gifts are not in that way； I tell you； Master Cap。〃
〃Nor herring； nor albatross； nor flying…fish？〃 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 daresay？〃
〃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 devil； Master Pathfinder！ Do you
suppose that you have got a boy on his first v'y'ge up here
among you？〃
〃I know nothing of your v'y'ges； Master Cap； though I
suppose them to have been many； for 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 prettily
and sweetly even while she played with the guide's in…
firmity； 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 man's
duty to believe in the power of God； however difficult it
may be。〃
〃And why isn't 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 rea…
sonable。〃
〃Nay； that is the only difficulty in believing the story；〃
rejoined the guide。 〃It seems unreasonable to give an
animal that lives in the water wings； which seemingly can
be of no use to it。〃
〃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 the'y should fly in their own element 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 in the 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；
we'll say no more about them； friend Pathfinder； as I sup…
pose they were mentioned just as a make…weight to the
fish； in favor of the woods。 But what is this thing an…
chored here under the hill？〃
〃That is the cutter of Jasper； uncle；〃 said Mabel hur…
riedly； 〃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 it's
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 needn't wait long for that；〃 returned
Pathfinder； 〃for the Sergeant 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 the company too。〃
〃Is this true； Magnet？〃
〃I believe it is；〃 returned the girl； a flush so imper…
ceptible as to escape the observation of her companions
glowing on her cheeks； 〃though I have had so little op…
portunity 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 Sergeant Dunham that com…
manded 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 super…
cilious 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 Ser…
geant 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 Sergeant 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 re…
strain by distance and dignity； had so far colored his whole
deportment； that few were altogether free from its influ…
ence。 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 termina…
tion 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 Sergeant at all as
an equal； or even with the cordial familiarity of a friend。
〃Good morrow； brother Cap；〃 said the Sergeant giving
the military salute； as he walked； in a grave； stately man…
ner； 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 on the girl to her we
have so long lost？〃
〃Mabel is the image of her mother； Sergeant； 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 warm…
hearted 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 com…
fortable while you stay among us。〃
〃I hear you are likely to receive orders to lift your an…
chor； Sergeant； 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； Sergeant； 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 Sergeant；
tapping the guide's 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
soldier's 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