longitude of this said island； my lad？〃 he asked。
〃The what； sir？〃
〃Why； the latitude or longitude one or both； I'm not
particular which； as I merely inquire in order to see how
they bring up young men on this bit of fresh water。〃
〃I'm not particular about either myself； sir； and so I do
not happen to know what you mean。〃
〃Not what I mean！ You know what latitude is？〃
〃Not I； sir！〃 returned the man； hesitating。 〃Though
I believe it is French for the upper lakes。〃
〃Whe…e…e…w…！〃 whistled Cap； drawing out his
breath like the broken stop of an organ； 〃latitude； French
for upper lakes！ Hark'e； young man； do you know what
longitude means？〃
〃I believe I do； sir； that is； five feet six； the regulation
height for soldiers in the king's service。〃
〃There's the longitude found out for you； Sergeant； in
the rattling of a brace…block！ You have some notion
about a degree； and minutes and seconds； I hope？〃
〃Yes； sir； degree means my betters； and minutes and
seconds are for the short or long log…lines。 We all know
these things as well as the salt…water people。〃
〃D… me； brother Dunham； if I think even Faith can
get along on this lake； much as they say it can do with
mountains。 Well； my lad； you understand the azimuth；
and measuring distances； and how to box the compass。〃
〃As for the first； sir； I can't say I do。 The distances we
all know； as we measure them from point to point； and
as for boxing the compass； I will turn my back to no ad…
miral in his Majesty's fleet。 Nothe； nothe and by east；
nothe； nothe…east； nothe…east and by nothe； nothe…east；
nothe…east and by east； east…nothe…east； east and by nothe…
east 〃
〃That will do； that will do。 You'll bring about a shift
of wind if you go on in this manner。 I see very plainly；
Sergeant；〃 walking away again； and dropping his voice；
〃we've nothing to hope for from that chap。 I'll stand
on two hours longer on this tack； when we'll heave…to and
get the soundings； after which we will be governed by
circumstances。〃
To this the Sergeant made no objections； and as the
wind grew lighter； as usual with the advance of night； and
there were no immediate obstacles to the navigation； he
made a bed of a sail on deck； and was soon lost in the
sound sleep of a soldier。 Cap continued to walk the deck；
for he was one whose iron frame set fatigue at defiance；
and not once that night did he close his eyes。
It was broad daylight when Sergeant Dunham awoke；
and the exclamation of surprise that escaped him； as he
rose to his feet and began to look about him； was stronger
than it was usual for one so drilled to suffer to be heard。
He found the weather entirely changed； the view bounded
by driving mist that limited the visible horizon to a circle
of about a mile in diameter； the lake raging and covered
with foam； and the _Scud_ lying…to。 A brief conversation
with his brother…in…law let him into the secrets of all these
sudden changes。
According to the account of Master Cap； the wind had
died away to a calm about midnight； or just as he was
thinking of heaving…to； to sound； for islands ahead were
beginning to be seen。 At one A。M。 it began to blow from
the north…east； accompanied by a drizzle； and he stood off
to the northward and westward； knowing that the coast of
New York lay in the opposite direction。 At half…past
one he stowed the flying…jib； reefed the mainsail； and took
the bonnet off the jib。 At two he was compelled to get a
second reef aft； and by half…past two he had put a bal…
ance…reef in the sail； and was lying…to。
〃I can't say but the boat behaves well； Sergeant；〃 the
old sailor added； 〃but it blows forty…two pounders。 I had
no idea there were any such currents of air up here on
this bit of fresh water； though I care not the knotting of
a yarn for it； as your lake has now somewhat of a natural
look； and if this dd water had a savor of salt about it；
one might be comfortable。〃
〃How long have you been heading in this direction；
brother Cap？〃 inquired the prudent soldier； 〃and at
what rate may we be going through the water？〃
〃Why； two or three hours； mayhap； and she went like a
horse for the first pair of them。 Oh； we've a fine offing
now！ for； to own the truth； little relishing the neighbor…
hood of them said islands； although they are to windward；
I took the helm myself； and run her off free for some
league or two。 We are well to leeward of them； I'll engage
… I say to leeward； for though one might wish to be well
to windward of one island； or even half a dozen； when it
comes to a thousand； the better way is to give it up at
