proper instant。 That moment； however； did not arrive； in
his judgment； until the blaze illuminated the surrounding
bushes； and there had been time for his quick and practised
eye to detect the forms of three or four lurking savages；
who were watching the progress of the flames； with the
cool indifference of men accustomed to look on human
misery with apathy。 Then； indeed； he spoke。
〃Are you ready； friend Cap？〃 he asked。 〃The heat
begins to strike through the crevices； and although these
green logs are not of the fiery natur' of an ill…tempered
man； they may be kindled into a blaze if one provokes them
too much。 Are you ready with the barrel？ See that it
has the right cut； and that none of the water is wasted。〃
〃All ready！〃 answered Cap； in the manner in which a
seaman replies to such a demand。
〃Then wait for the word。 Never be over…impatient in
a critical time； nor fool…risky in a battle。 Wait for the
word。〃
While the Pathfinder was giving these directions； he was
also making his own preparations； for he saw it was time
to act。 Killdeer was deliberately raised； pointed； and dis…
charged。 The whole process occupied about half a minute；
and as the rifle was drawn in the eye of the marksman was
applied to the hole。
〃There is one riptyle the less；〃 Pathfinder muttered to
himself； 〃I've seen that vagabond afore； and know him to
be a marciless devil。 Well； well！ the man acted accord…
ing to his gifts； and he has been rewarded according to his
gifts。 One more of the knaves； and that will sarve the
turn for to…night。 When daylight appears； we may have
hotter work。〃
All this time another rifle was being got ready； and as
Pathfinder ceased； a second savage fell。 This indeed
sufficed； for； indisposed to wait for a third visitation from
the same hand； the whole band； which had been crouching
in the bushes around the block； ignorant of who was and
who was not exposed to view； leaped from their covers and
fled to different places for safety。
〃Now； pour away； Master Cap；〃 said Pathfinder； 〃I've
made my mark on the blackguards； and we shall have no
more fires lighted to…night。〃
〃Scaldings！〃 cried Cap； upsetting the barrel； with a
care that at once and completely extinguished the flames。
This ended the singular conflict； and the remainder of
the night passed in peace。 Pathfinder and Cap watched
alternately； though neither can be said to have slept。
Sleep indeed scarcely seemed necessary to them； for both
were accustomed to protracted watchings； and there were
seasons and times when the former appeared to be literally
insensible to the demands of hunger and thirst and callous
to the effects of fatigue。
Mabel watched by her father's pallet； and began to feel
how much our happiness in this world depends even on
things that are imaginary。 Hitherto she had virtually
lived without a father； the connection with her remaining
parent being ideal rather than positive； but now that she
was about to lose him； she thought for the moment that
the world would be a void after his death； and that she
could never be acquainted with happiness again。
CHAPTER XXV。
There was a roaring in the wind all night；
The rain came heavily； and fell in floods；
But now the sun is rising calm and bright；
The birds are singing in the distant woods。
WORDSWORTH。
As the light returned； Pathfinder and Cap ascended
again to the roof； with a view to reconnoitre the state of
things once more on the island。 This part of the block…
house had a low battlement around it； which afforded a
considerable protection to those who stood in its centre；
the intention having been to enable marksmen to lie be…
hind it and to fire over its top。 By making proper use；
therefore； of these slight defences； slight as to height；
though abundantly ample as far as they went； the two
look…outs commanded a pretty good view of the island； its
covers excepted； and of most of the channels that led to
the spot。
The gale was still blowing very fresh at south； and there
were places in the river where its surface looked green and
angry； though the wind had hardly sweep enough to raise
the water into foam。 The shape of the little island was
nearly oval； and its greater length was from east to west。
By keeping in the channels that washed it； in consequence
of their several courses and of the direction of the gale； it
would have been possible for a vessel to range past the
island on either of its principal sides； and always to keep
the wind very nearly abeam。 These were the facts first
noticed by Cap； and explained to his companion； for the
