« roared the individual in question through another loop
»so far from that Lieutenant he has risen to the height of this here
fortification and has no mind to put his head of hair into the hands of such
barbers again so long as he can help it I look upon this blockhouse as a
circumstance and have no mind to throw it away«
»If that is a living voice« returned Muir »I am glad to hear it for we
all thought the man had fallen in the late fearful confusion But Master
Pathfinder although yere enjoying the society of your friend Cap and a great
pleasure do I know it to be by the experience of two days and a night passed in
a hole in the earth weve lost that of Serjeant Dunham who has fallen with
all the brave men he led in the late expedition Lundie would have it so though
it would have been more discreet and becoming to send a commissioned officer in
command Dunham was a brave man notwithstanding and shall have justice done
his memory In short we have all acted for the best and that is as much as
could be said in favor of Prince Eugene the Duke of Marlborough or the Great
Earl of Stair himself«
»Youre wrong agin Quarter Master youre wrong agin« answered
Pathfinder resorting to a ruse to magnify his force »The sarjeant is safe in
the block too where one might say the whole family is collected«
»Well I rejoice to hear it for we had certainly counted the serjeant among
the slain If pretty Mabel is in the block still let her not delay an instant
for Heavens sake in quitting it for the enemy is about to put it to the trial
by fire Ye know the potency of that dread element and will be acting more like
the discreet and experienced warrior yere universally allowed to be in
yielding a place you canna defend than in drawing down ruin on yourself and
companions«
»I know the potency of fire as you call it Quarter Master and am not to
be told at this late hour that it can be used for something else besides
cooking a dinner But I make no doubt youve heard of the potency of Killdeer
and the man who attempts to lay a pile of brush agin these logs will get a
taste of his power As for arrows it is not in their gift to set this building
on fire for weve no shingles on our roof but good solid logs and green bark
and plenty of water besides The roof is so flat too as you know yourself
Quarter Master that we can walk on it and so no danger on that score while
water lasts Im peaceable enough if let alone but he who endivors to burn
this block over my head will find the fire squinched in his own blood«
»This is idle and romantic talk Pathfinder and yell no maintain it
yourself when ye come to meditate on the realities I hope yell no gainsay the
loyalty or the courage of the 55th and I feel convinced that a council of war
would decide on the propriety of a surrender forthwith Na na Pathfinder
foolhardiness is na mair like the bravery o Wallace or Bruce than Albany on
the Hudson is like the old town of Edinbro«
»As each of us seems to have made up his mind Quarter Master more words
are useless If the riptyles near you are disposed to set about their hellish
job let them begin at once They can burn wood and Ill burn powder If I were
an Injin at the stake I suppose I could brag as well as the rest of them but
my gifts and natur being both white my turn is rather for doing than talking
Youve said quite enough considering you carry the Kings commission and
should we all be consumed none of us will bear you any malice«
»Pathfinder yell no be exposing Mabel pretty Mabel Dunham to sic a
calamity«
»Mabel Dunham is by the side of her wounded father and God will care for
the safety of a pious child Not a hair of her head shall fall while my arm and
sight remain true and though you may trust the Mingos Master Muir I put no
faith in them Youve a knavish Tuscarora in your company there who has art and
malice enough to spoil the character of any tribe with which he consorts though
he found the Mingos ready ruined to his hands I fear But enough said let
each party go to the use of his means and gifts«
Throughout this dialogue Pathfinder kept his body covered lest a
treacherous shot should be aimed at the loop and he now directed Cap to ascend
to the roof in order to be in readiness to meet the first assault Although the
latter used sufficient diligence he found no less than ten blazing arrows
sticking to the bark while the air was filled with the yells and whoops of the
enemy A rapid discharge of rifles followed and the bullets came pattering
against the logs in a way to show that the struggle had indeed seriously
commenced
These were sounds however that appalled neither Pathfinder nor Cap while
Mabel was too much absorbed with her affliction to feel alarm She had good
sense enough too to understand the nature of the defences and fully to
appreciate their importance As for her father the familiar noises revived him
and it pained his child at such a moment to see that his glassy eye began to
kindle and that the blood returned to a cheek it had deserted as he listened
to the uproar It was now Mabel first perceived that his reason began slightly
to wander
»Order up the light companies« he muttered »and let the grenadiers
charge Do they dare to attack us in our fort Why does not the artillery open
on them«
At that instant the heavy report of a gun burst on the night and the crash
of rending wood was heard as a heavy shot tore the logs in the room above and
the whole block shook with the force of a shell that lodged in the work The
Pathfinder narrowly escaped the passage of this formidable missile as it
entered but when it exploded Mabel could not repress a shriek for she
supposed all over her head whether animate or inanimate destroyed To
increase her horror her father shouted in a frantic voice to »Charge«
»Mabel « said Pathfinder with his head at the trap »this is true Mingo
work more noise than injury The vagabonds have got the howitzer we took from
the French and have discharged it agin the block but fortunately they have
fired off the only shell we had and there is an ind of its use for the present
There is some confusion among the stores up in this loft but no one is hurt
Your uncle is still on the roof and as for myself Ive run the gauntlet of too
many rifles to be skeary about such a thing as a howitzer and that in Injin
hands«
Mabel murmured her thanks and tried to give all her attention to her
father whose efforts to rise were only counteracted by his debility During the
few fearful minutes that succeeded she was so much occupied with her care of
the invalid that she scarce heeded the clamour that reigned around her Indeed
the uproar was so great that had not her thoughts been otherwise employed
confusion of faculties rather than alarm would probably have been the
consequence
Cap preserved his coolness admirably He had a profound and increasing
respect for the prowess of the savages and even for the majesty of fresh water
it is true but his apprehensions of the former proceeded more from his dread of
being scalped and tortured than from any unmanly fear of death and as he was
now on the deck of a house if not the deck of a ship and knew that there was
little danger of boarders he moved about with a fearlessness and a real
exposure of his person that Pathfinder had he been aware of the fact would
have been the first to condemn Instead of keeping his body covered agreeably
to the usages of Indian warfare he was seen on every part of the roof dashing
the water right and left with the apparent steadiness and unconcern he would
have manifested had he been a sail trimmer exercising his art in a battle
afloat His appearance was one of the causes of the extraordinary clamor among
the assailants who unused to seeing their enemies so reckless opened upon him
with their tongues like the pack that has the fox in view Still he appeared
to possess a charmed life for though the bullets whistled around him on every
side and his clothes were several times torn nothing cut his skin When the
shell passed through the logs below the old sailor dropped his bucket waved
his hat and gave three cheers in which heroic act he was employed as the
dangerous missile exploded This characteristic feat probably saved his life
for from that instant the Indians ceased to fire at him and even to shoot
their flaming arrows at the block having taken up the notion simultaneously
and by common consent that the salt water was mad and it was a singular effect
of their magnanimity never to lift a hand against those whom they imagined
devoid of reason
The conduct of Pathfinder was very different Every thing he did was
regulated by the most exact calculation the result of long experience and
habitual thoughtfulness His person was kept carefully out of a line with the
loops and the spot that he selected for his look out was one that was quite
removed from danger This celebrated guide had often been known to lead forlorn
hopes he had once stood at the stake suffering under the cruelties and taunts
of savage ingenuity and savage ferocity without quailing and legends of his
exploits coolness and daring were to be heard all along that extensive
frontier or wherever men dwelt and men contended but on this occasion one
who did not know his history and character might have thought his exceeding care
and studied attention to self preservation proceeded from an unworthy motive
But such a judge would not have understood his subject The Pathfinder bethought
him of Mabel and of what might possibly be the consequences to that poor girl
should any casualty befall himself but the recollection rather quickened his
intellect than changed his customary prudence He was in fact one of those who
was so unaccustomed to fear that he never bethought him of the constructions
others might put upon his conduct but while in moments of danger he acted
with the wisdom of the serpent it was also with the simplicity of a child
For the first ten minutes of the assault Pathfinder never raised the breech
of his rifle from the floor except when he changed his own position for he
well knew that the bullets of the enemy were thrown away upon the massive logs
of the work and as he had been at the capture of the howitzer he felt certain
that the savages had no other shell than the one found in it when the piece was
taken There existed no reason therefore to dread the fire of the assailants
except as a casual bullet might find a passage through a loophole One or two
of these accidents did occur but the balls entered at an angle that deprived
them of all chance of doing any injury so long as the Indians kept near the
block and if discharged from a distance there was scarcely the probability of
one in a hundreds striking the apertures But when Pathfinder heard the sound
of moccasined feet and the rustling of brush at the foot of the building he
knew that the attempt to build a fire against the logs was about to be renewed
He now summoned Cap from the roof where indeed all the danger had ceased and
directed him to stand in readiness with his water at a hole immediately over
the spot assailed
One less trained than our hero would have been in a hurry to repel this
dangerous attempt also and might have resorted to his means prematurely Not so
with Pathfinder His aim was not only to extinguish the fire about which he
felt little apprehension but to give the enemy a lesson that would render him
wary during the remainder of the night In order to effect the latter purpose
it became necessary to wait until the light of the intended conflagration should
direct his aim when he well knew that a very slight effort of his skill would
suffice The Iroquois were permitted to collect their heap of dried brush to
pile it against the block to light it and to return to their covers without
molestation All that Pathfinder would suffer Cap to do was to roll a barrel
filled with water to the hole immediately over the spot in readiness to be
used at the proper instant That moment however did not arrive in his
judgment until the blaze illuminated the surrounding bushes and there had been
time for his quick and practised eye to detect the forms of three or four
lurking savages who were watching the progress of the flames with the cool
indifference of men accustomed to look on human misery with apathy Then
indeed he spoke
»Are you ready Friend Cap« he asked »The heat begins to strike through
the crevices and although these green logs are not of the fiery natur of an
illtempered man they may be kindled into a blaze if one provokes them too
much Are you ready with the barrel See that it has the right cut and that
none of the water is wasted«
»All ready « answered Cap in the manner in which a seaman replies to such
a demand
»Then wait for the word Never be over impatient in a critical time nor
foolrisky in a battle Wait for the word«
While the Pathfinder was giving these directions he was also making his own
preparations for he saw it was time to act Killdeer was deliberately raised
pointed and discharged The whole process occupied about half a minute and as
the rifle was drawn in the eye of the marksman was applied to the hole
»There is one riptyle the less « Pathfinder muttered to himself »Ive
seen that vagabond afore and know him to be a marciless devil Well well the
man acted according to his gifts and he has been rewarded according to his
gifts One more of the knaves and that will sarve the turn for tonight When
daylight appears we may have hotter work«
All this time another rifle was getting ready and as Pathfinder ceased a
second savage fell This indeed sufficed for indisposed to wait for a third
visitation from the same hand the whole band which had been crouching in the
bushes around the block ignorant of who was and who was not exposed to view
leaped from their covers and fled to different places for safety
»Now pour away Master Cap« said Pathfinder »Ive made my mark on the
blackguards and we shall have no more fires lighted tonight«
»Scaldings« cried Cap upsetting the barrel with a care that at once and
completely extinguished the flames
This ended the singular conflict and the remainder of the night passed in
peace Pathfinder and Cap watched alternately though neither can be said to
have slept Sleep indeed scarcely seemed necessary to them for both were
accustomed to protracted watchings and there were seasons and times when the
former appeared to be literally insensible to the demands of hunger and thirst
and callous to the effects of fatigue
Mabel watched by her fathers pallet and began to feel how much our
happiness in this world depends even on things that are imaginary Hitherto she
had virtually lived without a father the connection with her remaining parent
being ideal rather than positive but now that she was about to lose him she
thought for the moment that the world would be a void after his death and
that she could never be acquainted with happiness again
Chapter XXV
»There was a roaring in the wind all night
The rain came heavily and fell in floods
But now the sun is rising calm and bright
The birds are singing in the distant woods «
Wordsworth »Resolution and
Independence« ll 14
As the light returned Pathfinder and Cap ascended again to the roof with a
view once more to reconnoitre the state of things on the island This part of
the block house had a low battlement around it which afforded a considerable
protection to those who stood in its centre the intention having been to enable
marksmen to lie behind it and to fire over its top By making proper use
therefore of these slight defences slight as to height though abundantly
ample as far as they went the two lookouts commanded a pretty good view of
the island its covers excepted and of most of the channels that led to the
spot
The gale was still blowing very fresh at south and there were places in the
river where its surface looked green and angry though the wind had hardly sweep
enough to raise the water into foam The shape of the little island was
generally oval and its greatest length was from east to west By keeping in the
channels that washed it in consequence of their several courses and of the
direction of the gale it would have been possible for a vessel to range past
the island on either of its principal sides and always keep the wind very
nearly abeam These were the facts first noted by Cap and explained to his
companion for the hopes of both now rested on the chances of relief sent from
Oswego At this instant while they stood gazing anxiously about them Cap cried
out in his lusty hearty manner
»Sail ho«
Pathfinder turned quickly in the direction of his companions face and
there sure enough was just visible the object of the old sailors exclamation
The elevation enabled the two to overlook the low land of several of the
adjacent islands and the canvass of a vessel was seen through the bushes that
fringed the shore of one that lay to the southward and westward The stranger
was under what seamen call low sail but so great was the power of the wind that
her white outlines were seen flying past the openings of the verdure with the
velocity of a fast travelling horse resembling a cloud driving in the heavens
»That cannot be Jasper« said Pathfinder in disappointment for he did not
recognise the cutter of his friend in the swiftpassing object »No no the
lad is behind the hour and that is some craft that the Frenchers have sent to
aid their friends the accursed Mingos«
»This time you are out in your reckoning friend Pathfinder if you never
were before « returned Cap in a manner that had lost none of its dogmatism by
the critical circumstances in which they were placed »Fresh water or salt that
is the head of the Scuds mainsail for it is cut with a smaller goar than
common and then you can see that the gaff has been fished quite neatly done
I admit but fished«
»I can see none of this I confess« answered Pathfinder to whom even the
terms of his companion were Greek
»No Well I own that surprises me for I thought your eyes could see any
thing Now to me nothing is plainer than that goar and that fish and I must
say my honest friend that in your place I should apprehend that my sight was
beginning to fail«
»If Jasper is truly coming I shall apprehend but little We can make good
the block against the whole Mingo nation for the next eight or ten hours and
with Eau douce to cover the retreat I shall despair of nothing God send that
the lad may not run along side of the bank and fall into an ambushment as
befel the sarjeant«
»Ay theres the danger There ought to have been signals concerted and an
anchorage ground buoyed out and even a quarantine station or a Lazaretto would
have been useful could we have made these Minksho respect the laws If the lad
fetches up as you say any where in the neighborhood of this island we may
look upon the cutter as lost And after all Master Pathfinder ought we not to
set down this same Jasper as a secret ally of the French rather than as a
friend of our own I know the Serjeant views the matter in that light and I
must say this whole affair looks like treason«
»We shall soon know we shall soon know Master Cap for there indeed
comes the cutter clear of the other island and five minutes must settle the
matter It would be no more than fair howsever if we could give the boy some
sign in the way of warning It is not right that he should fall into the trap
without a notice that it has been laid«
Anxiety and suspense notwithstanding prevented either from attempting to
make any signal It was not easy truly to see how it could be done for the
Scud came foaming through the channel on the weather side of the island at a
rate that scarce admitted of the necessary time Nor was any one visible on her
