probably have deserted his post； had not the images of
Indians tearing scalps from the human head taken so
strong hold of his fancy as to induce him to imagine the
canoe a sort of sanctuary。
〃What is to be done with Magnet？〃 he demanded； af…
fection for his niece raising another qualm in his con…
science。 〃We cannot allow Magnet to land if there are
enemy's Indians near？〃
〃Nay； no Mingo will be near the portage； for that is a
spot too public for their devilries；〃 answered the Path…
finder confidently。 〃Natur' is natur'； and it is an Indian's
natur' to be found where he is least expected。 No fear
of him on a beaten path； for he wishes to come upon you
when unprepared to meet him； and the fiery villains make
it a point to deceive you； one way or another。 Sheer in；
Eau…douce； and we will land the Sergeant's daughter on
the end of that log； where she can reach the shore with a
dry foot。〃
The injunction was obeyed； and in a few minutes the
whole party had left the canoe； with the exception of
Pathfinder and the two sailors。 Notwithstanding his pro…
fessional pride； Cap would have gladly followed； but he
did not like to exhibit so unequivocal a weakness in the
presence of a fresh…water sailor。
〃I call all hands to witness；〃 said he； as those who had
landed moved away； 〃that I do not look on this affair as
anything more than canoeing in the woods。 There is no
seamanship in tumbling over a waterfall； which is a feat
the greatest lubber can perform as well as the oldest
mariner。〃
〃Nay； nay； you needn't despise the Oswego Falls；
neither；〃 put in Pathfinder； 〃for； thought they may not be
Niagara； nor the Genessee； nor the Cahoos； nor Glenn's；
nor those on the Canada； they are narvous enough for a
new beginner。 Let the Sergeant's daughter stand on
yonder rock； and she will see the manner in which we ig…
norant backwoodsmen get over a difficulty that we can't
get under。 Now； Eau…douce； a steady hand and a true eye；
for all rests on you； seeing that we can count Master Cap
for no more than a passenger。〃
The canoe was leaving the shore as he concluded； while
Mabel went hurriedly and trembling to the rock that had
been pointed out； talking to her companion of the danger
her uncle so unnecessarily ran； while her eyes were riveted
on the agile and vigorous form of Eau…douce； as he stood
erect in the stern of the light boat； governing its move…
ments。 As soon； however； as she reached a point where
she got a view of the fall； she gave an involuntary but
suppressed scream； and covered her eyes。 At the next
instant； the latter were again free； and the entranced girl
stood immovable as a statue； a scarcely breathing observer
of all that passed。 The two Indians seated themselves
passively on a log； hardly looking towards the stream；
while the wife of Arrowhead came near Mabel； and ap…
reared to watch the motions of the canoe with some such
interest as a child regards the leaps of a tumbler。
As soon as the boat was in the stream； Pathfinder sank
on his knees； continuing to use the paddle； though it was
slowly； and in a manner not to interfere with the efforts
of his companion。 The latter still stood erect； and； as
he kept his eye on some object beyond the fall； it was evi…
dent that he was carefully looking for the spot proper for
their passage。
〃Farther west； boy； farther west；〃 muttered Pathfinder；
〃there where you see the water foam。 Bring the top of
the dead oak in a line with the stem of the blasted hem…
lock。〃
Eau…douce made no answer； for the canoe was in the
centre of the stream； with its head pointed towards the
fall； and it had already begun to quicken its motion by the
increased force of the current。 At that moment Cap
would cheerfully have renounced every claim to glory that
could possibly be acquired by the feat； to have been safe
again on shore。 He heard the roar of the water； thunder…
ing； as it might be； behind a screen； but becoming more
and more distinct； louder and louder； and before him he
saw its line cutting the forest below； along which the
green and angry element seemed stretched and shining； as
if the particles were about to lose their principle of cohe…
sion。
〃Down with your helm； down with your helm； man！〃
he exclaimed； unable any longer to suppress his anxiety；
as the canoe glided towards the edge of the fall。
〃Ay； ay； down it is sure enough；〃 answered Pathfinder；
looking behind him for a single instant； with his silent；
joyous laugh； 〃down we go； of a sartinty！ Heave her
starn up； boy； farther up with her starn！〃
