stream。〃
This direction was followed； and； giving a vigorous
shove； the Pathfinder； who was in the flower of his strength
and activity； made a leap； landing lightly； and without
disturbing its equilibrium； in the bow of the canoe。 As
soon as it had reached the centre of the river or the
strength of the current； the boat was turned； and it began
to glide noiselessly down the stream。
The vessel in which Cap and his niece had embarked for
their long and adventurous journey was one of the canoes
of bark which the Indians are in the habit of constructing；
and which； by their exceeding lightness and the ease with
which they are propelled； are admirably adapted to a
navigation in which shoals； flood…wood； and other similar
obstructions so often occur。 The two men who composed
its original crew had several times carried it； when emptied
of its luggage； many hundred yards； and it would not have
exceeded the strength of a single man to lift its weight。
Still it was long； and； for a canoe； wide； a want of steadi…
ness being its principal defect in the eyes of the unin…
itiated。 A few hours practice； however； in a great measure
remedied this evil； and both Mabel and her uncle had
learned so far to humor its movements； that they now
maintained their places with perfect composure； nor did
the additional weight of the three guides tax its power in
any particular degree； the breath of the rounded bottom
allowing the necessary quantity of water to be displaced
without bringing the gunwale very sensibly nearer to the
surface of the stream。 Its workmanship was neat； the
timbers were small； and secured by thongs； and the whole
fabric； though it was so slight to the eye； was probably
capable of conveying double the number of persons which
it now contained。
Cap was seated on a low thwart； in the centre of the
canoe； the Big Serpent knelt near him。 Arrowhead and
his wife occupied places forward of both； the former hav…
ing relinquished his post aft。 Mabel was half reclining
behind her uncle； while the Pathfinder and Eau…douce
stood erect； the one in the bow； and the other in the stern；
each using a paddle； with a long； steady； noiseless sweep。
The conversation was carried on in low tones； all the party
beginning to feel the necessity of prudence； as they drew
nearer to the outskirts of the fort； and had no longer the
cover of the woods。
The Oswego； just at that place； was a deep dark stream
of no great width； its still； gloomy…looking current wind…
ing its way among overhanging trees； which； in particular
spots； almost shut out the light of the heavens。 Here and
there some half…fallen giant of the forest lay nearly across
its surface； rendering care necessary to avoid the limbs；
and most of the distance； the lower branches and leaves of
the trees of smaller growth were laved by its waters。 The
picture so beautifully described by our own admirable
poet； and which we have placed at the head of this chapter；
was here realized； the earth fattened by the decayed
vegetation of centuries； and black with loam； the stream
that filled the banks nearly to overflowing； and the 〃fresh
and boundless wood；〃 being all as visible to the eye as the
pen of Bryant has elsewhere vividly presented them to the
imagination。 In short； the entire scene was one of a rich
and benevolent nature； before it had been subjected to the
uses and desires of man； luxuriant； wild； full of promiSe；
and not without the charm of the picturesque； even in its
rudest state。 It will be remembered that this was in the
year 175…； or long before even speculation had brought any
portion of western New York within the bounds of civili…
zation。 At that distant day there were two great channels
of military communication between the inhabited por…
tion of the colony of New York and the frontiers which
lay adjacent to the Canadas； that by Lakes Champlain
and George； and that by means of the Mohawk； Wood
Creek； the Oneida； and the rivers we have been describ…
ing。 Along both these lines of communication military
posts had been established； though there existed a blank
space of a hundred miles between the last fort at the head
of the Mohawk and the outlet of the Oswego； which em…
braced most of the distance that Cap and Mabel had jour…
neyed under the protection of Arrowhead。
〃I sometimes wish for peace again；〃 said the Pathfinder；
〃when one can range the forest without searching for any
other enemy than the beasts and fishes。 Ah's me！ many
is the day that the Sarpent； there； and I have passed hap…
pily among the streams； living on venison； salmon； and