hopes of both now rested on the chances of relief sent from
Oswego。 At this instant； while they stood gazing anxiously
about them； Cap cried out； in his lusty； hearty manner；
〃Sail； ho！〃
Pathfinder turned quickly in the direction of his com…
panion's face； and there； sure enough； was just visible the
object of the old sailor's exclamation。 The elevation en…
abled the two to overlook the low land of several of the
adjacent islands； and the canvas of a vessel was seen
through the bushes that fringed the shore of one that lay
to the southward and westward。 The stranger was under
what seamen call low sail； but so great was the power of
the wind； that her white outlines were seen flying past the
openings of the verdure with the velocity of a fast…travelling
horse resembling a cloud driving in the heavens。
〃That cannot be Jasper；〃 said Pathfinder in disappoint…
ment； for be did not recognize the cutter of his friend in
the swift…passing object。 〃No； no； the lad is behind the
hour； and that is some craft which the Frenchers have
sent to aid their friends； the accursed Mingos。〃
〃This time you are out in your reckoning； friend Path…
finder； if you never were before；〃 returned Cap in a man…
ner that had lost none of its dogmatism by the critical cir…
cumstances in which they were placed。 〃Fresh water or
salt； that is the head of the _Scud's_ mainsail； for it is cut
with a smaller gore than common； and then you can see
that the gaff has been fished quite neatly done； I admit；
but fished。〃
〃I can see none of this； I confess；〃 answered Pathfinder；
to whom even the terms of his companion were Greek。
〃No！ Well； I own that surprises me； for I thought
your eyes could see anything！ Now to me nothing is
plainer than that gore and that fish； and I must say； my
honest friend； that in your place I should apprehend that
my sight was beginning to fail。〃
〃If Jasper is truly coming； I shall apprehend but little。
We can make good the block against the whole Mingo na…
tion for the next eight or ten hours； and with Eau…douce
to cover the retreat； I shall despair of nothing。 God send
that the lad may not run alongside of the bank； and fall
into an ambushment； as befell the Sergeant！〃
〃Ay； there's the danger。 There ought to have been sig…
nals concerted； and an anchorage…ground buoyed out； and
even a quarantine station or a lazaretto would have been
useful； could we have made these Minks…ho respect the
laws。 If the lad fetches up； as you say； anywhere in the
neighborhood of this island； we may look upon the cutter
as lost。 And； after all； Master Pathfinder； ought we not
to set down this same Jasper as a secret ally of the French；
rather than as a friend of our own？ I know the Sergeant
views the matter in that light； and I must say this whole
affair looks like treason。〃
〃We shall soon know； we shall soon know； Master Cap；
for there； indeed； comes the cutter clear of the other island；
and five minutes must settle the matter。 It would be no
more than fair； however； if we could give the boy some
sign in the way of warning。 It is not right that he should
fall into the trap without a notice that it has been laid。〃
Anxiety and suspense； notwithstanding； prevented either
from attempting to make any signal。 It was not easy；
truly； to see how it could be done； for the _Scud_ came
foaming through the channel； on the weather side of the
island； at a rate that scarcely admitted of the necessary
time。 Nor was any one visible on her deck to make signs
to； even her helm seemed deserted； though her course was
as steady as her progress was rapid。
Cap stood in silent admiration of a spectacle so unusual。
But； as the _Scud_ drew nearer； his practised eye detected
the helm in play by means of tiller…ropes； though the per…
son who steered was concealed。 As the cutter had weather…
boards of some little height； the mystery was explained；
no doubt remaining that her people lay behind the latter；
in order to be protected from the rifles of the enemy。 As
this fact showed that no force beyond that of the small
crew could be on board； Pathfinder received his compan…
ion's explanation with an ominous shake of the head。
〃This proves that the Sarpent has not reached Oswego；〃
said he； 〃and that we are not to expect succor from the
garrison。 I hope Lundie has not taken it into his head
to displace the lad； for Jasper Western would be a host of
himself in such a strait。 We three； Master Cap； ought to
make a manful warfare： you； as a seaman； to keep up the
intercourse with the cutter； Jasper； as