deck to make signs to even her helm seemed deserted though her course was as
steady as her progress was rapid
Cap stood in silent admiration of a spectacle so unusual But as the Scud
drew nearer his practised eye detected the helm in play by means of tiller
ropes though the person who steered was concealed As the cutter had
weatherboards of some little height the mystery was explained no doubt
remaining that her people lay behind the latter in order to be protected from
the rifles of the enemy As this fact showed that no force beyond that of the
small crew could be on board Pathfinder received his companions explanation
with an ominous shake of the head
»This proves that the Sarpent has not reached Oswego« he said »and that we
are not to expect succor from the garrison I hope Lundie has not taken it into
his head to displace the lad for Jasper Western would be a host of himself in
such a strait We three Master Cap ought to make a manful warfare you as a
seaman to keep up the intercourse with the cutter Jasper as a laker who knows
all that is necessary to be done on the water and I with gifts that are as good
as any among the Mingos let me be what I may in other particulars I say we
ought to make a manful fight in Mabels behalf«
»That we ought and that we will « answered Cap heartily for he began to
have more confidence in the security of his scalp now that he saw the sun
again »I set down the arrival of the Scud as one circumstance and the chances
of Oh the deuces honesty as another This Jasper is a young man of prudence
you find for he keeps a good offing and seems determined to know how matters
stand on the island before he ventures to bring up«
»I have it I have it « exclaimed Pathfinder with exultation »There lies
the canoe of the Sarpent on the cutters deck and the chief has got on board
and no doubt has given a true account of our condition for unlike a Mingo a
Delaware is sartain to get a story right or to hold his tongue«
Pathfinders disposition to think well of the Delawares and to think ill of
the Mingos must by this time be very apparent to the reader Of the veracity
of the former he entertained the highest respect while of the latter he
thought as the more observant and intelligent classes of this country are
getting pretty generally to think of certain scribblers among ourselves who are
known to have been so long in the habits of mendacity that it is thought they
can no longer tell the truth even when they seriously make the effort
»That canoe may belong to the cutter« said the captious seaman »Oh the
Deuce had one on board when we sailed«
»Very true friend Cap but if you know your sails and masts by your goars
and fishes I know my canoes and my paths by frontier knowledge If you can see
new cloth in a sail I can see new bark in a canoe That is the boat of the
Sarpent and the noble fellow has struck off for the garrison as soon as he
found the block besieged has fallen in with the Scud and after telling his
story has brought the cutter down here to see what can be done The Lord grant
that Jasper Western be still on board her«
»Yes yes it might not be amiss for traitor or loyal the lad has a
handy way with him in a gale it must be owned«
»And in coming over waterfalls« said Pathfinder nudging the ribs of his
companion with an elbow and laughing in his silent but hearty manner »We
will give the boy his due though he scalps us all with his own hand«
The Scud was now so near that Cap made no reply The scene just at that
instant was so peculiar that it merits a particular description which may also
aid the reader in forming a more accurate notion of the picture we wish to draw
The gale was still blowing violently Many of the smaller trees bowed their
tops as if ready to descend to the earth while the rushing of the wind through
the branches of the groves resembled the roar of distant chariots The air was
filled with leaves which at that late season were readily driven from their
stems and flew from island to island like flights of birds With this
exception the spot seemed silent as the grave That the savages still remained
was to be inferred from the fact that their canoes together with the boats of
the 55th lay in a group in the little cove that had been selected as a
harbour Otherwise not a sign of their presence was to be detected Though
taken entirely by surprise by the cutter the sudden return of which was
altogether unlooked for so uniform and inbred were their habits of caution
while on the warpath that the instant an alarm was given every man had taken
to his cover with the instinct and cunning of a fox seeking his hole The same
stillness reigned in the blockhouse for though Pathfinder and Cap could
command a view of the channel they took the precaution necessary to lie
concealed The unusual absence of any thing like animal life on board the Scud
too was still more remarkable As the Indians witnessed her apparently
undirected movements a feeling of awe gained a footing among them and some of
the boldest of their party began to distrust the issue of an expedition that
had commenced so prosperously Even Arrowhead accustomed as he was to
intercourse with the whites on both sides of the lakes fancied there was
something ominous in the appearance of this unmanned vessel and he would
gladly at that moment have been landed again on the main
In the mean time the progress of the cutter was steady and rapid She held
her way midchannel now inclining to the gusts and now rising again like the
philosopher that bends to the calamities of life to resume his erect attitude as
they pass away but always piling the water beneath her bows in foam Although
she was under so very short canvass her velocity was great and there could not
have elapsed ten minutes between the time when her sails were first seen
glancing past the trees and bushes in the distance and the moment when she was
abreast of the blockhouse Cap and Pathfinder leaned forward as the cutter
came beneath their eyrie eager to get a better view of her deck when to the
delight of both Jasper Eau douce sprang upon his feet and gave three hearty
cheers Regardless of all risk Cap leaped upon the rampart of logs and
returned the greeting cheer for cheer Happily the policy of the enemy saved
the latter for they still lay quiet not a rifle being discharged On the other
hand Pathfinder kept in view the useful utterly disregarding the more dramatic
part of warfare The moment he beheld his friend Jasper he called out to him
with Stentorian lungs
»Stand by us lad and the days our own Give em a grist in yonder bushes
and youll put em up like partridges«
Part of this reached Jaspers ears but most was borne off to leeward on
the wings of the wind By the time this was said the Scud had driven past and
in the next moment she was hid from view by the grove in which the blockhouse
was partially concealed
Two anxious minutes succeeded but at the expiration of that brief space
the sails were again gleaming through the trees Jasper having wore jibed and
hauled up under the lee of the island on the other tack The wind was free
enough as has been already explained to admit of this manoeuvre and the
cutter catching the current under her lee bow was breasted up to her course in
a way that showed she would come out to windward of the island again without
any difficulty This whole evolution was made with the greatest facility not a
sheet being touched the sails trimming themselves the rudder alone
controlling the admirable machine The object appeared to be a reconnoissance
When however the Scud had made the circuit of the entire island and had again
got her weatherly position in the channel by which she had first approached
her helm was put down and she tacked The noise of the mainsail flapping when
it filled close reefed as it was sounded like the report of a gun and Cap
trembled lest the seams should open
»His Majesty gives good canvass it must be owned« muttered the old seaman
»and it must be owned too that boy handles his boat as if he were thoroughly
bred De Master Pathfinder if I believe after all that has been reported in
the matter that this Mister Oh the Deuce got his trade on this bit of fresh
water«
»He did yes he did He never saw the ocean and has come by his calling
altogether up here on Ontario I have often thought he has a natral gift in
the way of schooners and sloops and have respected him accordingly As for
treason and lying and black hearted vices friend Cap Jasper Western is as
free as the most virtuousest of the Delaware warriors and if you crave to see a
truly honest man you must go among that tribe to discover him«
»There he comes round« exclaimed the delighted Cap the Scud at this moment
filling on her original tack »and now we shall see what the boy would be at he
cannot mean to keep running up and down these passages like a girl footing it
through a country dance«
The Scud now kept so much away that for a moment the two observers on the
blockhouse feared Jasper meant to come to and the savages in their lairs
gleamed out upon her with a sort of exultation that the crouching tiger may be
supposed to feel as he sees his unconscious victim approach his bed But Jasper
had no such intention Familiar with the shore and acquainted with the depth of
water on every part of the island he well knew that the Scud might be run
against the bank with impunity and he ventured fearlessly so near that as he
passed through the little cove he swept the two boats of the soldiers from
their fastenings and forced them out into the channel towing them with the
cutter As all the canoes were fastened to the two Dunham boats by this bold
and successful attempt the savages were at once deprived of the means of
quitting the island unless by swimming and they appeared to be instantly aware
of the very important fact Rising in a body they filled the air with yells
and poured in a harmless fire While up in this unguarded manner two rifles
were discharged by their adversaries One came from the summit of the block and
an Iroquois fell dead in his tracks shot through the brain The other came from
the Scud The last was the piece of the Delaware but less true than that of
his friend it only maimed an enemy for life The people of the Scud shouted
and the savages sank again to a man as if it might be into the earth
»That was the Sarpents voice« said Pathfinder as soon as the second piece
was discharged »I know the crack of his rifle as well as I do that of
Killdeer Tis a good barrel though not sartain death Well well with
Chingachgook and Jasper on the water and you and I in the block friend Cap it
will be hard if we dont teach these Mingo scamps the rationality of a fight«
All this time the Scud was in motion As soon as she had reached the end of
the island Jasper sent his prizes adrift and they went down before the wind
until they stranded on a point more than a mile to leeward He then wore and
came stemming the current again through the other passage Those on the summit
of the block could now perceive that something was in agitation on the deck of
the Scud and to their great delight just as the cutter came abreast of the
principal cover or the spot where most of the enemy lay the howitzer which
composed her sole armament was unmasked and a shower of case shot was sent
hissing into the bushes A bevy of quail would not have risen quicker than this
unexpected discharge of iron hail put up the Iroquois when a second savage
fell by a messenger sent from Killdeer and another went limping away by a
visit from the rifle of Chingachgook New covers were immediately found
however and each party seemed to prepare for the renewal of the strife in
another form But the appearance of June bearing a white flag and accompanied
by the French officer and Muir stayed the hands of all and was the forerunner
of another parley
The negotiation that followed was held beneath the blockhouse and so near
it as at once to put those who were uncovered completely at the mercy of
Pathfinders unerring aim Jasper anchored directly abeam and the howitzer
too was kept trained upon the negotiators so that the besieged and their
friends with the exception of the man who held the match had no hesitation
about exposing their persons Chingachgook alone lay in ambush more however
from habit than distrust
»Youve triumphed Pathfinder« called out the Quarter Master »and Capt
Sanglier has come himself to offer terms Youll no be denying a brave enemy an
honorable retreat when he has fought ye fairly and done all the credit he
could to king and country Ye are too loyal a subject yourself to visit loyalty
and fidelity with a heavy judgment I am authorized to offer on the part of the
enemy an evacuation of the island a mutual exchange of prisoners and a
restoration of scalps In the absence of baggage and artillery little more can
be done«
As the conversation was necessarily carried on in a high key both on
account of the wind and on account of the distance all that was said was heard
equally by those in the block and those in the cutter
»What do you say to that Jasper« called out Pathfinder »You hear the
tarms shall we let the vagabonds go or shall we mark them as they mark their
sheep in the settlements that we may know them agin«
»What has befallen Mabel Dunham« demanded the young man with a frown on
his handsome face that was visible even to those in the block »If a hair of
her head has been touched it will go hard with the whole Iroquois tribe«
»Nay nay she is safe below nursing a dying parent as becomes her sex
We owe no grudge on account of the Sarjeants hurt which comes of lawful
warfare and as for Mabel «
»She is here « exclaimed the girl herself who had mounted to the roof the
moment she found the direction things were taking »She is here and in the
name of our holy religion and of that God whom we profess to worship in common
let there be no more bloodshed Enough has been spilt already and if these men
will go away Pathfinder if they will depart peaceably Jasper oh do not
detain one of them My poor father is approaching his end and it were better
that he should draw his last breath in peace with the world Go go
Frenchmen and Indians we are no longer your enemies and will harm none of
you«
»Tut tut Magnet« put in Cap »this sounds religious perhaps or like a
book of poetry but it does not sound like common sense The enemy is just ready
to strike Jasper is anchored with his broadside to bear and no doubt with
springs on his cable Pathfinders eye and hand are as true as the needle and
we shall get prizemoney headmoney and honor in the bargain if you will not
interfere for the next halfhour«
»Well« said Pathfinder »I incline to Mabels way of thinking There has
been enough blood shed to answer our purposes and to sarve the King and as for
honor in that meaning it will do better for young ensigns and recruits than
for cool headed obsarvant Christian men There is honor in doing whats right
and unhonor in doing whats wrong and I think it wrong to take the life even
of a Mingo without a useful ind in view I do and right to hear reason at all
times So Lieutenant Muir let us know what your friends the Frenchers and
Injins have to say for themselves«
»My friends« said Muir starting »Youll no be calling the Kings enemies
my friends Pathfinder because the fortune of war has thrown me into their
hands Some of the greatest warriors both of ancient and modern times have
been prisoners of war and yon is Master Cap who can testify whether we did not
do all that men could devise to escape the calamity«
»Ay ay « drily answered Cap »escape is the proper word We ran below
and hid ourselves and so discreetly that we might have remained in the hole to
this hour had it not been for the necessity of restowing the bread lockers
You burrowed on that occasion Quarter Master as handily as a fox and how the
dl you knew so well where to find the spot is a matter of wonder to me A
regular skulk on board ship does not tail aft more readily when the jib is to
be stowed than you went into that same hole«
»And did ye no follow There are moments in a mans life when reason
ascends to instinct «
»And men descend into holes« interrupted Cap laughing in his boisterous
way while Pathfinder chimed in in his peculiar manner Even Jasper though
still filled with concern for Mabel was obliged to smile »They say the dl
wouldnt make a sailor if he didnt look aloft and now it seems hell not
make a soldier if he doesnt look below«
This burst of merriment though it was any thing but agreeable to Muir
contributed largely towards keeping the peace Cap fancied he had said a thing
much better than common and that disposed him to yield his own opinion on the
main point so long as he got the good opinion of his companions on his novel
claim to be a wit After a short discussion all the savages on the island were
collected in a body without arms at the distance of a hundred yards from the
block and under the gun of the Scud while Pathfinder descended to the door of
the blockhouse and settled the terms on which the island was to be finally
evacuated by the enemy Considering all the circumstances the conditions were
not very discreditable to either party The Indians were compelled to give up
all their arms even to their knives and tomahawks as a measure of precaution
their force being still quadruple that of their foes The French officer
Monsieur Sanglier as he was rightly styled or chose to call himself
remonstrated against this act as one likely to reflect more discredit on his
command than any other part of the affair but Pathfinder who had witnessed
one or two Indian massacres and knew how valueless pledges became when put in
opposition to interest where a savage was concerned was obdurate The second
stipulation was of nearly the same importance It compelled Capt Sanglier to
give up all his prisoners who had been kept well guarded in the very hole or
cave in which Cap and Muir had taken refuge When these men were produced four
of them were found to be unhurt they had fallen merely to save their lives a
common artifice in that species of warfare and of the remainder two were so
slightly injured as not to be unfit for service As they brought their muskets
with them this addition to his force immediately put Pathfinder at his ease
for having collected all the arms of the enemy in the blockhouse he directed
these men to take possession of the building stationing a regular sentinel at
the door The remainder of the soldiers were dead the badly wounded having been
instantly dispatched in order to obtain the much coveted scalps
As soon as Jasper was made acquainted with the terms and the preliminaries
had been so far observed as to render it safe for him to be absent he got the
Scud under way and running down to the point where the boats had stranded he
took them in tow again and making a few stretches brought them into the
leeward passage Here all the savages instantly embarked when Jasper took the
boats in tow a third time and running off before the wind he soon set them
adrift quite a mile to leeward of the island The Indians were furnished with
but a single oar in each boat to steer with the young sailor well knowing
that by keeping before the wind they would land on the shores of Canada in
the course of the morning
Capt Sanglier Arrowhead and June alone remained when this disposition had
been made of the rest of the party the former having certain papers to draw up
and sign with Lieutenant Muir who in his eyes possessed the virtues which are
attached to a commission and the latter preferring for reasons of his own not
