the pathfinder- 第40部分

〃What　shall　I　do　with　this；　Mabel？〃　asked　the　bewil…
dered　hunter；　holding　the　simple　trinket　in　his　hand。　　〃I
have　neither　buckle　nor　button　about　me；　for　I　wear
nothing　but　leathern　strings；　and　them　of　good　deer…skins。
It's　pretty　to　the　eye；　but　it　is　prettier　far　on　the　spot　it
came　from　than　it　can　be　about　me。〃

〃Nay；　put　it　in　your　hunting…shirt；　it　will　become　it
well。　　Remember；　Pathfinder；　that　it　is　a　token　of　friend…
ship　between　us；　and　a　sign　that　I　can　never　forget　you　or
your　services。〃

Mabel　then　smiled　an　adieu；　and；　bounding　up　the
bank；　she　was　soon　lost　to　view　behind　the　mound　of　the
fort。



CHAPTER　XII。

Lo！　dusky　masses　steal　in　dubious　sight；
　　Along　the　leaguer'd　wall；　and　bristling　bank；
Of　the　arm'd　river；　while　with　straggling　light；
　　The　stars　peep　through　the　vapor；　dim　and　dank。
BYRON。


A　few　hours　later　Mabel　Dunham　was　on　the　bastion
that　overlooked　the　river　and　the　lake；　seemingly　in　deep
thought。　　The　evening　was　calm　and　soft；　and　the　ques…
tion　had　arisen　whether　the　party　for　the　Thousand　Islands
would　be　able　to　get　out　that　night　or　not；　on　account　of
the　total　absence　of　wind。　　The　stores；　arms；　and　ammuni…
tion　were　already　shipped；　and　even　Mabel's　effects　were
on　board；　but　the　small　draft　of　men　that　was　to　go　was
still　ashore；　there　being　no　apparent　prospect　of　the　cutter's
getting　under　way。　　Jasper　had　warped　the　_Scud_　out　of
the　cove；　and　so　far　up　the　stream　as　to　enable　him　to　pass
through　the　outlet　of　the　river　whenever　he　chose；　but
there　he　still　lay；　riding　at　single　anchor。　　The　drafted
men　were　lounging　about　the　shore　of　the　cove；　undecided
whether　or　not　to　pull　off。

The　sports　of　the　morning　had　left　a　quiet　in　the　garri…
son　which　was　in　harmony　with　the　whole　of　the　beautiful
scene；　and　Mabel　felt　its　influence　on　her　feelings；　though
probably　too　little　accustomed　to　speculate　on　such　sensa…
tions　to　be　aware　of　the　cause。　　Everything　near　appeared
lovely　and　soothing；　while　the　solemn　grandeur　of　the
silent　forest　and　placid　expanse　of　the　lake　lent　a　sub…
limity　that　other　scenes　might　have　wanted。　　For　the　first
time；　Mabel　felt　the　hold　that　the　towns　and　civilization
had　gained　on　her　habits　sensibly　weakened；　and　the
warm…hearted　girl　began　to　think　that　a　life　passed　amid
objects　such　as　those　around　her　might　be　happy。　　How
far　the　experience　of　the　last　days　came　in　aid　of　the　calm
and　holy　eventide；　and　contributed　towards　producing　that
young　conviction；　may　be　suspected；　rather　than　affirmed；
in　this　early　portion　of　our　legend。

〃A　charming　sunset；　Mabel！〃　said　the　hearty　voice　of
her　uncle；　so　close　to　the　ear　of　our　heroine　as　to　cause　her
to　start；　　〃a　charming　sunset；　girl；　for　a　fresh…water　con…
cern；　though　we　should　think　but　little　of　it　at　sea。〃

〃And　is　not　nature　the　same　on　shore　or　at　sea　　on　a
lake　like　this　or　on　the　ocean？　　Does　not　the　sun　shine　on
all　alike；　dear　uncle；　and　can　we　not　feel　gratitude　for　the
blessings　of　Providence　as　strongly　on　this　remote　frontier
as　in　our　own　Manhattan？〃

