the pathfinder-第17部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


ferent　to　things　he　deemed　immaterial。　　As　the　Delaware
passed　deeper　into　the　bushes　with　a　view　to　wring　his
trifling　calico　dress　and　to　prepare　his　rifle　for　service；　he
gave　one　glance　of　triumph　at　his　companions；　and　then　all
emotion　connected　with　the　recent　exploit　seemed　to　cease。

〃Jasper；〃　resumed　the　guide；　〃step　down　to　the　station
of　Master　Cap；　and　ask　him　to　join　us：　we　have　little　time
for　a　council；　and　yet　our　plans　must　be　laid　quickly；　for
it　will　not　be　long　before　them　Mingos　will　be　plotting　our
ruin。〃

The　young　man　complied；　and　in　a　few　minutes　the
four　were　assembled　near　the　shore；　completely　concealed
from　the　view　of　their　enemies；　while　they　kept　a　vigilant
watch　over　the　proceedings　of　the　latter；　in　order　to　con…
sult　on　their　own　future　movements。

By　this　time　the　day　had　so　far　advanced　as　to　leave　but
a　few　minutes　between　the　passing　light　and　an　obscurity
that　promised　to　be　even　deeper　than　common。　　The　sun
had　already　set　and　the　twilight　of　a　low　latitude　would
soon　pass　into　the　darkness　of　deep　night。　　Most　of　the
hopes　of　the　party　rested　on　this　favorable　circumstance；
though　it　was　not　without　its　dangers　also；　as　the　very　ob…
scurity　which　would　favor　their　escape　would　be　as　likely
to　conceal　the　movements　of　their　wily　enemies。

〃The　moment　has　come；　men；〃　Pathfinder　commenced；
〃when　our　plans　must　be　coolly　laid；　in　order　that　we　may
act　together；　and　with　a　right　understanding　of　our　errand
and　gifts。　　In　an　hour's　time　these　woods　will　be　as　dark
as　midnight；　and　if　we　are　ever　to　gain　the　garrison；　it
must　be　done　under　favor　of　this　advantage。　　What　say
you；　Master　Cap？　for；　though　none　of　the　most　experi…
enced　in　combats　and　retreats　in　the　woods；　your　years
entitle　you　to　speak　first　in　a　matter　like　this　and　in　a
council。〃

〃Well；　in　my　judgment；　all　we　have　to　do　is　to　go　on
board　the　canoe　when　it　gets　to　be　so　dark　the　enemy's
look…outs　can't　see　us；　and　run　for　the　haven；　as　wind　and
tide　will　allow。〃

〃That　is　easily　said；　but　not　so　easily　done；〃　returned
the　guide。　〃We　shall　be　more　exposed　in　the　river　than
by　following　the　woods；　and　then　there　is　the　Oswego　rift
below　us；　and　I　am　far　from　sartain　that　Jasper　himself
can　carry　a　boat　safely　through　it　in　the　dark。　　What　say
you；　lad；　as　to　your　own　skill　and　judgment？〃

〃I　am　of　Master　Cap's　opinion　about　using　the　canoe。
Mabel　is　too　tender　to　walk　through　swamps　and　among
roots　of　trees　in　such　a　night　as　this　promises　to　be；　and
then　I　always　feel　myself　stouter　of　heart　and　truer　of　eye
when　afloat　than　when　ashore。〃

〃Stout　of　heart　you　always　be；　lad；　and　I　think　tolerably
true　of　eye　for　one　who　has　lived　so　much　in　broad　sun…
shine　and　so　little　in　the　woods。　　Ah's　me！　the　Ontario
has　no　trees；　or　it　would　be　a　plain　to　delight　a　hunter's
heart！　　As　to　your　opinion；　friends；　there　is　much　for
and　much　against　it。　　For　it；　it　may　be　said　water　leaves
no　trail　　〃

〃What　do　you　call　the　wake？〃　interrupted　the　pertina…
cious　and　dogmatical　Cap。

〃Anan？〃

〃Go　on；〃　said　Jasper；　〃Master　Cap　thinks　he　is　on　the
ocean　　water　leaves　no　trail　　〃