to depart in company with his late friends the Iroquois Canoes were retained
for the departure of these three when the proper moment should arrive
In the mean time or while the Scud was running down with the boats in tow
Pathfinder and Cap aided by proper assistants busied themselves with preparing
a breakfast most of the party not having eaten for four and twenty hours The
brief space that passed in this manner before the Scud came to again was
little interrupted by discourse though Pathfinder found leisure to pay a visit
to the serjeant to say a few friendly words to Mabel and to give such
directions as he thought might smooth the passage of the dying man As for
Mabel herself he insisted on her taking some light refreshment and there no
longer existing any motive for keeping it there he had the guard removed from
the block in order that the daughter might have no impediment to her attentions
to her father These little arrangements completed our hero returned to the
fire around which he found all the remainder of the party assembled including
Jasper
Chapter XXVI
»You saw but sorrow in its waning form
A working sea remaining from a storm
When now the weary waves roll oer the deep
And faintly murmur ere they fall asleep «
Dryden AurengZebe IVi 197200
Men accustomed to a warfare like that we have been describing are not apt to
be much under the influence of tender feelings while still in the field
Notwithstanding their habits however more than one heart was with Mabel in the
block while the incidents we are about to relate were in the course of
occurrence and even the indispensable meal was less relished by the hardiest of
the soldiers than it might have been had not the serjeant been so near his end
As Pathfinder returned from the block he was met by Muir who led him aside
in order to hold a private discourse The manner of the Quarter Master had that
air of supererogatory courtesy about it which almost invariably denotes
artifice for while physiognomy and phrenology are but lame sciences at the
best and perhaps lead to as many false as right conclusions we hold that there
is no more infallible evidence of insincerity of purpose short of overt acts
than a face that smiles when there is no occasion and the tongue that is out of
measure smooth Muir had much of this manner in common mingled with an apparent
frankness that his Scottish intonation of voice Scottish accent and Scottish
modes of expression were singularly adapted to sustain He owed his preferment
indeed to a long exercised deference to Lundie and his family for while the
Major himself was much too acute to be the dupe of one so much his inferior in
real talents and attainments most persons are accustomed to make liberal
concessions to the flatterer even while they distrust his truth and are
perfectly aware of his motive On the present occasion the contest in skill
was between two men as completely the opposites of each other in all the
leading essentials of character as very well could be Pathfinder was as
simple as the Quarter Master was practised he was as sincere as the other was
false and as direct as the last was tortuous Both were cool and calculating
and both were brave though in different modes and degrees Muir never exposing
his person except for effect while the guide included fear among the rational
passions or as a sensation to be deferred to only when good might come of it
»My dearest friend« Muir commenced »for yell be dearer to us all by
seventy and seven fold after your late conduct than ever ye were yeve just
established yourself in this late transaction Its true that theyll no be
making ye a commissioned officer for that species of prefairment is not much in
your line nor much in your wishes Im thinking but as a guide and a
counsellor and a loyal subject and an expert marksman yer renown may be said
to be full I doubt if the commander in chief will carry away with him from
America as much credit as will fall to yer share and ye ought just to sit
down in content and enjoy yerself for the remainder of yer days Get married
man without delay and look to your precious happiness for yeve no occasion
to look any longer to your glory Tak Mabel Dunham o Heavens sake to yer
bosom and yell have both a bonny bride and a bonny reputation«
»Why Quarter Master this is a new piece of advice to come from your mouth
Theyve told me I had a rival in you«
»And ye had man and a formidable one too I can tell ye One that has
never yet courted in vain and yet one that has courted five times Lundie twits
me with four and I deny the charge but he little thinks the truth would outdo
even his own arithmetic Yes yes ye had a rival Pathfinder but yeve one no
langer in me Yeve my hearty wishes for yer success with Mabel and were the
honest serjeant likely to survive ye might rely on my good word with him too
for a certainty«
»I feel your friendship Quarter Master I feel your friendship though I
have no great need of any favor with Sarjeant Dunham who has long been my
friend I believe we may look upon the matter to be as sartain as most things in
war time for Mabel and her father consenting the whole 55th couldnt very
well put a stop to it Ahs me the poor father will scarcely live to see what
his heart has so long been set upon«
»But hell have the consolation of knowing it will come to pass in dying
Oh its a great relief Pathfinder for the parting spirit to feel certain that
the beloved ones left behind will be well provided for after its departure
All the Mistress Muirs have duly expressed that sentiment with their dying
breaths«
»All your wives Quarter Master have been likely to feel this consolation«
»Out upon ye man Id no thought ye such a wag Well well pleasant
words make no heartburnings between auld frinds If I cannot espouse Mabel
yell no object to my esteeming her and speaking well of her and of yoursal
too on all suitable occasions and in all companies But Pathfinder yell
easily understan that a poor deevil who loses such a bride will probably
stand in need of some consolation«
»Quite likely quite likely Quarter Master« returned the simpleminded
guide »I know the loss of Mabel would be heavy to be borne by myself It may
bear hard on your feelings to see us married but the death of the sarjeant will
be likely to put it off and youll have time to think more manfully of it you
will«
»Ill bear up against it yes Ill bear up against it though my heart
strings crack and ye might help me man by giving me something to do Yell
understand that this expedition has been of a varry peculiar nature for here
am I bearing the Kings commission just a volunteer as it might be while a
mere orderly has had the command Ive submitted for various reasons though my
blood has boiled to be in authority while ye war battling for the honor of the
country and His Majestys rights «
»Quarter Master« interrupted the guide »you fell so early into the inimys
hands that your conscience ought to be easily satisfied on that score so take
my advice and say nothing about it«
»Thats just my opinion Pathfinder well all say nothing about it
Serjeant Dunham is hors de combat «
»Anan« said the guide
»Why the serjeant can command no longer and it will hardly do to leave a
corporal at the head of a victorious party like this for the flower that will
bloom in a garden will die on the heath and I was just thinking I would claim
the authority that belongs to one who holds a lieutenants commission As for
the men theyll no dare to raise any objactions and as for yoursal my dear
friend now that yeve so much honor and Mabel and the consciousness of having
done yer duty which is more precious than all I expect to find an ally
rather than one to oppose the plan«
»As for commanding the soldiers of the 55th lieutenant it is your right I
suppose and no one here will be likely to gainsay it though youve been a
prisoner of war and there are men who might stand out agin giving up their
authority to a prisoner released by their own deeds Still no one here will be
likely to say any thing hostyle to your wishes«
»Thats just it Pathfinder and when I come to draw up the report of our
success against the boats and the defence of the block together with the
general operations including the capitulation yell no find any omission of
your claims and merits«
»Tut for my claims and merits Quarter Master Lundie knows what I am in
the forest and what I am in the fort and the general knows better than he No
fear of me tell your own story only taking care to do justice by Mabels
father who in one sense is the commanding officer at this very moment«
Muir expressed his entire satisfaction with this arrangement as well as his
determination to do justice by all when the two went to the group that was
assembled round the fire Here the Quarter Master began for the first time
since leaving Oswego to assume some of the authority that might properly be
supposed to belong to his rank Taking the remaining corporal aside he
distinctly told that functionary that he must in future be regarded as one
holding the Kings commission and directed him to acquaint his subordinates
with the new state of things This change in the dynasty was effected without
any of the usual symptoms of a revolution for as all well understood the
Lieutenants legal claims to command no one felt disposed to dispute his
orders For reasons best known to themselves Lundie and the Quarter Master had
originally made a different disposition and now for reasons of his own the
latter had seen fit to change it This was reasoning enough for soldiers though
the hurt received by Serjeant Dunham would have sufficiently explained the
circumstance had any explanation been required
All this time Capt Sanglier was looking after his own breakfast with the
resignation of a philosopher the coolness of a veteran the ingenuity and
science of a Frenchman and the voracity of an ostrich This person had now been
in the colony some thirty years having left France in some such situation in
his own army as Muir filled in the 55th An iron constitution perfect obduracy
of feeling a certain address well suited to manage savages and an indomitable
courage had early pointed him out to the Commander in chief as a suitable
agent to be employed in directing the military operations of his Indian allies
In this capacity then he had risen to the titular rank of captain and with
his promotion had acquired a portion of the habits and opinions of his
associates with a facility and an adaptation of self that are thought in this
part of the world to be peculiar to his countrymen He had often led parties of
the Iroquois in their predatory expeditions and his conduct on such occasions
exhibited the contradictory results of both alleviating the misery produced by
this species of warfare and of augmenting it by the broader views and greater
resources of civilization In other words he planned enterprises that in their
importance and consequences much exceeded the usual policy of the Indians and
then stepped in to lessen some of the evils of his own creating In short he
was an adventurer whom circumstances had thrown into a situation where the
callous qualities of men of his class might readily show themselves for good
or for evil and he was not of a character to baffle fortune by any ill timed
squeamishness on the score of early impressions or to trifle with her
liberality by unnecessarily provoking her frowns through wanton cruelty Still
as his name was unavoidably connected with many of the excesses committed by his
parties he was generally considered in the American Provinces a wretch who
delighted in bloodshed and who found his greatest happiness in tormenting the
helpless and the innocent and the name of Sanglier which was a soubriquet of
his own adopting or of Flint Heart as he was usually termed on the borders
had got to be as terrible to the women and children of that part of the country
as those of Butler and Brandt became at a later day
The meeting between Pathfinder and Sanglier bore some resemblance to that
celebrated interview between Wellington and Blucher which has been so often and
graphically told It took place at the fire and the parties stood earnestly
regarding each other for more than a minute without speaking Each felt that in
the other he saw a formidable foe and each felt while he ought to treat the
other with the manly liberality due to a warrior that there was little in
common between them in the way of character as well as of interests One
served for money and preferment the other because his life had been cast in the
wilderness and the land of his birth needed his arm and experience The desire
of rising above his present situation never disturbed the tranquillity of
Pathfinder nor had he ever known an ambitious thought as ambition usually
betrays itself until he became acquainted with Mabel Since then indeed
distrust of himself reverence for her and the wish to place her in a situation
above that which he then filled had caused him some uneasy moments but the
directness and simplicity of his character had early afforded the required
relief and he soon came to feel that the woman who would not hesitate to
accept him for her husband would not scruple to share his fortunes however
humble He respected Sanglier as a brave warrior and he had far too much of
that liberality which is the result of practical knowledge to believe half of
what he had heard to his prejudice for the most bigotted and illiberal on every
subject are usually those who know nothing about it but he could not approve
of his selfishness cold blooded calculations and least of all the manner in
which he forgot his white gifts to adopt those that were purely red On the
other hand Pathfinder was a riddle to Capt Sanglier The latter could not
comprehend the others motives He had often heard of his disinterestedness
justice and truth and in several instances they had led him into grave
errors on that principle by which a frank and openmouthed diplomatist is said
to keep his secrets better than one that is closemouthed and wily
After the two heroes had gazed at each other in the manner mentioned Mons
Sanglier touched his cap for the rudeness of a border life had not entirely
destroyed the courtesy of manner he had acquired in youth nor extinguished that
appearance of bonhommie which seems inbred in a Frenchman
»Monsieur le Pathfindair« he said with a very decided accent though with
a friendly smile »Un militaire honour le courage et la loyauté You speak
Iroquois«
»Ay I understand the language of the riptyles and can get along with it
if theres occasion« returned the literal and truthtelling guide »but its
neither a tongue nor a tribe to my taste Wherever you find the Mingo blood in
my opinion Master Flintyheart you find a knave Well Ive seen you afore
though it was in battle and I must say it was always in the van You must know
most of our bullets by sight«
»Nevvair sair your own Une balle from your honorable hand be sairtaine
deat You kill my best warrior on some island«
»That may be that may be though I dare say if the truth was known
they would turn out to be great rascals No offence to you Master Flintyheart
but you keep desperate evil company«
»Yes sair « returned the Frenchman who bent on saying that which was
courteous himself and comprehending with difficulty was disposed to think he
received a compliment »you too good But un brave always comme ça What that
mean ha What that jeune homme do«
The hand and eye of Capt Sanglier directed the look of Pathfinder to the
opposite side of the fire where Jasper just at that moment had been rudely
seized by two of the soldiers who were binding his arms under the directions
of Muir
»What does that mean indeed« cried the guide stepping forward and
shoving the two subordinates aside with a power of muscle that would not be
denied »Who has the heart to do this to Jasper Eau douce and who the boldness
to do it afore my eyes«
»It is by my orders Pathfinder« answered the Quarter Master »and I
command it on my own responsibility Yell no tak on yourself to dispute the
legality of orders given by one who bears the Kings commission to the Kings
soldiers«
»Id dispute the Kings words if they came from the Kings own mouth did
he say that Jasper desarves this Has not the lad just saved all our scalps
Taken us from defeat and given us victory No no Lieutenant if this is the
first use that you make of your authority I for one will not respect it«
»This savors a little of insubordination« answered Muir »but we can bear
much from Pathfinder It is true this Jasper has seemed to serve us in this
affair but we ought not to overlook past transactions Did not Major Duncan
himself denounce him to Serjeant Dunham before we left the post have we not
seen sufficient with our own eyes to make sure of having been betrayed and is
it not natural and almost necessary to believe that this young man has been the
traitor Ah Pathfinder yell no be makin yourself a great statesman or a
great captain if ye put too much faith in appearances Lord Bless me Lord
Bless me If I do not believe could the truth be come at as you often say
yourself Pathfinder that hypocrisy is a more common vice than even envy and
thats the bane o human nature«
Capt Sanglier shrugged his shoulders then he looked earnestly from Jasper
towards the Quarter Master and from the Quarter Master towards Jasper
»I care not for your envy or your hypocrisy or even for your human natur«
returned Pathfinder »Jasper Eau douce is my friend Jasper Eau douce is a
brave lad and an honest lad and a loyal lad and no man of the 55th shall lay
hands on him short of Lundies own orders while Im in the way to prevent it
You may have authority over your soldiers but you have none over Jasper or me
Master Muir«
»Bon « ejaculated Sanglier the sound partaking equally of the energies of
the throat and of the nose
»Will ye no hearken to reason Pathfinder Yell no be forgetting our
suspicions and judgments and here is another circumstance to augment and
aggravate them all Ye can see this little bit of bunting well where should it
be found but by Mabel Dunham on the branch of a tree on this very island just
an hour or so before the attack of the enemy and if yell be at the trouble to
look at the fly of the Scuds ensign yell just see that the cloth has been cut
from out it Circumstantial evidence was never stronger«
»Ma foi cest un peu fort ceci « growled Sanglier between his teeth
»Talk to me of no ensigns and signals when I know the heart « continued
Pathfinder »Jasper has the gift of honesty and it is too rare a gift to be
trifled with like a Mingos conscience No no off hands or we shall see
which can make the stoutest battle you and your men of the 55th or the
Sarpent here and Killdeer with Jasper and his crew You overrate your force
Lieutenant Muir as much as you underrate Eau douces truth«
»Très bon«
»Well if I must speak plainly Pathfinder I een must Capt Sanglier
here and Arrowhead this brave Tuscarora have both informed me that this
unfortunate boy is the traitor After such testimony you can no longer refuse
my right to arrest him as well as the necessity of the act«
»Scélérat « muttered the Frenchman
»Capt Sanglier is a brave soldier and will not gainsay the conduct of an
honest sailor« put in Jasper »Is there any traitor here Capt Flintyheart«
»Ay« added Muir »lat him speak out then since ye wish it unhappy youth
that the truth may be known I only hope that ye may escape the last punishment
when a court will be sitting on yer misdeeds How is it Captain do ye or do
ye not see a traitor amang us«
»Oui yes sair bien sûr«
»Too much lie « said Arrowhead in a voice of thunder striking the breast
