make a manful warfare： you； as a seaman； to keep up the
intercourse with the cutter； Jasper； as a laker who knows
all that is necessary to be done on the water； and I； with
gifts that are as good as any among the Mingos； let me be
what I may in other particulars。 I say we ought to make
a manful fight in Mabel's behalf。〃
〃That we ought； and that we will；〃 answered Cap hear…
tily； for he began to have more confidence in the security
of his scalp now that he saw the sun again。 〃I set down
the arival of the _Scud_ as one circumstance； and the chances
of Oh…deuce's honesty as another。 This Jasper is a young
man of prudence； you find； for he keeps a good offing； and
seems determined to know how matters stand on the island
before he ventures to bring up。〃
〃I have it！ I have it！〃 exclaimed Pathfinder； with ex…
ultation。 〃There lies the canoe of the Sarpent on the cut…
ter's deck； and the chief has got on board； and no doubt
has given a true account of our condition； for； unlike a
Mingo； a Delaware is sartain to get a story right； or to
hold his tongue。〃
〃That canoe may not belong to the cutter；〃 said the
captious seaman。 〃Oh…deuce had one on board when he
sailed。〃
〃Very true； friend Cap； but if you know your sails and
masts by your gores and fishes； I know my canoes and my
paths by frontier knowledge。 If you can see new cloth in
a sail； I can see new bark in a canoe。 That is the boat of
the Sarpent； and the noble fellow has struck off for the
garrison as soon as he found the block beseiged； has fallen
in with the _Scud_； and； after telling his story； has brought
the cutter down here to see what can be done。 The Lord
grant that Jasper Western be still on board her！〃
〃Yes； yes； it might not be amiss； for； traitor or loyal；
the lad has a handy way with him in a gale； it must be
owned。〃
〃And in coming over waterfalls！〃 said Pathfinder； nudg…
ing the ribs of his companion with an elbow； and laughing
in his silent but hearty manner。 〃We will give the boy
his due； though he scalps us all with his own hand。〃
The _Scud_ was now so near； that Cap made no reply。
The scene； just at that instant； was so peculiar； that it
merits a particular description； which may also aid the
reader in forming a more accurate nature of the picture
we wish to draw。
The gale was still blowing violently。 Many of the smaller
trees bowed their tops； as if ready to descend to the earth；
while the rushing of the wind through the branches of the
groves resembled the roar of distant chariots。
The air was filled with leaves； which； at that late season；
were readily driven from their stems； and flew from island
to island like flights of birds。 With this exception； the spot
seemed silent as the grave。 That the savages still remained；
was to be inferred from the fact that their canoes； together
with the boats of the 55th； lay in a group in the little cove
that had been selected as a harbor。 Otherwise； not a sign
of their presence was to be detected。 Though taken en…
tirely by surprise by the cutter； the sudden return of which
was altogether unlooked…for； so uniform aud inbred were
their habits of caution while on the war…path； that the in…
stant an alarm was given every man had taken to his cover
with the instinct and cunning of a fox seeking his hole。
The same stillness reigned in the blockhouse； for though
Pathfinder and Cap could command a view of the chan…
nel； they took the precaution necessary to lie concealed。
The unusual absence of anything like animal life on board
the _Scud_； too； was still more remarkable。 As the Indians
witnessed her apparently undirected movements； a feeling
of awe gained a footing among them； and some of the bold…
est of their party began to distrust the issue of an expedi…
tion that had commenced so prosperotisly。 Even Arrow…
head； accustomed as he was to intercourse with the whites
on both sides of the lakes； fancied there was something
ominous in the appearance of this unmanned vessel； and
he would gladly at that moment have been landed again
on the main。
In the meantime the progress of the cutter was steady
and rapid。 She held her way mid…channel； now inclining
to the gusts； and now rising again； like the philosopher
that bends to the calamities of life to resume his erect at…
titude as they pass away； but always piling the water be…
neath her bows in foam。 Although she was under so very
short canvas； her velocity was great； and there could not
have elapsed ten minutes between the time when her sails
were first seen glancing past the trees and bushes in the
