the pathfinder-第51部分

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courtesy；　when　circumstances　allowed　of　no　other　commu…
nications；　but　they　were　lost　on　Cap；　who；　with　an　instinct
quite　as　true　to　his　race；　shook　his　fist　menacingly；　and
muttered　to　himself；　

〃Ay；　ay；　it's　dd　lucky　for　you　I've　no　armament　on
board　here；　or　I'd　send　you　in　to　get　new　cabin…windows
fitted。　　Sergeant；　he's　a　humbug。〃

〃'Twas　civil；　brother　Cap；〃　returned　the　other；　lowering
his　hand　from　the　military　salute　which　his　pride　as　a　sol…
dier　had　induced　him　to　return；　　〃'twas　civil；　and　that's
as　much　as　you　can　expect　from　a　Frenchman。　　What　he
really　meant　by　it　no　one　can　say。〃

〃He　is　not　heading　up　to　this　sea　without　an　object；
neither。　　Well；　let　him　run　in；　if　he　can　get　there；　we　will
keep　the　lake；　like　hearty　English　mariners。〃

This　sounded　gloriously；　but　Cap　eyed　with　envy　the
glittering　black　mass　of　the　_Montcalm's_　hull；　her　waving
topsail；　and　the　misty　tracery　of　her　spars；　as　she　grew　less
and　less　distinct；　and　finally　disappeared　in　the　drizzle；　in
a　form　as　shadowy　as　that　of　some　unreal　image。　　Gladly
would　he　have　followed　in　her　wake　had　he　dared；　for；　to
own　the　truth；　the　prospect　of　another　stormy　night　in　the
midst　of　the　wild　waters　that　were　raging　around　him
brought　little　consolation。　　Still　he　had　too　much　profes…
sional　pride　to　betray　his　uneasiness；　and　those　under　his
care　relied　on　his　knowledge　and　resources；　with　the　im…
plicit　and　blind　confidence　that　the　ignorant　are　apt　to　feel。

A　few　hours　succeeded；　and　darkness　came　again　to
increase　the　perils　of　the　_Scud_。　　A　lull　in　the　gale；　how…
ever；　had　induced　Cap　to　come　by　the　wind　once　more；　and
throughout　the　night　the　cutter　was　lying…to　as　before；
head…reaching　as　a　matter　of　course；　and　occasionally　war…
ing　to　keep　off　the　land。　　It　is　unnecessary　to　dwell　on　the
incidents　of　this　night；　which　resembled　those　of　any　other
gale　of　wind。　　There　were　the　pitching　of　the　vessel；　the
hissing　of　the　waters；　the　dashing　of　spray；　the　shocks
that　menaced　annihilation　to　the　little　craft　as　she　plunged
into　the　seas；　the　undying　howl　of　the　wind；　and　the　fear…
ful　drift。　　The　last　was　the　most　serious　danger；　for；
though　exceedingly　weatherly　under　her　canvas；　and　to…
tally　without　top…hamper；　the　_Scud_　was　so　light；　that　the
combing　of　the　swells　would　seem　at　times　to　wash　her
down　to　leeward　with　a　velocity　as　great　as　that　of　the
surges　themselves。

During　this　night　Cap　slept　soundly；　and　for　several
hours。　　The　day　was　just　dawning　when　he　felt　himself
shaken　by　the　shoulder；　and　arousing　himself；　he　found
the　Pathfinder　standing　at　his　side。　　During　the　gale　the
guide　had　appeared　little　on　deck；　for　his　natural　modesty
told　him　that　seamen　alone　should　interfere　with　the　man…
agement　of　the　vessel；　and　he　was　willing　to　show　the
same　reliance　on　those　who　had　charge　of　the　_Scud_；　as　he
expected　those　who　followed　through　the　forest　to　mani…
fest　in　his　own　skill；　but　he　now　thought　himself　justified
in　interfering；　which　he　did　in　his　own　unsophisticated
and　peculiar　manner。

〃Sleep　is　sweet；　Master　Cap；〃　said　he；　as　soon　as　the　eyes
of　the　latter　were　fairly　open；　and　his　consciousness　had
sufficiently　returned；　　〃sleep　is　sweet；　as　I　know　from　ex…
perience；　but　life　is　sweeter　still。　　Look　about　you；　and　say
if　this　is　exactly　the　moment　for　a　commander　to　be　off
his　feet。〃

