posing Mabel any longer to tbe dangers of their present
situation； for； now that the violence of the elements had
ceased； he well knew that the _Montcalm_ would be in search
of them。 He had the discretion； however； not to reveal
his apprehensions on this head； for it happened that the
very means he deemed the best to escape the enemy were
those which would be most likely to awaken new suspi…
cions of his honesty in the minds of those who held the
power to defeat his intentions。 In other words； Jasper
believed that the gallant young Frenchman； who com…
manded the ship of the enemy； would quit his anchorage
under the fort at Niagara； and stand up the lake； as soon
as the wind abated； in order to ascertain the fate of the
_Scud_； keeping midway between the two shores as the best
means of commanding a broad view； and that； on his part；
it would be expedient to hug one coast or the other； not
only to avoid a meeting； but as affording a chance of pass…
ing without detection by blending his sails and spars with
objects on the land。 He preferred the south because it
was the weather shore； and because he thought it was that
which the enemy would the least expect him to take；
though it necessarily led near his settlements； and in front
of one of the strongest posts he held in that part of the
world。
Of all this； however； Cap was happily ignorant； and the
Sergeant's mind was too much occupied with the details
of his military trust to enter into these niceties； which so
properly belonged to another profession。 No opposition
was made； therefore； and before morning Jasper had ap…
parently dropped quietly into all his former authority； is…
suing his orders freely； and meeting with obedience with…
out hesitation or cavil。
The appearance of day brought all on board on deck
again； and； as is usual with adventurers on the water； the
opening horizon was curiously examined； as objects started
out of the obscurity； and the panorama brightened under
the growing light。 East； west； and north nothing was visi…
ble but water glittering in the rising sun； but southward
stretched the endless belt of woods that then held Ontario
in a setting of forest verdure。 Suddenly an opening ap…
peared ahead； and then the massive walls of a chateau…look…
ing house； with outworks； bastions； blockhouses； and pali…
sadoes； frowned on a headland that bordered the outlet of
a broad stream。 Just as the fort became visible； a little
cloud rose over it； and the white ensign of France was seen
fluttering from a lofty flagstaff。
Cap gave an ejaculation as he witnessed this ungrateful
exhibition； and he cast a quick suspicious glance at his
brother…in…law。
The dirty tablecloth hung up to air； as my name is
Charles Cap！〃 he muttered； 〃and we hugging this dd
shore as if it were our wife and children met on the return
from an India v'y'ge！ Hark'e； Jasper； are you in search
of a cargo of frogs； that you keep so near in to this New
France？〃
〃I hug the land； sir； in the hope of passing the enemy's
ship without being seen； for I think she must be some…
where down here to leeward。〃
〃Ay； ay； this sounds well； and I hope it may turn out as
you say。 I trust there is no under…tow here？〃
〃We are on a weather shore； now；〃 said Jasper； smiling；
〃and I think you will admit； Master Cap； that a strong
under…tow makes an easy cable： we owe all our lives to the
under…tow of this very lake。〃
〃French flummery！〃 growled Cap； though he did not
care to be heard by Jasper。 〃Give me a fair； honest；
English…Yankee…American tow； above board； and above
water too； if I must have a tow at all； and none of your
sneaking drift that is below the surface； where one can
neither see nor feel。 I daresay； if the truth could be come
at； that this late escape of ours was all a contrived affair。〃
〃We have now a good opportunity； at least； to recon…
noitre the enemy's post at Niagara； brother； for such I take
this fort to be；〃 put in the Sergeant。 〃Let us be all eyes
in passing； and remember that we are almost in face of
the enemy。〃
This advice of the Sergeant needed nothing to enforce
it； for the interest and novelty of passing a spot occupied
by human beings were of themselves sufficient to attract
deep attention in that scene of a vast but deserted nature。
The wind was now fresh enough to urge the _Scud_ through
the water with considerable velocity； and Jasper eased her
helm as she opened the river； and luffed nearly into the
mouth of that noble strait； or river； as it is termed。 A
dull； distant； heavy roar came down through the opening
