of the red…skins has compassion on his creaturs as well as
the God of a Christian。〃
A gun at this moment was discharged from a blockhouse
near the fort； and the shot； one of light weight； came
whistling over the cutter's mast； an admonition to ap…
proach no nearer。 Jasper was at the helm； and he kept
away； smiling at the same time as if he felt no anger at
the rudeness of the salutation。 The _Scud_ was now in the
current； and her outward set soon carried her far enough
to leeward to avoid the danger of a repetition of the shot；
and then she quietly continued her course along the land。
As soon as the river was fairly opened； Jasper ascertained
that the _Montcalm_ was not at anchor in it； and a man
sent aloft came down with the report that the horizon
showed no sail。 The hope was now strong that the artifice
of Jasper had succeeded； and that the French commander
had missed them by keeping the middle of the lake as he
steered towards its head。
All that day the wind hung to the southward； and the
cutter continued her course about a league from the land；
running six or eight knots the hour in perfectly smooth
water。 Although the scene had one feature of monotony；
the outline of unbroken forest； it was not without its in…
terest and pleasures。 Various headlands presented them…
selves； and the cutter； in running from one to another；
stretched across bays so deep as almost to deserve the
name of gulfs。 But nowhere did the eye meet with the
evidences of civilization； rivers occasionally poured their
tribute into the great reservoir of the lake； but their banks
could be traced inland for miles by the same outlines of
trees； and even large bays； that lay embosomed in woods；
communicating with Ontario only by narrow outlets； ap…
peared and disappeared； without bringing with them a sin…
gle trace of a human habitation。
Of all on board； the Pathfinder viewed the scene with
the most unmingled delight。 His eyes feasted on the end…
less line of forest； and more than once that day； notwith…
standing he found it so grateful to be near Mabel； listen…
ing to her pleasant voice； and echoing； in feelings at least；
her joyous laugh； did his soul pine to be wandering be…
neath the high arches of the maples； oaks； and lindens；
where his habits had induced him to fancy lasting and
true joys were only to be found。 Cap viewed the prospect
differently； more than once he expressed his disgust at
there being no lighthouses； church…towers； beacons； or road…
steads with their shipping。 Such another coast； he pro…
tested； the world did not contain； and； taking the Ser…
geant aside； he gravely assured him that the region could
never come to anything； as the havens were neglected； the
rivers had a deserted and useless look； and that even the
breeze had a smell of the forest about it； which spoke ill
of its properties。
But the humors of the different individuals in her did
not stay the speed of the _Scud：_ when the sun was setting；
she was already a hundred miles on her route towards
Oswego； into which river Sergeant Dunham now thought
it his duty to go； in order to receive any communications
that Major Duncan might please to make。 With a view
to effect this purpose； Jasper continued to hug the shore
all night； and though the wind began to fail him towards
morning； it lasted long enough to carry the cutter up to a
point that was known to be but a league or two from the
fort。 Here the breeze came out light at the northward；
and the cutter hauled a little from the land； in order to
obtain a safe offing should it come on to blow； or should
the weather again get to be easterly。
When the day dawned； the cutter had the mouth of the
Oswego well under the lee； distant about two miles； and
just as the morning gun from the fort was fired； Jasper
gave the order to ease off the sheets； and to bear up for
his port。 At that moment a cry from the forecastle drew
all eyes towards the point on the eastern side of the outlet；
and there； just without the range of shot from the light
guns of the works； with her canvas reduced to barely
enough to keep her stationary； lay the _Montcalm_； evidently
in waiting for their appearance。
To pass her was impossible； for by filling her sails the
French ship could have intercepted them in a few min…
utes； and the circumstances called for a prompt decision。
After a short consultation； the Sergeant again changed his
plan； determining to make the best of his way towards the
station for which he had been originally destined； trusting
to the speed of the _Scud_ to throw the enemy so far astern
as to leave no clue to her movements。
The cutter accordingly hauled upon a wind with the
least possible delay； with everything set that would draw。
Guns were fired from the fort； ensigns shown； and the
ramparts were again crowded。 But sympathy was all the
aid that Lundie could lend to his party； and the _Mont…
calm_； also firing four or five guns of defiance； and throwing
abroad several of the banners of France； was soon in chase
under a cloud of canvas。
For several hours the two vessels were pressing through
the water as fast as possible； making short stretches to
windward； apparently with a view to keep the port under
their lee； the one to enter it if possible； and the other to
intercept it in the attempt。
At meridian the French ship was hull down； dead to
leeward； the disparity of sailing on a wind being very
great； and some islands were near by； behind which Jas…
per said it would be possible for the cutter to conceal her
future movements。 Although Cap and the Sergeant； and
particularly Lieutenant Muir； to judge by his language；
still felt a good deal of distrust of the young man； and
Frontenac was not distant； this advice was followed； for
time pressed； and the Quartermaster discreetly observed
that Jasper could not well betray them without running
openly into the enemy's harbor； a step they could at any
time prevent； since the only cruiser of force the French
possessed at the moment was under their lee and not in a
situation to do them any immediate injury。
Left to himself； Jasper Western soon proved how much
was really in him。 He weathered upon the islands； passed
them； and on coming out to the eastward； kept broad
away； with nothing in sight in his wake or to leeward。
By sunset again the cutter was up with the first of the
islands that lie in the outlet of the lake； and ere it was
dark she was running through the narrow channels on her
way to the long…sought station。 At nine o'clock； however；
Cap insisted that they should anchor； for the maze of
islands became so complicated and obscure； that he feared；
at every opening； the party would find themselves under
the guns of a French fort。 Jasper consented cheerfully；
it being a part of his standing instructions to approach the
station under such circumstances as would prevent the
men from obtaining any very accurate notions of its posi…
tion； lest a deserter might betray the little garrison to the
enemy。
The _Scud_ was brought to in a small retired bay； where
it would have been difficult to find her by daylight； and
where she was perfectly concealed at night； when all but a
solitary sentinel on deck sought their rest。 Cap had been
so harassed during the previous eight…and…forty hours；
that his slumbers were long and deep； nor did he awake
from his first nap until the day was just beginning to
dawn。 His eyes were scarcely open； however； when his
nautical instinct told him that the cutter was under way。
Springing up； he found the _Scud_ threading the islands
again； with no one on deck but Jasper and the pilot； un…
less the sentinel be excepted； who had not in the least
interfered with movements that he had every reason to
believe were as regular as they were necessary。
〃How's this； Master Western？〃 demanded Cap； with
sufficient fierceness for the occasion； 〃are you running us
into Frontenac at last； and we all asleep below； like so
many mariners waiting for the 'sentry go'？〃
〃This is according to orders； Master Cap； Major Duncan
having commanded me never to approach the station un…
less at a moment when the people were below； for he does
not wish there should be more pilots in those waters than
the king has need of。〃
〃Whe…e…e…w！ a pretty job I should have made of
running down among these bushes and rocks with no one
on deck！ Why； a regular York branch could make noth…
ing of such a channel。〃
〃I always thought； sir；〃 said Jasper； smiling； 〃you would
have done better had you left the cutter in my hands until
she had safely reached her place of destination。〃
〃We should have done it； Jasper； we should have done
it； had it not been for a circumstance； these circumstances
are serious matters； and no prudent man will overlook
them。〃
〃Well； sir； I hope there is now an end of them。 We
shall arrive in less than an hour if the wind holds； and
then you'll be safe from any circumstances that I can
contrive。〃
〃Humph！〃
Cap was obliged to acquiesce； and； as everything around
him had the appearance of Jasper's being sincere； there
was not much difficulty in making up his mind to submit。
It would not have been easy