〃How　now？　how　now；　Master　Pathfinder？〃　growled
Cap；　in　the　first　moments　of　his　awakened　faculties。　　〃Are
you；　too；　getting　on　the　side　of　the　grumblers？　　When
ashore　I　admired　your　sagacity　in　running　through　the
worst　shoals　without　a　compass；　and　since　we　have　been
afloat；　your　meekness　and　submission　have　been　as　pleas…
ant　as　your　confidence　on　your　own　ground。　　I　little　ex…
pected　such　a　summons　from　you。〃

〃As　for　myself；　Master　Cap；　I　feel　I　have　my　gifts；　and
I　believe　they'll　interfere　with　those　of　no　other　man；　but
the　case　may　be　different　with　Mabel　Dunham。　　She　has
her　gifts；　too；　it　is　true；　but　they　are　not　rude　like　ours；
but　gentle　and　womanish；　as　they　ought　to　be。　　It's　on
her　account　that　I　speak；　and　not　on　my　own。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　I　begin　to　understand。　　The　girl　is　a　good　girl；
my　worthy　friend；　but　she　is　a　soldier's　daughter　and　a
sailor's　niece；　and　ought　not　to　be　too　tame　or　too　tender
in　a　gale。　　Does　she　show　any　fear？〃

〃Not　she！　not　she！　　Mabel　is　a　woman；　but　she　is　rea…
sonable　and　silent。　　Not　a　word　have　I　heard　from　her
concerning　our　doings；　though　I　do　think；　Master　Cap；
she　would　like　it　better　if　Jasper　Eau…douce　were　put　into
his　proper　place；　and　things　were　restored　to　their　old　sit…
uation；　like。　　This　is　human　natur'。〃

〃I'll　warrant　it　　girl…like；　and　Dunham…like；　too。　　Any…
thing　is　better　than　an　old　uncle；　and　everybody　knows
more　than　an　old　seaman。　　_This_　is　human　natur'；　Master
Pathfinder；　and　d…　me　if　I'm　the　man　to　sheer　a　fathom；
starboard　or　port；　for　all　the　human　natur'　that　can　be
found　in　a　minx　of　twenty　　ay；　or〃　（lowering　his　voice　a
little）　〃for　all　that　can　be　paraded　in　his　Majesty's　55th
regiment　of　foot。　　I've　not　been　at　sea　forty　years；　to　come
up　on　this　bit　of　fresh　water　to　be　taught　human　natur'。
How　this　gale　holds　out！　　It　blows　as　hard　at　this　moment
as　if　Boreas　had　just　clapped　his　hand　upon　the　bellows。
And　what　is　all　this　to　leeward？〃　（rubbing　his　eyes）　
〃land！　as　sure　as　my　name　is　Cap　　and　high　land；　too。〃

The　Pathfinder　made　no　immediate　answer；　but；　shak…
ing　his　head；　he　watched　the　expression　of　his　companion's
face；　with　a　look　of　strong　anxiety　in　his　own。

〃Land；　as　certain　as　this　is　the　_Scud！_〃　repeated　Cap；
〃a　lee　shore；　and　that；　too；　within　a　league　of　us；　with　as
pretty　a　line　of　breakers　as　one　could　find　on　the　beach　of
all　Long　Island！〃

〃And　is　that　encouraging？　or　is　it　disheartening？〃　in…
quired　the　Pathfinder。

〃Ha！　encouraging　　disheartening！　　why；　neither。　　No；
no；　there　is　nothing　encouraging　about　it；　and　as　for　dis…
heartening；　nothing　ought　to　dishearten　a　seaman。　　You
never　get　disheartened　or　afraid　in　the　woods；　my　friend？〃

〃I'll　not　say　that；　I'll　not　say　that。　　When　the　danger　is
great；　it　is　my　gift　to　see　it；　and　know　it；　and　to　try　to
avoid　it；　else　would　my　scalp　long　since　have　been　drying
in　a　Mingo　wigwam。　　On　this　lake；　however；　I　can　see　no
trail；　and　I　feel　it　my　duty　to　submit；　though　I　think　we
ought　to　remember　there　is　such　a　person　as　Mabel　Dun…
ham　on　board。　　But　here　comes　her　father；　and　he　will
naturally　feel　for　his　own　child。〃

〃We　are　seriously　situated；　I　believe；　brother　Cap；〃　said
the　Sergeant；　when　he　had　reached　the　spot；　〃by　what　I
can　gather　from　the　two　hands　on　the　forecastle？　　They
tell　me　the　cutter　cannot　carry　any　more　sail；　and　her　drift
is　so　great　we　shall　go　ashore　in　an　hour　or　two。　　I　hope
their　fears　have　deceived　them？〃

