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 indeed for a person the most
sensitive on the subject of circumstances to fancy that the
_Scud_ was anywhere in the vicinity of a port so long es…
tablished and so well known on the frontiers as Fronte…
nac。 The islands might not have been literally a thousand
in number； but they were so numerous and small as to
baffle calculation； though occasionally one of larger size
than common was passed。 Jasper had quitted what might
have been termed the main channel； and was winding his
way； with a good stiff breeze and a favorable current；
through passes that were sometimes so narrow that there
appeared to be barely room sufficient for the _Scud's_ spars
to clear the trees； while at other moments he shot across
little bays； and buried the cutter again amid rocks； forests；
and bushes。 The water was so transparent that there
was no occasion for the lead； and being of very equal
depth； little risk was actually run； though Cap； with his
maritime habits； was in a constant fever lest they should
strike。
〃I give it up； I give it up； Pathfinder！〃 the old seaman
at length exclaimed； when the little vessel emerged in
safety from the twentieth of these narrow inlets through
which she had been so boldly carried； 〃this is defying the
very nature of seamanship； and sending all its laws and
rules to the d…l！〃
〃Nay； nay； Saltwater； 'tis the perfection of the art。 You
perceive that Jasper never falters； but； like a hound with
a true nose； he runs with his head high as if he had a
strong scent。 My life on it； the lad brings us out right in
the ind； as he would have done in the beginning had we
given him leave。〃
〃No pilot； no lead； no beacons； buoys； or lighthouses；
no 〃
〃Trail；〃 interrupted Pathfinder； 〃for that to me is the
most mysterious part of the business。 Water leaves no
trail； as every one knows； and yet here is Jasper moving
ahead as boldly as if he had before his eyes the prints of
the moccassins on leaves as plainly as we can see the sun
in the heaven。〃
〃D… me； if I believe there is even any compass！〃
〃Stand by to haul down the jib；〃 called out Jasper；
who merely smiled at the remarks of his companion。
〃Haul down starboard your helm starboard hard so
… meet her gently there with the helm touch her lightly
… now jump ashore with the fast； lad no； heave； there
are some of our people ready to take it。〃
All this passed so quickly as barely to allow the spectator
time to note the different evolutions； ere the _Scud_ had been
thrown into the wind until her mainsail shivered； next
cast a little by the use of the rudder only； and then she set
bodily alongside of a natural rocky quay； where she was
immediately secured by good fasts run to the shore。 In
a word； the station was reached； and the men of the 55th
were greeted by their expecting comrades； with the satis…
faction which a relief usually brings。
Mabel sprang up on the shore with a delight which she
did not care to express； and her father led his men after
her with an alacrity which proved how wearied he had be…
come of the cutter。 The station； as the place was fami…
liarly termed by the soldiers of the 55th； was indeed a spot
to raise expectations of enjoyment among those who had
been cooped up so long in a vessel of the dimensions of
the _Scud_。 None of the islands were high； though all lay
at a sufficient elevation above the water to render them
perfectly healthy and secure。 Each had more or less of
wood； and the greater number at that distant day were
clothed with the virgin forest。 The one selected by the
troops for their purpose was small； containing about twenty
acres of land； and by some of the accidents of the wilder…
ness it had been partly stripped of its trees； probably cen…
turies before the period of which we are writing； and a
little grassy glade covered nearly half its surface。
The shores of Station Island were completely fringed
with bushes； and great care had been taken to preserve
them； as they answered as a screen to conceal the persons
and things collected within their circle。 Favored by this
shelter； as well as by that of several thickets of trees and
different copses； some six or eight low huts bad been erected
to be used as quarters for the officer and his men； to con…
tain stores； and to serve the purposes of kitchen； hospital；
etc。 These huts were built of logs in the usual manner；
had been roofed by bark brought from a distance； lest the
signs of labor should attract attention； and； as they had
now been inhabited some months； were as comfortable as
dwellings of that description usually ever get to be。
At the eastern extremity of the island； however； was a
small； densely…wooded peninsula； with a thicket of under…
brush so closely matted as nearly to prevent the possibility
of seeing across it； so long as the leaves remained on the
branches。 Near the narrow neck that connected this acre
with the rest of the island； a small blockhouse had been
erected； with some attention to its means of resistance。
The logs were bullet…proof； squared and jointed with a
care to leave no defenceless points； the windows were loop…
holes； the door massive and small； and the roof； like the
rest of the structure； was framed of hewn timber； covered
properly with bark to exclude the rain。 The lower apart…
ment as usual contained stores and provisions； here indeed
the party kept all their supplies； the second story was in…
tended for a dwelling； as well as for the citadel； and a low
garret was subdivided into two or three rooms； and could
hold the pallets of some ten or fifteen persons。 All the
arrangements were exceedingly simple and cheap； but they
were sufficient to protect the soldiers against the effects of
a surprise。 As the whole building was considerably less
than forty feet high； its summit was concealed by the tops
of the trees； except from the eyes of those who had reached
the interior of the island。 On that side the view was open
from the upper loops； though bushes even there； more or
less； concealed the base of the wooden tower。
The object being purely defence； care had been taken to
place the blockhouse so near an opening in the limestone
rock that formed the base of the island as to admit of a
bucket being dropped into the water； in order to obtain
that great essential in the event of a siege。 In order to
facilitate this operation； and to enfilade the base of the
building； the upper stories projected several feet beyond
the lower in the manner usual to blockhouses； and pieces
of wood filled the apertures cut in the log flooring； which
were intended as loops and traps。 The communications
between the different stories were by means of ladders。 If
we add that these blockhouses were intended as citadels
for garrisons or settlements to retreat to； in the cases of
attacks； the general reader will obtain a sufficiently correct
idea of the arrangements it is our wish to explain。
But the situation of the island itself formed its principal
merit as a military position。 Lying in the midst of twenty
others； it was not an easy matter to find it； since boats
might pass quite near； and； by glimpses caught through
the openings； this particular island would be taken for a
part of some other。 Indeed； the channels between the
islands which lay around the one we have been describing
were so narrow that it was even difficult to say which por…
tions of the land were connected； or which separated； even
as one stood in the centre； with the express desire of ascer…
taining the truth。 The little bay in particular； which
Jasper used as a harbor； was so embowered with bushes
and shut in with islands； that； the sails of the cutter being
lowered； her own people on one occasion had searched for
hours before they could find the _Scud_； in their return from
a short excursion among the adjacent channels in quest of
fish。 In short； the place was admirably adapted to its
present objects； and its natural advantages had been as in…
geniously improved as economy and the limited means of
a frontier post would very well allow。
The hour which succeeded the arrival of the _Scud_ was
one of hurried excitement。 The party in possession had
done nothing worthy of being mentioned； and； wearied
with their seclusion； they were all eager to return to Os…
wego。 The Sergeant and the officer he came to relieve had
no sooner gone through the little ceremonies of transfer…
ring the command； than the latter hurried on board the
_Scud_ with his whole party； and Jasper； who would gladly
have passed the day on the island； was required to get
under way forthwith； the wind promising a quick passage
up the river and across the lake。 Before separating； how…
ever； Lieutenant Muir； Cap； and the Sergeant had a private
conference with the ensign who had been relieved； in
which the last was made acquainted with the suspicions
that existed against the fidelity of the young sailor。
Promising due caution； the officer embarked； and in less
than three hours from the time when she had arrived the
cutter was