of Muir with the back of his own hand in a sort of ungovernable gesture
»Where my warriors Where Yengeese scalp Too much lie«
Muir wanted not for personal courage nor for a certain sense of personal
honor The violence which had been intended only for a gesture he mistook for a
blow for conscience was suddenly aroused within him and he stepped back a
pace extending a hand towards a gun His face was livid with rage and his
countenance expressed the fell intent of his heart But Arrowhead was too quick
for him With a wild glare of the eye the Tuscarora looked about him then
thrusting a hand beneath his own girdle drew forth a concealed knife and in
the twinkling of an eye buried it in the body of the Quarter Master to the
handle As the latter fell at his feet gazing into his face with the vacant
stare of one surprised by death Sanglier took a pinch of snuff and said in a
calm voice
»Voilà laffaire finie mais « shrugging his shoulders »ce nest quun
scélérat de moins«
The act was too sudden to be prevented and when Arrowhead uttering a yell
bounded into the bushes the white men were too confounded to follow
Chingachgook however was more collected and the bushes had scarcely closed on
the passing body of the Tuscarora than they were again opened by that of the
Delaware in full pursuit
Jasper Western spoke French fluently and the words and manner of Sanglier
struck him
»Speak Monsieur« he cried in English »am I the traitor«
»Le voilà « answered the cool Frenchman »Làdat is our espion our agent
our friend Ma foi cetait un grand scélérat Voici «
While speaking Sanglier bent over the dead body and thrust a hand into a
pocket of the Quarter Master out of which he drew a purse Emptying the
contents on the ground several double Louis rolled towards the soldiers who
were not slow in picking them up Casting the purse from him in contempt the
soldier of fortune turned towards the soup he had been preparing with so much
care and finding it to his liking he began to break his fast with an air of
indifference that the most stoical Indian warrior might have envied
Chapter XXVII
»The only amaranthine flower on Earth
Is virtue th only lasting treasure Truth«
Cowper The Task III 26869
The reader must imagine some of the occurrences that followed the sudden death
of Muir While his body was in the hands of his soldiers who laid it decently
aside and covered it with a great coat Chingachgook silently resumed his place
at the fire and both Sanglier and Pathfinder remarked that he carried a fresh
and bleeding scalp at his girdle No one asked any questions and the former
although perfectly satisfied that Arrowhead had fallen manifested neither
curiosity nor feeling He continued calmly eating his soup as if the meal had
been tranquil as usual There was something of pride and of an assumed
indifference to fate imitated from the Indians in all this but there was more
that really resulted from practice habitual selfcommand and constitutional
hardihood With Pathfinder the case was a little different in feeling though
much the same in appearance He disliked Muir whose smoothtongued courtesy was
little in accordance with his own frank and ingenuous nature but he had been
shocked at his unexpected and violent death though accustomed to similar
scenes and he had been surprised at the exposure of his treachery With a view
to ascertain the extent of the latter as soon as the body was removed he began
to question the captain on the subject The latter having no particular motive
for secrecy now that his agent was dead in the course of the breakfast
revealed the following circumstances which will serve to clear up some of the
minor incidents of our tale
Soon after the 55th appeared on the frontiers Muir had volunteered his
services to the enemy In making his offers he boasted of his intimacy with
Lundie and of the means it afforded of furnishing more accurate and important
information than usual His terms had been accepted and Mons Sanglier had
several interviews with him in the vicinity of the fort at Oswego and had
actually passed one entire night secreted in the garrison Arrowhead however
was the usual channel of communication and the anonymous letter to Major Duncan
had been originally written by Muir transmitted to Frontenac copied and sent
back by the Tuscarora who was returning from that errand when captured by the
Scud It is scarcely necessary to add that Jasper was to be sacrificed in
order to conceal the Quarter Masters treason and that the position of the
island had been betrayed to the enemy by the latter An extraordinary
compensation that which was found in his purse had induced him to accompany
the party under Serjeant Dunham in order to give the signals that were to bring
on the attack The disposition of Muir towards the sex was a natural weakness
and he would have married Mabel or any one else who would accept his hand but
his admiration of her was in a great degree feigned in order that he might have
an excuse for accompanying the party without sharing in the responsibility of
its defeat or incurring the risk of having no other strong and seemingly
sufficient motive Much of this was known to Capt Sanglier particularly the
part in connection with Mabel and he did not fail to let his auditors into the
whole secret frequently laughing in a sarcastic manner as he revealed the
different expedients of the luckless Quarter Master
»Touchezla« said the cold blooded partisan holding out his sinewy hand to
Pathfinder when he ended his explanations »You be honnête and dat is
beaucoup We tak de spy as we tak la médicine for de good mais je les
déteste Touchezla«
»Ill shake your hand captain I will for youre a lawful and natral
inimy« returned Pathfinder »and a manful one but the body of the Quarter
Master shall never disgrace English ground I did intend to carry it back to
Lundie that he might play his bagpipes over it but now it shall lie here on
the spot where he acted his villainy and have his own treason for a headstone
Capt Flintyheart I suppose this consorting with traitors is a part of a
soldiers regular business but I tell you honestly it is not to my liking
and Id rather it should be you than I who had this affair on his conscience
What an awful sinner to plot right and left agin country friends and the
Lord Jasper boy a word with you aside for a single minute«
Pathfinder now led the young man apart and squeezing his hand with the
tears in his own eyes he continued
»You know me Eau douce and I know you« he said »and this news has not
changed my opinion of you in any manner I never believed their tales though
it looked solemn at one minute I will own yes it did look solemn and it made
me feel solemn too I never suspected you for a minute for I know your gifts
dont lie thataway but I must own I did nt suspect the Quarter Master
neither«
»And he holding His Majestys commission Pathfinder«
»It isnt so much that Jasper Western it isnt so much that He held a
commission from God to act right and to deal fairly with his fellow creaturs
and he has failed awfully in his duty«
»To think of his pretending love for one like Mabel too when he felt
none«
»That was bad sartainly the fellow must have had Mingo blood in his veins
The man that deals unfairly by a woman can be but a mongrel lad for the Lord
has made them helpless on purpose that we may gain their love by kindness and
sarvice Here is the sarjeant poor man on his dying bed he has given me his
daughter for a wife and Mabel dear girl she has consented to it and it makes
me feel that I have two welfares to look after two naturs to care for and two
hearts to gladden Ahs me Jasper I sometimes feel that Im not good enough
for that sweet child«
Eau douce had nearly gasped for breath when he first heard this
intelligence and though he succeeded in suppressing any other outward sign of
agitation his cheek was blanched nearly to the paleness of death Still he
found means to answer not only with firmness but with energy
»Say not so Pathfinder you are good enough for a Queen«
»Ay ay boy according to your idees of my goodness that is to say I can
kill a deer or even a Mingo at need with any man on the lines or I can follow
a forest path with as true an eye or read the stars when others do not
understand them No doubt no doubt Mabel will have venison enough and fish
enough and pigeons enough but will she have knowledge enough and will she
have idees enough and pleasant conversation enough when life comes to drag a
little and each of us begins to pass for our true valu«
»If you pass for your value Pathfinder the greatest lady in the land
would be happy with you On that head you have no reason to feel afraid«
»Now Jasper I dare to say you think so nay I know you do for it is
natral and according to friendship for people to look over favorably at them
they love Yes yes if I had to marry you boy I should give myself no consarn
about being well looked upon for you have always shown a disposition to see me
and all I do with friendly eyes But a young gal after all must wish to marry
a man that is nearer to her own age and fancies than to have one old enough to
be her father and rude enough to frighten her I wonder Jasper that Mabel
never took a fancy to you now rather than setting her mind on me«
»Take a fancy to me Pathfinder« returned the young man endeavoring to
clear his voice without betraying himself »What is there about me to please
such a girl as Mabel Dunham I have all that you find fault with in yourself
with none of that excellence that makes even the generals respect you«
»Well well its all chance say what we will about it Here have I
journeyed and guided through the woods female after female and consorted with
them in the garrisons and never have I ever felt an inclination for any until
I saw Mabel Dunham Its true the poor sarjeant first set me to thinking about
his daughter but after we got a little acquainted like Id no need of being
spoken to to think of her night and day Im tough Jasper yes Im very
tough and Im risolute enough as you all know and yet I do think it would
quite break me down now to lose Mabel Dunham«
»We will talk no more of it Pathfinder« said Jasper returning his
friends squeeze of the hand and moving back towards the fire though slowly
and in the manner of one who cared little where he went »we will talk no more
of it You are worthy of Mabel and Mabel is worthy of you you like Mabel and
Mabel likes you her father has chosen you for her husband and no one has a
right to interfere As for the Quarter Master his feigning love for Mabel is
worse even than his treason to the king«
By this time they were so near the fire that it was necessary to change
the conversation Luckily at that instant Cap who had been in the block in
company with his dying brotherinlaw and who knew nothing of what had passed
since the capitulation now appeared walking with a meditative and melancholy
air towards the group Much of that hearty dogmatism that imparted even to his
ordinary air and demeanor an appearance of something like contempt for all
around him had disappeared and he seemed thoughtful if not meek
»This death gentlemen« he said when he had got sufficiently near »is a
melancholy business make the best of it Now here is Serjeant Dunham a very
good soldier I make no question about to slip his cable and yet he holds on
to the better end of it as if he was determined it should never run out of the
hawsehole and all because he loves his daughter it seems to me For my part
when a friend is really under the necessity of making a long journey I always
wish him well and happily off«
»You would nt kill the sarjeant afore his time« Pathfinder reproachfully
answered »Life is sweet even to the aged and for that matter Ive known
some that seemed to set more store by it when it got to be of the least valu«
Nothing had been farther from Caps real thoughts than the wish to hasten
his brotherinlaws end He had found himself embarrassed with the duties of
smoothing a deathbed and all he had meant was to express a sincere desire that
the serjeant were happily rid of doubt and suffering A little shocked
therefore at the interpretation that had been put on his words he rejoined
with some of the asperity of the man though rebuked by a consciousness of not
having done his own wishes justice
»You are too old and too sensible a person Pathfinder« he said »to fetch
a man up with a surge when he is paying out his ideas in distress as it might
be Serjeant Dunham is both my brotherinlaw and my friend that is to say
as intimate a friend as a soldier well can be with a seafaring man and I
respect and honor him accordingly I make no doubt moreover that he has lived
such a life as becomes a man and there can be no great harm after all in
wishing any one well berthed in heaven Well We are mortal the best of us
that youll not deny and it ought to be a lesson not to feel pride in our
strength and beauty Where is the Quarter Master Pathfinder It is proper he
should come and have a parting word with the poor serjeant who is only going a
little before us«
»You have spoken more truth Master Cap than youve been knowing to all
this time in which there is no great wonder howsever mankind as often telling
biting truths when they least mean it as at any other time You might have
gone farther notwithstanding and said that we are mortal the worst of us
which is quite as true and a good deal more wholesome than saying that we are
mortal the best of us As for the Quarter Masters coming to speak a parting
word to the sarjeant it is quite out of the question seeing that he has gone
ahead and that too with little parting notice to himself or any one else«
»You are not quite as clear as common in your language Pathfinder I know
that we ought all to have solemn thoughts on these occasions but I see no use
in speaking in parables«
»If my words are not plain the idee is In short Master Cap while
Sarjeant Dunham has been preparing himself for a long journey like a
conscientious and honest man as he is deliberately and slowly the Quarter
Master has started in a hurry afore him and although it is a matter on which
it does not become me to be very positive I give it as my opinion that they
travel such different roads that they will never meet«
»Explain yourself my friend« said the bewildered seaman looking around
him in search of Muir whose absence began to excite his distrust »I see
nothing of the Quarter Master but I think him too much of a man to run away
now that the victory is gained If the fight were ahead instead of in our wake
the case would be altered«
»There lies all that is left of him beneath that greatcoat« returned the
guide who then briefly related the manner of the Lieutenants death »The
Tuscarora was as venomous in his blow as a rattler though he failed to give
the warning« continued Pathfinder »Ive seen many a desperate fight and
several of these sudden outbreaks of savage temper but never before did I see
a human soul quit the body more unexpectedly or at a worse moment for the
hopes of the dying man His breath was stopped with the lie on his lips and the
spirit might be said to have passed away in the very ardor of wickedness«
Cap listened with a gaping mouth and he gave two or three violent hems as
the other concluded like one who distrusted his own respiration
»This is an uncertain and uncomfortable life of yours Master Pathfinder
what between the fresh water and the savages« he said »and the sooner I get
quit of it the higher will be my opinion of myself Now you mention it I will
say that the man ran for that berth in the rocks when the enemy first bore down
upon us with a sort of instinct that I thought surprising in an officer but I
was in too great a hurry to follow to log the whole matter accurately God
bless me God bless me A traitor do you say and ready to sell his country
and to a bloody Frenchman too«
»To sell any thing country soul body Mabel and all our scalps and no
ways particular Ill engage as to the purchaser The countrymen of Capt
Flintyheart here were the paymasters this time«
»Just like em ever ready to buy when they cant thrash and to run when
they can do neither«
Mons Sanglier lifted his cap with ironical gravity and acknowledged the
compliment with an expression of polite contempt that was altogether lost on its
insensible subject But Pathfinder had too much native courtesy and was far too
justminded to allow the attack to go unnoticed
»Well well « he interposed »to my mind there is no great difference
atween an Englishman and a Frenchman ater all They talk different tongues
and live under different kings I will allow but both are human and feel like
human beings when there is occasion for it If a Frenchman is sometimes skeary
so is an Englishman and as for running away why a man will now and then do it
as well as a horse let him come of what people he may«
Capt Flintyheart as Pathfinder called him made another obeisance but
this time the smile was friendly and not ironical for he felt that the
intention was good whatever might have been the mode of expressing it Too
philosophical however to heed what a man like Cap might say or think he
finished his breakfast without allowing his attention to be again diverted from
that important pursuit
»My business here was principally with the Quarter Master« Cap continued
as soon as he had done regarding the Frenchmans pantomine »the serjeant must
be near his end and I have thought he might wish to say something to his
successor in authority before he finally departed It is too late it would
seem and as you say Pathfinder the Lieutenant has truly gone before«
»That he has though on a different path As for authority I suppose the
corporal has now a right to command whats left of the 55th though a small and
worried not to say frightened party it is But if any thing needs to be done
the chances are greatly in favor of my being called on to do it I suppose
howsever we have only to bury our dead and set fire to the block and the huts
for they stand in the inimys territory by position if not by law and must not
be left for their convenience Our using them again is out of the question for
now the Frenchers know where the island is to be found it would be like
thrusting the hand into a wolf trap with our eyes wide open This part of the
work the Sarpent and I will see to for we are as practysed in retreats as in
advances«
»All that is very well my good friend and now for my poor brotherinlaw
though he is a soldier we cannot let him slip without a word of consolation
and a leavetaking in my judgment This has been an unlucky affair on every
tack though I suppose it is what one had a right to expect considering the
state of the times and the nature of the navigation We must make the best of
it and try to help the worthy man to unmoor without straining his messengers
Death is a circumstance after all Master Pathfinder and one of a very general
character too seeing that we must all submit to it sooner or later«
»You say truth you say truth and for that reason I hold it to be wise to
be always ready Ive often thought Saltwater that he is happiest who has the
least to leave behind him when the summons comes Now here am I a hunter and
a scout and a guide although I do not own a foot of land on arth yet do I
enjoy and possess more than the great Albany Patroon With the heavens over my
head to keep me in mind of the last great hunt and the dried leaves beneath my
feet I tramp over the ground as freely as if I was its lord and owner and what
more need heart desire I do not say that I love nothing that belongs to
arth for I do though not much unless it might be Mabel Dunham that I cant
