ing up at the breeze as well as another； when in lively
motion。〃
〃I suppose you have such things as reefs； though you
can hardly have occasion to use them？〃
Mabel's bright eye detected the smile that gleamed for
an instant on Jasper's handsome face； but no one else saw
that momentary exhibition of surprise and contempt。
〃We have reefs； and often have occasion to use them；〃
quietly returned the young man。 〃Before we get in； Mas…
ter Cap； an opportunity may offer to show you the manner
in which we do so； for there is easterly weather brewing；
and the wind cannot chop； even on the ocean itself； more
readily than it flies round on Lake Ontario。〃
〃So much for knowing no better！ I have seen the wind
in the Atlantic fly round like a coach…wheel； in a way to
keep your sails shaking for an hour； and the ship would
become perfectly motionless from not knowing which way
to turn。〃
〃We have no such sudden changes here； certainly；〃
Jasper mildly answered； 〃though we think ourselves liable
to unexpected shifts of wind。 I hope； however； to carry
this land…breeze as far as the first islands； after which
there will be less danger of our being seen and followed by
any of the look…out boats from Frontenac。〃
〃Do you thiuk the French keep spies out on the broad
lake； Jasper？〃 inquired the Pathfinder。
〃We know they do； one was off Oswego during the
night of Monday last。 A bark canoe came close in with
the eastern point； and landed an Indian and an officer。
Had you been outlying that night； as usual； we should have
secured one； if not both of them。〃
It was too dark to betray the color that deepened on the
weather…burnt features of the guide； for he felt the con…
sciousness of having lingered in the fort that night； listen…
ing to the sweet tones of Mabel's voice as she sang ballads
to her father； and gazing at the countenance which； to
him； was radiant with charms。 Probity in thought and
deed being the distinguishing quality of this extraordinary
man's mind； while he felt that a sort of disgrace ought to
attach to his idleness on the occasion mentioned； the last
thought that could occur would be to attempt to palliate
or deny his negligence。
〃I confess it； Jasper； I confess it；〃 said he humbly。
〃Had I been out that night； and I now recollect no suffi…
cient reason why I was not； it might； indeed； have turned
out as you say。〃
〃It was the evening you passed with us； Pathfinder；〃
Mabel innocently remarked； 〃surely one who lives so much
of his time in the forest； in front of the enemy； may be
excused for giving a few hours of his time to an old friend
and his daughter。〃
〃Nay； nay； I've done little else but idle since we reached
the garrison；〃 returned the other； sighing； 〃and it is well
that the lad should tell me of it： the idler needs a rebuke
… yes； he needs a rebuke。〃
〃Rebuke； Pathfinder！ I never dreamt of saying any…
thing disagreeable； and least of all would I think of re…
buking you； because a solitary spy and an Indian or two
have escaped us。 Now I know where you were； I think
your absence the most natural thing in the world。〃
〃I think nothing of what you said； Jasper； since it was
deserved。 We are all human； and all do wrong。〃
〃This is unkind； Pathfinder。〃
〃Give me your hand； lad； give me your hand。 It wasn't
you that gave the lesson； it was conscience。〃
〃Well； well；〃 interrupted Cap； 〃now this latter matter
is settled to the satisfaction of all parties； perhaps you will
tell us how it happened to be known that there were spies
near us so lately。 This looks amazingly like a circum…
stance。〃
As the mariner uttered the last sentence； he pressed a
foot slily on that of the Sergeant； and nudged the guide
with his elbow； winking at the same time； though this sign
was lost in the obscurity。
〃It is known； because their trail was found next day by
the Serpent； and it was that of a military boot and a moc…
cassin。 One of our hunters； moreover； saw the canoe cross…
ing towards Frontenac next morning。〃
〃Did the trail lead near the garrison； Jasper？〃 Path…
finder asked in a manner so meek and subdued that it re…
sembled the tone of a rebuked schoolboy。 〃Did the trail
lead near the garrison； lad？〃
〃We thought not； though； of course； it did not cross
the river。 It was followed down to the eastern point； at
the river's mouth； where what was doing in port； might be
seen； but it did not cross； as we could discover。〃
〃And why didn't you get under weigh； Master Jasper；〃
Cap demanded； 〃and give chase？ On Tuesday morning
it blew a good breeze； one in which this cutter might have
