conversation； in which the probability of Jasper's guilt or
innocence was argued _pro_ and _con。_； until both the Sergeant
and his brother…in…law had nearly reasoned themselves into
settled convictions in favor of the first； while their corn…
panion grew sturdier and sturdier in his defence of the
accused； and still more fixed in his opinion of his being
unjustly charged with treachery。 In this there was nothing
out of the common course of things； for there is no more
certain way of arriving at any particular notion； than by
undertaking to defend it； and among the most obstinate
of our opinions may be classed those which are derived
from discussions in which we affect to search for truth；
while in reality we are only fortifying prejudice。
By this time the Sergeant had reached a state of mind
that disposed him to view every act of the young sailor
with distrust； and he soon got to coincide with his relative
in deeming the peculiar knowledge of Jasper； in reference
to the spies； a branch of information that certainly did
not come within the circle of his regular duties； as 〃a cir…
cumstance。〃
While this matter was thus discussed near the taffrail；
Mabel sat silently by the companion…way； Mr。 Muir having
gone below to look after his personal comforts； and Jasper
standing a little aloof； with his arms crossed； and his eyes
wandering from the sails to the clouds； from the clouds to
the dusky outline of the shore； from the shore to the lake；
and from the lake back again to the sails。 Our heroine；
too； began to commune with her own thoughts。 The ex…
citement of the late journey； the incidents which marked
the day of her arrival at the fort； the meeting with a father
who was virtually a stranger to her； the novelty of her late
situation in the garrison； and her present voyage； formed
a vista for the mind's eye to look back through； which
seemed lengthened into months。 She could with difficulty
believe that she had so recently left the town； with all the
usages of civilized life； and she wondered in particular that
the incidents which had occurred during the descent of
the Oswego had made so little impression on her mind。
Too inexperienced to know that events； when crowded；
have the effect of time； or that the quick succession of
novelties that pass before us in travelling elevates objects；
in a measure； to the dignity of events； she drew upon her
memory for days and dates； in order to make certain that
she had known Jasper； and the Pathfinder； and her own
father； but little more than a fortnight。 Mabel was a girl
of heart rather than of imagination； though by no means
deficient in the last； and she could not easily account for
the strength of her feelings in connection with those who
were so lately strangers to her； for she was not sufficiently
accustomed to analyze her sensations to understand the
nature of the influences that have just been mentioned。
As yet； however； her pure mind was free from the blight
of distrust； and she had no suspicion of the views of either
of her suitors； and one of the last thoughts that could
have voluntarily disturbed her confidence would have been
to suppose it possible either of her companions was a
traitor to his king and country。
America； at the time of which we are writing； was re…
markable for its attachment to the German family that
then sat on the British throne； for； as is the fact with all
provinces； the virtues and qualities that are proclaimed
near the centre of power； as incense and policy； get to be
a part of political faith with the credulous and ignorant at
a distance。 This truth is just as apparent to…day； in con…
nection with the prodigies of the republic； as it then was
in connection with those distant rulers； whose merits it
was always safe to applaud； and whose demerits it was
treason to reveal。 It is a consequence of this mental de…
pendence； that public opinion is so much placed at the
mercy of the designing； and the world； in the midst of its
idle boasts of knowledge and improvement； is left to re…
ceive its truths； on all such points as touch the interests of
the powerful and managing； through such a medium； and
such a medium only； as may serve the particular views
of those who pull the wires。 Pressed upon by the subjects
of France； who were then encircling the British colonies
with a belt of forts ind settlements that completely secured
the savages for allies； it would have been difficult to say
whether the Americans loved the English more than
they hated the French； and those who then lived probably
would have considered the alliance which took place be…
tween the cis…Atlantic subjects and the ancient rivals of
the British crown； some twenty years later； as an event
entirely without the circle of probabilities。 Disaffection
was a rare offence； and； most of all； would treason； that
should favor France or Frenchmen； have been odious in
the eyes of the provincials。 The last thing that Mabel
would suspect of Jasper was the very crime with which he
now stood secretly charged； and if others near her en…
dured the pains of distrust； she； at least； was filled with
the generous confidence of a woman。 As yet no whisper
had reached her ear to disturb the feeling of reliance with
which she had early regarded the young sailor； and her
own mind would have been the last to suggest such a
thought of itself。 The pictures of the past and of the
present； therefore； that exhibited themselves so rapidly to
her active imagination； were unclouded with a shade that
might affect any in whom she felt an interest； and ere
she had mused； in the manner related； a quarter of an hour；
the whole scene around her was filled with unalloyed satis…
faction。
The season and the night； to represent them truly；
were of a nature to stimulate the sensations which youth；
health； and happiness are wont to associate with novelty。
The weather was warm； as is not always the case in that
region even in summer； while the air that came off the
land； in breathing currents； brought with it the coolness
and fragrance of the forest。 The wind was far from being
fresh； though there was enough of it to drive the _Scud_
merrily ahead； and； perhaps； to keep attention alive； in
the uncertainty that more or less accompanies darkness。
Jasper； however； appeared to regard it with complacency；
as was apparent by what he said in a short dialogue that
now occurred between him and Mabel。
〃At this rate； Eau…douce；〃 for so Mabel had already
learned to style the young sailor； said our heroine； 〃we
cannot be long in reaching our place of destination。〃
〃Has your father then told you what that is； Mabel？〃
〃He has told me nothing； my father is too much of a
soldier； and too little used to have a family around him； to
talk of such matters。 Is it forbidden to say whither we
are bound？〃
〃It cannot be far； while we steer in this direction； for
sixty or seventy miles will take us into the St。 Lawrence；
which the French might make too hot for us； and no
voyage on this lake can be very long。〃
〃So says my uncle Cap； but to me； Jasper； Ontario and
the ocean appear very much the same。〃
〃You have then been on the ocean； while I； who pre…
tend to be a sailor； have never yet seen salt water。 You
must have a great contempt for such a mariner as myself；
in your heart； Mabel Dunham？〃
〃Then I have no such thing in my heart； Jasper Eau…
douce。 What right have I； a girl without experience or
knowledge； to despise any； much less one like you； who
are trusted by the Major； and who command a vessel like
this？ I have never been on the ocean； though I have seen
it； and； I repeat； I see no difference between this lake and
the Atlantic。〃
〃Nor in them that sail on both？ I was afraid； Mabel；
your uncle had said so much against us fresh…water sailors；
that you had begun to look upon us as little better than
pretenders？〃
〃Give yourself no uneasiness on that account； Jasper；
for I know my uncle； and he says as many things against
those who live ashore； when at York； as he now says against
those who sail on fresh water。 No； no； neither my father
nor myself think anything of such opinions。 My uncle
Cap； if he spoke openly； would be found to have even a worse
notion of a soldier than of a sailor who never saw the sea。〃
〃But your father； Mabel； has a better opinion of soldiers
than of any one else？ he wishes you to be the wife of a
soldier？〃
〃Jasper Eau…douce！ I the wife of a soldier！ My father
wishes it！ Why should he wish any such thing？ What
soldier is there in the garrison that I could marry that
he could _wish me_ to marry？〃
〃One may love a calling so well as to fancy it will cover
a thousand imperfections。〃
〃But one is not likely to love his own calling so well as
to cause him to overlook everything else。 You say my
father wishes me to marry a soldier； and yet there is no
soldier at Oswego that he would be likely to give me to。
I am in an awkward position； for while I am not good
enough to be the wife of one of the gentlemen of the garri…
son； I think even you will admit； Jasper； I am too good to
be the wife of one of the common soldiers。〃
As Mabel spoke thus fran