of Jasper in general； but distrust had been insinuated be…
tween his former confidence and the obligations of duty；
and； as he now felt that everything depended on his own
vigilance； by the time the boat reached the side of the _Scud_
he was in a proper humor to let no suspicious circumstance
go unheeded； or any unusual movement in the young sailor
pass without its comment。 As a matter of course； he
viewed things in the light suited to his peculiar mood；
and his precautions； as well as his distrust； partook of the
habits； opinions； and education of the man。
The _Scud's_ kedge was lifted as soon as the boat with the
Sergeant； who was the last person expected； was seen to
quit the shore； and the head of the cutter was cast to the
eastward by means of the sweeps。 A few vigorous strokes
of the latter； in which the soldiers aided； now sent the
light craft into the line or the current that flowed from
the river； when she was suffered to drift into the offing
again。 As yet there was no wind； the light and almost
imperceptible air from the lake； that had existed previ…
ously to the setting of the sun； having entirely failed。
All this time an unusual quiet prevailed in the cutter。
It appeared as if those on board of her felt that they were
entering upon an uncertain enterprise； in the obscurity of
night； and that their duty； the hour； and the manner of
their departure lent a solemnity to their movements。 Dis…
cipline also came in aid of these feelings。 Most were silent；
and those who did speak spoke seldom and in low voices。
In this manner the cutter set slowly out into the lake； until
she had got as far as the river current would carry her；
when she became stationary； waiting for the usual land…
breeze。 An interval of half an hour followed； during the
whole of which time the _Scud_ lay as motionless as a log；
floating on the water。 While the little changes just men…
tioned were occurring in the situation of the vessel； not…
withstanding the general quiet that prevailed； all conversa…
tion had not been repressed； for Sergeant Dunham； having
first ascertained that both his daughter and her female
companion were on the quarter…deck； led the Pathfinder to
the after…cabin； where； closing the door with great caution；
and otherwise making certain that he was beyond the reach
of eavesdroppers； he commenced as follows：
〃It is now many years； my friend； since you began to
experience the hardships and dangers of the woods in my
company。〃
〃It is； Sergeant； yes it is。 I sometimes fear I am too
old for Mabel； who was not born until you and I had fought
the Frenchers as comrades。〃
〃No fear on that account； Pathfinder。 I was near your
age before I prevailed on the mind of her mother； and
Mabel is a steady； thoughtful girl； one that will regard
character more than anything else。 A lad like Jasper
Eau…douce； for instance； will have no chance with her；
though he is both young and comely。〃
〃Does Jasper think of marrying？〃 inquired the guide；
simply but earnestly。
〃I should hope not at least； not until he has satisfied
every one of his fitness to possess a wife。〃
〃Jasper is a gallant boy； and one of great gifts in his
way； he may claim a wife as well as another。〃
〃To be frank with you； Pathfinder； I brought you here
to talk about this very youngster。 Major Duncan has re…
ceived some information which has led him to suspect that
Eau…douce is false； and in the pay of the enemy； I wish to
hear your opinion on the subject。〃
〃Anan？〃
〃I say； the Major suspects Jasper of being a traitor a
French spy or； what is worse； of being bought to betray
us。 He has received a letter to this effect； and has been
charging me to keep an eye on the boy's movements； for
he fears we shall meet with enemies when we least suspect
it； and by his means。〃
〃Duncan of Lundie has told you this； Sergeant Dun…
ham？〃
〃He has indeed； Pathfinder； and； though I have been
loath to believe anything to the injury of Jasper； I have a
feeling which tells me I ought to distrust him。 Do you
believe in presentiments； my friend？
〃In what； Sergeant？〃
〃Presentiments； a sort of secret foreknowledge of
events that are about to happen。 The Scotch of our regi…
ment are great sticklers for such things； and my opinion
of Jasper is changing so fast； that I begin to fear there
must be some truth in their doctrines。〃
〃But you've been talking with Duncan of Lundie con…
cerning Jasper； and his words have raised misgivings。〃
〃Not it； not so in the least； for； while conversing with
the Major； my feelings were altogether the other way； and