run nine knots。〃
〃That may do on the ocean； Master Cap；〃 put in Path…
finder； 〃but it would not do here。 Water leaves no trail；
and a Mingo and a Frenchman are a match for the devil
in a pursuit。〃
〃Who wants a trail when the chase can be seen from
the deck； as Jasper here said was the case with this canoe？
and it mattered nothing if there were twenty of your Mingos
and Frenchmen； with a good British…built bottom in their
wake。 I'll engage； Master Eau…douce； had you given me a
call that said Tuesday morning； that we should have over…
hauled the blackguards。〃
〃I daresay； Master Cap； that the advice of as old a sea…
man as you might have done no harm to as young a sailor
as myself； but it is a long and a hopeless chase that has a
bark canoe in it。〃
〃You would have had only to press it hard； to drive it
ashore。〃
〃Ashore； master Cap！ You do not understand our lake
navigation at all； if you suppose it an easy matter to force
a bark canoe ashore。 As soon as they find themselves
pressed； these bubbles paddle right into the wind's eye； and
before you know it； you find yourself a mile or two dead
under their lee。〃
〃You don't wish me to believe； Master Jasper； that any
one is so heedless of drowning as to put off into this lake
in one of them eggshells when there is any wind？〃
〃I have often crossed Ontario in a bark canoe； even
when there has been a good deal of sea on。 Well managed；
they are the driest boats of which we have any knowl…
edge。〃
Cap now led his brother…in…law and Pathfinder aside；
when he assured him that the admission of Jasper con…
cerning the spies was 〃a circumstance；〃 and 〃a strong cir…
cumstance；〃 and as such it deserved his deliberate investiga…
tion； while his account of the canoes was so improbable
as to wear the appearance of brow…beating the listeners。
Jasper spoke confidently of the character of the two indi…
viduals who had landed； and this Cap deemed pretty strong
proof that he knew more about them than was to be gath…
ered from a mere trail。 As for mocassins； he said that
they were worn in that part of the world by white men as
well as by Indians； he had purchased a pair himself； and
boots； it was notorious； did not particularly make a soldier。
Although much of this logic was thrown away on the Ser…
geant； still it produced some effect。 He thought it a little
singular himself； that there should have been spies detected
so near the fort and he know nothing of it； nor did he
believe that this was a branch of knowledge that fell par…
ticularly within the sphere of Jasper。 It was true that
the _Scud_ had； once or twice； been sent across the lake to
land men of this character； or to bring them off； but then
the part played by Jasper； to his own certain knowledge；
was very secondary； the master of the cutter remaining as
ignorant as any one else of the purport of the visits of
those whom he had carried to and fro； nor did he see why
he alone； of all present； should know anything of the late
visit。 Pathfinder viewed the matter differently。 With his
habitual diffidence； he reproached himself with a neglect
of duty； and that knowledge； of which the want struck
him as a fault in one whose business it was to possess it；
appeared a merit in the young man。 He saw nothing ex…
traordinary in Jasper's knowing the facts he had related；
while he did feel it was unusual； not to say disgraceful；
that he himself now heard of them for the first time。
〃As for mocassins； Master Cap；〃 said he； when a short
pause invited him to speak； 〃they may be worn by pale…
faces as well as by red…skins； it is true； though they never
leave the same trail on the foot of one as on the foot of
the other。 Any one who is used to the woods can tell the
footstep of an Indian from the footstep of a white man；
whether it be made by a boot or a moccassin。 It will need
better evidence than this to persuade me into the belief
that Jasper is false。〃
〃You will allow； Pathfinder； that there are such things
in the world as traitors？〃 put in Cap logically。
〃I never knew an honest…minded Mingo； one that you
could put faith in； if he had a temptation to deceive you。
Cheating seems to be their gift； and I sometimes think
they ought to be pitied for it； rather than persecuted。〃
〃Then why not believe that this Jasper may have the
same weakness？ A man is a man； and human nature is
sometimes but a poor concern； as I know by experience。〃
This was the opening of another long and desultory
conversation； in which the probability of Jasper's guilt or
innocence was argued _pro_ and _c