〃The　girl　has　fallen　in　with　some　of　her　mother's　books。
Is　not　nature　the　same；　indeed！　　Now；　Mabel；　do　you
imagine　that　the　nature　of　a　soldier　is　the　same　as　that　of
a　seafaring　man？　　You've　relations　in　both　callings；　and
ought　to　be　able　to　answer。〃

〃But　uncle；　I　mean　human　nature。〃

〃So　do　I；　girl；　the　human　nature　of　a　seaman；　and　the
human　nature　of　one　of　these　fellows　of　the　55th；　not
even　excepting　your　own　father。　　Here　have　they　had　a
shooting…match　　target…firing　I　should　call　it　　this　day；
and　what　a　different　thing　has　it　been　from　a　target…firing
afloat！　　There　we　should　have　sprung　our　broadside；
sported　with　round　shot；　at　an　object　half　a　mile　off；　at
the　very　nearest；　and　the　potatoes；　if　there　happened　to
be　any　on　board；　as　very　likely　would　not　have　been　the
case；　would　have　been　left　in　the　cook's　coppers。　　It　may
be　an　honorable　calling；　that　of　a　soldier；　Mabel；　but　an
experienced　hand　sees　many　follies　and　weaknesses　in　one
of　these　forts。　　As　for　that　bit　of　a　lake；　you　know　my
opinion　of　it　already；　and　I　wish　to　disparage　nothing。　　No
real　seafarer　disparages　anything；　but；　d…　me；　if　I　regard
this　here　Ontario；　as　they　call　it；　as　more　than　so　much
water　in　a　ship's　scuttle…butt。　　Now；　look　you　here；　Mabel；
if　you　wish　to　understand　the　difference　between　the　ocean
and　a　lake；　I　can　make　you　comprehend　it　with　a　single
look：　this　is　what　one　may　call　a　calm；　seeing　that　there
is　no　wind；　though；　to　own　the　truth；　I　do　not　think　the
calms　are　as　calm　as　them　we　get　outside　　〃

〃Uncle；　there　is　not　a　breath　of　air。　　I　do　not　think　it
possible　for　the　leaves　to　be　more　immovably　still　than
those　of　the　entire　forest　are　at　this　very　moment。〃

〃Leaves！　what　are　leaves；　child？　there　are　no　leaves　at
sea。　　If　you　wish　to　know　whether　it　is　a　dead　calm　or
not；　try　a　mould　candle；　　your　dips　flaring　too　much；　
and　then　you　may　be　certain　whether　there　is　or　is　not　any
wind。　　If　you　were　in　a　latitude　where　the　air　was　so　still
that　you　found　a　difficulty　in　stirring　it　to　draw　it　in　in
breathing；　you　might　fancy　it　a　calm。　　People　are　often
on　a　short　allowance　of　air　in　the　calm　latitudes。　　Here；
again；　look　at　that　water！　　It　is　like　milk　in　a　pan；　with
no　more　motion　now　than　there　is　in　a　full　hogshead　before
the　bung　is　started。　　On　the　ocean　the　water　is　never　still；
let　the　air　be　as　quiet　as　it　may。〃

〃The　water　of　the　ocean　never　still；　Uncle　Cap？　not
even　in　a　calm？〃

〃Bless　your　heart；　no；　child！　　The　ocean　breathes　like
a　living　being；　and　its　bosom　is　always　heaving；　as　the
poetizers　call　it；　though　there　be　no　more　air　than　is　to　be
found　in　a　siphon。　　No　man　ever　saw　the　ocean　still　like
this　lake；　but　it　heaves　and　sets　as　if　it　had　lungs。〃

〃And　this　lake　is　not　absolutely　still；　for　you　perceive
there　is　a　little　ripple　on　the　shore；　and　you　may　even　hear
the　surf　plunging　at　moments　against　the　rocks。〃

〃All　dd　poetry！　　Lake　Ontario　is　no　more　the　Atlantic
than　a　Powles　Hook　periagila　is　a　first…rate。　　That　Jasper；
notwithstanding；　is　a　fine　lad；　and　wants　instruction　only
to　make　a　man　of　him。〃

