crossed； balancing his body with a seaman's instinct； while
his eyes watched the caps of the seas； as they broke and
glanced past the reeling cutter； itself in such swift motion；
as if they were the scud flying athwart the sky。 At this
sublime instant one of the hands gave the unexpected cry
of 〃A sail！〃
There was so much of the wild and solitary character of
the wilderness about Ontario； that one scarcely expected
to meet with a vessel on its waters。 The _Scud_ herself； to
those who were in her； resembled a man threading the
forest alone； and the meeting was like that of two solitary
hunters beneath the broad canopy of leaves that then cov…
ered so many millions of acres on the continent of America。
The peculiar state of the weather served to increase the
romantic； almost supernatural appearance of the passage。
Cap alone regarded it with practised eyes； and even he felt
his iron nerves thrill under the sensations that were awak…
ened by the wild features of the scene。
The strange vessel was about two cables' length ahead of
the _Scud_； standing by the wind athwart her bows； and
steering a course to render it probable that the latter would
pass within a few yards of her。 She was a full…rigged ship；
and； seen through the misty medium of the tempest； the
most experienced eye could detect no imperfection in her
gear or construction。 The only canvas she had set was a
close…reefed main…topsail； and two small storm…staysails；
one forward and the other aft。 Still the power of the
wind pressed so hard upon her as to bear her down nearly
to her beam…ends； whenever the hull was not righted by
the buoyancy of some wave under her lee。 Her spars were
all in their places； and by her motion through the water；
which might have equalled four knots in the hour； it was
apparent that she steered a little free。
〃The fellow must know his position well；〃 said Cap； as
the cutter flew down towards the ship with a velocity
almost equalling that of the gale； 〃for he is standing boldly
to the southward； where he expects to find anchorage or a
haven。 No man in his senses would run off free in that
fashion； that was not driven to scudding； like ourselves；
who did not perfectly understand where he was going。〃
〃We have made an awful run； captain；〃 returned the
man to whom this remark had been addressed。 〃That is
the French king's ship； Lee…my…calm （_Le Montcalm_）； and
she is standing in for the Niagara； where her owner has a
garrison and a port。 We've made an awful run of it！〃
〃Ay； bad luck to him！ Frenchman…like； he skulks into
port the moment he sees an English bottom。〃
〃It might be well for us if we could follow him；〃 re…
turned the man； shaking his head despondingly； 〃for we
are getting into the end of a bay up here at the head of
the lake； and it is uncertain whether we ever get out of it
again！〃
〃Pooh； man； pooh！ We have plenty of sea room； and a
good English hull beneath us。 We are no Johnny Crapauds
to hide ourselves behind a point or a fort on account of a
puff of wind。 Mind your helm； sir！〃
The order was given on account of the menacing appear…
ance of the approaching passage。 The _Scud_ was now head…
ing directly for the fore…foot of the Frenchman； and； the
distance between the two vessels having diminished to a
hundred yards； it was momentarily questionable if there
was room to pass。
〃Port； sir； port；〃 shouted Cap。 〃Port your helm and
pass astern！〃
The crew of the Frenchman were seen assembling to
windward； and a few muskets were pointed； as if to order
the people of the _Scud_ to keep off。 Gesticulations were
observed； but the sea was too wild and menacing to admit
of the ordinary expedients of war。 The water was drip…
ping from the muzzles of two or three light guns on board
the ship； but no one thought of loosening them for service
in such a tempest。 Her black sides； as they emerged from
a wave； glistened and seemed to frown； but the wind
howled through her rigging； whistling the thousand notes
of a ship； and the hails and cries that escape a Frenchman
with so much readiness were inaudible。
〃Let him halloo himself hoarse！〃 growled Cap。 〃This
is no weather to whisper secrets in。 Port； sir； port！〃
The man at the helm obeyed； and the next send of the
sea drove the _Scud_ down upon the quarter of the ship； so
near her that the old mariner himself recoiled a step； in a
vague expectation that； at the next surge ahead； she would
drive bows foremost directly into the planks of the other
vessel。 But this was not to be： rising from the crouching
