arations and equipments； I had thought there was a forced
trade in the wind； and that an honest penny might be
turned by taking an adventure。 I suppose there are no
shares in your fresh…water prize…money？〃
〃Anan？〃
〃I take it for granted the king gets all in these soldier…
ing parties； and ambushments； as you call them。〃
〃I know nothing about that； Master Cap。 I take my
share of the lead and powder if any falls into our hands；
and say nothing to the king about it。 If any one fares
better； it is not I； though it is time I did begin to think
of a house and furniture and a home。〃
Although the Pathfinder did not dare to look at Mabel
while he made this direct allusion to his change of life； he
would have given the world to know whether she was lis…
tening； and what was the expression of her countenance。
Mabel little suspected the nature of the allusion； however；
and her countenance was perfectly unembarrassed as she
turned her eyes towards the river； where the appearance
of some movement on board the _Scud_ began to be visible。
〃Jasper is bringing the cutter out；〃 observed the guide；
whose look was drawn in the same direction by the fall of
some heavy article on the deck。 〃The lad sees the signs
of wind； no doubt； and wishes to be ready for it。〃
〃Ay； now we shall have an opportunity of learning
seamanship；〃 returned Cap； with a sneer。 〃There is a
nicety in getting a craft under her canvas that shows the
thoroughbred mariner as much as anything else。 It's like
a soldier buttoning his coat； and one can see whether he
begins at the top or the bottom。〃
〃I will not say that Jasper is equal to your seafarers
below；〃 observed Pathfinder； across whose upright mind
an unworthy feeling of envy or of jealousy never passed；
〃but he is a bold boy； and manages his cutter as skillfully
as any man can desire； on this lake at least。 You didn't
find him backwards at the Oswego Falls； Master Cap；
where fresh water contrives to tumble down hill with little
difficulty。〃
Cap made no other answer than a dissatisfied ejaculation；
and then a general silence followed； all on the bastion
studying the movements of the cutter with the interest
that was natural to their own future connection with the
vessel。 It was still a dead calm； the surface of the lake
literally glittering with the last rays of the sun。 The
_Scud_ had been warped up to a kedge that lay a hundred
yards above the points of the outlet； where she had room
to manoeuvre in the river which then formed the harbor of
Oswego。 But the total want of air prevented any such at…
tempt； and it was soon evident that the light vessel was to
be taken through the passage under her sweeps。 Not a sail
was loosened； but as soon as the kedge was tripped； the
heavy fall of the sweeps was heard； when the cutter； with
her head up stream； began to sheer towards the centre of
the current； on reaching which； the efforts of the men
ceased； and she drifted towards the outlet。 In the narrow
pass itself her movement was rapid； and in less than five
minutes the _Scud_ was floating outside of the two low
gravelly points which intercepted the waves of the lake。
No anchor was let go； but the vessel continued to set off
from the land； until her dark hull was seen resting on the
glossy surface of the lake； full a quarter of a mile beyond
the low bluff which formed the eastern extremity of what
might be called the outer harbor or roadstead。 Here the
influence of the river current ceased； and she became； vir…
tually； stationary。
〃She seems very beautiful to me； uncle；〃 said Mabel；
whose gaze had not been averted from the cutter for a
single moment while it had thus been changing its posi…
tion； 〃I daresay you can find faults in her appearance；
and in the way she is managed； but to my ignorance both
are perfect。〃
〃Ay； ay； she drops down with a current well enough；
girl； and so would a chip。 But when you come to niceties；
all old tar like myself has no need of spectacles to find
fault。〃
〃Well； Master Cap；〃 put in the guide； who seldom heard
anything to Jasper's prejudice without manifesting a dis…
position to interfere； 〃I've heard old and experienced salt…
water mariners confess that the _Scud_ is as pretty a craft
as floats。 I know nothing of such matters myself； but
one may have his own notions about a ship； even though
they be wrong notions； and it would take more than one
witness to persuade me Jasper does not keep his boat in
good order。〃
〃I do not say that the cutter is downright lubberly；
Master Pathfinder； but she has faults； and great faults。〃
