has arrived when we are driven to this hard alternative。〃
That instant of indecision on the part of Cap secured
the triumph of Jasper。 Looking at the Sergeant； the
young man received a nod that assured him of all he asked；
and he lost not one of those moments that were getting
to be so very precious。
〃Shall I take the helm；〃 he inquired of Cap； 〃and see
if we can reach a creek that lies to leeward？〃
〃Do so； do so；〃 said the other； hemming to clear his
throat； for he felt oppressed by a responsibility that
weighed all the heavier on his shoulders on account of his
ignorance。 〃Do so； Eau…douce； since； to be frank with
you； I can see nothing better to be done。 We must beach
or swamp。〃
Jasper required no more； springing aft； he soon had the
tiller in his own hands。 The pilot was prepared for what
was to follow； and； at a sign from his young commander；
the rag of sail that had so long been set was taken in。 At
that moment； Jasper； watching his time； put the helm up；
the head of a staysail was loosened forward； and the light
cutter； as if conscious she was now under the control of
familiar hands； fell off； and was soon in the trough of the
sea。 This perilous instant was passed in safety； and at the
next moment the little vessel appeared flying down toward
the breakers at a rate that threatened instant destruction。
The distances had become so short； that five or six minutes
sufficed for all that Jasper wished； and he put the helm
down again； when the bows of the _Scud_ came up to the
wind； notwithstanding the turbulence of the waters； as
gracefully as the duck varies its line of direction on the
glassy pond。 A sign from Jasper set all in motion on the
forecastle； and a kedge was thrown from each bow。 The
fearful nature of the drift was now apparent even to Mabel's
eyes； for the two hawsers ran out like tow…lines。 As soon
as they straightened to a slight strain； both anchors were
let go； and cable was given to each； nearly to the better…
ends。 It was not a difficult task to snub so light a craft
with ground…tackle of a quality better than common； and
in less than ten minutes from the moment when Jasper
went to the helm； the _Scud_ was riding； head to sea； with
the two cables stretched ahead in lines that resembled bars
of iron。
〃This is not well done； Master Jasper！〃 angrily ex…
claimed Cap； as soon as he perceived the trick which had
been played him； 〃this is not well done； sir。 I order you
to cut； and to beach the cutter without a moment's delay。〃
No one； however； seemed disposed to comply with this
order； for so long as Eau…douce saw fit to command； his
own people were disposed to obey。 Finding that the men
remained passive； Cap； who believed they were in the ut…
most peril； turned fiercely to Jasper； and renewed his re…
monstrances。
〃You did not head for your pretended creek；〃 added
he； after dealing in some objurgatory remarks that we do
not deem it necessary to record； 〃but steered for that bluff；
where every soul on board would have been drowned； had
we gone ashore。〃
〃And you wish to cut； and put every soul ashore at that
very spot！〃 Jasper retorted； a little drily。
〃Throw a lead…line overboard； and ascertain the drift！〃
Cap now roared to the people forward。 A sign from Jas…
per sustaining this order； it was instantly obeyed。 All on
deck watched； with nearly breathless interest； the result
of the experiment。 The lead was no sooner on the bottom；
than the line tended forward； and in about two minutes
it was seen that the cutter had drifted her length dead in
towards the bluff。 Jasper looked gravely； for he well knew
nothing would hold the vessel did she get within the vor…
tex of the breakers； the first line of which was appearing
and disappearing about a cable's length directly under their
stern。
〃Traitor！〃 exclaimed Cap； shaking a finger at the young
commander； though passion choked the rest。 〃You must
answer for this with your life！〃 he added after a short
pause。 〃If I were at the head of this expedition； Sergeant；
I would hang him at the end of the main…boom； lest he
escape drowning。〃
〃Moderate your feelings； brother； be more moderate； I
bcseech you； Jasper appears to have done all for the best；
and matters may not be so bad as you believe them。〃
〃Why did he not run for the creek he mentioned？ why
has he brought us here； dead to windward of that bluff；
and to a spot where even the breakers are only of half the
ordinary width； as if in a hurry to drown all on board？〃
〃I headed for the bluff； for the precise reason that the