〃It　leaves　none；　Eau…douce；　hereaway；　though　I　do　not
pretend　to　say　what　it　may　leave　on　the　sea。　　Then　a
canoe　is　both　swift　and　easy　when　it　floats　with　the　cur…
rent；　and　the　tender　limbs　of　the　Sergeant's　daughter　will
be　favored　by　its　motion。　　But；　on　the　other　hand；　the
river　will　have　no　cover　but　the　clouds　in　the　heavens；
the　rift　is　a　ticklish　thing　for　boats　to　venture　into；　even
by　daylight；　and　it　is　six　fairly　measured　miles；　by　water；
from　this　spot　to　the　garrison。　　Then　a　trail　on　land　is
not　easy　to　be　found　in　the　dark。　　I　am　troubled；　Jasper；
to　say　which　way　we　ought　to　counsel　and　advise。〃

〃If　the　Serpent　and　myself　could　swim　into　the　river
and　bring　off　the　other　canoe；〃　the　young　sailor　replied；
〃it　would　seem　to　me　that　our　safest　course　would　be　the
water。〃

〃If；　indeed！　and　yet　it　might　easily　be　done；　as　soon　as
it　is　a　little　darker。　　Well；　well；　I　am　not　sartain　it　will
not　be　the　best。　　Though；　were　we　only　a　party　of　men；
it　would　be　like　a　hunt　to　the　lusty　and　brave　to　play　at
hide…and…seek　with　yonder　miscreants　on　the　other　shore。
Jasper；〃　continued　the　guide；　into　whose　character　there
entered　no　ingredient　which　belonged　to　vain　display　or
theatrical　effect；　〃will　you　undertake　to　bring　in　the
canoe？〃

〃I　will　undertake　anything　that　will　serve　and　protect
Mabel；　Pathfinder。〃

〃That　is　an　upright　feeling；　and　I　suppose　it　is　natur'。
The　Sarpent；　who　is　nearly　naked　already；　can　help　you；
and　this　will　be　cutting　off　one　of　the　means　of　them　devils
to　work　their　harm。〃

This　material　point　being　settled；　the　different　members
of　the　party　prepared　themselves　to　put　the　project　in
execution。　　The　shades　of　evening　fell　fast　upon　the　forest；
and　by　the　time　all　was　ready　for　the　attempt；　it　was　found
impossible　to　discern　objects　on　the　opposite　shore。　　Time
now　pressed；　for　Indian　cunning　could　devise　so　many
expedients　for　passing　so　narrow　a　stream；　that　the　Path…
finder　was　getting　impatient　to　quit　the　spot。　　While
Jasper　and　his　companion　entered　the　river；　armed　with
nothing　but　their　knives　and　the　Delaware's　tomahawk；
observing　the　greatest　caution　not　to　betray　their　move…
ments；　the　guide　brought　Mabel　from　her　place　of　conceal…
ment；　and；　bidding　her　and　Cap　proceed　along　the　shore
to　the　foot　of　the　rapids；　he　got　into　the　canoe　that
remained　in　his　possession；　in　order　to　carry　it　to　the　same
place。

This　was　easily　effected。　　The　canoe　was　laid　against
the　bank；　and　Mabel　and　her　uncle　entered　it；　taking
their　seats　as　usual；　while　the　Pathfinder；　erect　in　the
stern；　held　by　a　bush；　in　order　to　prevent　the　swift　stream
from　sweeping　them　down　its　current。　　Several　minutes
of　intense　and　breathless　expectation　followed；　while　they
awaited　the　results　of　the　bold　attempt　of　their　comrades。

