the pathfinder-第53部分

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her　garments　were　sufficiently　protected　against　the　vio…
lence　of　the　wind　and　her　person　from　the　spray。　　Here
maiden　modesty　induced　her　to　remain；　though　an　absorbed
witness　of　what　was　passing。

The　pilot　soon　appeared；　and　there　was　no　mistaking　the
look　of　concern　that　he　cast　around　at　the　scene　as　soon　as
he　was　in　the　open　air。　　Some　rumors　of　the　situation　of
the　_Scud_　had　found　their　way　below；　it　is　true；　but　in　this
instance　rumor　had　lessened　instead　of　magnifying　the
danger。　　He　was　allowed　a　few　minutes　to　look　about　him；
and　then　the　question　was　put　as　to　the　course　which　he
thought　it　prudent　to　follow。

〃I　see　no　means　of　saving　the　cutter　but　to　anchor；〃　he
answered　simply；　and　without　hesitation。

〃What！　out　here　in　the　lake？〃　inquired　Cap；　as　he　had
previously　done　of　Jasper。

〃No：　but　closer　in；　just　at　the　outer　line　of　the
breakers。〃

The　effect　of　this　communication　was　to　leave　no　doubt
in　the　mind　of　Cap　that　there　was　a　secret　arrangement
between　her　commander　and　the　pilot　to　cast　away　the
_Scud_；　most　probably　with　the　hope　of　effecting　their　es…
cape。　　He　consequently　treated　the　opinion　of　the　latter
with　the　indifference　he　had　manifested　towards　that　of
the　former。

〃I　tell　you；　brother　Dunham；〃　said　he；　in　answer　to　the
remonstrances　of　the　Sergeant　against　his　turning　a　deaf
ear　to　this　double　represeutation；　〃that　no　seaman　would
give　such　an　opinion　honestly。　　To　anchor　on　a　lee　shore
in　a　gale　of　wind　would　be　an　act　of　madness　that　I　could
never　excuse　to　the　underwriters；　under　any　circumstances；
so　long　as　a　rag　can　be　set；　but　to　anchor　close　to　breakers
would　be　insanity。〃

〃His　Majesty　underwrites　the　_Scud_；　brother；　and　I　am
responsible　for　the　lives　of　my　command。　　These　men　are
better　acquainted　with　Lake　Ontario　than　we　can　possibly
be；　and　I　do　think　their　telling　the　same　tale　entitles　them
to　some　credit。〃

〃Uncle！〃　said　Mabel　earnestly；　but　a　gesture　from　Jas…
per　induced　the　girl　to　restrain　her　feelings。

〃We　are　drifting　down　upon　the　breakers　so　rapidly；〃
said　the　young　man；　〃that　little　need　be　said　on　the　dub…
ject。　　Half　an　hour　must　settle　the　matter；　one　way　or　the
other；　but　I　warn　Master　Cap　that　the　surest…footed　man
among　us　will　not　be　able　to　keep　his　feet　an　instant　on
the　deck　of　this　low　craft；　should　she　fairly　get　within
them。　　Indeed　I　make　little　doubt　that　we　shall　fill　and
founder　before　the　second　line　of　rollers　is　passed。〃

〃And　how　would　anchoring　help　the　matter？〃　de…
manded　Cap　furiously；　as　if　he　felt　that　Jasper　was　re…
sponsible　for　the　effects　of　the　gale；　as　well　as　for　the
opinion　he　had　just　given。

〃It　would　at　least　do　no　harm；〃　Eau…douce　mildly　re…
plied。　　〃By　bringing　the　cutter　head　to　sea　we　should　les…
sen　her　drift；　and　even　if　we　dragged　through　the　break…
ers；　it　would　be　with　the　least　possible　danger。　　I　hope；
Master　Cap；　you　will　allow　the　pilot　and　myself　to　_prepare_
for　anchoring；　since　the　precaution　may　do　good；　and　can
do　no　harm。〃

〃Overhaul　your　ranges；　if　you　will；　and　get　your　anchors
clear；　with　all　my　heart。　　We　are　now　in　a　situation　that
cannot　be　much　affected　by　anything　of　that　sort。　　Ser…
geant；　a　word　with　you　aft　here；　if　you　please。〃

Cap　led　his　brother…in…law　out　of　ear…shot；　and　then；
with　more　of　human　feeling　in　his　voice　and　manner　than
he　was　apt　to　exhibit；　he　opened　his　heart　on　the　subject
of　their　real　situation。

