attained the ascendency； 〃no one who knows you can； or
does； believe you guilty。 Pathfinder says he will pledge
his life for you。〃
〃Then you； Mabel；〃 returned the youth； his eyes flashing
fire； 〃do not look upon me as the traitor your father
seems to believe me to be？〃
〃My dear father is a soldier； and is obliged to act as one。
My father's daughter is not； and will think of you as she
ought to think of a man who has done so much to serve
her already。〃
〃Mabel； I'm not used to talking with one like you； or
saying all I think and feel with any。 I never had a sister；
and my mother died when I was a child； so that I know
little what your sex most likes to hear 〃
Mabel would have given the world to know what lay be…
hind the teeming word at which Jasper hesitated； but the
indefinable and controlliug sense of womanly diffidence
made her suppress her curiosity。 She waited in silence
for him to explain his own meaning。
〃I wish to say； Mabel；〃 the young man continued； after
a pause which he found sufficiently embarrassing； 〃that
I am unused to the ways and opinions of one like you； and
that you must imagine all I would add。〃
Mabel had imagination enough to fancy anything； but
there are ideas and feelings that her sex prefer to have ex…
pressed before they yield them all their own sympathies；
and she had a vague consciousness that these of Jasper
might properly be enumerated in the class。 With a readi…
ness that belonged to her sex； therefore； she preferred
changing the discourse to permitting it to proceed any
further in a manner so awkward and so unsatisfactory。
〃Tell me one thing； Jasper； and I shall be content；〃 said
she； speaking now with a firinness which denoted confi…
dence； not only in herself； but in her companion： 〃you do
not deserve this cruel suspicion which rests upon you？〃
〃I do not； Mabel！〃 answered Jasper； looking into her
full blue eyes with an openness and simplicity that might
have shaken stronger distrust。 〃As I hope for mercy
hereafter； I do not！〃
〃I knew it I could have sworn it！〃 returned the girl
warmly。 〃And yet my father means well； but do not let
this matter disturb you； Jasper。〃
〃There is so much more to apprehend from another
quarter just now； that I scarcely think of it。〃
〃Jasper！〃
〃I do not wish to alarm you； Mabel； but if your uncle
could be persuaded to change his notions about handling
the _Scud_： and yet he is so much more experienced than
I am； that he ought； perhaps； to place more reliance on his
own judgment than on mine。〃
〃Do you think the cutter in any danger？〃 demanded
Mabel； quick as thought。
〃I fear so； at least she would have been thought in great
danger by us of the lake； perhaps an old seaman of the
ocean may have means of his own to take care of her。〃
〃Jasper； all agree in giving you credit for skill in man…
aging the _Scud_。 You know the lake； you know the cut…
ter； you _must_ be the best judge of our real situation。〃
〃My concern for you； Mabel； may make me more cow…
ardly than common； but； to be frank； I see but one method
of keeping the cutter from being wrecked in the course of
the next two or three hours； and that your uncle refuses to
take。 After all； this may be my ignorance； for； as he says；
Ontario is merely fresh water。〃
〃You cannot believe this will make any difference。
Think of my dear father； Jasper！ Think of yourself； of
all the lives that depend on a timely word from you to save
them。〃
〃I think of you； Mabel； and that is more； much more；
than all the rest put together！〃 returned the young man；
with a strength of expression and an earnestness of look
that uttered infinitely more than the words themselves。
Mabel's heart beat quickly； and a gleam of grateful sat…
isfaction shot across her blushing features； but the alarm
was too vivid and too serious to admit of much relief from
happier thoughts。 She did not attempt to repress a look
of gratitude； and then she returned to the feeling which
was naturally uppermost。
〃My uncle's obstinacy must not be permitted to occa…
sion this disaster。 Go once more on deck； Jasper； and
ask my father to come into the cabin。〃
While the young man was complying with this request；
Mabel sat listening to the howling of the storm and the
dashing of the water against the cutter； in a dread to which
she had hitherto been a stranger。 Constitutionally an ex…
cellent sailor； as the term is used among passengers； she
had not hitherto bethought her of any danger； and had
passed her time since the commencemeut of the gale in
such womanly employments as her situation allowed； but