It　will　be　understood　that　the　two　adventurers　were
compelled　to　swim　across　a　deep　and　rapid　channel　before
they　could　reach　a　part　of　the　rift　that　admitted　of　wad…
ing。　　This　portion　of　the　enterprise　was　soon　effected；
and　Jasper　and　the　Serpent　struck　the　bottom　side　by
side　at　the　same　instant。　　Having　secured　firm　footing；
they　took　hold　of　each　other's　hands；　and　waded　slowly
and　with　extreme　caution　in　the　supposed　direction　of　the
canoe。　　But　the　darkness　was　already　so　deep　that　they
soon　ascertained　they　were　to　be　but　little　aided　by　the
sense　of　sight；　and　that　their　search　must　be　conducted
on　that　species　of　instinct　which　enables　the　woodsman　to
find　his　way　when　the　sun　is　hid；　no　stars　appear；　and　all
would　seem　chaos　to　one　less　accustomed　to　the　mazes　of
the　forest。　　Under　these　circumstances；　Jasper　submitted
to　be　guided　by　the　Delaware；　whose　habits　best　fitted　him
to　take　the　lead。　　Still　it　was　no　easy　matter　to　wade　amid
the　roaring　element　at　that　hour；　and　retain　a　clear　recol…
lection　of　the　localities。　　By　the　time　they　believed　them…
selves　to　be　in　the　centre　of　the　stream；　the　two　shores
were　discernible　merely　by　masses　of　obscurity　denser　than
common；　the　outlines　against　the　clouds　being　barely　dis…
tinguishable　by　the　ragged　tops　of　the　trees。　　Once　or
twice　the　wanderers　altered　their　course；　in　consequence
of　unexpectedly　stepping　into　deep　water；　for　they　knew
that　the　boat　had　lodged　on　the　shallowest　part　of　the　rift。
In　short；　with　this　fact　for　their　compass；　Jasper　and　his
companion　wandered　about　in　the　water　for　nearly　a　quar…
ter　of　an　hour；　and　at　the　end　of　that　period；　which　began
to　appear　interminable　to　the　young　man；　they　found
themselves　apparently　no　nearer　the　object　of　their　search
than　they　had　been　at　its　commencement。　　Just　as　the
Delaware　was　about　to　stop；　in　order　to　inform　his　associate
that　they　would　do　well　to　return　to　the　land；　in　order　to
take　a　fresh　departure；　he　saw　the　form　of　a　man　moving
about　in　the　water；　almost　within　reach　of　his　arm。　　Jas…
per　was　at　his　side；　and　he　at　once　understood　that　the
Iroquois　were　engaged　on　the　same　errand　as　he　was　himself。

〃Mingo！〃　he　uttered　in　Jasper's　ear。　　〃The　Serpent
will　show　his　brother　how　to　be　cunning。〃

The　young　sailor　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　figure　at　that
instant；　and　the　startling　truth　also　flashed　on　his　mind。
Understanding　the　necessity　of　trusting　all　to　the　Dela…
ware　chief；　he　kept　back；　while　his　friend　moved　cautiously
in　the　direction　in　which　the　strange　form　had　vanished。
In　another　moment　it　was　seen　again；　evidently　moving
towards　themselves。　　The　waters　made　such　an　uproar
that　little　was　to　be　apprehended　from　ordinary　sounds；
and　the　Indian；　turning　his　bead；　hastily　said；　〃Leave　it
to　the　cunning　of　the　Great　Serpent。〃

〃Hugh！〃　exclaimed　the　strange　savage；　adding；　in　the
language　of　his　people；　〃The　canoe　is　found；　but　there
were　none　to　help　me。　　Come；　let　us　raise　it　from　the
rock。〃

〃Willingly；〃　answered　Chingachgook；　who　understood
the　dialect。　　〃Lead；　we　will　follow。〃

The　stranger；　unable　to　distinguish　between　voices　and
accents　amid　the　raging　of　the　rapid；　led　the　way　in　the
necessary　direction；　and；　the　two　others　keeping　close　at
his　heels；　all　three　speedily　reached　the　canoe。　　The　Iro…
quois　laid　hold　of　one　end；　Chingacbgook　placed　himself
in　the　centre；　and　Jasper　went　to　the　opposite　extremity；
as　it　was　important　that　the　stranger　should　not　detect
the　presence　of　a　pale…face；　a　discovery　that　might　be　made
by　the　parts　of　the　dress　the　young　man　still　wore；　as　well
as　by　the　general　appearance　of　his　head。

〃Lift；〃　said　the　Iroquois　in　the　sententious　manner　of
his　race；　and　by　a　trifling　effort　the　canoe　was　raised　from
the　rock；　held　a　moment　in　the　air　to　empty　it；　and　then
placed　carefully　on　the　water　in　its　proper　position。　　All
three　held　it　firmly；　lest　it　should　escape　from　their　hands
under　the　pressure　of　the　violent　current；　while　the　Iro…
quois；　who　led；　of　course；　being　at　the　upper　end　of　the
boat；　took　the　direction　of　the　eastern　shore；　or　towards
the　spot　where　his　friends　waited　his　return。

As　the　Delaware　and　Jasper　well　knew　there　must　be
several　m