their dialect； and it is no improvement； neither。〃
〃Very true： and what sort of people are the Mingos； my
friend？〃 inquired the Sergeant； touching the other on his
shoulder； by way of enforcing a remark； the inherent truth
of which sensibly increased its value in the eyes of the
speaker： 〃no one knows them better than yourself； and I
ask you what sort of a tribe are they？〃
〃Jasper is no Mingo； Sergeant。〃
〃He speaks French； and he might as well be； in that
particular。 Brother Cap； can you recollect no movement
of this unfortunate young man； in the way of his calling；
that would seem to denote treachery？〃
〃Not distinctly； Sergeant； though he has gone to work
wrong…end foremost half his time。 It is true that one of
his hands coiled a rope against the sun； and he called it
_querling_ a rope； too； when I asked him what he was about；
but I am not certain that anything was meant by it；
though； I daresay； the French coil half their running rig…
ging the wrong way； and may call it 'querling it down；'
too； for that matter。 Then Jasper himself belayed the end
of the jib…halyards to a stretcher in the rigging； instead of
bringing in to the mast； where they belong； at least among
British sailors。〃
〃I daresay Jasper may have got some Canada notions
about working his craft； from being so much on the other
side；〃 Pathfinder interposed； 〃but catching an idee； or a
word； isn't treachery and bad faith。 I sometimes get an
idee from the Mingos themselves； but my heart has always
been with the Delawares。 No； no； Jasper is true； and the
king might trust him with his crown； just as he would
trust his eldest son； who； as he is to wear it one day； ought
to be the last man to wish to steal it。〃
〃Fine talking； fine talking！〃 said Cap； 〃all fine talk…
ing； Master Pathfinder； but dd little logic。 In the first
place； the king's majesty cannot lend his crown； it being
contrary to the laws of the realm； which require him to
wear it at all times； in order that his sacred person may
be known； just as the silver oar is necessary to a sheriff's
officer afloat。 In the next place； it's high treason； by law；
for the eldest son of his majesty ever to covet the crown；
or to have a child； except in lawful wedlock； as either
would derange the succession。 Thus you see； friend Path…
finder that in order to reason truly； one must get under
way； as it might be； on the right tack。 Law is reason； and
reason is philosophy； and philosophy is a steady drag；
whence it follows that crowns are regulated by law； reason；
and philosophy。〃
〃I know little of all this； Master Cap； but nothing short
of seeing and feeling will make me think Jasper Western
a traitor。〃
〃There you are wrong again； Pathfinder； for there is a
way of proving a thing much more conclusively than
either seeing or feeling； or by both together； and that is
by a circumstance。〃
〃It may be so in the settlements； but it is not so here
on the lines。〃
〃It is so in nature； which is monarch over all。 There
was a circumstance； just after we came on board this even…
ing； that is extremely suspicious； and which may be set
down at once as a makeweight against this lad。 Jasper
bent on the king's ensign with his own hands； and； while
he pretended to be looking at Mabel and the soldier's wife；
giving directions about showing them below here； and a
that； he got the flag union down！〃
〃That might have been accident；〃 returned the Ser…
geant； 〃for such a thing has happened to myself； besides；
the halyards lead to a pulley； and the flag would have
come right； or not； according to the manner in which the
lad hoisted it。〃
〃A pulley！〃 exclaimed Cap； with strong disgust； 〃I
wish； Sergeant Dunham； I could prevail on you to use
proper terms。 An ensign…halyard…block is no more a pul…
ley than your halbert is a boarding…pike。 It is true that
by hoisting on one part； another part would go uppermost；
but I look upon that affair of the ensign； now you have
mentioned your suspicions； as a circumstance； and shall
bear it in mind。 I trust supper is not to be overlooked；
however； even if we have a hold full of traitors。〃
〃It will be duly attended to； brother Cap； but I shall
count on you for aid in managing the _Scud_； should any…
thing occur to induce me to arrest Jasper。〃
〃I'll not fail you； Sergeant； and in such an event you'll
probably learn what this cutter can really perform； for； as
yet； I fancy it is pretty much matter of guesswork。〃
〃Well； for my part；〃 said Pathfinder； drawing a heavy
sigh； 〃I shall cling to the hope of Jasper's innocence； and