now that alarm was seriously awakened； she did not fail to
perceive that never before had she been on the water in
such a tempest。 The minute or two which elapsed before
the Sergeant came appeared an hour； and she scarcely
breathed when she saw him and Jasper descending the
ladder in company。 Quick as language could express her
meaning； she acquainted her father with Jasper's opinion
of their situation； and entreated him； if he loved her； or
had any regard for his own life； or for those of his men；
to interfere with her uncle； and to induce him to yield the
control of the cutter again to its proper commander。
〃Jasper is true； father；〃 added she earnestly； 〃and if
false； he could have no motive in wrecking us in this dis…
tant part of the lake at the risk of all our lives； his own
included。 I will pledge my own life for his truth。〃
〃Ay； this is well enough for a young woman who is
frightened；〃 answered the more phlegmatic parent； 〃but
it might not be so excusable in one in command of an ex…
pedition。 Jasper may think the chance of drowning in
getting ashore fully repaid by the chance of escaping as
soon as he reaches the land。〃
〃Sergeant Dunham！〃
〃Father！〃
These exclamations were made simultaneously； but they
were uttered in tones expressive of different feelings。 In
Jasper； surprise was the emotion uppermost； in Mabel
reproach。 The old soldier； however； was too much accus…
tomed to deal frankly with subordinates to heed either；
and after a moment's thought； he continued as if neither
had spoken。 〃Nor is brother Cap a man likely to submit
to be taught his duty on board a vessel。〃
〃But； father； when all our lives are in the utmost jeop…
ardy！〃
〃So much the worse。 The fair…weather commander is
no great matter； it is when things go wrong that the best
officer shows himself in his true colors。 Charles Cap will
not be likely to quit the helm because the ship is in dan…
ger。 Besides； Jasper Eau…douce； he says your proposal in
itself has a suspicious air about it； and sounds more like
treachery than reason。〃
〃He may think so； but let him send for the pilot and
hear his opinion。 It is well known that I have not seen
the man since yesterday evening。〃
〃This does sound reasonably； and the experiment shall
be tried。 Follow me on deck then； that all may be hon…
est and above…aboard。〃
Jasper obeyed； and so keen was the interest of Mabel；
that she too ventured as far as the companion…way； where
her garments were sufficiently protected against the vio…
lence of the wind and her person from the spray。 Here
maiden modesty induced her to remain； though an absorbed
witness of what was passing。
The pilot soon appeared； and there was no mistaking the
look of concern that he cast around at the scene as soon as
he was in the open air。 Some rumors of the situation of
the _Scud_ had found their way below； it is true； but in this
instance rumor had lessened instead of magnifying the
danger。 He was allowed a few minutes to look about him；
and then the question was put as to the course which he
thought it prudent to follow。
〃I see no means of saving the cutter but to anchor；〃 he
answered simply； and without hesitation。
〃What！ out here in the lake？〃 inquired Cap； as he had
previously done of Jasper。
〃No： but closer in； just at the outer line of the
breakers。〃
The effect of this communication was to leave no doubt
in the mind of Cap that there was a secret arrangement
between her commander and the pilot to cast away the
_Scud_； most probably with the hope of effecting their es…
cape。 He consequently treated the opinion of the latter
with the indifference he had manifested towards that of
the former。
〃I tell you； brother Dunham；〃 said he； in answer to the
remonstrances of the Sergeant against his turning a deaf
ear to this double represeutation； 〃that no seaman would
give such an opinion honestly。 To anchor on a lee shore
in a gale of wind would be an act of madness that I could
never excuse to the underwriters； under any circumstances；
so long as a rag can be set； but to anchor close to breakers
would be insanity。〃
〃His Majesty underwrites the _Scud_； brother； and I am
responsible for the lives of my command。 These men are
better acquainted with Lake Ontario than we can possibly
be； and I do think their telling the same tale entitles them
to some credit。〃
〃Uncle！〃 said Mabel earnestly； but a gesture from Jas…
per induced the girl to restrain her feelings。
〃We are drifting down upon the breakers so rapidly；〃
said the young man； 〃that little nee