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 Mabel's 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 deuce's 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 cutter's 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.«
    Pathfinder's 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