I endeavored to convince him all I could that he did the
boy injustice。 But there is no use in holding out against
a presentiment； I find； and I fear there is something in
the suspicion after all。〃
〃I know nothing of presentiments； Sergeant； but I have
known Jasper Eau…douce since he was a boy； and I have
as much faith in his honesty as I have in my own； or that
of the Sarpent himself。〃
〃But the Serpent； Pathfinder； has his tricks and am…
bushes in war as well as another。〃
〃Ay； them are his nat'ral gifts； and are such as belong
to his people。 Neither red…skin nor pale…face can deny
natur'； but Chingachgook is not a man to feel a pre…
sentiment against。〃
〃That I believe； nor should I have thought ill of Jasper
this very morning。 It seems to me； Pathfinder； since I've
taken up this presentiment； that the lad does not bustle
about his deck naturally； as he used to do； but that he is
silent and moody and thoughtful； like a man who has a
load on his conscience。〃
〃Jasper is never noisy； and he tells me noisy ships are
generally ill…worked ships。 Master Cap agrees in this too。
No； no； I will believe naught against Jasper until I see it。
Send for your brother； Sergeant； and let us question him
in this matter； for to sleep with distrust of one's friend
in the heart is like sleeping with lead there。 I have no
faith in your presentiments。〃
The Sergeant； although he scarcely knew himself with
what object； complied； and Cap was summoned to join in
the consultation。 As Pathfinder was more collected than
his companion； and felt so strong a conviction of the good
faith of the party accused； he assumed the office of spokes…
man。
〃We have asked you to come down； Master Cap；〃 he
commenced； 〃in order to inquire if you have remarked
anything out of the common way in the movements of
Eau…douce this evening。〃
〃His movements are common enough； I daresay； for
fresh water； Master Pathfinder； though we should think
most of his proceedings irregular down on the coast。〃
〃Yes； yes； we know you will never agree with the lad
about the manner the cutter ought to be managed； but it
is on another point we wish your opinion。〃
The Pathfinder then explained to Cap the nature of the
suspicions which the Sergeant entertained； and the reasons
why they had been excited； so far as the latter had been
communicated by Major Duncan。
〃The youngster talks French； does he？〃 said Cap。
〃They say he speaks it better than common；〃 returned
the Sergeant gravely。 〃Pathfinder knows this to be true。〃
〃I'll not gainsay it；〃 answered the guide； 〃at least； they
tell me such is the fact。 But this would prove nothing
ag'in a Mississagua； and； least of all； ag'in one like Jasper。
I speak the Mingo dialect myself； having learnt it while a
prisoner among the reptyles； but who will say I am their
friend？ Not that I am an enemy； either； according to In…
dian notions； though I am their enemy； I will admit； agree…
able to Christianity。〃
〃Ay Pathfinder； but Jasper did not get his French as a
prisoner： he took it in his boyhood； when the mind is easily
impressed； and gets its permanent notions； when nature
has a presentiment； as it were； which way the character is
likely to incline。〃
〃A very just remark；〃 added Cap； 〃for that is the time
of life when we all learn the catechism； and other moral
improvements。 The Sergeant's observation shows that he
understands human nature； and I agree with him per…
fectly； it _is_ a damnable thing for a youngster； up here； on
this bit of fresh water； to talk French。 If it were down
on the Atlantic； now； where a seafaring man has occasion
sometimes to converse with a pilot； or a linguister； in that
language； I should not think so much of it； though we
always look with suspicion； even there； at a shipmate who
knows too much of the tongue； but up here； on Ontario；
I hold it to be a most suspicious circumstance。〃
〃But Jasper must talk in French to the people on the
other shore；〃 said Pathfinder； 〃or hold his tongue； as there
are none but French to speak to。〃
〃You don't mean to tell me； Pathfinder； that France
lies hereaway； on the opposite coast？〃 cried Cap； jerking
a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the Canadas；
〃that one side of this bit of fresh water is York； and the
other France？〃
〃I mean to tell you this is York； and that is Upper
Canada； and that English and Dutch and Indian are
spoken in the first； and French and Indian in the last。
Even the Mingos have got many of the French words in
their dialect； and it is no improvement； neither。〃
〃Very t