〃This　is　a　melancholy　affair　for　poor　Mabel；〃　said　he；
blowing　his　nose；　and　speaking　with　a　slight　tremor。
〃You　and　I；　Sergeant；　are　old　fellows；　and　used　to　being
near　death；　if　not　to　actually　dying；　our　trades　fit　us　for
such　scenes；　but　poor　Mabel！　　she　is　an　affectionate　and
kind…hearted　girl；　and　I　had　hoped　to　see　her　comfortably
settled；　and　a　mother；　before　my　time　came。　　Well；　well！
we　must　take　the　bad　with　the　good　in　every　v'y'ge；　and
the　only　serious　objection　that　an　old　seafaring　man　can
with　propriety　make　to　such　an　event　is；　that　it　should
happen　on　this　bit　of　dd　fresh　water。〃

Sergeant　Dunham　was　a　brave　man；　and　had　shown　his
spirit　in　scenes　that　looked　much　more　appalling　than
this；　but　on　all　such　occasions　he　had　been　able　to　act　his
I　part　against　his　foes；　while　here　he　was　pressed　upon　by
an　enemy　whom　he　had　no　means　of　resisting。　　For　him…
self　he　cared　far　less　than　for　his　daughter；　feeling　some　of
that　self…reliance　which　seldom　deserts　a　man　of　firmness
who　is　in　vigorous　health；　and　who　has　been　accustomed　to
personal　exertions　in　moments　of　jeopardy；　but　as　respects
Mabel　he　saw　no　means　of　escape；　and；　with　a　father's
fondness；　he　at　once　determined　that；　if　either　was　doomed
to　perish；　he　and　his　daughter　must　perish　together。

〃Do　you　think　this　must　come　to　pass？〃　he　asked　of
Cap　firmly；　but　with　strong　feeling。

〃Twenty　minutes　will　carry　us　into　the　breakers；　and
look　for　yourself；　Sergeant：　what　chance　will　even　the
stoutest　man　among　us　have　in　that　caldron　to　leeward？〃

The　prospect　was；　indeed；　little　calculated　to　encourage
hope。　　By　this　time　the　_Scud_　was　within　a　mile　of　the
shore；　on　which　the　gale　was　blowing　at　right　angles；　with
a　violence　that　forbade　the　idea　of　showing　any　additional
canvas　with　a　view　to　claw　off。　　The　small　portion　of　the
mainsail　actually　set；　and　which　merely　served　to　keep　the
head　of　the　_Scud_　so　near　the　wind　as　to　prevent　the　waves
from　breaking　over　her；　quivered　under　the　gusts；　as　if　at
each　moment　the　stout　threads　which　held　the　complicated
fabric　together　were　about　to　be　torn　asunder。　　The　driz…
zle　had　ceased；　but　the　air；　for　a　hundred；　feet　above　the
surface　of　the　lake；　was　filled　with　dazzling　spray；　which
had　an　appearance　not　unlike　that　of　a　brilliant　mist；
while　above　all　the　sun　was　shining　gloriously　in　a　cloud…
less　sky。　　Jasper　had　noted　the　omen；　and　had　foretold
that　it　announced　a　speedy　termination　to　the　gale；　though
the　next　hour　or　two　must　decide　their　fate。　　Between　the
cutter　and　the　shore　the　view　was　still　more　wild　and　ap…
palling。　　The　breakers　extended　nearly　half　a　mile；　while
the　water　within　their　line　was　white　with　foam；　the　air
above　them　was　so　far　filled　with　vapor　and　spray　as　to
render　the　land　beyond　hazy　and　indistinct。　　Still　it　could
be　seen　that　the　latter　was　high；　　not　a　usual　thing　for
the　shores　of　Ontario；　　and　that　it　was　covered　with　the
verdant　mantle　of　the　interminable　forest。