〃And what are they； uncle？ If he knew them； Jasper
would be glad to mend them。〃
〃What are they？ Why； fifty； ay； for that matter a
hundred。 Very material and manifest faults。〃
〃Do name them； sir； and Pathfinder will mention them
to his friend。〃
〃Name them！ it is no easy matter to call off the stars；
for the simple reason that they are so numerous。 Name
them； indeed！ Why； my pretty niece； Miss Magnet； what
do you think of that main…boom now？ To my ignorant
eyes； it is topped at least a foot too high； and then the
pennant is foul； and and ay； d… me； if there isn't a
topsail gasket adrift； and it wouldn't surprise me at all if
there should be a round turn in that hawser； if the kedge
were to be let go this instant。 Faults indeed！ No seaman
could look at her a moment without seeing that she is as
full of faults as a servant who has asked for his discharge。〃
〃This may be very true； uncle； though I much question
if Jasper knows of them。 I do not think he would suffer
these things； Pathfinder； if they were once pointed out
to him。〃
〃Let Jasper manage his own cutter； Mabel。 His gift
lies that…a…way； and I'll answer for it； no one can teach
him how to keep the _Scud_ out of the hands of the Fron…
tenackers or their devilish Mingo friends。 Who cares for
round turns in kedges； and for hawsers that are topped
too high； Master Cap； so long as the craft sails well； and
keeps clear of the Frenchers？ I will trust Jasper against
all the seafarers of the coast； up here on the lakes； but I
do not say he has any gift for the ocean； for there he has
never been tried。〃
Cap smiled condescendingly； but he did not think it
necessary to push his critisms any further just as that
moment。 By this time the cutter had begun to drift at
the mercy of the currents of the lake； her head turning in
all directions； though slowly； and not in a way to attract
particular attention。 Just at this moment the jib was
loosened and hoisted； and presently the canvas swelled
towards the land； though no evidences of air were yet to
be seen on the surface of the water。 Slight； however； as
was the impulsion； the light hull yielded； and in another
minute the _Scud_ was seen standing across the current of
the river with a movement so easy and moderate as to be
scarcely perceptible。 When out of the stream； she struck
an eddy and shot up towards the land； under the emi…
nence where the fort stood； when Jasper dropped his kedge。
〃Not lubberly done；〃 muttered Cap in a sort of solilo…
quy； 〃not over lubberly； though he should have put his
helm a…starboard instead of a…port； for a vessel ought
always to come…to with her head off shore； whether she is
a league from the land or only a cable's length； since it
has a careful look； and looks are something in this world。〃
〃Jasper is a handy lad；〃 suddenly observed Sergeant
Dunham at his brother…in…law's elbow； 〃and we place
great reliance on his skill in our expeditions。 But come；
one and all； we have but half an hour more of daylight to
embark in； and the boats will be ready for us by the time
we are ready for them。〃
On this intimation the whole party separated； each to
find those trifles which had not been shipped already。 A
few taps of the drum gave the necessary signal to the
soldiers； and in a minute all were in motion。
CHAPTER XIII。
The goblin now the fool alarms；
Hags meet to mumble o'er their charms；
The night…mare rides the dreaming ass；
And fairies trip it on the grass。
COTTON。
The embarkation of so small a party was a matter of
no great delay or embarrassment。 The whole force con…
fided to the care of Sergeant Dunham consisted of but ten
privates and two non…commissioned officers； though it was
soon positively known that Mr。 Muir was to accompany the
expedition。 The Quartermaster； however； went as a vol…
unteer； while some duty connected with his own depart…
ment； as had been arranged between him and his com…
mander； was the avowed object。 To these must be added
the Pathfinder and Cap； with Jasper and his subordinates；
one of whom was a boy。 The party； consequently； con…
sisted of less than twenty men； and a lad of fourteen。
Mabel and the wife of a common soldier were the only
females。
Sergeant Dunham carried off his command in a large
bateau； and then returned for his final orders； and to see
that his brother…in…law and daughter were properly at…
tended to。 Having pointed out to Cap the boat that he
and Mabel were to use； he ascended the hill to seek his
last interview with Lundie。
It was nearly dark when Mabel found herself in