carry with me I have some pups at the higher fort that I valu considerable
though they are too noisy for warfare and so we are compelled to live separate
for a while and then I think it would grieve me to part with Killdeer but I
see no reason why we should not be buried in the same grave for we are as near
as can be of the same length six feet to a hairs breadth but bating these
and a pipe that the Sarpent gave me and a few tokens received from travellers
all of which might be put in a pouch and laid under my head when the order
comes to march I shall be ready at a minutes warning and let me tell you
Master Cap thats what I call a circumstance too«
»Tis just so with me« answered the sailor as the two walked towards the
block too much occupied with their respective morality to remember at the
moment the melancholy errand they were on »thats just my way of feeling and
reasoning How often have I felt when near shipwreck the relief of not owning
the craft If she goes I have said to myself why my life goes with her but
not my property and theres great comfort in that Ive discovered in the
course of boxing about the world from the Horn to Cape North not to speak of
this run on a bit of fresh water that if a man has a few dollars and puts them
in a chest under lock and key he is pretty certain to fasten up his heart in
the same till and so I carry pretty much all I own in a belt round my body in
order as I say to keep the vitals in the right place De Pathfinder if I
think a man without a heart any better than a fish with a hole in his air bag«
»I dont know how that may be Master Cap but a man without a conscience is
but a poor creatur take my word for it as any one will discover who has to do
with a Mingo I trouble myself but little with dollars or halfjoes for these
are the favoryte coin in this part of the world but I can easily believe by
what Ive seen of mankind that if a man has a chest filled with either he may
be said to lock up his heart in the same box I once hunted for two summers
during the last peace and I collected so much peltry that I found my right
feelings giving way to a craving after property and if I have consarn in
marrying Mabel it is that I may get to love such things too well in order to
make her comfortable«
»Youre a philosopher thats clear Pathfinder and I dont know but youre
a christian«
»I should be out of humour with the man that gainsayed the last Master Cap
I have not been christianized by the Moravians like so many of the Delawares
it is true but I hold to Christianity and white gifts With me it is as
oncreditable for a white man not to be a Christian as it is for a red skin not
to believe in his happy hunting grounds indeed after allowing for difference
in traditions and some variations about the manner in which the spirit will be
occupied after death I hold that a good Delaware is a good Christian though he
never saw a Moravian and a good Christian a good Delaware so far as natur is
consarned The Sarpent and I talk these matters over often for he has a
hankerin after christianity «
»The dl he has« interrupted Cap »And what does he intend to do in a
church with all the scalps he takes«
»Dont run away with a false idee friend Cap dont run away with a false
idee These things are only skin deep and all depend on edication and natral
gifts Look around you at mankind and tell me why you see a red warrior here
a black one there and white armies in another place All this and a great deal
more of the same kind that I could point out has been ordered for some
special purpose and it is not for us to fly in the face of facts and deny
their truth No no each colour has its gifts and its laws and its
traditions and one is not to condemn another because he does not exactly
comprehend it«
»You must have read a great deal Pathfinder to see things as clear as
this« returned Cap who was not a little mystified by his companions simple
creed »Its all as plain as day to me now though I must say I never fell in
with these opinions before What denomination do you belong to my friend«
»Anan«
»What sect do you hold out for What particular church do you fetch up
in«
»Look about you and judge for yourself Im in church now I eat in church
drink in church sleep in church The arth is the temple of the Lord and I
wait on him hourly daily without ceasing I humbly hope No no Ill not
deny my blood and colour but am Christian born and shall die in the same
faith The Moravians tried me hard and one of the Kings chaplains has had his
say too though thats a class no ways strenuous on such matters and a
missionary sent from Rome talked much with me as I guided him through the
forest during the last peace but Ive had one answer for them all Im a
christian already and want to be neither Moravian nor Churchman nor Papist
No no Ill not deny my birth and blood«
»I think a word from you might lighten the serjeant over the shoals of
death Master Pathfinder He has no one with him but poor Mabel and she you
know besides being his daughter is but a girl and a child after all«
»Mabel is feeble in body friend Cap but in matters of this natur I doubt
if she may not be stronger than most men But Sarjeant Dunham is my friend and
he is your brotherinlaw so now the press of fighting and maintaining our
rights is over it is fitting we should both go and witness his departure Ive
stood by many a dying man Master Cap« continued Pathfinder who had a
besetting propensity to enlarge on his experience stopping and holding his
companion by a button »Ive stood by many a dying mans side and seen his
last gasp and heard his last breath for when the hurry and tumult of the
battle is over it is good to bethink us of the misfortunate and it is
remarkable to witness how differently human natur feels at such solemn moments
Some go their way as stupid and ignorant as if God had never given them reason
and an accountable state while others quit us rejoicing like men who leave
heavy burthens behind them I think that the mind sees clearly at such moments
my friend and that past deeds stand thick before the recollection«
»Ill engage they do Pathfinder I have witnessed something of this myself
and hope Im the better man for it I remember once that I thought my own time
had come and the log was overhauled with a diligence I did not think myself
capable of until that moment Ive not been a very great sinner friend
Pathfinder that is to say never on a large scale though I dare say if the
truth were spoken a considerable amount of small matters might be raked up
against me as well as against another man but then Ive never committed
piracy nor high treason nor arson nor any of them sort of things As to
smuggling and the like of that why Im a seafaring man and I suppose all
callings have their weak spots I dare say your trade is not altogether without
blemish honorable and useful as it seems to be«
»Many of the scouts and guides are desperate knaves and like the Quarter
Master here some of them take pay of both sides I hope Im not one of them
though all occupations lead to temptation Thrice have I been sorely tried in my
life and once yielded a little though I hope it was not in a matter to disturb
a mans conscience in his last moments The first time was when I found in the
woods a pack of skins that I knowed belonged to a Frencher who was hunting on
our side of the lines where he had no business to be twenty six as handsome
beavers as ever gladdened human eyes Well that was a tight temptation for I
thought the law would have been almost with me although it was in peace times
But then I remembered that such laws wasnt made for us hunters and bethought
me that the poor man might have built great expectations for the next winter on
the sale of his skins and I left them where they lay Most of our people said I
did wrong but the manner in which I slept that night convinced me that I had
done right The next trial was when I found the rifle that is sartainly the
only one in this part of the world that can be calculated on as surely as
Killdeer and knowed that by taking it or even hiding it I might at once rise
to be the first shot in all these parts I was then young and by no means as
expart as I have since got to be and youth is ambitious and striving but God
be praised I mastered that feeling and friend Cap what is almost as good I
mastered my rival in as fair a shooting match as was ever witnessed in a
garrison he with his piece and I with Killdeer and before the General in
person too« Here Pathfinder stopped to laugh his triumph still glittering in
his eyes and glowing on his sunburnt and browned cheek »Well the next
conflict with the devil was the hardest of them all and that was when I came
suddenly upon a camp of six Mingos asleep in the woods with their guns and
horns piled in a way that enabled me to get possession of them without waking a
miscreant of them all What an opportunity that would have been for the Sarpent
who would have despatched them one after another with his knife and had their
six scalps at his girdle in about the time it takes me to tell you the story
Oh Hes a valiant warrior that Chingachgook and as honest as hes brave and
as good as hes honest«
»And what may you have done in this matter Master Pathfinder« demanded
Cap who began to be interested in the result »It seems to me you had made
either a very lucky or a very unlucky landfall«
»Twas lucky and twas unlucky if you can understand that Twas unlucky
for it proved a desperate trial and yet twas lucky all things considered in
the ind I did not touch a hair of their heads for a white man has no natral
gifts to take scalps nor did I even make sure of one of their rifles I
distrusted myself knowing that a Mingo is no favorite in my own eyes«
»As for the scalps I think you were right enough my worthy friend but as
for the armament and the stores they would have been condemned by any
prizecourt in Christendom«
»That they would that they would but then the Mingos would have gone
clear seeing that a white man can no more attack an unarmed than a sleeping
inimy No no I did myself and my colour and my religion too greater
justice I waited till their nap was over and they well on their warpath
agin and by ambushing them here and flanking them there I peppered the
blackguards so intrinsically like« Pathfinder occasionally caught a fine word
from his associates and used it a little vaguely »that only one ever got back
to his village and he came into his wigwam limping Luckily as it turned out
the Great Delaware had only halted to jerk some venison and was following on my
trail and when he got up he had five of the scoundrels scalps hanging where
they ought to be so you see nothing was lost by doing right either in the way
of honor or in that of profit«
Cap grunted an assent though the distinctions in his companions morality
it must be owned were not exactly clear to his understanding The two had
occasionally moved towards the block as they conversed and then stopped again
as some matter of more interest than common brought them to a halt They were
now so near the building however that neither thought of pursuing the subject
any further but each prepared himself for the final scene with Serjeant Dunham
Chapter XXVIII
»Thou barraine ground whom winters wrath hath wasted
Art made a mirror to behold my plight
Whilome thy fresh spring flowrd and after hasted
Thy summer prowde with daffodillies dight
And now is come thy winters stormy state
Thy mantle mard wherein thou maskedst late«
Spenser The Shepheardes Calender
»Januarye« ll 1924
Although the soldier may regard danger and even death with indifference in
the tumult of battle when the passage of the soul is delayed to moments of
tranquility and reflection the change commonly brings with it the usual train
of solemn reflection of regrets for the past and of doubts and anticipations
for the future Many a man has died with an heroic expression on his lips but
with heaviness and distrust at his heart for whatever may be the varieties of
our religious creeds let us depend on the mediation of Christ the dogmas of
Mahomet or the elaborated allegories of the East there is a conviction common
to all men that death is but the steppingstone between this and a more
elevated state of being Serjeant Dunham was a brave man but he was departing
for a country in which resolution could avail him nothing and as he felt
himself gradually loosened from the grasp of the world his thoughts and
feelings took the natural direction for if it be true that death is the great
leveller in nothing is it more true than that it reduces all to the same views
of the vanity of life
Pathfinder though a man of quaint and peculiar habits and opinions was
always thoughtful and disposed to view the things around him with a shade of
philosophy as well as with seriousness In him therefore the scene in the
block house awakened no very novel feelings but the case was different with
Cap Rude opinionated dogmatical and boisterous the old sailor was little
accustomed to view even death with any approach to the gravity that its
importance demands and notwithstanding all that had passed and his real
regard for his brotherinlaw he now entered the room of the dying man with
much of that callous unconcern which was the fruit of long training in a school
that while it gives so many lessons in the sublimest truths generally wastes
its admonitions on scholars who are little disposed to profit by them
The first proof that Cap gave of his not entering as fully as those around
him into the solemnity of the moment was by commencing a narration of the
events which had just led to the deaths of Muir and Arrowhead »Both tripped
their anchors in a hurry brother Dunham« he concluded »and you have the
consolation of knowing that others have gone before you in the great journey
and they too men whom youve no particular reason to love which to me were
I placed in your situation would be a source of very great satisfaction My
mother always said Master Pathfinder that dying peoples spirits should not be
damped but that they ought to be encouraged by all proper and prudent means
and this news will give the poor fellow a great lift if he feels towards them
savages any way as I feel myself«
June arose at this intelligence and stole from the blockhouse with a
noiseless step Dunham listened with a vacant stare for life had already lost
so many of its ties that he had really forgotten Arrowhead and cared nothing
for Muir but he inquired in a feeble voice for Eau douce The young man was
immediately summoned and soon made his appearance The serjeant gazed at him
kindly and the expression of his eyes was that of regret for the injury he had
done him in thought The party in the blockhouse now consisted of Pathfinder
Cap Mabel Jasper and the dying man With the exception of the daughter all
stood around the serjeants pallet in attendance on his last moments Mabel
kneeled at his side now pressing a clammy hand to her heart now applying
moisture to the parched lips of her father
»Your case will shortly be ourn sarjeant« said Pathfinder who could
hardly be said to be awestruck by the scene for he had witnessed the approach
and victories of death too often for that but who felt the full difference
between his triumphs in the excitement of battle and in the quiet of the
domestic circle »and I make no question we shall meet agin hereafter
Arrowhead has gone his way tis true but it can never be the way of a just
Indian Youve seen the last of him for his path cannot be the path of the
just Reason is agin the thought in his case as it is also in my judgment
agin it too in the case of Lieutenant Muir You have done your duty in life
and when a man does that he may start on the longest journey with a light
heart and an actyve foot«
»I hope so my friend Ive tried to do my duty«
»Ay ay « put in Cap »intention is half the battle and though you would
have done better had you hoveto in the offing and sent a craft in to feel how
the land lay things might have turned out differently no one here doubts
that you meant all for the best and no one anywhere else I should think from
what Ive seen of this world and read of tother«
»I did yes I meant all for the best«
»Father Oh my beloved father«
»Magnet is taken aback by this blow Master Pathfinder and can say or do
but little to carry her father over the shoals so we must try all the harder to
serve him a friendly turn ourselves«
»Did you speak Mabel« Dunham asked turning his eyes in the direction of
his daughter for he was already too feeble to turn his body
»Yes Father rely on nothing you have done yourself for mercy and
salvation trust altogether in the blessed mediation of the son of God«
»The chaplain has told us something like this brother the dear child may
be right«
»Ay ay thats doctrine out of doubt He will be our judge and keeps
the logbook of our acts and will foot them all up at the last day and then
say who has done well and who has done ill I do believe Mabel is right but
then you need not be concerned as no doubt the account has been fairly kept«
»Uncle Dearest Father This is a vain illusion Oh Place all your
trust in the mediation of our holy redeemer Have you not often felt your own
insufficiency to effect your own wishes in the commonest things and how can you
imagine yourself by your own acts equal to raising a frail and sinful nature
sufficiently to be received into the presence of perfect purity There is no
hope for any but in the mediation of Christ«
»This is what the Moravians used to tell us« said Pathfinder to Cap in a
low voice »Mabel is right«
»Right enough friend Pathfinder in the distances but wrong in the course
Im afraid the child will get the serjeant adrift at the very moment when we
had him in the best of the water and in the plainest part of the channel«
»Leave it to Mabel leave it to Mabel She knows better than any of us and
can do no harm«
»I have heard this before « Dunham at length replied »Ah Mabel it is
strange for the parent to lean on the child at a moment like this«
»Put your trust in God father lean on his holy and compassionate son
Pray dearest dearest father pray for his omnipotent support«
»I am not used to prayer brother Pathfinder Jasper can you help me
to words«
Cap scarce knew what prayer meant and he had no answer to give Pathfinder
prayed often daily if not hourly but it was mentally in his own simple modes
of thinking and without the aid of words at all In this strait therefore he
was as useless as the mariner and had no reply to make As for Jasper Eau
douce though he would gladly have endeavored to move a mountain to relieve
Mabel this was asking assistance it exceeded his power to give and he shrunk
back with the shame that is only too apt to overcome the young and vigorous
when called on to perform an act that tacitly confesses their real weakness and
dependence on a superior power
»Father « said Mabel wiping her eyes and endeavoring to compose features
that were pallid and actually quivering with emotion »I will pray with you
for you for myself for us all The petition of the feeblest and humblest is
never unheeded«
There was something sublime as well as much that was supremely touching in
this act of filial piety The quiet but earnest manner in which this young
creature prepared herself to perform this duty the selfabandonment with which
she forgot her sexs timidity and sexs shame in order to sustain her parent at
that trying moment the loftiness of purpose with which she directed all her
powers to the immense object before her with a womans devotion and a womans
superiority to trifles when her affections make the appeals and the holy calm