While　the　Sergeant　and　Cap　were　gazing　at　this　scene
in　silence；　Jasper　and　his　people　were　actively　engaged　on
the　forecastle。　　No　sooner　had　the　young　man　received
permission　to　resume　his　old　employment；　than；　appealing
to　some　of　the　soldiers　for　aid；　he　mustered　five　or　six　as…
sistants；　and　set　about　in　earnest　the　performance　of　a　duty
which　had　been　too　long　delayed。　　On　these　narrow　waters
anchors　are　never　stowed　in…board；　or　cables　that　are　in…
tended　for　service　unbent；　and　Jasper　was　saved　much　of
the　labor　that　would　have　been　necessary　in　a　vessel　at　sea。
The　two　bowers　were　soon　ready　to　be　let　go；　ranges　of　the
cables　were　overhauled；　and　then　the　party　paused　to　look
about　them。　　No　changes　for　the　better　had　occurred；　but
the　cutter　was　falling　slowly　in；　and　each　instant　rendered
it　more　certain　that　she　could　not　gain　an　inch　to　wind…
ward。

One　long；　earnest　survey　of　the　lake　ended；　Jasper　gave
new　orders　in　a　similar　manner　to　prove　how　much　he
thought　that　the　time　pressed。　　Two　kedges　were　got　on
deck；　and　hawsers　were　bent　to　them；　the　inner　ends　of
the　hawsers　were　bent；　in　their　turns；　to　the　crowns　of　the
anchors；　and　everything　was　got　ready　to　throw　them　over…
board　at　the　proper　moment。　　These　preparations　com…
pleted；　Jasper's　manner　changed　from　the　excitement　of
exertion　to　a　look　of　calm　but　settled　concern。　　He　quitted
the　forecastle；　where　the　seas　were　dashing　in…board　at
every　plunge　of　the　vessel；　the　duty　just　mentioned　having
been　executed　with　the　bodies　of　the　crew　frequently　buried
in　the　water；　and　walked　to　a　drier　part　of　the　deck；　aft。
Here　he　was　met　by　the　Pathfinder；　who　was　standing　near
Mabel　and　the　Quartermaster。　　Most　of　those　on　board；
with　the　exception　of　the　individuals　who　have　already
been　particularly　mentioned；　were　below；　some　seeking　re…
lief　from　physical　suffering　on　their　pallets；　and　others
tardily　bethinking　them　of　their　sins。　　For　the　first　time；
most　probably；　since　her　keel　had　dipped　into　the　limpid
waters　of　Ontario；　the　voice　of　prayer　was；　heard　on　board
the　_Scud_。

〃Jasper；〃　commenced　his　friend；　the　guide；　〃I　have　been
of　no　use　this　morning；　for　my　gifts　are　of　little　account；
as　you　know；　in　a　vessel　like　this；　but；　should　it　please
God　to　let　the　Sergeant's　daughter　reach　the　shore　alive；
my　acquaintance　with　the　forest　may　still　carry　her　through
in　safety　to　the　garrison。〃

〃'Tis　a　fearful　distance　thither；　Pathfinder！〃　Mabel　re…
joined；　the　party　being　so　near　together　that　all　which　was
said　by　one　was　overheard　by　the　others。　　〃I　am　afraid
none　of　us　could　live　to　reach　the　fort。〃

〃It　would　be　a　risky　path；　Mabel；　and　a　crooked　one；
though　some　of　your　sex　have　undergone　even　more　than
that　in　this　wilderness。　　But；　Jasper；　either　you　or　I；　or
both　of　us；　must　man　this　bark　canoe；　Mabel's　only　ohance
will　lie　in　getting　through　the　breakers　in　that。〃

〃I　would　willingly　man　anything　to　save　Mabel；〃　an…
swered　Jasper；　with　a　melancholy　smile；　〃but　no　human
hand；　Pathfinder；　could　carry　that　canoe　through　yonder
breakers　in　a　gale　like　this。　　I　have　hopes　from　anchoring；
after　all；　for　once　before　have　we　saved　the　_Scud_　in　an
extremity　nearly　as　great　as　this。〃

〃If　we　are　to　anchor；　Jasper；〃　the　Sergeant　inquired；
〃why　not　do　it　at　once？　　Every　foot　we　lose　in　drifting
now　would　come　into　the　distance　we　shall　probably　drag
when　the　anchors　are　let　go。〃

Jasper　drew　nearer　to　the　Sergeant；　and　took　his　hand；
pressing　it　earnestly；　and　in　a　way　to　denote　strong；　almost
uncontrollable　feelings。

〃Sergeant　Dunham；〃　said　he　solemnly；　〃you　are　a　good
man；　though　you　have　treated　me　harshly　in　this　business。
You　love　your　daughter？〃

〃That　you　canuot　doubt；　Eau…douce；〃　returned