breakers are so narrow at this spot；〃 answered Jasper
mildly； though his gorge had risen at the language the
other held。
〃Do you mean to tell an old seaman like me that this
cutter could live in those breakers？〃
〃I do not； sir。 I think she would fill and swamp if
driven into the first line of them； I am certain she would
never reach the shore on her bottom； if fairly entered。 I
hope to keep her clear of them altogether。〃
〃With a drift of her length in a minute？〃
〃The backing of the anchors does not yet fairly tell； nor
do I even hope that _they_ will entirely bring her up。〃
〃On what； then； do you rely？ To moor a craft； head and
stern； by faith； hope； and charity？〃
〃No； sir； I trust to the under…tow。 I headed for the
bluff because I knew that it was stronger at that point than
at any other； and because we could get nearer in with the
land without entering the breakers。〃
This was said with spirit； though without any particular
show of resentment。 Its effect on Cap was marked； the
feeling that was uppermost being evidently that of surprise。
〃Under…tow！〃 he repeated； 〃who the devil ever heard
of saving a vessel from going ashore by the under…tow？〃
〃This may never happen on the ocean； sir；〃 Jasper an…
swered modestly； 〃but we have known it to happen here。〃
〃The lad is right； brother；〃 put in the Sergeant； 〃for；
though I do not well understand it； I have often heard the
sailors of the lake speak of such a thing。 We shall do
well to trust to Jasper in this strait。〃
Cap grumbled and swore； but； as there was no remedy；
he was compelled to acquiesce。 Jasper； being now called
on to explain what he meant by the under…tow； gave this
account of the matter。 The water that was driven up on
the shore by the gale was necessarily compelled to find its
level by returning to the lake by some secret channels。
This could not be done on the surface； where both wind
and waves were constantly urging it towards the land； and
it necessarily formed a sort of lower eddy； by means of
which it flowed back again to its ancient and proper bed。
This inferior current had received the name of the under…
tow； and； as it would necessarily act on the bottom of a
vessel which drew as much water as the _Scud_； Jasper
trusted to the aid of this reaction to keep his cables from
parting。 In short； the upper and lower currents would；
in a manner； counteract each other。
Simple and ingenious as was this theory； however； as yet
there was little evidence of its being reduced to practice。
The drift continued； though； as the kedges and hawsers
with which the anchors were backed took the strains； it
became sensibly less。 At length the man at the lead an…
nounced the joyful intelligence that the anchors had ceased
to drag； and that the vessel had brought up！ At this pre…
cise moment the first line of breakers was about a hundred
feet astern of the _Scud_； even appearing to approach much
nearer as the foam vanished and returned on the raging
surges。 Jasper sprang forward； and； casting a glance over
the bows； he smiled in triumph； as he pointed exultingly
to the cables。 Instead of resembling bars of iron in rigid…
ity； as before； they were curving downwards； and to a sea…
man's senses it was evident that the cutter rose and fell
on the seas as they came in with the ease of a ship in a
tides…way； when the power of the wind is relieved by the
counteracting pressure of the water。
〃'Tis the undertow！〃 he exclaimed with delight； fairly
bounding along the deck to steady the helm； in order that
the cutter might ride still easier。 〃Providence has placed
us directly in its current； and there is no longer any dan…
ger。〃
〃Ay； ay； Providence is a good seaman；〃 growled Cap；
〃and often helps lubbers out of difficulty。 Under…tow or
upper…tow； the gale has abated； and； fortunately for us all；
the anchors have met with good holding…ground。 Then
this dd fresh water has an unnatural way with it。〃
Men are seldom inclined to quarrel with good fortune；
but it is in distress that they grow clamorous and critical。
Most on board were disposed to believe that they had been
saved from shipwreck by the skill and knowledge of Jas…
per； without regarding the opinions of Cap； whose remarks
were now little heeded。
There was half an hour of uncertainty and doubt； it is
true； during which period the lead was anxiously watched；
and then a feeling of security came over all； and the weary
slept without dreaming of instant death。
CHAPTER XVIII。
It is to be all made of sighs and tears；
It is to be all made of faith and service；
It is to be all m