secure the paddles。〃
Jasper assented； and Arrowhead and his wife； with
whom resistance appeared to be out of the question； silently
complied with the directions。 A few expressions of sharp
rebuke passed from the Indian to his wife； while both
were employed in the canoe； which the latter received with
submissive quiet； immediately repairing an error she had
made by laying aside the blanket she had taken and search…
ing for another that was more to her tyrant's mind。
〃Come； bear a hand； Arrowhead；〃 said the Sergeant； who
stood on the gunwale overlooking the movements of the
two； which were proceeding too slowly for the impatience
of a drowsy man； 〃it is getting late； and we soldiers have
such a thing as reveille early to bed and early to rise。〃
〃Arrowhead is coming；〃 was the answer； as the Tusca…
rora stepped towards the head of his canoe。
One blow of his keen knife severed the rope which held
the boat； and then the cutter glanced ahead； leaving the
light bubble of bark； which instantly lost its way； almost
stationary。 So suddenly and dexterously was this manoeu…
vre performed； that the canoe was on the lee quarter of
the _Scud_ before the Sergeant was aware of the artifice； and
quite in her wake ere he had time to announce it to his
companions。
〃Hard…a…lee！〃 shouted Jasper； letting fly the jib…sheet
with his own hands； when the cutter came swiftly up to
the breeze； with all her canvas flapping； or was running
into the wind's eye； as seamen term it； until the light craft
was a hundred feet to windward of her former position。
Quick and dexterous as was this movement； and ready as
had been the expedient； it was not quicker or more ready
than that of the Tuscarora。 With an intelligence that
denoted some familiarity with vessels； he had seized his
paddle and was already skimming the water； aided by the
efforts of his wife。 The direction he took was south…
westerly； or on a line that led him equally towards the
wind and the shore； while it also kept him so far aloof
from the cutter as to avoid the danger of the latter falling
on board of him when she filled on the other tack。 Swiftly
as the _Scud_ had shot into the wind； and far as she had
forced ahead； Jasper knew it was necessary to cast her ere
she had lost all her way； and it was not two minutes from
the time the helm had been put down before the lively
little craft was aback forward； and rapidly falling off； in
order to allow her sails to fill on the opposite tack。
〃He will escape！〃 said Jasper the instant he caught a
glimpse of the relative bearings of the cutter and the
canoe。 〃The cunning knave is paddling dead to wind…
ward； and the _Scud_ can never overtake him！〃
〃You have a canoe！〃 exclaimed the Sergeant； mani…
festing the eagerness of a boy to join in the pursuit； 〃let
us launch it； and give chase！〃
〃It will be useless。 If Pathfinder had been on deck；
there might have been a chance； but there is none now。
To launch the canoe would have taken three or four min…
utes； and the time lost would be sufficient for the purposes
of Arrowhead。〃
Both Cap and the Sergeant saw the truth of this； which
would have been nearly self…evident even to one unaccus…
tomed to vessels。 The shore was distant less than half a
mile； and the canoe was already glancing into its shadows；
at a rate to show that it would reach the land before its
pursuers could probably get half the distance。 The helm
of the _Scud_ was reluctantly put up again； and the cutter
wore short round on her heel； coming up to her course on
the other tack； as if acting on an instinct。 All this was
done by Jasper in profound silence； his assistants under…
standing what was necessary； and lending their aid in a
sort of mechanical imitation。 While these manoeuvres
were in the course of execution； Cap took the Sergeant by
a button； and led him towards the cabin…door； where he
was out of ear…shot； and began to unlock his stores of
thought。
〃Hark'e； brother Dunham；〃 said he； with an ominous
face； 〃this is a matter that requires mature thought and
much circumspection。〃
〃The life of a soldier； brother Cap； is one of constant
thought and circumspection。 On this frontier； were we
to overlook either； our scalps might be taken from our
heads in the first nap。〃
〃But I consider this capture of Arrowhead as a circum…
stance； and I might add his escape as another。 This Jas…
per Freshwater must look to it。〃
〃They are both circumstances truly； brother； but they
tell different ways。 If it is a circumstance against the
lad that the Indian has escaped； it is a circumstance in