into which her grief was compressed rendered her for the moment an object of
something very like awe and veneration to her companions
Mabel had been religiously and reasonably educated equally without
exaggeration and without selfsufficiency Her reliance on God was cheerful and
full of hope while it was of the humblest and most dependant nature She had
been accustomed from childhood to address herself to the Deity in prayer
taking example from the divine mandate of Christ himself who commanded his
followers to abstain from vain repetitions and who has left behind him a
petition that is unequalled for sublimity and sententiousness as if expressly
to rebuke the disposition of man to set up his own loose and random thoughts as
the most acceptable sacrifice The sect in which she had been reared has
furnished to its followers some of the most beautiful compositions of the
language as a suitable vehicle for its adoration and solicitations Accustomed
to this mode of public and even private prayer the mind of our heroine had
naturally fallen into its train of lofty thought her taste had become improved
by its study and her language elevated and enriched by its phrases In short
Mabel in this respect was an instance of the influence of familiarity with
propriety of thought fitness of language and decorum of manner on the habits
and expressions of even those who might be supposed not to be always so
susceptible of receiving high impressions of this nature When she kneeled at
the bedside of her father the very reverence of her attitude and manner
prepared the spectators for what was to come and as her affectionate heart
prompted her tongue and memory came in aid of both the petition and praises
that she offered up were of a character that might have worthily led the
spirits of any Although the words were not slavishly borrowed the expressions
partook of the simple dignity of the liturgy to which she had been accustomed
and were probably as worthy of the being to whom they were addressed as they
could well be made by human powers They produced their full impression on the
hearers for it is worthy of remark that notwithstanding the pernicious effects
of a false taste when long submitted to real sublimity and beauty are so
closely allied to nature that they generally find an echo in every heart
But when our heroine came to touch upon the situation of the dying man she
became the most truly persuasive for then she was the most truly zealous and
natural The beauty of the language was preserved but it was sustained by the
simple power of love and her words were warmed by a holy zeal that approached
to the grandeur of true eloquence We might record some of her expressions but
doubt the propriety of subjecting such sacred themes to a too familiar analysis
and refrain
The effect of this singular but solemn scene was different on the different
individuals present Dunham himself was soon lost in the subject of the prayer
and he felt some such relief as one who finds himself staggering on the edge of
a precipice under a burthen difficult to be borne might be supposed to
experience when he unexpectedly feels the weight removed in order to be placed
on the shoulders of another better able to sustain it Cap was surprised as
well as awed though the effects on his mind were not very deep or very
lasting He wondered a little at his own sensations and had his doubts whether
they were as manly and heroic as they ought to be but he was far too sensible
of the influence of truth humility religious submission and human dependency
to think of interposing with any of his crude objections Jasper knelt opposite
to Mabel covered his face and followed her words with an earnest wish to aid
her prayer with his own though it may be questioned if his thoughts did not
dwell quite as much on the soft gentle accents of the petitioner as on the
subject of her petitions
The effect on Pathfinder was striking and visible visible because he stood
erect also opposite to Mabel and the workings of his countenance as usual
betrayed the workings of the spirit within He leaned on his rifle and at
moments the sinewy fingers grasped the barrel with a force that seemed to
compress the weapon while once or twice as Mabels language rose in intimate
association with her thoughts he lifted his eyes to the floor above him as if
he expected to find some visible evidence of the presence of the dread being to
whom the words were addressed Then again his feelings reverted to the fair
creature who was thus pouring out her spirit in fervent but calm petitions in
behalf of a dying parent for Mabels cheek was no longer pallid but was
flushed with a holy enthusiasm while her blue eyes were upturned in the light
in a way to resemble a picture by Guido At these moments all the honest and
manly attachment of Pathfinder glowed in his ingenuous features and his gaze
at our heroine was such as the fondest parent might fasten on the child of his
love
Serjeant Dunham laid his hand feebly on the head of Mabel as she ceased
praying and buried her face in his blanket
»Bless you my beloved child bless you « he rather whispered than
uttered aloud »this is truly consolation Would that I too could pray«
»Father you know the Lords prayer you taught it to me yourself while I
was yet an infant«
The serjeants face gleamed with a smile for he did remember to have
discharged that portion at least of the paternal duty and the consciousness of
it gave him inconceivable gratification at that solemn moment He was then
silent for several minutes and all present believed that he was communing with
God
»Mabel my child « he at length uttered in a voice that seemed to be
reviving »Mabel Im quitting you « The spirit at its great and final
passage appears ever to consider the body as nothing »Im quitting you my
child where is your hand«
»Here dearest Father here are both oh take both«
»Pathfinder « added the serjeant feeling on the opposite side of the bed
where Jasper still knelt getting one of the hands of the young man by mistake
»Take it I leave you as her father as you and she may please bless you
bless you both «
At that awful instant no one would rudely apprise the serjeant of his
mistake and he died a minute or two later holding Jaspers and Mabels hands
covered by both his own Our heroine was ignorant of the fact until an
exclamation of Caps announced the death of her father when raising her face
she saw the eyes of Jasper riveted on her own and felt the warm pressure of his
hand But a single feeling was predominant at that instant and Mabel withdrew
to weep scarcely conscious of what had occurred The Pathfinder took the arm of
Eau douce and left the block
The two friends walked in silence past the fire along the glade and nearly
reached the opposite shore of the island in profound silence Here they
stopped and Pathfinder spoke
»Tis all over Jasper« he said »tis all over Ahs me Poor Sarjeant
Dunham has finished his march and that too by the hand of a venomous Mingo
Well we never know what is to happen and his luck may be yourn or mine
tomorrow or next day«
»And Mabel What is to become of Mabel Pathfinder«
»You heard the sarjeants dying words he left his child in my care
Jasper and it is a most solemn trust it is yes it is a most solemn trust«
»Its a trust Pathfinder of which any man would be glad to relieve you «
returned the youth with a bitter smile
»Ive often thought it has fallen into wrong hands Im not consaited
Jasper Im not consaited I do think Im not but if Mabel Dunham is willing to
overlook all my imperfections and ignorances like I should be wrong to gainsay
it on account of any sartainty I may have myself about my own want of merit«
»No one will blame you Pathfinder for marrying Mabel Dunham any more than
they will blame you for wearing a precious jewel in your bosom that a friend
had fairly given you«
»Do you think theyll blame Mabel lad Ive had my misgivings about that
too for all persons may not be as disposed to look at me with the same eyes as
you and the sarjeants daughter « Jasper Eau douce started as a man flinches
at sudden bodily pain but he otherwise maintained his selfcommand »and
mankind is envious and illnatured more particularly in and about the
garrisons I sometimes wish Jasper that Mabel could have taken a fancy to you
I do and that you had taken a fancy to her for it often seems to me that one
like you after all might make her happier than I ever can«
»We will not talk about this Pathfinder « interrupted Jasper hoarsely and
impatiently »You will be Mabels husband and it is not right to speak of any
one else in that character As for me I shall take Master Caps advice and
try and make a man of myself by seeing what is to be done on the saltwater«
»You Jasper Western You quit the lakes the forests and the lines and
this too for the towns and wasty ways of the settlements and a little
difference in the taste of the water Havent we the salt licks if salt is
necessary to you and ought nt man to be satisfied with what contents the other
creaturs of God I counted on you Jasper I counted on you I did and
thought now that Mabel and I intend to dwell in a cabin of our own that some
day you might be tempted to choose a companion too and come and settle in our
neighborhood There is a beautiful spot about fifty miles west of the garrison
that I had chosen in my mind for my own place of abode and there is an
excellent harbor about ten leagues this side of it where you could run in and
out with the cutter at any leisure minute and Id even fancied you and your
wife in possession of the one place and Mabel and I in possession of tother
We should be just a healthy hunt apart and if the Lord does intend any of his
creaturs to be happy on arth none could be happier than we four«
»You forget my friend« answered Jasper taking the guides hand and
forcing a friendly smile »that I have no fourth person to love and cherish
and I much doubt if I ever shall love any other as I love you and Mabel«
»Thankee boy I thank you with all my heart but what you call love for
Mabel is only friendship like and a very different thing from what I feel
Now instead of sleeping as sound as natur at midnight as I used to could I
dream nightly of Mabel Dunham The young does sport before me and when I raise
Killdeer in order to take a little venison the animals look back and it seems
as if they all had Mabels sweet countenance laughing in my face and looking
as if they said shoot me if you dare Then I hear her soft voices calling out
among the birds as they sing and no later than the last nap I took I bethought
me in fancy of going over the Niagara holding Mabel in my arms rather than
part from her The bitterest moments Ive ever known were them in which the
devil or some Mingo conjurer perhaps has just put into my head to fancy in
dreams that Mabel is lost to me by some unaccountable calamity either by
changefulness or by violence«
»Oh Pathfinder if you think this so bitter in a dream what must it be to
one who feels it in reality and knows it all to be true true true So true
as to leave no hope to leave nothing but despair«
These words burst from Jasper as a fluid pours from the vessel that has
been suddenly broken They were uttered involuntarily almost unconsciously but
with a truth and feeling that carried with them the instant conviction of their
deep sincerity Pathfinder started gazed at his friend for quite a minute like
one bewildered and then it was that in despite of all his simplicity the
truth gleamed upon him All know how corroborating proofs crowd upon the mind
as soon as it catches a direct clue to any hitherto unsuspected fact how
rapidly the thoughts flow and premises tend to their just conclusions under
such circumstances Our hero was so confiding by nature so just and so much
disposed to imagine that all his friends wished him the same happiness as he
wished them that until this unfortunate moment a suspicion of Jaspers
attachment for Mabel had never been awakened in his bosom He was however now
too experienced in the emotions that characterize the passion and the burst of
feeling in his companion was too violent and too natural to leave any further
doubt on the subject The feeling that first followed this change of opinion was
one of deep humility and exquisite pain He bethought him of Jaspers youth his
higher claims to personal appearance and all the general probabilities that
such a suitor would be more agreeable to Mabel than he could possibly be
himself Then the noble rectitude of mind for which the man was so
distinguished asserted its power It was sustained by his rebuked manner of
thinking of himself and all that habitual deference for the rights and feelings
of others which appeared to be inbred in his very nature Taking the arm of
Jasper he led him to a log where he compelled the young man to seat himself
by a sort of irresistible exercise of his iron muscles and where he placed
himself at his side
The instant his feelings had found vent Eau douce was both alarmed at and
ashamed of their violence He would have given all he possessed on earth could
the last three minutes be recalled but he was too frank by disposition and too
much accustomed to deal ingenuously by his friend to think a moment of
attempting further concealment or of any evasion of the explanation that he
knew was about to be demanded Even while he trembled in anticipation of what
was about to follow he never contemplated equivocation
»Jasper« Pathfinder commenced in a tone so solemn as to thrill on every
nerve in his listeners body »this has surprised me You have kinder feelings
towards Mabel than I had thought and unless my own mistaken vanity and
consait have cruelly deceived me I pity you boy from my soul I do Yes I
think I know how to pity any one who has set his heart on a creatur like
Mabel unless he sees a prospect of her regarding him as he regards her This
matter must be cleared up Eau douce as the Delawares say until there shall
not be a cloud atween us«
»What clearing up can it want Pathfinder I love Mabel Dunham and Mabel
Dunham does not love me She prefers you for a husband and the wisest thing I
can do is to go off at once to the saltwater and to try to forget you both«
»Forget me Jasper that would be a punishment I dont desarve But how
do you know that Mabel prefars me how do you know it lad to me it seems
impossible like«
»Is she not to marry you and would Mabel marry a man she does not love«
»She has been hard urged by the sarjeant she has and a dutiful child may
have found it difficult to withstand the wishes of a dying parent Have you ever
told Mabel that you prefarred her Jasper that you bore her these feelings«
»Never Pathfinder I would not do you that wrong«
»I believe you lad I do believe you and I think you would now go off to
the saltwater and let the secret die with you But this must not be Mabel
shall hear all and she shall have her own way if my heart breaks in the trial
she shall No words have ever passed atween you then Jasper«
»Nothing of account nothing direct Still I will own all my foolishness
Pathfinder for I ought to own it to a generous friend like you and there will
be an end of it You know how young people understand each other or think they
understand each other without always speaking out in plain speech and get to
know each others thoughts or to think they know them by means of a hundred
little ways«
»Not I Jasper not I« truly answered the guide for sooth to say his
advances had never been met with any of that sweet and precious encouragement
that silently marks the course of sympathy united to passion »Not I Jasper I
know nothing of all this Mabel has always treated me fairly and said what she
has had to say in speech as plain as tongue could tell it«
»You have had the pleasure of hearing her say that she loved you
Pathfinder«
»Why no Jasper not just that in words She has told me that we never
could never ought to be married that she was not good enough for me though
she did say that she honored me and respected me But then the sarjeant said
it was always so with the youthful and timid that her mother did so and said
so afore her and that I ought to be satisfied if she would consent on any
tarms to marry me and therefore I have concluded that all was right I
have«
In spite of all his friendship for the successful wooer in spite of all his
honest sincere wishes for his happiness we should be unfaithful chroniclers
did we not own that Jasper felt his heart bound with an uncontrollable feeling
of delight at this admission It was not that he saw or felt any hope
connected with the circumstance but it was grateful to the jealous covetousness
of unlimited love thus to learn that no other ears had heard the sweet
confessions that were denied his own
»Tell me more of this manner of talking without the use of the tongue «
continued Pathfinder whose countenance was getting to be grave and who now
questioned his companion like one that seemed to anticipate evil in the reply
»I can and have conversed with Chingachgook and with his son Uncas too in
that mode afore the latter fell but I did nt know that young gals practysed
this art and least of all Mabel Dunham«
»Tis nothing Pathfinder I mean only a look or a smile or a glance of
the eye or the trembling of an arm or a hand when the young woman has had
occasion to touch me and because I have been weak enough to tremble even at
Mabels breath or her brushing me with her clothes my vain thoughts have
misled me I never spoke plainly to Mabel myself and now there is no reason
for it since there is clearly no hope«
»Jasper« returned Pathfinder simply but with a dignity that precluded
farther remarks at the moment »we will talk of the sarjeants funeral and of
our own departure from this island after these things are disposed of it will
be time enough to say more of the sarjeants daughter This matter must be
looked into for the father left me the care of his child«
Jasper was glad enough to change the subject and the friends separated
each charged with the duty most peculiar to his own station and habits
That afternoon all the dead were interred the grave of Serjeant Dunham
being dug in the centre of the glade beneath the shade of a huge elm Mabel
wept bitterly at the ceremony and she found relief in thus disburthening her
sorrow The night passed tranquilly as did the whole of the following day
Jasper declaring that the gale was too severe to venture on the lake This
circumstance detained Capt Sanglier also who did not quit the island until
the morning of the third day after the death of Dunham when the weather had
moderated and the wind had become fair Then indeed he departed after taking
leave of the Pathfinder in the manner of one who believed he was in company of
a distinguished character for the last time The two separated like those who
respect one another while each felt that the other was an enigma to himself
Chapter XXIX
»Playful she turned that he might see
The passing smile her cheek put on
But when she marked how mournfully
His eyes met hers that smile was gone «
Moore Lalla Rookh
»The FireWorshippers« ll 26972
The occurrences of the last few days had been too exciting and had made too
many demands on the fortitude of our heroine to leave her in the helplessness of
grief She mourned for her father and she occasionally shuddered as she
recalled the sudden death of Jennie and all the horrible scenes she had
witnessed but on the whole she had aroused herself and was no longer in the
deep depression that usually accompanies grief Perhaps the overwhelming almost
stupefying sorrow that crushed poor June and left her for nearly twenty four
