last interview with Lundie。
It was nearly dark when Mabel found herself in the boat
that was to carry her off to the cutter。 So very smooth
was the surface of the lake； that it was not found necessary
to bring the bateaux into the river to receive their freights；
but the beach outside being totally without surf； and the
water as tranquil as that of a pond； everybody embarked
there。 When the boat left the land； Mabel would not
have known that she was afloat on so broad a sheet of
water by any movement which is usual to such circum…
stances。 The oars had barely time to give a dozen strokes；
when the boat lay at the cutter's side。
Jasper was in readiness to receive his passengers； and；
as the deck of the _Scud_ was but two or three feet above
the water； no difficulty was experienced in getting on
board of her。 As soon as this was effected； the young man
pointed out to Mabel and her companion the accommoda…
tions prepared for their reception。 The little vessel con…
tained four apartments below； all between decks having
been expressly constructed with a view to the transporta…
tion of officers and men； with their wives and families。
First in rank was what was called the after…cabin； a small
apartment that contained four berths； and which enjoyed
the advantage of possessing small windows； for the ad…
mission of air and light。 This was uniformly devoted to
females whenever any were on board； and as Mabel and
her companion were alone； they had ample accommoda…
tion。 The main cabin was larger； and lighted from above。
It was now appropriated to the Quartermaster； the Ser…
geant； Cap； and Jasper； the Pathfinder roaming through
any part of the cutter he pleased； the female apartment
excepted。 The corporals and common soldiers occupied
the space beneath the main hatch； which had a deck for
such a purpose； while the crew were berthed； as usual； in the
forecastle。 Although the cutter did not measure quite
fifty tons； the draft of officers and men was so light； that
there was ample room for all on board； there being space
enough to accommodate treble the number； if necessary。
As soon as Mabel had taken possession of her own really
comfortable cabin； in doing which she could not abstain
from indulging in the pleasant reflection that some of
Jasper's favor had been especially manifested in her be…
half； she went on deck again。 Here all was momentarily
in motion； the men were roving to and fro； in quest of
their knapsacks and other effects； but method and habit
soon reduced things to order； when the stillness on board
became even imposing； for it was connected with the idea
of future adventure and ominous preparation。
Darkness was now beginning to render objects on shore
indistinct； the whole of the land forming one shapeless
black outline of even forest summits； to be distinguished
from the impending heavens only by the greater light of
the sky。 The stars； however； soon began to appear in the
latter； one after another； in their usual mild； placid lustre；
bringing with them that sense of quiet which ordinarily
accompanies night。 There was something soothing； as
well as exciting； in such a scene； and Mabel； who was
seated on the quarter…deck； sensibly felt both influences。
The Pathfinder was standing near her； leaning； as usual；
on his long rifle； and she fancied that； through the grow…
ing darkness of the hour； she could trace even stronger
lines of thought than usual in his rugged countenance。
〃To you； Pathfinder； expeditions like this can be no
great novelty；〃 said she； 〃though I am surprised to find
how silent and thoughtful the men appear to be。〃
〃We learn this by making war ag'in Indians。 Your
militia are great talkers and little doers in general； but
the soldier who has often met the Mingos learns to know
the value of a prudent tongue。 A silent army； in the
woods； is doubly strong； and a noisy one； doubly weak。
If tongues made soldiers； the； women of a camp would
generally carry the day。〃
〃But we are neither an army； nor in the woods。 There
can be no danger of Mingos in the _Scud_。〃
〃No one is safe from a Mingo； who does not understand
his very natur'； and even then he must act up to his own
knowledge； and that closely。 Ask Jasper how he got com…
mand of this very cutter。〃
〃And how _did_ he get command？〃 inquired Mabel； with
an earnestness and interest that quite delighted her simple…
minded and true…hearted companion； who was never better
pleased than when he had an opportunity of saying aught
in favor of a friend。 〃It is honorable to him that he has