once； and to slide down under their lee as fast as possible。
No； no； there they are up yonder in the dingle； and there
they may stay； for anything Charles Cap cares。〃
〃As the north shore lies only some five or six leagues
from us； brother； and I know there is a large bay in that
quarter； might it not be well to consult some of the crew
concerning our position； if； indeed； we do not call up Jas…
per Eau…douce； and tell him to carry us back to Oswego？
For it is quite impossible we should ever reach the station
with this wind directly in our teeth。〃
〃There are several serious professional reasons； Sergeant；
against all your propositions。 In the first place； an ad…
mission of ignorance on the part of a commander would
destroy discipline。 No matter； brother； I understand
your shake of the head； but nothing capsizes discipline so
much as to confess ignorance。 I once knew a master of a
vessel who went a week on a wrong course rather than
allow he had made a mistake； and it was surprising how
much he rose in the opinions of his people； just because
they could not understand him。〃
〃That may do on salt water； brother Cap； but it will
hardly do on fresh。 Rather than wreck my command on
the Canada shore； I shall feel it a duty to take Jasper out
of arrest。〃
〃And make a haven in Frontenac。 No； Sergeant； the
_Scud_ is in good hands； and will now learn something of
seamanship。 We have a fine offing； and no one but a mad…
man would think of going upon a coast in a gale like this。
I shall ware every watch； and then we shall be safe against
all dangers but those of the drift； which； in a light low
craft like this； without top…hamper； will be next to noth…
ing。 Leave it all to me； Sergeant； and I pledge you the
character of Charles Cap that all will go well。〃
Sergeant Dunham was fain to yield。 He had great con…
fidence in his connection's professional skill； and hoped
that he would take such care of the cutter as would amply
justify his opinion of him。 On the other hand； as dis…
trust； like care； grows by what it feeds on； he entertained
so much apprehension of treachery； that he was quite will…
ing any one but Jasper should just then have the control
of the fate of the whole party。 Truth； moreover； compels
us to admit another motive。 The particular duty on which
he was now sent of right should have been confided to a
commissioned officer； and Major Duncan had excited a
good deal of discontent among the subalterns of the gar…
rison； by having confided it to one of the Sergeant's hum…
ble station。 To return without having even reached the
point of destination； therefore； the latter felt would be a
failure from which he was not likely soon to recover； and
the measure would at once be the means of placing a supe…
rior in his shoes。
CHAPTER XVI。
Thou glorious mirror； where the Almighty's form
Glasses itself in tempests； in all time；
Calm or convulsed in breeze； or gale； or storm；
Icing the pole； or in the torrid clime
Dark…heaving； boundless； endless； and sublime
The image of eternity； the throne
Of the Invisible； even from out thy slime
The monsters of the deep are made； each zone
Obeys thee； thou goest forth； dread； fathomless； alone。
BYRON。
As the day advanced； that portion of the inmates of the
vessel which had the liberty of doing so appeared on deck。
As yet the sea was not very high； from which it was inferred
that the cutter was still under the lee of the islands； but
it was apparent to all who understood the lake that they
were about to experience one of the heavy autumnal gales
of that region。 Land was nowhere visible； and the hori…
zon on every side exhibited that gloomy void； which lends
to all views on vast bodies of water the sublimity of mys…
tery。 The swells； or； as landsmen term them； the waves；
were short and curling； breaking of necessity sooner than
the longer seas of the ocean； while the element itself； in…
stead of presenting that beautiful hue which rivals the deep
tint of the southern sky； looked green and angry； though
wanting in the lustre that is derived from the rays of the
sun。
The soldiers were soon satisfied with the prospect； and
one by one they disappeared； until none were left on deck
but the crew； the Sergeant； Cap； Pathfinder； the Quarter…
master； and Mabel。 There was a shade on the brow of the
last； who had been made acquainted with the real state of
things； and who had fruitlessly ventured an appeal in favor
of Jasper's restoration to the command。 A night's rest
and a night's reflection appeared also to have confirmed
the