that such as live in the towns； and near the sea 〃
〃On the sea；〃 interrupted Cap。
〃On the sea； if you wish it； friend have opportunities
which do not befall us of the wilderness。 Still； we know
our own callings； and they are what I consider natural
callings； and are not parvarted by vanity and wantonness。
Now； my gifts are with the rifle； and on a trail； and in the
way of game and scouting； for； though I can use the spear
and the paddle； I pride not myself on either。 The youth
Jasper； there； who is discoursing with the Sergeant's
daughter； is a different cratur'； for he may be said to
breathe the water； as it might be； like a fish。 The Indians
and Frenchers of the north shore call him Eau…douce； on
account of his gifts in this particular。 He is better at the
oar； and the rope too； than in making fires on a trail。〃
〃There must be something about these gifts of which
you speak； after all；〃 said Cap。 〃Now this fire； I will ac…
knowledge； has overlaid all my seamanship。 Arrowhead；
there； said the smoke came from a pale…face's fire； and
that is a piece of philosophy which I hold to be equal to
steering in a dark night by the edges of the sand。〃
〃It's no great secret；〃 returned Pathfinder； laughing
with great inward glee； though habitual caution prevented
the emission of any noise。 〃Nothing is easier to us who
pass our time in the great school of Providence than to
larn its lessons。 We should be as useless on a trail； or in
carrying tidings through the wilderness； as so many wood…
chucks； did we not soon come to a knowledge of these
niceties。 Eau…douce； as we call him； is so fond of the
water； that he gathered a damp stick or two for our fire；
and wet will bring dark smoke； as I suppose even you fol…
lowers of the sea must know。 It's no great secret； though
all is mystery to such as doesn't study the Lord and His
mighty ways with humility and thankfulness。〃
〃That must be a keen eye of Arrowhead's to see so slight
a difference。〃
〃He would be but a poor Indian if he didn't。 No； no；
it is war…time； and no red…skin is outlying without using
his senses。 Every skin has its own natur'； and every
natur' has its own laws； as well as its own skin。 It was
many years before I could master all these higher branches
of a forest education； for red…skin knowledge doesn't
come as easy to white…skin natur'； as what I suppose is in…
tended to be white…skin knowledge； though I have but
little of the latter； having passed most of my time in the
wilderness。〃
〃You have been a ready scholar； Master Pathfinder； as
is seen by your understanding these things so well。 I
suppose it would be no great matter for a man regularly
brought up to the sea to catch these trifles； if he could
only bring his mind fairly to bear upon them。〃
〃I don't know that。 The white man has his difficulties
in getting red…skin habits； quite as much as the Indian in
getting white…skin ways。 As for the real natur'； it is my
opinion that neither can actually get that of the other。〃
〃And yet we sailors； who run about the world so much；
say there is but one nature； whether it be in the China…
man or a Dutchman。 For my own part； I am much of
that way of thinking too； for I have generally found that
all nations like gold and silver； and most men relish to…
bacco。〃
〃Then you seafaring men know little of the red…skins。
Have you ever known any of your Chinamen who could
sing their death…songs； with their flesh torn with splinters
and cut with knives； the fire raging around their naked
bodies； and death staring them in the face？ Until you
can find me a Chinaman； or a Christian man； that can do
all this； you cannot find a man with a red…skin natur'； let
him look ever so valiant； or know how to read all the books
that were ever printed。〃
〃It is the savages only that play each other such hellish
tricks；〃 said Master Cap； glancing his eyes about him un…
easily at the apparently endless arches of the forest。 〃No
white man is ever condemned to undergo these trials。〃
〃Nay； therein you are again mistaken；〃 returned the
Pathfinder； coolly selecting a delicate morsel of the veni…
son as his _bonne bouche_； 〃for thongh these torments belong
only to the red…skin natur'； in the way of bearing them like
braves； white…skin natur' may be； and often has been；
agonized by them。〃
〃Happily；〃 said Cap； with an effort to clear his throat；
〃none of his Majesty's allies will be likely to attempt such
damnable cruelties on any of his Majesty's loyal subjects。
I have not served much in the royal navy； it is true； but I
