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 Cap's opinion about using the canoe。
Mabel is too tender to walk through swamps and among
roots of trees in 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 sun…
shine and so little in the woods。 Ah's me！ the Ontario
has no trees； or it would be a plain to delight a hunter's
heart！ As to your opinion； friends； there is much for
and much against it。 For it； it may be said water leaves
no trail 〃
〃What do you call the wake？〃 interrupted the pertina…
cious 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 cur…
rent； and the tender limbs of the Sergeant's 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 thing for boats 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； 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 which belonged to vain display or
theatrical effect； 〃will you undertake to bring in the
canoe？〃
〃I will undertake anything 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 this 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 in
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 Path…
finder was getting impatient to quit the spot。 While
Jasper and his companion entered the river； armed with
nothing but their knives and the Delaware's tomahawk；
observing the greatest caution not to betray their move…
ments； the guide brought Mabel from her place of conceal…
ment； 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 results 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 before
they could reach a part of the rift that admitted of wad…
ing。 This portion of the enterprise 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 other's 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 recol…
lection of the localities。 By the time they believed them…
selves 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 dis…
tinguishable 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 nearly a quar…
ter 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。 Jas…
per was at his side； and he at once understood that the
Iroquois were engaged on the same errand as he was himself。
〃Mingo！〃 he uttered in Jasper's 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 Dela…
ware 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 bead； 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 Iro…
quois laid hold of one end； Chingacbgook 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 pale…face； 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 Iro…
quois； 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 circum…
stance that their own appearance had occasioned no sur…
prise in the individual they had met； both felt the neces…
sity 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 all…important to
the safety of Mabel； indeed； did Jasper deem the posses…
sion 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 aban…
don their prize。
In the meantime； the Iroquois； who led the way； pro…
ceeded s