their qualities； as it might be。〃
〃A French master is but a poor instructor for a British
sailor； notwithstanding。〃
〃I beg your pardon； sir： Jasper Eau…douce was brought
up under a real English seaman； one that had sailed under
the king's pennant； and may be called a thorough…bred；
that is to say； a subject born in the colonies； but none the
worse at his trade； I hope； Major Duncan； for that。〃
〃Perhaps not； Sergeant； perhaps not； nor any better。
This Jasper behaved well； too； when I gave him the com…
mand of the _Scud_； no lad could have conducted himself
more loyally or better。〃
〃Or more bravely； Major Duncan。 I am sorry to see；
sir； that you have doubts as to the fidelity of Jasper。〃
〃It is the duty of the soldier who is entrusted with the
care of a distant and important post like this； Dunham；
never to relax in his vigilance。 We have two of the most
artful enemies that the world has ever produced； in their
several ways； to contend with； the Indians and the
French； and nothing should be overlooked that can lead
to injury。〃
〃I hope your honor considers me fit to be entrusted
with any particular reason that may exist for doubting
Jasper； since you have seen fit to entrust me with this
command。〃
〃It is not that I doubt you； Dunham； that I hesitate to
reveal all I may happen to know； but from a strong re…
luctance to circulate an evil report concerning one of
whom I have hitherto thought well。 You must think
well of the Pathfinder； or you would not wish to give him
your daughter？〃
〃For the Pathfinder's honesty I will answer with my
life； sir；〃 returned the Sergeant firmly； and not without a
dignity of manner that struck his superior。 〃Such a man
doesn't know how to be false。〃
〃I believe you are right； Dunham； and yet this last in…
formation has unsettled all my old opinions。 I have re…
ceived an anonymous communication； Sergeant； advising
me to be on my guard against Jasper Western； or Jasper
Eau…douce； as he is called； who； it alleges； has been bought
by the enemy； and giving me reason to expect that further
and more precise information will soon be sent。〃
〃Letters without signatures to them； sir； are scarcely to
be regarded in war。〃
〃Or in peace； Dunham。 No one can entertain a lower
opinion of the writer of an anonymous letter； in ordinary
matters； than myself； the very act denotes cowardice；
meanness； and baseness； and it usually is a token of false…
hood； as well as of other vices。 But in matters of war it
is not exactly the same thing。 Besides； several suspicious
circumstances have been pointed out to me。〃
〃Such as is fit for an orderly to hear； your honor？〃
〃Certainly； one in whom I confide as much as in your…
self Dunham。 It is said； for instance； that your daughter
and her party were permitted to escape the Iroquois； when
they came in； merely to give Jasper credit with me。 I am
told that the gentry at Frontenac will care more for the
capture of the _Scud_； with Sergeant Dunham and a party
of men； together with the defeat of our favorite plan； than
for the capture of a girl and the scalp of her uncle。〃
〃I understand the hint； sir； but I do not give it credit。
Jasper can hardly be true； and Pathfinder false； and；as
for the last； I would as soon distrust your honor as distrust
him。〃
〃It would seem so； Sergeant； it would indeed seem so。
But Jasper is not the Pathfinder； after all； and I will own；
Dunham； I should put more faith in the lad if he didn't
speak French。〃
〃It's no recommendation in my eyes； I assure your
honor； but the boy learned it by compulsion； as it were；
and ought not to be condemned too hastily for the cir…
cumstance； by your honor's leave。〃
〃It's a dd lingo； and never did any one good at least
no British subject； for I suppose the French themselves
must talk together in some language or other。 I should
have much more faith in this Jasper； did he know nothing
of their language。 This letter has made me uneasy； and；
were there another to whom I could trust the cutter； I
would devise some means to detain him here。 I have
spoken to you already of a brother…in…law； who goes with
you； Sergeant； and who is a sailor？〃
〃A real seafaring man； your honor； and somewhat preju…
diced against fresh water。 I doubt if he could be induced
to risk his character on a lake； and I'm certain he never
could find the station。〃
〃The last is probably true； and then； the man cannot
know enough of this treacherous lake to be fit for the em…
ployment。 You will have to be doubly vigilant； Dunham。
I give you full powers； and should you detect this Jasper