reached this station while yet so young。〃
〃That is it； but he deserved it all； and more。 A frigate
wouldn't have been too much to pay for so much spirit
and coolness； had there been such a thing on Ontario； as
there is not； hows'ever； or likely to be。〃
〃But Jasper you have not yet told me how he got the
command of the schooner。〃
〃It is a long story； Mabel； and one your father； the Ser…
geant； can tell much better than I； for he was present；
while I was off on a distant scouting。 Jasper is not good
at a story； I will own that； I have heard him questioned
about this affair； and he never made a good tale of it； al…
though every body knows it was a good thing。 The _Scud_
had near fallen into the hands of the French and the
Mingos； when Jasper saved her； in a way which none but
a quick…witted mind and a bold heart would have at…
tempted。 The Sergeant will tell the tale better than I
can； and I wish you to question him some day； when
nothing better offers。〃
Mabel determined to ask her father to repeat the inci…
dents of the affair that very night； for it struck her young
fancy that nothing better could well offer than to listen to
the praises of one who was a bad historian of his own ex…
ploits。
〃Will the _Scud_ remain with us when we reach the
island？〃 she asked； after a little hesitation about the
propriety of the question； 〃or shall we be left to our…
selves？〃
〃That's as may be： Jasper does not often keep the
cutter idle when anything is to be done； and we may
expect activity on his part。 My gifts； however； run so
little towards the water and vessels generally； unless it be
among rapids and falls and in canoes； that I pretend to
know nothing about it。 We shall have all right under
Jasper； I make no doubt； who can find a trail on Ontario
as well as a Delaware can find one on the land。〃
〃And our own Delaware； Pathfinder the Big Serpent
why is he not with us to…night？〃
〃Your question would have been more natural had you
said； Why are _you_ here； Pathfinder？ The Sarpent is in
his place； while I am not in mine。 He is out； with two or
three more； scouting the lake shores； and will join us down
among the islands； with the tidings he may gather。 The
Sergeant is too good a soldier to forget his rear while he
is facing the enemy in front。 It's a thousand pities；
Mabel； your father wasn't born a general； as some of the
English are who come among us； for I feel sartain he
wouldn't leave a Frencher in the Canadas a week； could
he have his own way with them。〃
〃Shall we have enemies to face in front？〃 asked Mabel；
smiling； and for the first time feeling a slight apprehen…
sion about the dangers of the expedition。 〃Are we likely
to have an engagement？〃
〃If we have； Mabel； there will be men enough ready
and willing to stand between you and harm。 But you are
a soldier's daughter； and； we all know； have the spirit of
one。 Don't let the fear of a battle keep your pretty eyes
from sleeping。〃
〃I do feel braver out here in the woods； Pathfinder；
than I ever felt before amid the weaknesses of the towns；
although I have always tried to remember what I owe to
my dear father。〃
〃Ay； your mother was so before you。 'You will find
Mabel； like her mother； no screamer； or a faint…hearted
girl； to trouble a man in his need； but one who would en…
courage her mate； and help to keep his heart up when
sorest prest by danger；' said the Sergeant to me； before I
ever laid eyes on that sweet countenance of yours； he
did！〃
〃And why should my father have told you this； Path…
finder？〃 the girl demanded a little earnestly。 〃Perhaps
he fancied you would think the better of me if you did
not believe me a silly coward； as so many of my sex love to
make themselves appear。〃
Deception； unless it were at the expense of his enemies
in the field； nay； concealment of even a thought； was
so little in accordance with the Pathfinder's very nature；
that he was not a little embarrassed by this simple ques…
tion。 In such a strait he involuntarily took refuge in a；
middle course； not revealing that which he fancied ought
not to be told； nor yet absolutely concealing it。
〃You must know； Mabel；〃 said he； 〃that the Sergeant
and I are old friends； and have stood side by side or； if
not actually side by side； I a little in advance； as became a
scout； and your father with his own men； as better suited
a soldier of the king on many a hard fi't and bloody day。
It's the way of us skirmishers to think little of the fight
when the rifle has done cracking； and at night； around
our fires； or on our marches； we talk of the thin