 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 Pathfinder's 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 close-mouthed, 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 sailor's wife is certain to have a rival in his vessel. My uncle
Cap, too, says, that a sailor should never marry.«
    »He means salt-water 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 fresh-water 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,