in any treachery； make him a sacrifice at once to offended
justice。〃
〃Being in the service of the crown； your honor； he is
amenable to martial law。〃
〃Very true； then iron him； from his head to his heels；
and send him up here in his own cutter。 That brother…
in…law of yours must be able to find the way back； after
he has once travelled the road。〃
〃I make no doubt； Major Duncan； we shall be able to
do all that will be necessary should Jasper turn out as you
seem to anticipate； though I think I would risk my life
on his truth。〃
〃I like your confidence it speaks well for the fellow；
but that infernal letter！ there is such an air of truth
about it； nay； there is so much truth in it； touching other
matters。〃
〃I think your honor said it wanted the name at the
bottom； a great omission for an honest man to make。〃
〃Quite right； Dunham； and no one but a rascal； and a
cowardly rascal in the bargain； would write an anonymous
letter on private affairs。 It is different； however； in war；
despatches are feigned； and artifice is generally allowed to
be justifiable。〃
〃Military manly artifices； sir； if you will； such as am…
bushes； surprises； feints； false attacks； and even spies； but
I never heard of a true soldier who could wish to under…
mine the character of an honest young man by such means
as these。〃
〃I have met with many strange events； and some
stranger people； in the course of my experience。 But fare
you well； Sergeant； I must detain you no longer。 You
are now on your guard； and I recommend to you untiring
vigilance。 I think Muir means shortly to retire； and；
should you fully succeed in this enterprise； my influence
will not be wanting in endeavoring to put you in the
vacancy； to which you have many claims。〃
〃I humbly thank your honor；〃 coolly returned the Ser…
geant； who had been encouraged in this manner any time
for the twenty preceding years； 〃and hope I shall never
disgrace my station； whatever it may be。 I am what nature
and Providence have made me； and hope I'm satisfied。〃
〃You have not forgotten the howitzer？〃
〃Jasper took it on board this morning； sir。〃
〃Be wary； and do not trust that man unnecessarily。
Make a confidant of Pathfinder at once； he may be of
service in detecting any villainy that may be stirring。 His
simple honesty will favor his observation by concealing it。
He _must_ be true。〃
〃For him； sir； my own head shall answer； or even my
rank in the regiment。 I have seen him too often tried to
doubt him。〃
〃Of all wretched sensations； Dunham； distrust； where
one is compelled to confide； is the most painful。 You
have bethought you of the spare flints？〃
〃A sergeant is a safe commander for all such details；
your honor。〃
〃Well； then； give me your hand； Dunham。 God bless
you！ and may you be successful！ Muir means to retire；
by the way； let the man have an equal chance with your
daughter； for it may facilitate future operations about the
promotion。 One would retire more cheerfully with such
a companion as Mabel； than in cheerless widowhood； and
with nothing but oneself to love； and such a self； too； as
Davy's！〃
〃I hope； sir； my child will make a prudent choice； and
I think her mind is already pretty much made up in favor
of Pathfinder。 Still she shall have fair play； though dis…
obedience is the next crime to mutiny。〃
〃Have all the ammunition carefully examined and dried
as soon as you arrive； the damp of the lake may affect it。
And now； once more； farewell； Sergeant。 Beware of that
Jasper； and consult with Muir in any difficulty。 I shall
expect you to return； triumphant； this day month。〃
〃God bless your honor！ If anything should happen to
me； I trust to you； Major Duncan； to care for an old sol…
dier's character。〃
〃Rely on me； Dunham you will rely on a friend。 Be
vigilant： remember you will be in the very jaws of the
lion； pshaw！ of no lion neither； but of treacherous tigers：
in their very jaws； and beyond support。 Have the flints
counted and examined in the morning and farewell；
Dunham； farewell！〃
The Sergeant took the extended hand of his superior
with proper respect； and they finally parted； Lundie has…
tening into his own movable abode； while the other left
the fort； descended to the beach； and got into a boat。
It is not to be supposed that Sergeant Dunham； after
he had parted from his commanding officer； was likely to
forget the injunctions he had received。 He thought highly
of Jasper in general； but distrust had been insinuated be…
tween his former confidence and the obligations of duty；
and； as h