per induced the girl to restrain her feelings。
〃We are drifting down upon the breakers so rapidly；〃
said the young man； 〃that little need be said on the dub…
ject。 Half an hour must settle the matter； one way or the
other； but I warn Master Cap that the surest…footed man
among us will not be able to keep his feet an instant on
the deck of this low craft； should she fairly get within
them。 Indeed I make little doubt that we shall fill and
founder before the second line of rollers is passed。〃
〃And how would anchoring help the matter？〃 de…
manded Cap furiously； as if he felt that Jasper was re…
sponsible for the effects of the gale； as well as for the
opinion he had just given。
〃It would at least do no harm；〃 Eau…douce mildly re…
plied。 〃By bringing the cutter head to sea we should les…
sen her drift； and even if we dragged through the break…
ers； it would be with the least possible danger。 I hope；
Master Cap； you will allow the pilot and myself to _prepare_
for anchoring； since the precaution may do good； and can
do no harm。〃
〃Overhaul your ranges； if you will； and get your anchors
clear； with all my heart。 We are now in a situation that
cannot be much affected by anything of that sort。 Ser…
geant； a word with you aft here； if you please。〃
Cap led his brother…in…law out of ear…shot； and then；
with more of human feeling in his voice and manner than
he was apt to exhibit； he opened his heart on the subject
of their real situation。
〃This is a melancholy affair for poor Mabel；〃 said he；
blowing his nose； and speaking with a slight tremor。
〃You and I； Sergeant； are old fellows； and used to being
near death； if not to actually dying； our trades fit us for
such scenes； but poor Mabel！ she is an affectionate and
kind…hearted girl； and I had hoped to see her comfortably
settled； and a mother； before my time came。 Well； well！
we must take the bad with the good in every v'y'ge； and
the only serious objection that an old seafaring man can
with propriety make to such an event is； that it should
happen on this bit of dd fresh water。〃
Sergeant Dunham was a brave man； and had shown his
spirit in scenes that looked much more appalling than
this； but on all such occasions he had been able to act his
I part against his foes； while here he was pressed upon by
an enemy whom he had no means of resisting。 For him…
self he cared far less than for his daughter； feeling some of
that self…reliance which seldom deserts a man of firmness
who is in vigorous health； and who has been accustomed to
personal exertions in moments of jeopardy； but as respects
Mabel he saw no means of escape； and； with a father's
fondness； he at once determined that； if either was doomed
to perish； he and his daughter must perish together。
〃Do you think this must come to pass？〃 he asked of
Cap firmly； but with strong feeling。
〃Twenty minutes will carry us into the breakers； and
look for yourself； Sergeant： what chance will even the
stoutest man among us have in that caldron to leeward？〃
The prospect was； indeed； little calculated to encourage
hope。 By this time the _Scud_ was within a mile of the
shore； on which the gale was blowing at right angles； with
a violence that forbade the idea of showing any additional
canvas with a view to claw off。 The small portion of the
mainsail actually set； and which merely served to keep the
head of the _Scud_ so near the wind as to prevent the waves
from breaking over her； quivered under the gusts； as if at
each moment the stout threads which held the complicated
fabric together were about to be torn asunder。 The driz…
zle had ceased； but the air； for a hundred； feet above the
surface of the lake； was filled with dazzling spray； which
had an appearance not unlike that of a brilliant mist；
while above all the sun was shining gloriously in a cloud…
less sky。 Jasper had noted the omen； and had foretold
that it announced a speedy termination to the gale； though
the next hour or two must decide their fate。 Between the
cutter and the shore the view was still more wild and ap…
palling。 The breakers extended nearly half a mile； while
the water within their line was white with foam； the air
above them was so far filled with vapor and spray as to
render the land beyond hazy and indistinct。 Still it could
be seen that the latter was high； not a usual thing for
the shores of Ontario； and that it was covered with the
verdant mantle of the interminable forest。
While the Sergeant and Cap were gazing at this scene
in silence； Jasper and his people were actively engaged on