Cap　made　no　reply；　but　he　gazed　at　the　land　with　a　rue…
ful　face；　and　then　looked　to　windward　with　an　expression
of　ferocity；　as　if　he　would　gladly　have　quarrelled　with　the
weather。

〃It　may　be　well；　brother；〃　the　Sergeant　continued；　〃to
send　for　Jasper　and　consult　him　as　to　what　is　to　be　done。
There　are　no　French　here　to　dread；　and；　under　all　circum…
stances；　the　boy　will　save　us　from　drowning　if　possible。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　'tis　these　cursed　circumstances　that　have　done
all　the　mischief。　　But　let　the　fellow　come；　let　him　come；
a　few　well…managed　questions　will　bring　the　truth　out　of
him；　I'll　warrant　you。〃

This　acquiescence　on　the　part　of　the　dogmatical　Cap　was
no　sooner　obtained；　than　Jasper　was　sent　for。　　The　young
man　instantly　made　his　appearance；　his　whole　air；　counte…
nance；　and　mien　expressive　of　mortification；　humility；　and；
as　his　observers　fancied；　rebuked　deception。　　When　he　first
stepped　on　deck；　Jasper　cast　one　hurried；　anxious　glance
around；　as　if　curious　to　know　the　situation　of　the　cutter；
and　that　glance　sufficed；　it　would　seem；　to　let　him　into　the
secret　of　all　her　perils。　　At　first　he　looked　to　windward；
as　is　usual　with　every　seaman；　then　he　turned　round　the
horizon；　until　his　eye　caught　a　view　of　the　high　lands　to
leeward；　when　the　whole　truth　burst　upon　him　at　once。

〃I've　sent　for　you；　Master　Jasper；〃　said　Cap；　folding　his
arms；　and　balancing　his　body　with　the　dignity　of　the　fore…
castle；　〃in　order　to　learn　something　about　the　haven　to
leeward。　　We　take　it　for　granted　you　do　not　bear　malice　so
hard　as　to　wish　to　drown　us　all；　especially　the　women；　and
I　suppose　you　will　be　man　enough　to　help　us　run　the　cut…
ter　into　some　safe　berth　until　this　bit　of　a　gale　has　done
blowing！〃

〃I　would　die　myself　rather　than　harm　should　come　to
Mabel　Dunham；〃　the　young　man　earnestly　answered。

〃I　knew　it！　　I　knew　it！〃　cried　the　Pathfinder；　clapping
his　hand　kindly　on　Jasper's　shoulder。　　〃The　lad　is　as　true
as　the　best　compass　that　ever　ran　a　boundary；　or　brought
a　man　off　from　a　blind　trail。　　It　is　a　mortal　sin　to　believe
otherwise。〃

〃Humph！〃　ejaculated　Cap；　〃especially　the　women！
As　if　_they_　were　in　any　particular　danger。　　Never　mind；
young　man；　we　shall　understand　each　other　by　talking
like　two　plain　seamen。　　Do　you　know　of　any　port　under
our　lee？〃

〃None。　　There　is　a　large　bay　at　this　end　of　the　lake；　but
it　is　unknown　to　us　all；　and　not　easy　of　entrance。〃

〃And　this　coast　to　leeward　　it　has　nothing　particular　to
recommend　it；　I　suppose？〃

〃It　is　a　wilderness　until　you　reach　the　mouth　of　the　Ni…
agara　in　one　direction；　and　Frontenac　in　the　other。　　North
and　west；　they　tell　me；　there　is　nothing　but　forest　and
prairies　for　a　thousand　miles。〃

〃Thank　God！　then；　there　can　be　no　French。　　Are　there
many　savages；　hereaway；　on　the　land？〃

〃The　Indians　are　to　be　found　in　all　directions；　though
they　are　nowhere　very　numerous。　　By　accident；　we　might
find　a　party　at　any　point　on　the　shore；　or　we　might　pass
months　there　without　seeing　one。〃

〃We　must　take　our　chauce；　then；　as　to　the　blackguards；
but；　to　be　frank　with　you；　Master　Western；　if　this　little
unpleasant　matter　about　the　French　had　not　come　to　pass；
what　would　you　now　do　with　the　cutter？〃

〃I　am　a　much　younger　sailor　than　yourself；　Master　Cap；〃
said　Jasper　modestly；　〃and　am　hardly　fitted　to　advise　you。〃

〃Ay；　ay