have served； and that is something； and； in the way of
privateering and worrying the enemy in his ships and
cargoes； I've done my full share。 But I trust there are no
French savages on this side the lake； and I think you said
that Ontario is a broad sheet of water？〃
〃Nay； it is broad in our eyes；〃 returned Pathfinder； not
caring to conceal the smile which lighted a face which had
been burnt by exposure to a bright red； 〃though I mis…
trust that some may think it narrow； and narrow it is； if
you wish it to keep off the foe。 Ontario has two ends；
and the enemy that is afraid to cross it will be certain to
come round it。〃
〃Ah！ that comes of your dd fresh…water ponds！〃
growled Cap； hemming so loudly as to cause him instantly
to repent the indiscretion。 〃No man； now； ever heard of
a pirate or a ship getting round one end of the Atlantic！〃
〃Mayhap the ocean has no ends？〃
〃That it hasn't； nor sides； nor bottom。 The nation
which is snugly moored on one of its coasts need fear
nothing from the one anchored abeam； let it be ever so
savage； unless it possesses the art of ship building。 No；
no！ the people who live on the shores of the Atlantic need
fear but little for their skins or their scalps。 A man may
lie down at night in those regions； in the hope of finding
the hair on his head in the morning； unless he wears a
wig。〃
〃It isn't so here。 I don't wish to flurry the young
woman； and therefore I will be in no way particular；
though she seems pretty much listening to Eau…douce； as
we call him； but without the edication I have received； I
should think it at this very moment； a risky journey to
go over the very ground that lies between us and the gar…
rison； in the present state of this frontier。 There are about
as many Iroquois on this side of Ontario as there are on
the other。 It is for this very reason； friend Cap； that the
Sergeant has engaged us to come out and show you the
path。〃
〃What！ do the knaves dare to cruise so near the guns
of one of his Majesty's works？〃
〃Do not the ravens resort near the carcass of the deer；
though the fowler is at hand？ They come this…a…way； as
it might be； naturally。 There are more or less whites
passing between the forts and the settlements； and they
are sure to be on their trails。 The Sarpent has come up
one side of the river； and I have come up the other； in
order to scout for the outlying rascals； while Jasper brought
up the canoe； like a bold…hearted sailor as he is。 The
Sergeant told him； with tears in his eyes； all about his child；
and how his heart yearned for her； and how gentle and
obedient she was； until I think the lad would have dashed
into a Mingo camp single…handed； rather than not a…come。〃
〃We thank him； and shall think the better of him for
his readiness； though I suppose the boy has run no great
risk； after all。〃
〃Only the risk of being shot from a cover； as he forced
the canoe up a swift rift； or turned an elbow in the stream；
with his eyes fastened on the eddies。 Of all the risky
journeys； that on an ambushed river is the most risky； in
my judgment； and that risk has Jasper run。〃
〃And why the devil has the Sergeant sent for me to
travel a hundred and fifty miles in this outlandish man…
ner？ Give me an offing； and the enemy in sight； and I'll
play with him in his own fashion； as long as he pleases；
long bows or close quarters； but to be shot like a turtle
asleep is not to my humor。 If it were not for little Mag…
net there； I would tack ship this instant； make the best of
my way back to York； and let Ontario take care of itself；
salt water or fresh water。〃
〃That wouldn't mend the matter much； friend mariner；
as the road to return is much longer； and almost as bad as
the road to go on。 Trust to us； and we will carry you
through safely； or lose our scalps。〃
Cap wore a tight solid queue； done up in eelskin； while
the top of his head was nearly bald； and he mechanically
passed his hand over both as if to make certain that each
was in its right place。 He was at the bottom； however； a
brave man； and had often faced death with coolness；
though never in the frightful forms in which it presented
itself under the brief but graphic picture of his com…
panion。 It was too late to retreat； and he determined to
put the best face on the matter； though he could not avoid
muttering inwardly a few curses on the indiscretion with
which his brother…in…law； the Sergeant； had led him into
his present dilemma。
〃I make no doubt； Master Pathfinder；〃 he answered；
when these thoughts had found time to glance through
his mind； 〃that we shall reach port