hours in a state of stupor assisted Mabel in conquering her own feelings for
she had felt called on to administer consolation to the young Indian woman This
she had done in the quiet soothing insinuating way in which her sex usually
exerts its influence on such occasions
The morning of the third day was set for that on which the Scud was to
sail Jasper had made all his preparations the different effects were embarked
and Mabel had taken leave of June a painful and affectionate parting In a
word all was ready and every soul had left the island but the Indian woman
Pathfinder Jasper and our heroine The former had gone into a thicket to weep
and the three last were approaching the spot where three canoes lay one of
which was the property of June and the other two were in waiting to carry the
others off to the Scud Pathfinder led the way but when he drew near the
shore instead of taking the direction to the boats he motioned to his
companions to follow and proceeded to a fallen tree that lay on the margin of
the glade and out of view of those in the cutter Seating himself on the trunk
he signed to Mabel to take her place on one side of him and to Jasper to occupy
the other
»Sit down here Mabel sit down there Eau douce« he commenced as soon as
he had taken his own seat »Ive something that lies heavy on my mind and now
is the time to take it off if its ever to be done Sit down Mabel and let me
lighten my heart if not my conscience while Ive the strength to do it«
The pause that succeeded lasted two or three minutes and both the young
people wondered what was to come next the idea that Pathfinder could have any
weight on his conscience seeming equally improbable to each
»Mabel« our hero at length resumed »we must talk plainly to each other
afore we join your uncle in the cutter where the Saltwater has slept every
night since the last rally for he says its the only place in which a man can
be sure of keeping the hair on his head he does Ahs me what have I to do
with these follies and sayings now I try to be pleasant and to feel
lighthearted but the power of man cant make water run upstream Mabel you
know that the sarjeant afore he left us had settled it atween us two that we
were to become man and wife and that we were to live together and to love one
another as long as the Lord was pleased to keep us both on arth yes and
afterwards too«
Mabels cheeks had regained a little of their ancient bloom in the fresh
air of the morning but at this unlocked for address they blanched again nearly
to the pallid hue which grief had imprinted there Still she looked kindly
though seriously at Pathfinder and even endeavored to force a smile
»Very true my excellent friend « she answered »this was my poor fathers
wish and I feel certain that a whole life devoted to your welfare and comforts
could scarcely repay you for all you have done for us«
»I fear me Mabel that man and wife needs be bound together by a stronger
tie than such feelings I do You have done nothing for me or nothing of any
account and yet my very heart yearns toward you it does and therefore it
seems likely that these feelings come from something besides saving scalps and
guiding through woods«
Mabels cheeks had begun to glow again and though she struggled hard to
smile her voice trembled a little as she answered
»Had we not better postpone this conversation Pathfinder« she said »we
are not alone and nothing is so unpleasant to a listener they say as family
matters in which he feels no interest«
»Its because we are not alone Mabel or rather because Jasper is with us
that I wish to talk of this matter The sarjeant believed I might make a
suitable companion for you and though I had misgivings about it yes I had
many misgivings he finally persuaded me into the idee and things came round
atween us as you know But when you promised your father to marry me Mabel
and gave me your hand so modestly but so prettily there was one circumstance
as your uncle calls it that you didnt know and Ive thought it right to tell
you what it is afore matters are finally settled Ive often taken a poor deer
for my dinner when good venison was not to be found but its in natur not to
take up with the worst when the best may be had«
»You speak in a way Pathfinder that is difficult to be understood If this
conversation is really necessary I trust you will be more plain«
»Well then Mabel Ive been thinking it was quite likely when you gave in
to the sarjeants wishes that you did not know the natur of Jasper Westerns
feelings towards you«
»Pathfinder« and Mabels cheek now paled to the livid hue of death then
it flushed to the tint of crimson and her whole form shuddered Pathfinder
however was too intent on his own object to notice this agitation and Eau
douce had hid his face in his hands in time to shut out its view
»Ive been talking with the lad and on comparing his dreams with my
dreams his feelings with my feelings and his wishes with my wishes I fear we
think too much alike consarning you for both of us to be very happy«
»Pathfinder you forget you should remember that we are betrothed« said
Mabel huskily and in a voice so low that it required acute attention in the
listeners to catch the syllables Indeed the last word was not quite
intelligible to the guide and he confessed his ignorance by the usual
»Anan«
»You forget that we are to be married and such allusions are improper as
well as painful«
»Every thing is proper that is right Mabel and every thing is right that
leads to justice and fair dealing though it is painful enough as you say as
I find on trial I do Now Mabel had you known that Eau douce thinks of you in
this way maybe you never would have consented to be married to one as old and
as uncomely as I am«
»Why this cruel trial Pathfinder To what can all this lead Jasper
Western thinks no such thing he says nothing he feels nothing «
»Mabel« burst from out of the young mans lips in a way to betray the
uncontrollable nature of his emotions though he uttered not another syllable
Mabel buried her face in both her hands and the two sat like a pair of
guilty beings suddenly detected in the commission of some crime that involved
the happiness of a common patron At that instant perhaps Jasper himself was
inclined to deny his passion through an extreme unwillingness to injure his
friend while Mabel on whom this positive announcement of a fact that she had
rather unconsciously hoped than believed came so unexpectedly felt her mind
momentarily bewildered and she scarce knew whether to weep or to rejoice
Still she was the first to speak since Eau douce could utter naught that would
be disingenuous or that would pain his friend
»Pathfinder« she said »you talk wildly why mention this at all«
»Well Mabel if I talk wildly I am half wild you know by natur I fear
as well as by habits « as he said this he endeavored to laugh in his usual
noiseless way but the effect produced a strange and discordant sound and it
appeared nearly to choke him »Yes I must be wild Ill not attempt to deny
it«
»Dearest Pathfinder my best almost my only friend you cannot do not
think I intended to say that« interrupted Mabel almost breathless in her haste
to relieve his mortification »If courage truth nobleness of soul and
conduct unyielding principles and a hundred other excellent qualities can
render any man respectable esteemed or beloved your claims are inferior to
those of no other human being«
»What tender and bewitching voices they have Jasper« resumed the guide
now laughing freely and naturally »Yes natur seems to have made them on
purpose to sing in our ears when the music of the woods is silent But we must
come to a right understanding we must I ask you agin Mabel if you had known
that Jasper Western loves you as well as I do or better perhaps though that is
scarce possible that in his dreams he sees your face in the water of the lake
that he talks to you and of you in his sleep fancies all that is beautiful
like Mabel Dunham and all that is good and virtuous believes he never knowed
happiness until he knowed you could kiss the ground on which you have trod and
forgets all the joys of his calling to think of you and of the delight of
gazing at your beauty and in listening to your voice would you then have
consented to marry me«
Mabel could not have answered this question if she would but though her
face was buried in her hands the tint of the rushing blood was visible between
the openings and the suffusion seemed to impart itself to her very fingers
Still nature asserted her power for there was a single instant when the
astonished almost terrified girl stole a glance at Jasper as if disputing
Pathfinders history of his feelings read the truth of all he said in that
furtive look and instantly concealed her face again as if she would hide it
from observation forever
»Take time to think Mabel« the guide continued »for it is a solemn thing
to accept one man for a husband while the thoughts and wishes lead to another
Jasper and I have talked this matter over freely and like old friends and
though I always knowed that we viewed most things pretty much alike I couldnt
have thought that we regarded any particular object with the very same eyes as
it might be until we opened our minds to each other about you Now Jasper
owns that the very first time he beheld you he thought you the sweetest and
winningest creatur he had ever met that your voice sounded like murmuring
water in his ears that he fancied his sails were your garments fluttering in
the wind that your laugh haunted him in his sleep and that agin and agin
has he started up affrighted because he has fancied some one wanted to force
you out of the Scud where he imagined you had taken up your abode Nay the lad
has even acknowledged that he weeps often at the thought that you are likely to
spend your days with another and not with him«
»Jasper«
»Its solemn truth Mabel and its right you should know it Now stand up
and choose atween us I do believe Eau douce loves you as well as I do myself
he has tried to persuade me that he loves you better but that I will not allow
for I do not think it possible but I will own the boy loves you heart and
soul and he has a good right to be heard The sarjeant left me your protector
and not your tyrant I told him that I would be a father to you as well as a
husband and it seems to me no feeling father would deny his child this small
privilege Stand up Mabel therefore and speak your thoughts as freely as if
I were the sarjeant himself seeking your good and nothing else«
Mabel dropped her hands arose and stood face to face with her two
suitors though the flush that was on her cheeks was feverish the evidence of
excitement rather than of shame
»What would you have Pathfinder « she asked »Have I not already promised
my poor father to do all you desire«
»Then I desire this Here I stand a man of the forest and of little
larning though I fear with an ambition beyond my desarts and Ill do my
endivors to do justice to both sides In the first place it is allowed that so
far as feelings in your behalf are consarned we love you just the same Jasper
thinks his feelings must be the strongest but this I cannot say in honesty
for it does nt seem to me that it can be true else I would frankly and freely
confess it I would So in this particular Mabel we are here afore you on
equal tarms As for myself being the oldest Ill first say what little can be
produced in my favor as well as agin it As a hunter I do think there is no
man near the lines that can outdo me If venison or bears meat or even birds
and fish should ever be scarce in our cabin it would be more likely to be owing
to natur and Providence than to any fault of mine In short it does seem to
me that the woman who depended on me would never be likely to want for food
But Im fearful ignorant Its true I speak several tongues such as they be
while Im very far from being expart at my own Then my years are greater than
your own Mabel and the circumstance that I was so long the sarjeants comrade
can be no great merit in your eyes I wish too I was more comely I do but we
are all as natur made us and the last thing that a man ought to lament except
on very special occasions is his looks When all is remembered age looks
larning and habits Mabel conscience tells me I ought to confess that Im
altogether unfit for you if not downright unworthy and I would give up the
hope this minute I would if I did nt feel something pulling at my heart
strings which seems hard to undo«
»Pathfinder Noble generous Pathfinder « cried our heroine seizing his
hand and kissing it with a species of holy reverence »you do yourself
injustice you forget my poor father and your promise you do not know me«
»Now heres Jasper« continued the guide without allowing the girls
caresses to win him from his purpose »with him the case is different In the
way of providing as in that of loving theres not much to choose atween us
for the lad is frugal industrious and careful Then he is quite a scholar
knows the tongue of the Frenchers reads many books and some I know that you
like to read yourself can understand you at all times which perhaps is more
than I can say for myself«
»What of all this « interrupted Mabel impatiently »why speak of it now
why speak of it at all«
»Then the lad has a manner of letting his thoughts be known that I fear I
can never equal If theres any thing on arth that would make my tongue bold
and persuading Mabel I do think its yourself and yet in our late
conversations Jasper has outdone me even on this point in a way to make me
ashamed of myself He has told me how simple you were and how truehearted and
kindhearted and how you looked down upon vanities for though you might be the
wife of more than one officer as he thinks that you cling to feeling and
would rather be true to yourself and natur than a colonels lady He fairly
made my blood warm he did when he spoke of your having beauty without seeming
ever to have looked upon it and the manner in which you moved about like a
young faan so natral and graceful like without knowing it and the truth and
justice of your idees and the warmth and generosity of your heart «
»Jasper« interrupted Mabel giving way to feelings that had gathered an
ungovernable force by being so long pent and falling into the young mans
willing arms weeping like a child and almost as helpless »Jasper Jasper
Why have you kept this from me«
The answer of Eau douce was not very intelligible nor was the murmured
dialogue that followed remarkable for coherency But the language of affection
is easily understood The hour that succeeded passed like a very few minutes of
ordinary life so far as a computation of time was concerned and when Mabel
recollected herself and bethought her of the existence of others her uncle was
pacing the cutters deck in great impatience and wondering why Jasper should
be losing so much of a favorable wind Her first thought was of him who was so
likely to feel the recent betrayal of her real emotions
»Oh Jasper« she exclaimed like one suddenly self convicted »the
Pathfinder«
Eau douce fairly trembled not with unmanly apprehension but with the
painful consciousness of the pang he had given his friend and he looked in all
directions in the expectation of seeing his person But Pathfinder had
withdrawn with a tact and a delicacy that might have done credit to the
sensibility and breeding of a courtier For several minutes the two lovers sate
silently waiting his return uncertain what propriety required under
circumstances so marked and so peculiar At length they beheld their friend
advancing slowly towards them with a thoughtful and even pensive air
»I now understand what you meant Jasper by speaking without a tongue and
hearing without an ear« he said when close enough to the tree to be heard
»Yes I understand it now I do and a very pleasant sort of discourse it is
when one can hold it with Mabel Dunham Ahs me I told the sarjeant I wasnt
fit for her that I was too old too ignorant and too wild like but he would
have it otherwise«
Jasper and Mabel sate resembling Miltons picture of our first parents
when the consciousness of sin first laid its leaden weight on their souls
Neither spoke neither even moved though both at that moment fancied they
could part with their newfound happiness in order to restore their friend to
his peace of mind Jasper was pale as death but in Mabel maiden modesty had
caused the blood to mantle on her cheeks until their bloom was heightened to a
richness that was scarce equalled in her hours of lighthearted buoyancy and
joy As the feeling which in her sex always accompanies the security of love
returned threw its softness and tenderness over her countenance she was
singularly beautiful Pathfinder gazed at her with an intentness he did not
endeavor to conceal and then he fairly laughed in his own way and with a sort
of wild exultation as men that are untutored are wont to express their delight
This momentary indulgence however was expiated by the pang that followed the
sudden consciousness that this glorious young creature was lost to him forever
It required a full minute for this simpleminded being to recover from the
shock of this conviction and then he resumed his dignity of manner speaking
with gravity almost with solemnity
»I have always known Mabel Dunham that men have their gifts« he said
»but Id forgotten that it did not belong to mine to please the young and
beautiful and larned I hope the mistake has been no very heavy sin and if it
was Ive been heavily punished for it I have Nay Mabel I know what youd
say but its unnecessary I feel it all and that is as good as if I heard it
all Ive had a bitter hour Mabel Ive had a very bitter hour lad «
»Hour« echoed Mabel as the other first used the word the telltale blood
which had begun to ebb towards her heart rushing again tumultuously to her very
temples »surely not an hour Pathfinder«
»Hour« exclaimed Jasper at the same instant »no no my worthy friend
it is not ten minutes since you left us«
»Well it may be so though to me it has seemed to be a day I begin to
think howsever that the happy count time by minutes and the miserable count
it by months But we will talk no more of this it is all over now and many
words about it will make you no happier while they will only tell me what Ive
lost and quite likely how much I desarved to lose her no no Mabel tis
useless to interrupt me I admit it all and your gainsaying it though it be so
well meant cannot change my mind Well Jasper she is yourn and though its
hard to think it I do believe youll make her happier than I could for your
gifts are better suited to do so though I would have strived hard to do as
much if I know myself I would I ought to have known better than to believe the
sarjeant and I ought to have put faith in what Mabel told me at the head of the
lake for reason and judgment might have shown me its truth but it is so
pleasant to think what we wish and mankind so easily overpersuade us when we
overpersuade ourselves But whats the use in talking of it as I said afore
Its true Mabel seemed to be consenting though it all came from a wish to
please her father and from being skeary about the savages «
»Pathfinder«
»I understand you Mabel and bear no hard feelings I dont I sometimes
think I should like to live in your neighborhood that I might look at your
happiness but on the whole its better I should quit the 55th altogether and
go back to the 60th which is my natyve rigiment as it might be It would have
been better perhaps had I never left it though my sarvices were much wanted
in this quarter and Id been with some of the 55th years agone Sarjeant