〃Do　you　think　him　ignorant；　uncle？〃　answered　Mabel；
prettily　adjusting　her　hair；　in　order　to　do　which　she　was
obliged；　or　fancied　she　was　obliged；　to　turn　away　her　face。
〃To　me　Jasper　Eau…douce　appears　to　know　more　than
most　of　the　young　men　of　his　class。　　He　has　read　but
little；　for　books　are　not　plenty　in　this　part　of　the　world；
but　he　has　thought　much；　as　least　so　it　seems　to　me；　for
one　so　young。〃

〃He　is　ignorant；　as　all　must　be　who　navigate　an　inland
water　like　this。　　No；　no；　Mabel；　we　both　owe　something
to　Jasper　and　the　Pathfinder；　and　I　have　been　thinking
how　I　can　best　serve　them；　for　I　hold　ingratitude　to　be
the　vice　of　a　hog；　for　treat　the　animal　to　your　own　dinner；
and　he　would　eat　you　for　the　dessert。〃

〃Very　true；　dear　uncle；　we　ought　indeed　to　do　all　we
can　to　express　our　proper　sense　of　the　services　of　both　these
brave　men。〃

〃Spoken　like　your　mother's　daughter；　girl；　and　in　a　way
to　do　credit　to　the　Cap　family。　　Now；　I've　hit　upon　a
traverse　that　will　just　suit　all　parties；　and；　as　soon　as　we
get　back　from　this　little　expedition　down　the　lake　among
them　there　Thousand　Islands；　and　I　am　ready　to　return；　it
is　my　intention　to　propose　it。〃

〃Dearest　uncle！　this　is　so　considerate　in　you；　and　will
be　so　just！　　May　I　ask　what　your　intentions　are？〃

〃I　see　no　reason　for　keeping　them　a　secret　from　you；
Mabel；　though　nothing　need　be　said　to　your　father　about
them；　for　the　Sergeant　has　his　prejudices；　and　might
throw　difficulties　in　the　way。　　Neither　Jasper　nor　his
friend　Pathfinder　can　ever　make　anything　hereabouts；　and
I　propose　to　take　both　with　me　down　to　the　coast；　and　get
them　fairly　afloat。　　Jasper　would　find　his　sea…legs　in　a　fort…
night；　and　a　twelvemonth's　v'y'ge　would　make　him　a　man。
Although　Pathfinder　might　take　more　time；　or　never　get
to　be　rated　able；　yet　one　could　make　something　of　him
too；　particularly　as　a　look…out；　for　he　has　unusually　good
eyes。〃

〃Uncle；　do　you　think　either　would　consent　to　this？〃
said　Mabel　smiling。

〃Do　I　suppose　them　simpletons？　what　rational　being
would　neglect　his　own　advancement？　　Let　Jasper　alone　to
push　his　way；　and　the　lad　may　yet　die　the　master　of　some
square…rigged　craft。〃

〃And　would　he　be　any　the　happier　for　it；　dear　uncle？
How　much　better　is　it　to　be　the　master　of　a　square…rigged
craft　than　to　be　master　of　a　round…rigged　craft？〃

〃Pooh；　pooh；　Magnet！　you　are　just　fit　to　read　lectures
about　ships　before　some　hysterical　society；　you　don't　know
what　you　are　talking　about；　leave　these　things　to　me；　and
they'll　be　properly　managed。　　Ah！　here　is　the　Pathfinder
himself；　and　I　may　just　as　well　drop　him　a　hint　of　my
benevolent　intentions　as　regards　himself。　　Hope　is　a　great
encourager　of　our　exertions。〃

Cap　nodded　his　head；　and　then　ceased　to　speak；　while
the　hunter　approached；　not　with　his　usual　frank　and　easy
manner；　but　in　a　way　to　show　that　he　was　slightly　em…
barrassed；　if　not　distrustful　of　his　reception。

〃Uncle　and　niece　make　a　family　party；〃　said　Pat