the forecastle。 No sooner had the young man received
permission to resume his old employment； than； appealing
to some of the soldiers for aid； he mustered five or six as…
sistants； and set about in earnest the performance of a duty
which had been too long delayed。 On these narrow waters
anchors are never stowed in…board； or cables that are in…
tended for service unbent； and Jasper was saved much of
the labor that would have been necessary in a vessel at sea。
The two bowers were soon ready to be let go； ranges of the
cables were overhauled； and then the party paused to look
about them。 No changes for the better had occurred； but
the cutter was falling slowly in； and each instant rendered
it more certain that she could not gain an inch to wind…
ward。
One long； earnest survey of the lake ended； Jasper gave
new orders in a similar manner to prove how much he
thought that the time pressed。 Two kedges were got on
deck； and hawsers were bent to them； the inner ends of
the hawsers were bent； in their turns； to the crowns of the
anchors； and everything was got ready to throw them over…
board at the proper moment。 These preparations com…
pleted； Jasper's manner changed from the excitement of
exertion to a look of calm but settled concern。 He quitted
the forecastle； where the seas were dashing in…board at
every plunge of the vessel； the duty just mentioned having
been executed with the bodies of the crew frequently buried
in the water； and walked to a drier part of the deck； aft。
Here he was met by the Pathfinder； who was standing near
Mabel and the Quartermaster。 Most of those on board；
with the exception of the individuals who have already
been particularly mentioned； were below； some seeking re…
lief from physical suffering on their pallets； and others
tardily bethinking them of their sins。 For the first time；
most probably； since her keel had dipped into the limpid
waters of Ontario； the voice of prayer was； heard on board
the _Scud_。
〃Jasper；〃 commenced his friend； the guide； 〃I have been
of no use this morning； for my gifts are of little account；
as you know； in a vessel like this； but； should it please
God to let the Sergeant's daughter reach the shore alive；
my acquaintance with the forest may still carry her through
in safety to the garrison。〃
〃'Tis a fearful distance thither； Pathfinder！〃 Mabel re…
joined； the party being so near together that all which was
said by one was overheard by the others。 〃I am afraid
none of us could live to reach the fort。〃
〃It would be a risky path； Mabel； and a crooked one；
though some of your sex have undergone even more than
that in this wilderness。 But； Jasper； either you or I； or
both of us； must man this bark canoe； Mabel's only ohance
will lie in getting through the breakers in that。〃
〃I would willingly man anything to save Mabel；〃 an…
swered Jasper； with a melancholy smile； 〃but no human
hand； Pathfinder； could carry that canoe through yonder
breakers in a gale like this。 I have hopes from anchoring；
after all； for once before have we saved the _Scud_ in an
extremity nearly as great as this。〃
〃If we are to anchor； Jasper；〃 the Sergeant inquired；
〃why not do it at once？ Every foot we lose in drifting
now would come into the distance we shall probably drag
when the anchors are let go。〃
Jasper drew nearer to the Sergeant； and took his hand；
pressing it earnestly； and in a way to denote strong； almost
uncontrollable feelings。
〃Sergeant Dunham；〃 said he solemnly； 〃you are a good
man； though you have treated me harshly in this business。
You love your daughter？〃
〃That you canuot doubt； Eau…douce；〃 returned the Ser…
geant huskily。
〃Will you give her give us all the only chance for life
that is left？〃
〃What would you have me do； boy； what would you have
me do？ I have acted according to my judgment hitherto；
… what would you have me do？〃
〃Support me against Master Cap for five minutes； and
all that man can do towards saving the _Scud_ shall be done。〃
The Sergeant hesitated； for he was too much of a dis…
ciplinarian to fly in the face of regular orders。 He dis…
liked the appearance of vacillation； too； and then he had
a profound respect for his kinsman's seamanship。 While
he was deliberating； Cap came from the post he had some
time occupied； which was at the side of the man at the
helm； and drew nigh the group。
〃Master Eau…douce；〃 said he； as soon as near enough to
be heard； 〃I have come to inquire if you know any spot
near by where this cutter can be beached？ The moment
has arrived when we are driven to this hard alternative。〃