"Well, well, we will not dispute the point; but what I've seen I've seen.
After getting into Ontario, all the water of all the lakes passes down into the sea by a river; and in the narrow part of the sheet, where it is neither river nor lake, lie the islands spoken of.
Now Frontenac is a post of the Frenchers above these same islands; and, as they hold the garrison below, their stores and ammunition are sent up the river to Frontenac, to be forwarded along the shores of this and the other lakes, in order to enable the enemy to play his devilries among the savages, and to take Christian scalps."
"And will our presence prevent these horrible acts?" demanded Mabel, with interest.
"It may or it may not, as Providence wills.
Lundie, as they call him, he who commands this garrison, sent a party down to take a station among the islands, to cut off some of the French boats; and this expedition of ours will be the second relief.
As yet they've not done much, though two bateaux loaded with Indian goods have been taken; but a runner came in last week, and brought such tidings that the Major is about to make a last effort to circumvent the knaves.
Jasper knows the way, and we shall be in good hands, for the Sergeant is prudent, and of the first quality at an ambushment; yes, he is both prudent and alert."
"Is this all?" said Cap contemptuously; "by the preparations and equipments, I had thought there was a forced trade in the wind, and that an honest penny might be turned by taking an adventure.
I suppose there are no shares in your fresh-water prize-money?"
"Anan?"
"I take it for granted the king gets all in these soldiering parties, and ambushments, as you call them."
"I know nothing about that, Master Cap.
I take my share of the lead and powder if any falls into our hands, and say nothing to the king about it.
If any one fares better, it is not I; though it is time I did begin to think of a house and furniture and a home."
Although the Pathfinder did not dare to look at Mabel while he made this direct allusion to his change of life, he would have given the world to know whether she was listening, and what was the expression of her countenance.
Mabel little suspected the nature of the allusion, however; and her countenance was perfectly unembarrassed as she turned her eyes towards the river, where the appearance of some movement on board the Scud began to be visible.
"Jasper is bringing the cutter out," observed the guide, whose look was drawn in the same direction by the fall of some heavy article on the deck.
"The lad sees the signs of wind, no doubt, and wishes to be ready for it."
"Ay, now we shall have an opportunity of learning seamanship," returned Cap, with a sneer.
"There is a nicety in getting a craft under her canvas that shows the thoroughbred mariner as much as anything else.
It's like a soldier buttoning his coat, and one can see whether he begins at the top or the bottom."
"I will not say that Jasper is equal to your seafarers below," observed Pathfinder, across whose upright mind an unworthy feeling of envy or of jealousy never passed; "but he is a bold boy, and manages his cutter as skillfully as any man can desire, on this lake at least. You didn't find him backwards at the Oswego Falls, Master Cap, where fresh water contrives to tumble down hill with little difficulty."
Cap made no other answer than a dissatisfied ejaculation, and then a general silence followed, all on the bastion studying the movements of the cutter with the interest that was natural to their own future connection with the vessel.
It was still a dead calm, the surface of the lake literally glittering with the last rays of the sun.
The Scud had been warped up to a kedge that lay a hundred yards above the points of the outlet, where she had room to manoeuvre in the river which then formed the harbor of Oswego.
But the total want of air prevented any such attempt, and it was soon evident that the light vessel was to be taken through the passage under her sweeps.
Not a sail was loosened; but as soon as the kedge was tripped, the heavy fall of the sweeps was heard, when the cutter, with her head up stream, began to sheer towards the centre of the current; on reaching which, the efforts of the men ceased, and she drifted towards the outlet.
In the narrow pass itself her movement was rapid, and in less than five minutes the Scud was floating outside of the two low gravelly points which intercepted the waves of the lake.
No anchor was let go, but the vessel continued to set off from the land, until her dark hull was seen resting on the glossy surface of the lake, full a quarter of a mile beyond the low bluff which formed the eastern extremity of what might be called the outer harbor or roadstead.
Here the influence of the river current ceased, and she became, virtually, stationary.
"She seems very beautiful to me, uncle," said Mabel, whose gaze had not been averted from the cutter for a single moment while it had thus been changing its position;
"I daresay you can find faults in her appearance, and in the way she is managed; but to my ignorance both are perfect."
"Ay, ay; she drops down with a current well enough, girl, and so would a chip.
But when you come to niceties, all old tar like myself has no need of spectacles to find fault."
"Well, Master Cap," put in the guide, who seldom heard anything to Jasper's prejudice without manifesting a disposition to interfere, "I've heard old and experienced saltwater mariners confess that the Scud is as pretty a craft as floats.
I know nothing of such matters myself; but one may have his own notions about a ship, even though they be wrong notions; and it would take more than one witness to persuade me Jasper does not keep his boat in good order."
"I do not say that the cutter is downright lubberly, Master Pathfinder; but she has faults, and great faults."
"And what are they, uncle?
If he knew them, Jasper would be glad to mend them."
"What are they?
Why, fifty; ay, for that matter a hundred. Very material and manifest faults."
"Do name them, sir, and Pathfinder will mention them to his friend."
"Name them! it is no easy matter to call off the stars, for the simple reason that they are so numerous.
Name them, indeed!
Why, my pretty niece, Miss Magnet, what do you think of that main-boom now?
To my ignorant eyes, it is topped at least a foot too high; and then the pennant is foul; and -- and -- ay, d--- me, if there isn't a topsail gasket adrift; and it wouldn't surprise me at all if there should be a round turn in that hawser, if the kedge were to be let go this instant.
Faults indeed!
No seaman could look at her a moment without seeing that she is as full of faults as a servant who has asked for his discharge."
"This may be very true, uncle, though I much question if Jasper knows of them.