in the banks； swelling on the currents of the air； like the
deeper notes of some immense organ； and occasionally
seeming to cause the earth itself to tremble。
〃That sounds like surf on some long unbroken coast！〃
exclaimed Cap； as a swell； deeper than common； came to his
ears。
〃Ay； that is such surf as we have in this quarter of the
world；〃 Pathfinder answered。 〃There is no under…tow
there； Master Cap； but all the water that strikes the rocks
stays there； so far as going back again is consarned。 That
is old Niagara that you hear； or this noble stream tum…
bling down a mountain。〃
〃No one will have the impudence to pretend that this
fine broad river falls over yonder hills？〃
〃It does； Master Cap； it does； and all for the want of
stairs； or a road to come down by。 This is natur'； as we
have it up hereaway； though I daresay you beat us down
on the ocean。 Ah's me； Mabel！ a pleasant hour it would
be if we could walk on the shore some ten or fifteen miles
up this stream； and gaze on all that God has done there。〃
〃You have； then； seen these renowned falls； Path…
finder？〃 the girl eagerly inquired。
〃I have yes； I have； and an awful sight I witnessed at
that same time。 The Sarpent and I were out scouting
about the garrison there； when he told me that the tradi…
tions of his people gave an account of a mighty cataract in
this neighborhood； and he asked me to vary from the line
of march a little to look at the wonder。 I had heard some
marvels consarning the spot from the soldiers of the 60th；
which is my nat'ral corps like； and not the 55th； with
which I have sojourned so much of late； but there are so
many terrible liars in all rijiments that I hardly believed
half they had told me。 Well； we went； and though we
expected to be led by our ears； and to hear some of that
awful roaring that we hear to…day； we were disappointed；
for natur' was not then speaking in thunder； as she is this
morning。 Thus it is in the forest； Master Cap； there
being moments when God seems to be walking abroad in
power； and then； again； there is a calm over all； as if His
spirit lay in quiet along the 'arth。 Well； we came sud…
denly upon the stream； a short distance above the fall； and
a young Delaware； who was in our company； found a bark
canoe； and he would push into the current to reach an
island that lies in the very centre of the confusion and
strife。 We told him of his folly； we did； and we reasoned
with him on the wickedness of tempting Providence by
seeking danger that led to no ind； but the youth among
the Delawares are very much the same as the youth among
the soldiers； risky and vain。 All we could say did not
change his mind； and the lad had his way。 To me it seems；
Mabel； that whenever a thing is really grand and potent；
it has a quiet majesty about it； altogether unlike the frothy
and flustering manner of smaller matters； and so it was
with them rapids。 The canoe was no sooner fairly in
them； than down it went； as it might be； as one sails
through the air on the 'arth； and no skill of the young
Delaware could resist the stream。 And yet he struggled
manfully for life； using the paddle to the last； like the deer
that is swimming to cast the hounds。 At first he shot
across the current so swiftly； that we thought he would
prevail； but he had miscalculated his distance； and when
the truth really struck him； he turned the head up…stream；
and struggled in a way that was fearful to look at。 I could
have pitied him even had he been a Mingo。 For a few
moments his efforts were so frantic that he actually pre…
vailed over the power of the cataract； but natur' has its
limits； and one faltering stroke of the paddle set him back；
and then he lost ground； foot by foot； inch by inch； until
he got near the spot where the river looked even and
green； and as if it were made of millions of threads of
water； all bent over some huge rock； when he shot back…
wards like an arrow and disappeared； the bow of the canoe
tipping just enough to let us see what had become of him。
I met a Mohawk some years later who had witnessed the
whole affair from the bed of the stream below； and he told
me that the Delaware continued to paddle in the air until
he was lost in the mists of the falls。〃
〃And what became of the poor wretch？〃 demanded
Mabel； who had been strongly interested by the natural
eloquence of the speaker。
〃He went to the happy hunting…grounds of his people；
no doubt； for though he was risky and vain； he was also
just and brave。 Yes； he died foolishly； but the Manitou
of the red…skins has compassion on his creaturs as