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
Eau…de…vie； he is a brave； true…hearted youth； and I always
sleep as soundly when he is on the watch as if I was up and
stirring myself； ay； and for that matter； sounder too。
The Sergeant's daughter here doesn't 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 western shore； although the darkness rendered
the natural movements 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 re…
spect 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 don't possess；〃 he said； 〃and
lay no claim to any knowledge of the ocean or of naviga…
tion。 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 lee…shore； and that I have fre…
quently 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 deep…seas。〃
〃I have heard of such things； but confess I never saw
one。〃
〃Oh！ deuce； with a vengeance。 A trader； and no deep…
sea！ Why； boy； you cannot pretend to be anything of a
mariner。 Who the devil ever heard of a seaman without
his deep…sea？〃
〃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 daresay； 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 out…
numbered when ashore that it is seldom we get our dues；
but when you want 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 enemies
that have landed in this country； French and English； let
me inquire； niece？〃
〃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 to…
gether。 Generals and privates； they lay scattered through…
out 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 an 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； al…
though I am more especially engaged in the service 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 mercy。 Still； I must face the
enemy 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 a ship's gunner。
There is my brother…in…law； 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 seafaring man； a point I
hardly think it worth while to dispute with him。〃
〃My father has been taught to believe that it is honor…
able to carry arms；〃 said Mabel； 〃for his father was a
soldier before him。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 resumed the guide； 〃most of the Sergeant's
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 prefer a king's piece to a regular； double…sighted；
long…barrelled rifle。 Such conceits will come over men
from long habit； and prejudice is； perhaps； the commonest
failing of human natur'。〃
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 pre…
serve 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 them…
selves 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； too； 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 these woods； but it was a transient and doubtful
cry； that might possibly have been attributed to the imag…
ination。 When he desired his companions； however； to
cease talking； his vigilant ear had caught the peculiar
sound which 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 reaily the ear re…
ceives 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 into the shore； and reconnoitre。〃
〃Go boy but be light with the paddle； and on no ac…
count venture ashore on an onsartainty。〃
〃Is this prudent？〃 demanded Mabel； with an impetu…
osity 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 the 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
Sergeant； will tell you； when you meet him； that silence is
a double virtue on a trail。 Go； Jasper； and do justice