trout without thought of a Mingo or a scalp！ I some…
times wish that them blessed days might come back； for
it is not my real gift to slay my own kind。 I'm sartain
the Sergeant's daughter don't think me a wretch that takes
pleasure in preying on human natur'？〃
As this remark； a sort of half interrogatory； was made；
Pathfinder looked behind him； and； though the most
partial friend could scarcely term his sunburnt and hard
features handsome； even Mabel thought his smile attrac…
tive； by its simple ingenuousness and the uprightness that
beamed in every lineament of his honest countenance。
〃I do not think my father would have sent one like
those you mention to see his daughter through the wilder…
ness；〃 the young woman answered； returning the smile as
frankly as it was given； but much more sweetly。
〃That he wouldn't； the Sergeant is a man of feeling； and
many is the march and the fight that we have had stood
shoulder to shoulder in； as _he_ would call it though I always
keep my limbs free when near a Frencher or a Mingo。〃
〃You are； then； the young friend of whom my father
has spoken so often in his letters？〃
〃His _young_ friend the Sergeant has the advantage of
me by thirty years； yes； he is thirty years my senior； and
as many my better。〃
〃Not in the eyes of the daughter； perhaps； friend Path…
finder；〃 put in Cap； whose spirits began to revive when he
found the water once more flowing around him。 〃The
thirty years that you mention are not often thought to be
an advantage in the eyes of girls of nineteen。〃
Mabel colored； and； in turning aside her face to avoid
the looks of those in the bow of the canoe； she encountered
the admiring gaze of the young man in the stern。 As a
last resource； her spirited but soft blue eyes sought refuge
in the water。 Just at this moment a dull； heavy sound
swept up the avenue formed by the trees； borne along by a
light air that hardly produced a ripple on the water。
〃That sounds pleasantly；〃 said Cap； pricking up his
ears like a dog that hears a distant baying； 〃it is the surf
on the shores of your lake； I suppose？〃
〃Not so not so；〃 answered the Pathfinder； 〃it is
merely this river tumbling over some rocks half a mile
below us。〃
〃Is there a fall in the stream？〃 demanded Mabel； a still
brighter flush glowing in her face。
〃The devil！ Master Pathfinder； or you； Mr。 Eau…douce〃
（for so Cap began to style Jasper）； 〃had you not better
give the canoe a sheer； and get nearer to the shore？ These
waterfalls have generally rapids above them； and one might
as well get into the Maelstrom at once as to run into their
suction。〃
〃Trust to us； friend Cap；〃 answered Pathfinder； 〃we
are but fresh…water sailors； it is true； and I cannot boast
of being much even of that； but we understand rifts and
rapids and cataracts； and in going down these we shall do
our endeavors not to disgrace our edication。〃
〃In going down！〃 exclaimed Cap。 〃The devil； man！
you do not dream of going down a waterfall in this egg
shell of bark！〃
〃Sartain； the path lies over the falls； and it is much
easier to shoot them than to unload the canoe and to carry
that and all it contains around a portage of a mile by
hand。〃
Mabel turned her pallid countenance towards the young
man in the stern of the canoe； for； just at that moment；
a fresh roar of the fall was borne to her ears by a new
current of the air； and it really sounded terrific； now tlnat
the cause was understood。
〃We thought that； by landing the females and the two
Indians；〃 Jasper quietly observed； 〃we three white men；
all of whom are used to the water； might carry the canoe
over in safety； for we often shoot these falls。〃
〃And we counted on you； friend mariner； as a main…
stay；〃 said Pathfinder； winking to Jasper over his shoulder；
〃for you are accustomed to see waves tumbling about； and
without some one to steady the cargo； all the finery of the
Sergeant's daughter might be washed into the river and
be lost。〃
Cap was puzzled。 The idea of going over a waterfall
was； perhaps； more serious in his eyes than it would have
been in those of one totally ignorant of all that pertained
to boats； for he understood the power of the element； and
the total feebleness of man when exposed to its fury。 Still
his pride revolted at the thought of deserting the boat；
while others not only steadily； but coolly； proposed to con…
tinue in it。 Notwithstanding the latter feeling； and his
innate as well as acquired steadiness in danger； he would
probably have deserted his post； had not the images of
Indians tearing scalp