posture she had taken； like a panther about to leap； the
cutter dashed onward； and at the next instant she was
glancing past the stern of her enemy； just clearing the end
of her spanker…boom with her own lower yard。
The young Frenchman who commanded the _Montcalm_
leaped on the taffrail； and； with that high…toned courtesy
which relieves even the worst acts of his countrymen； he
raised his cap and smiled a salutation as the _Scud_ shot
past。 There were _bonhomie_ and good taste in this act of
courtesy； when circumstances allowed of no other commu…
nications； but they were lost on Cap； who； with an instinct
quite as true to his race； shook his fist menacingly； and
muttered to himself；
〃Ay； ay； it's dd lucky for you I've no armament on
board here； or I'd send you in to get new cabin…windows
fitted。 Sergeant； he's a humbug。〃
〃'Twas civil； brother Cap；〃 returned the other； lowering
his hand from the military salute which his pride as a sol…
dier had induced him to return； 〃'twas civil； and that's
as much as you can expect from a Frenchman。 What he
really meant by it no one can say。〃
〃He is not heading up to this sea without an object；
neither。 Well； let him run in； if he can get there； we will
keep the lake； like hearty English mariners。〃
This sounded gloriously； but Cap eyed with envy the
glittering black mass of the _Montcalm's_ hull； her waving
topsail； and the misty tracery of her spars； as she grew less
and less distinct； and finally disappeared in the drizzle； in
a form as shadowy as that of some unreal image。 Gladly
would he have followed in her wake had he dared； for； to
own the truth； the prospect of another stormy night in the
midst of the wild waters that were raging around him
brought little consolation。 Still he had too much profes…
sional pride to betray his uneasiness； and those under his
care relied on his knowledge and resources； with the im…
plicit and blind confidence that the ignorant are apt to feel。
A few hours succeeded； and darkness came again to
increase the perils of the _Scud_。 A lull in the gale； how…
ever； had induced Cap to come by the wind once more； and
throughout the night the cutter was lying…to as before；
head…reaching as a matter of course； and occasionally war…
ing to keep off the land。 It is unnecessary to dwell on the
incidents of this night； which resembled those of any other
gale of wind。 There were the pitching of the vessel； the
hissing of the waters； the dashing of spray； the shocks
that menaced annihilation to the little craft as she plunged
into the seas； the undying howl of the wind； and the fear…
ful drift。 The last was the most serious danger； for；
though exceedingly weatherly under her canvas； and to…
tally without top…hamper； the _Scud_ was so light； that the
combing of the swells would seem at times to wash her
down to leeward with a velocity as great as that of the
surges themselves。
During this night Cap slept soundly； and for several
hours。 The day was just dawning when he felt himself
shaken by the shoulder； and arousing himself； he found
the Pathfinder standing at his side。 During the gale the
guide had appeared little on deck； for his natural modesty
told him that seamen alone should interfere with the man…
agement of the vessel； and he was willing to show the
same reliance on those who had charge of the _Scud_； as he
expected those who followed through the forest to mani…
fest in his own skill； but he now thought himself justified
in interfering； which he did in his own unsophisticated
and peculiar manner。
〃Sleep is sweet； Master Cap；〃 said he； as soon as the eyes
of the latter were fairly open； and his consciousness had
sufficiently returned； 〃sleep is sweet； as I know from ex…
perience； but life is sweeter still。 Look about you； and say
if this is exactly the moment for a commander to be off
his feet。〃
〃How now？ how now； Master Pathfinder？〃 growled
Cap； in the first moments of his awakened faculties。 〃Are
you； too； getting on the side of the grumblers？ When
ashore I admired your sagacity in running through the
worst shoals without a compass； and since we have been
afloat； your meekness and submission have been as pleas…
ant as your confidence on your own ground。 I little ex…
pected such a summons from you。〃
〃As for myself； Master Cap； I feel I have my gifts； and
I believe they'll interfere with those of no other man； but
the case may be different with Mabel Dunham。 She has
her gifts； too； it is true； but they are not rude like ours；
but gentle and womanish； as they ought to be。 It's on
her account that I speak； and not