distance and the moment when she was abreast of the
blockhouse。 Cap and Pathfinder leaned forward； as the cut…
ter came beneath their eyrie； eager to get a better view of
her deck； when； to the delight of both； Jasper Eau…douce
sprang upon his feet and gave three hearty cheers。 Re…
gardless of all risk； Cap leaped upon the rampart of logs
and returned the greeting； cheer for cheer。 Happily； the
policy of the enemy saved the latter； for they still lay
quiet； not a rifle being discharged。 On the other hand；
Pathfinder kept in view the useful； utterly disregarding
the mere dramatic part of warfare。 The moment he be…
held his friend Jasper； he called out to him with stentorian
lungs；
〃Stand by us； lad； and the day's our own！ Give 'em a
grist in yonder bushes； and you'll put 'em up like part…
ridges。〃
Part of this reached Jasper's ears； but most was borne
off to leeward on the wings of the wind。 By the time
this was said； the _Scud_ had driven past； and in the next
moment she was hid from view by the grove in which the
blockhouse was partially concealed。
Two anxious minutes succeeded； but； at the expiration
of that brief space； the sails were again gleaming through
the trees； Jasper having wore； jibed； and hauled up under
the lee of the island on the other tack。 The wind was
free enough； as has been already explained； to admit of
this manoeuvre； and the cutter； catching the current under
her lee bow； was breasted up to her course in a way that
showed she would come out to windward of the island
again without any difficulty。 This whole evolution was
made with the greatest facility； not a sheet being touched；
the sails trimming themselves； the rudder alone controlling
the admirable machine。 The object appeared to be a re…
connoissance。 When； however； the _Scud_ had made the cir…
cuit of the entire island； and had again got her weatherly
position in the channel by which she had first approached；
her helm was put down； and she tacked。 The noise of the
mainsail flapping when it filled； lose…reefed as it was；
sounded like the report of a gun； and Cap trembled lest
the seams should open。
〃His Majesty gives good canvas； it must be owned；〃
muttered the old seaman； 〃and it must be owned； too；
that boy handles his boat as if he were thoroughly bred！
D… me； Master Pathfinder； if I believe； after all that has
been reported in the matter； that this Mister Oh…deuce got
his trade on this bit of fresh water。〃
〃He did； yes； he did。 He never saw the ocean； and has
come by his calling altogether up here on Ontario。 I have
often thought he has a nat'ral gift in the way of schooners
and sloops； and have respected him accordingly。 As for
treason and lying and black…hearted vices； friend Cap；
Jasper Western is as free as the most virtuousest of the
Delaware warriors； and if you crave to see a truly honest
man； you must go among that tribe to discover him。〃
〃There he comes round！〃 exclaimed the delighted Cap；
the _Scud_ at this moment filling on her original tack； 〃and
now we shall see what the boy would be at； he cannot mean
to keep running up and down these passages； like a girl
footing it through a country…dance。〃
The _Scud_ now kept so much away； that for a moment
the two observers on the blockhouse feared Jasper meant
to come…to； and the savages； in their lairs； gleamed out
upon her with the sort of exultation that the crouching
tiger may be supposed to feel as he sees his unconscious
victim approach his bed。 But Jasper had no such inten…
tion： familiar with the shore； and acquainted with the
depth of water on every part of the island； he well knew
that the _Scud_ might be run against the bank with impu…
nity； and he ventured fearlessly so near； that； as he passed
through the little cove； he swept the two boats of the sol…
diers from their fastenings and forced them out into the
channel； towing them with the cutter。 As all the canoes
were fastened to the two Dunham boats； by this bold and
successful attempt the savages were at once deprived of
the means of quitting the island； unless by swimming； and
they appeared to be instantly aware of the very important
fact。 Rising in a body； they filled the air with yells； and
poured in a harmless fire。 While up in this unguarded
manner； two rifles were discharged by their adversaries。
One came from the summit of the block； and an Iroquois
fell dead in his tracks； shot through the brain。 The other
came from the _Scud_。 The last was the piece of the Dela…
ware； but； less true than that of his friend； it only maimed
an enemy for life。 The people of t