his favor that he was first taken。〃
〃Ay； ay； but two circumstances do not contradict each
other like two negatives。 If you will follow the advice of
an old seaman； Sergeant； not a moment is to be lost in
taking the steps necessary for the security of the vessel and
all on board of her。 The cutter is now slipping through
the water at the rate of six knots； and as the distances are
so short on this bit of a pond； we may all find ourselves in
a French port before morning； and in a French prison
before night。〃
〃This may be true enough。 What would you advise
me to do； brother？〃
〃In my opinion you should put this Master Freshwater
under arrest on the spot； send him below under the
charge of a sentinel； and transfer the command of the
cutter to me。 All this you have power to perform； the
craft belonging to the army； and you being the command…
ing officer of the troops present。〃
Sergeant Dunham deliberated more than an hour on
the propriety of this proposal； for； though sufficiently
prompt when his mind was really made up； he was habit…
ually thoughtful and wary。 The habit of superintending
the personal police of the garrison had made him ac…
quainted with character； and he had long been disposed to
think well of Jasper。 Still that subtle poison； suspicion；
had entered his soul； and so much were the artifices and
intrigues of the French dreaded； that； especially warned
as he had been by his commander； it is not to be wondered
that the recollection of years of good conduct should van…
ish under the influence of a distrust so keen； and seemingly
so plausible。 In this embarrassment the Sergeant consulted
the Quartermaster； whose opinion； as his superior； he felt
bound to respect； though at the moment independent of
his control。 It is an unfortunate occurrence for one who
is in a dilemma to ask advice of another who is desirous
of standing well in his favor； the party consulted being
almost certain to try to think in the manner which will be
the most agreeable to the party consulting。 In the present
instance it was equally unfortunate； as respects a candid
consideration of the subject； that Cap； instead of the Ser…
geant himself； made the statement of the case； for the
earnest old sailor was not backward in letting his listener
perceive to which side he was desirous that the Quarter…
master should lean。 Lieutenant Muir was much too pol…
itic to offend the uncle and father of the woman he hoped
and expected to win； had he really thought the case ad…
mitted of doubt； but； in the manner in which the facts
were submitted to him； he was seriously inclined to think
that it would be well to put the control of the _Scud_ tem…
porarily into the managoment of Cap； as a precaution
against treachery。 This opinion then decided the Ser…
geant； who forthwith set about the execution of the neces…
sary measures。
Without entering into any explanations； Sergeant Dun…
ham simply informed Jasper that he felt it to be his duty
to deprive him temporarily of the command of the cutter；
and to confer it on his own brother…in…law。 A natural and
involuntary burst of surprise； which escaped the young
man； was met by a quiet remark； reminding him that mili…
tary service was often of a nature that required conceal…
ment； and a declaration that the present duty was of such
a character that this particular arrangement had become
indispensable。 Although Jasper's astonishment remained
undiminished； the Sergeant cautiously abstaining from
making any allusion to his suspicions； the young man
was accustomed to obey with military submission； and he
quietly acquiesced； with his own mouth directing the little
crew to receive their further orders from Cap until another
change should be effected。 When； however； he was told
the case required that not only he himself； but his princi…
pal assistant； who； on account of his long acquaintance
with the lake； was usually termed the pilot； were to remain
below； there was an alteration in his countenance and
manner that denoted strong feeling； though it was so well
mastered as to leave even the distrustful Cap in doubt as
to its meaning。 As a matter of course； however； when dis…
trust exists； it was not long before the worst construction
was put upon it。
As soon as Jasper and the pilot were below； the sentinel
at the hatch received private orders to pay particular at…
tention to both； to allow neither to come on deck again
without giving instant notice to the person who might
then be in charge of the cutter； and to insist on his return
below as soon as possible。 This