Dunham for instance when he was in another corps Still Jasper I do not
regret that Ive known you «
»And me Pathfinder « impetuously interrupted Mabel »do you regret having
known me Could I think so I should never be at peace with myself«
»You Mabel « returned the guide taking the hand of our heroine and
looking up into her countenance with guileless simplicity but earnest
affection »how could I be sorry that a ray of the sun came across the gloom of
a cheerless day that light has broken in upon darkness though it remained so
short a time I do not flatter myself with being able to march quite as
lighthearted as I once used to could or to sleep as sound for some time to
come but I shall always remember how near I was to being undesarvedly happy I
shall So far from blaming you Mabel I only blame myself for being so vain as
to think it possible I could please such a creatur for sartainly you told me
how it was when we talked it over on the mountain and I ought to have
believed you then for I do suppose its natral that young women should know
their own minds better than their fathers Ahs me Its settled now and
nothing remains but for me to take leave of you that you may depart I feel
that Master Cap must be impatient and there is danger of his coming on shore
to look for us all«
»To take leave« exclaimed Mabel
»Leave« echoed Jasper »you do not mean to quit us my friend«
»Tis best Mabel tis altogether best Eau douce and its wisest I
could live and die in your company if I only followed feeling but if I follow
reason I shall quit you here You will go back to Oswego and become man and
wife as soon as you arrive for all that is determined with Master Cap who
hankers after the sea agin and who knows what is to happen while I shall
return to the wilderness and my Maker Come Mabel« continued Pathfinder
rising and drawing nearer to our heroine with grave decorum »Kiss me Jasper
will not grudge me one kiss then well part«
»Oh Pathfinder « exclaimed Mabel falling into the arms of the guide and
kissing his cheeks again and again with a freedom and warmth she had been far
from manifesting while held to the bosom of Jasper »God bless you dearest
Pathfinder you will come to us hereafter we shall see you again when old
you will come to our dwelling and let me be a daughter to you«
»Yes thats it « returned the guide almost gasping for breath »Ill
try to think of it in that way Youre more befitting to be my daughter than
to be my wife you are Farewell Jasper Now well go to the canoe its time
you were on board«
The manner in which Pathfinder led the way to the shore was solemn and
calm As soon as he reached the canoe he again took Mabel by the hands held
her at the length of his own arms and gazed wistfully into her face until the
unbidden tears rolled out of the fountains of feeling and trickled down his
rugged cheeks in streams
»Bless me Pathfinder« said Mabel kneeling reverently at his feet »Oh at
least bless me before we part«
That untutored but nobleminded being did as she desired and aiding her
to enter the canoe seemed to tear himself away as one snaps a strong and
obstinate cord Before he retired however he took Jasper by the arm and led
him a little aside when he spoke as follows
»Youre kind of heart and gentle by natur Jasper but we are both rough
and wild in comparison with that dear creatur Be careful of her and never
show the roughness of mans natur to her soft disposition Youll get to
understand her in time and the Lord who governs the lake and the forest
alike who looks upon virtue with a smile and upon vice with a frown keep you
happy and worthy to be so«
Pathfinder made a sign for his friend to depart and he stood leaning on his
rifle until the canoe had reached the side of the Scud Mabel wept as if her
heart would break nor did her eyes once turn from the open spot in the glade
where the form of the Pathfinder was to be seen until the cutter had passed a
point that completely shut out the island When last in view the sinewy frame
of this extraordinary man was as motionless as if it were a statue set up in
that solitary place to commemorate the scenes of which it had so lately been
the site and the witness
Chapter XXX
»Oh let me only breathe the air
The blessed air thats breathed by thee
And whether on its wings it bear
Healing or death tis sweet to me«
Moore Lalla Rookh
»Paradise and the Peri« ll 25053
Pathfinder was accustomed to solitude but when the Scud had actually
disappeared he was almost overcome with a sense of his loneliness Never before
had he been conscious of his isolated condition in the world for his feelings
had gradually been accustoming themselves to the blandishments and wants of
social life particularly as the last were connected with the domestic
affections Now all had vanished as it might be in one moment and he was
left equally without companions and without hope Even Chingachgook had left
him though it was but temporarily still his presence was missed at the precise
instant which might be termed the most critical in our heros life
Pathfinder stood leaning on his rifle in the attitude described in the last
chapter a long time after the Scud had disappeared The rigidity of his limbs
seemed permanent and none but a man accustomed to put his muscles to the
severest proof could have maintained that posture with its marblelike
inflexibility for so great a length of time At length he moved away from the
spot motion of the body being preceded by a sigh that seemed to heave up from
the very depths of his bosom
It was a peculiarity of this extraordinary being that his senses and his
limbs for all practical purposes were never at fault let the mind be
preoccupied with other interests as much as it might On the present occasion
neither of these great auxiliaries failed him but though his thoughts were
exclusively occupied with Mabel her beauty her preference of Jasper her tears
and her departure he moved in a direct line to the spot where June still
remained which was the grave of her husband The conversation that followed
passed in the language of the Tuscaroras which Pathfinder spoke fluently but
as that tongue is understood only by the extremely learned we shall translate
it freely into the English preserving as far as possible the tone of thought
of each interlocutor as well as the peculiarities of manner
June had suffered her hair to fall about her face had taken a seat on a
stone that had been dug from the excavation made by the grave and was hanging
over the spot that contained the body of Arrowhead unconscious of the presence
of any other She believed indeed that all had left the island but herself
and the tread of the guides moccasined foot was too noiseless rudely to
undeceive her
Pathfinder stood gazing at the woman for several minutes in mute
attention The contemplation of her grief the recollection of her irreparable
loss and the view of her desolation produced a healthful influence on his own
feelings his reason telling him how much deeper lay the sources of grief in a
young wife who was suddenly and violently deprived of her husband than in
himself
»Dew of June« he said solemnly but with an earnestness that denoted the
strength of his sympathy »you are not alone in your sorrow Turn and let your
eyes look upon a friend«
»June has no longer any friend« the woman answered »Arrowhead has gone to
the happy hunting grounds and there is no one left to care for June The
Tuscaroras would chase her from their wigwams the Iroquois are hateful in her
eyes and she could not look at them No leave June to starve over the grave
of her husband«
»This will never do this will never do Tis agin reason and right You
believe in Manitou June«
»He has hid his face from June because he is angry He has left her alone
to die«
»Listen to one who has had a long acquaintance with red natur though he
has a white birth and white gifts When the Manitou of a pale face wishes to
produce good in a pale face heart he strikes it with grief for it is in our
sorrows June that we look with the truest eyes into ourselves and with the
farthest sighted eyes too as respects right The Great Spirit wishes you well
and he has taken away the chief lest you should be led astray by his wily
tongue and get to be a Mingo in your disposition as you were already in your
company«
»Arrowhead was a great chief« returned the woman proudly
»He had his merits he had and he had his demerits too But June youre
not desarted nor will you be soon Let your grief out let it out according
to natur and when the proper time comes I shall have more to say to you«
Pathfinder now went to his own canoe and he left the island In the course
of the day June heard the crack of his rifle once or twice and as the sun was
setting he reappeared bringing her birds ready cooked and of a delicacy and
flavor that might have tempted the appetite of an epicure This species of
intercourse lasted a month June obstinately refusing to abandon the grave of
her husband all that time though she still accepted the friendly offerings of
her protector Occasionally they met and conversed Pathfinder sounding the
state of the womans feelings but the interviews were short and far from
frequent June slept in one of the huts and she laid down her head in security
for she was conscious of the protection of a friend though Pathfinder
invariably retired at night to an adjacent island where he had built himself a
hut
At the end of the month however the season was getting to be too far
advanced to render her situation pleasant to June The trees had lost their
leaves and the nights were becoming cold and wintry It was time to depart
At this moment Chingachgook reappeared He had a long and confidential
interview on the island with his friend June witnessed their movements and
she saw that her guardian was distressed Stealing to his side she endeavored
to soothe his sorrow with a womans gentleness and with a womans instinct
»Thank you June thank you « he said »Tis well meant though its
useless But it is time to quit this place Tomorrow we shall depart You will
go with us for now youve got to feel reason«
June assented in the meek manner of an Indian woman and she withdrew to
pass the remainder of her time near the grave of Arrowhead Regardless of the
hour and the season the young widow did not pillow her head during the whole of
that autumnal night She sat near the spot that held the remains of her husband
and prayed in the manner of her people for his success on the endless path on
which he had so lately gone and for their reunion in the land of the just
Humble and degraded as she would have seemed in the eyes of the sophisticated
and unreflecting the image of God was on her soul and it vindicated its divine
origin by aspirations and feelings that would have surprised those who feigning
more feel less
In the morning all three departed Pathfinder earnest and intelligent in all
he did the Great Serpent silent and imitative and June meek resigned but
sorrowful They went in two canoes that of the woman being abandoned
Chingachgook led the way and Pathfinder followed the course being up stream
Two days they paddled westward and as many nights they encamped on islands
Fortunately the weather became mild and when they reached the lake it was
found smooth and glassy as a pond It was the Indian summer and the calms and
almost the blandness of June slept in the hazy atmosphere
On the morning of the third day they passed the mouth of the Oswego where
the fort and the sleeping ensign invited them in vain to enter Without casting
a look aside Chingachgook paddled past the dark water of the river and
Pathfinder still followed in silent industry The ramparts were crowded with
spectators but Lundie who knew the persons of his old friends refused to
allow them to be even hailed
It was noon when Chingachgook entered a little bay where the Scud lay at
anchor in a sort of roadstead A small ancient clearing was on the shore and
near the margin of the lake was a log dwelling recently and completely though
rudely fitted up There was an air of frontier comfort and of frontier
abundance around the place though it was necessarily wild and solitary Jasper
stood on the shore and when Pathfinder landed he was the first to take him by
the hand The meeting was simple but very cordial No questions were asked it
being apparent that Chingachgook had made the necessary explanations Pathfinder
never squeezed his friends hand more cordially than in this interview and he
even laughed cordially in his face as he told him how happy and well he
appeared
»Where is she Jasper where is she« the guide at length whispered for
at first he had seemed to be afraid to trust himself with the question
»She is waiting for us in the house my dear friend where you see that June
has already hastened before us«
»June may use a lighter step to meet Mabel but she cannot carry a lighter
heart And so lad you found the chaplain at the garrison and all was soon
settled«
»We were married within a week after we left you and Master Cap departed
next day You have forgotten to enquire about your friend Saltwater «
»Not I not I The Sarpent has told me all that and then I love so much to
hear of Mabel and her happiness I do Did the child smile or did she weep
when the ceremony was over«
»She did both my friend but «
»Yes thats their natur tearful and cheerful Ahs me they are very
pleasant to us of the woods and I do believe I should think all right
whatever Mabel might do And do you think Jasper that she thought of me at
all on that joyful occasion«
»I know she did Pathfinder and she thinks of you and talks of you daily
almost hourly None love you as we do«
»I know few love me better than yourself Jasper Chingachgook is perhaps
now the only creatur of whom I can say that Well theres no use in putting
it off any longer it must be done and may as well be done at once so
Jasper lead the way and Ill endivor to look upon her sweet countenance once
more«
Jasper did lead the way and they were soon in the presence of Mabel The
latter met her late suitor with a bright blush and her limbs trembled so she
could hardly stand Still her manner was affectionate and frank During the hour
of Pathfinders visit for it lasted no longer though he ate in the dwelling of
his friends one who was expert in tracing the workings of the human mind might
have seen a faithful index to the feelings of Mabel in her manner to Pathfinder
and her husband With the latter she still had a little of the reserve that
usually accompanies young wedlock but the tones of her voice were kinder even
than common the glance of her eye was tender and she seldom looked at him
without the glow that tinged her cheek betraying the existence of feelings that
habit and time had not yet soothed into absolute tranquillity With Pathfinder
all was earnest sincere even anxious but the tones never trembled the eye
never fell and if the cheek flushed it was with the emotions that are connected
with concern
At length the moment came when Pathfinder must go his way Chingachgook had
already abandoned the canoes and was posted on the margin of the woods where a
path led into the forest Here he calmly waited to be joined by his friend As
soon as the latter was aware of this fact he rose in a solemn manner and took
his leave
»Ive sometimes thought that my own fate has been a little hard« he said
»but that of this woman Mabel has shamed me into reason «
»June remains and lives with me« eagerly interrupted our heroine
»So I comprehend it If any body can bring her back from her grief and make
her wish to live you can do it Mabel though Ive misgivings about even your
success The poor creatur is without a tribe as well as without a husband and
its not easy to reconcile the feelings to both losses Ahs me What have I
to do with other peoples miseries and marriages as if I had nt affliction
enough of my own Dont speak to me Mabel dont speak to me Jasper let me
go my way in peace and like a man Ive seen your happiness and that is a
great deal and I shall be able to bear my own sorrow all the better for it No
Ill never kiss you agin Mabel Ill never kiss you agin Heres my hand
Jasper squeeze it boy squeeze it no fear of its giving way for its the
hand of a man And now Mabel do you take it nay you must not do this «
preventing Mabel from kissing it and bathing it with her tears »you must not
do this «
»Pathfinder « asked Mabel »when shall we see you again«
»Ive thought of that too yes Ive thought of that I have If the time
should ever come when I can look upon you altogether as a sister Mabel or a
child it might be better to say a child since youre young enough to be my
daughter depend on it Ill come back for it would lighten my very heart to
witness your gladness But if I cannot Farewell farewell the sarjeant was
wrong yes the sarjeant was wrong«
This was the last the Pathfinder ever uttered to the ears of Jasper Western
and Mabel Dunham He turned away as if the words choked him and was quickly at
the side of his friend As soon as the latter saw him approach he shouldered
his own burthen and glided in among the trees without waiting to be spoken to
Mabel her husband and June all watched the form of the Pathfinder in the hope
of receiving a parting gesture or a stolen glance of the eye but he did not
look back Once or twice they thought they saw his head shake as one trembles
in bitterness of spirit and a toss of the hand was given as if he knew that he
was watched but a tread whose vigor no sorrow could enfeeble soon bore him out
of view and he was lost in the depths of the forest
Neither Jasper nor his wife ever beheld the Pathfinder again They remained
for another year on the banks of Ontario and then the pressing solicitations of
Cap induced them to join him in NewYork where Jasper eventually became a
successful and respected merchant Thrice Mabel received valuable presents of
furs at intervals of years and her feelings told her whence they came though
no name accompanied the gifts Later in life still when the mother of several
youths she had occasion to visit the interior and found herself on the banks
of the Mohawk accompanied by her sons the eldest of whom was capable of being
her protector On that occasion she observed a man in a singular guise
watching her in the distance with an intentness that induced her to inquire
into his pursuits and character She was told he was the most renowned hunter of
that portion of the State it was after the revolution a being of great
purity of character and of as marked peculiarities and that he was known in
that region of country by the name of the Leatherstocking Further than this
Mrs Western could not ascertain though the distant glimpse and singular
deportment of this unknown hunter gave her a sleepless night and cast a shade
of melancholy over her still lovely face that lasted many a day
As for June the double loss of husband and tribe produced the effect that
Pathfinder had foreseen She died in the cottage of Mabel on the shores of the
lake and Jasper conveyed her body to the island where he interred it by the
side of that of Arrowhead
Lundie lived to marry his ancient love and retired a warworn and battered
veteran but his name has been rendered illustrious in our own time by the
deeds of a younger brother who succeeded to his territorial title which
however was shortly after merged in one earned by his valor on the ocean
Notes
1 Lest the reader suppose we are dealing purely in fiction the writer will add
that he has known a long thirty two pounder carried over these same falls in
perfect safety
2 This circumstance is a real incident taken from the »American Lady« of Mrs
Grant of Laggan