recommend plain dealing； by asking the lad himself； with…
out further delay； whether he is or is not a traitor。 I'll
put Jasper Western against all the presentiments and cir…
cumstances in the colony。〃
〃That will never do；〃 rejoined the Sergeant。 〃The re…
sponsibility of this affair rests with me； and I request and
enjoin that nothing be said to any one without my knowl…
edge。 We will all keep watchful eyes about us； and take
proper note of circumstances。〃
〃Ay； ay！ circumstances are the things after all；〃 re…
turned Cap。 〃One circumstance is worth fifty facts。 That
I know to be the law of the realm。 Many a man has been
hanged on circumstances。〃
The conversation now ceased； and； after a short delay；
the whole party returned to the deck； each individual dis…
posed to view the conduct of the suspected Jasper in the
manner most suited to his own habits and character。
CHAPTER XIV。
Even such a man； so faint； so spiritless；
So dull； so dead in look； so woe…begone；
Drew Priam's Curtain in the dead of night；
And would have told him； half his Troy was burned。
SHAKESPEARE。
All this time matters were elsewhere passing in their
usual train。 Jasper； like the weather and his vessel； seemed
to be waiting for the land…breeze； while the soldiers； ac…
customed to early rising； had； to a man； sought their pallets
in the main hold。 None remained on deck but the people
of the cutter； Mr。 Muir； and the two females。 The Quar…
termaster was endeavoring to render himself agreeable to
Mabel； while our heroine herself； little affected by his as…
siduities； which she ascribed partly to the habitual gallantry
of a soldier； and partly； perhaps； to her own pretty face；
was enjoying the peculiarities of a scene and situation
which； to her； were full of the charms of novelty。
The sails had been hoisted； but as yet not a breath of
air was in motion； and so still and placid was the lake；
that not the smallest motion was perceptible in the cutter。
She had drifted in the river…current to a distance a little
exceeding a quarter of a mile from the land； and there she
lay； beautiful in her symmetry and form； but like a fix…
ture。 Young Jasper was on the quarter…deck； near enough
to hear occasionally the conversation which passed； but
too diffident of his own claim； and too intent on his duties；
to attempt to mingle in it。 The fine blue eyes of Mabel
followed his motions in curious expectation； and more than
once the Quartermaster had to repeat his compliments
before she heard them； so intent was she on the little oc…
currences of the vessel； and； we might add； so indifferent
to the eloquence of her companion。 At length； even Mr。
Muir became silent； and there was a deep stillness on the
water。 Presently an oar…blade fell in a boat beneath the
fort； and the sound reached the cutter as distinctly as if it
had been produced on her deck。 Then came a murmur；
like a sigh of the night； a fluttering of the canvas； the
creaking of the boom； and the flap of the jib。 These well…
known sounds were followed by a slight heel in the cutter；
and by the bellying of all the sails。
〃Here's the wind； Anderson；〃 called out Jasper to the
oldest of his sailors； 〃take the helm。〃
This brief order was obeyed； the helm was put up； the
cutter's bows fell off； and in a few minutes the water was
heard murmuring under her head； as the _Scud_ glanced
through the lake at the rate of five miles in the hour。 All
this passed in profound silence； when Jasper again gave
the order to 〃ease off the sheets a little and keep her
along the land。〃
It was at this instant that the party from the after…cabin
reappeared on the quarter…deck。
〃You've no inclination； Jasper lad； to trust yourself too
near our neighbours the French；〃 observed Muir； who took
that occasion to recommence the discourse。 〃Well； well；
your prudence will never be questioned by me； for I like
the Canadas as little as you can possibly like them yourself。〃
〃I hug this shore； Mr。 Muir； on account of the wind。
The land…breeze is always freshest close in； provided you
are not so near as to make a lee of the trees。 We have
Mexico Bay to cross； and that； on the present course； will
give us quite offing enough。〃
〃I'm right glad it's not the Bay of Mexico；〃 put in Cap；
〃which is a part of the world I would rather not visit in
one of your inland craft。 Does your cutter bear a weather
helm； master Eau…douce？〃
〃She is easy on her rudder； master Cap； but likes look…
ing up at the breeze as well as another； when in lively
motion。〃
〃I suppose you have such things as reefs； though