The rest was like the passage of the viewless wind。 Eau…
douce gave the required sweep with his paddle； the canoe
glanced into the channel； and for a few seconds it seemed
to Cap that he was tossing in a caldron。 He felt the bow
of the canoe tip； saw the raging； foaming water careering
madly by his side； was sensible that the light fabric in
which he floated was tossed about like an egg…shell； and
then； not less to his great joy than to his surprise； he dis…
covered that it was gliding across the basin of still water
below the fall； under the steady impulse of Jasper's
paddle。
The Pathfinder continued to laugh； but he arose from
his knees； and； searching for a tin pot and a horn spoon；
he began deliberately to measure the water that had been
taken in the passage。
〃Fourteen spoonfuls； Eau…douce； fourteen fairly meas…
ured spoonfuls。 I have； you must acknowledge； known
you to go down with only ten。〃
〃Master Cap leaned so hard up stream；〃 returned Jasper
seriously； 〃that I had difficulty in trimming the canoe。〃
〃It may be so； no doubt it _was_ so； since you say it； but
I have known you go over with only ten。〃
Cap now gave a tremendous hem； felt for his queue as
if to ascertain its safety； and then looked back in order to
examine the danger he had gone through。 His safety is
easily explained。 Most of the river fell perpendicularly
ten or twelve feet； but near its centre the force of the
current had so far worn away the rock as to permit the
water to shoot through a narrow passage； at an angle of
about forty or forty five degrees。 Down this ticklish de…
scent the canoe had glanced； amid fragments of broken
rock； whirlpools； foam； and furious tossings of the ele…
ment； which an uninstructed eye would believe menaced
inevitable destruction to an object so fragile。 But the
very lightness of the canoe had favored its descent； for；
borne on the crest of the waves； and directed by a steady
eye and an arm full of muscle； it had passed like a feather
from one pile of foam to another； scarcely permitting its
glossy side to be wetted。 There were a few rocks to be
avoided； the proper direction was to be rigidly observed；
and the fierce current did the rest。 （1）
（1） Lest the reader suppose we are dealing purely in fiction； the
writer will add that he has known a long thirty…two pounder car…
ried over these same falls in perfect safety。
To say that Cap was astonished would not be expressing
half his feelings； he felt awed： for the profound dread of
rocks which most seamen entertain came in aid of his ad…
miration of the boldness of the exploit。 Still he was in…
disposed to express all he felt； lest it might be conceding
too much in favor of fresh water and inland navigation；
and no sooner had he cleared his throat with the afore…
said hem； than he loosened his tongue in the usual strain
of superiority。
〃I do not gainsay your knowledge of the channel； Master
Eau…douce； and； after all； to know the channel in such a
place is the main point。 I have had cockswains with me
who could come down that shoot too； if they only knew
the channel。〃
〃It isn't enough to know the channel；〃 said Pathfinder；
〃it needs narves and skill to keep the canoe straight； and
to keep her clear of the rocks too。 There isn't another
boatman in all this region that can shoot the Oswego； but
Eau…douce there； with any sartainty； though； now and
then； one has blundered through。 I can't do it myself
unless by means of Providence； and it needs Jasper's hand
and eye to make sure of a dry passage。 Fourteen spoon…
fuls； after all； are no great matter； though I wish it had
been but ten； seeing that the Sergeant's daughter was a
looker…on。〃
〃And yet you conned the canoe； you told him how to
head and how to sheer。〃
〃Human frailty； master mariner； that was a little of
white…skin natur'。 Now； had the Sarpent； yonder； been in
the boat； not a word would he have spoken or thought would
he have given to the public。 An Indian knows how to
hold his tongue； but we white folk fancy we are always
wiser than our fellows。 I'm curing myself fast of the
weakness； but it needs time to root up the tree that has
been growing more than thirty years。〃
〃I think little of this affair； sir； nothing at all to speak
my mind freely。 It's a mere wash of spray to shooting
London Bridge which is done every day by hundreds of
persons； and often by the most delicate ladies in the land。
The king's majesty has shot the bridge in his royal person。〃
〃Well； I want no delicate ladies or king's majesties
（God bless 'em！） in the canoe； in going over these falls；
for a boat