Hehasindeed，Pathfinder。and，thoughIhavebeenloathtobelieveanythingtotheinjuryofJasper，IhaveafeelingwhichtellsmeIoughttodistrusthim。Doyoubelieveinpresentiments，myfriend？
Inwhat，Sergeant？
Presentiments，——asortofsecretforeknowledgeofeventsthatareabouttohappen。TheScotchofourregi-
mentaregreatsticklersforsuchthings。andmyopinionofJasperischangingsofast，thatIbegintofeartheremustbesometruthintheirdoctrines。
Butyou’vebeentalkingwithDuncanofLundiecon-
cerningJasper，andhiswordshaveraisedmisgivings。
Notit，notsointheleast。for，whileconversingwiththeMajor，myfeelingswerealtogethertheotherway。andIendeavoredtoconvincehimallIcouldthathedidtheboyinjustice。Butthereisnouseinholdingoutagainstapresentiment，Ifind。andIfearthereissomethinginthesuspicionafterall。
Iknownothingofpresentiments，Sergeant。butIhaveknownJasperEau-doucesincehewasaboy，andIhaveasmuchfaithinhishonestyasIhaveinmyown，orthatoftheSarpenthimself。
ButtheSerpent，Pathfinder，hashistricksandam-
bushesinwaraswellasanother。
Ay，themarehisnat’ralgifts，andaresuchasbelongtohispeople。Neitherred-skinnorpale-facecandenynatur’。butChingachgookisnotamantofeelapre-
sentimentagainst。
ThatIbelieve。norshouldIhavethoughtillofJasperthisverymorning。Itseemstome，Pathfinder，sinceI’vetakenupthispresentiment，thattheladdoesnotbustleabouthisdecknaturally，asheusedtodo。butthatheissilentandmoodyandthoughtful，likeamanwhohasaloadonhisconscience。
Jasperisnevernoisy。andhetellsmenoisyshipsaregenerallyill-workedships。MasterCapagreesinthistoo。
No，no。IwillbelievenaughtagainstJasperuntilIseeit。
Sendforyourbrother，Sergeant，andletusquestionhiminthismatter。fortosleepwithdistrustofone’sfriendintheheartislikesleepingwithleadthere。Ihavenofaithinyourpresentiments。
TheSergeant，althoughhescarcelyknewhimselfwithwhatobject，complied，andCapwassummonedtojoinintheconsultation。AsPathfinderwasmorecollectedthanhiscompanion，andfeltsostrongaconvictionofthegoodfaithofthepartyaccused，heassumedtheofficeofspokes-
man。
Wehaveaskedyoutocomedown，MasterCap，hecommenced，inordertoinquireifyouhaveremarkedanythingoutofthecommonwayinthemovementsofEau-doucethisevening。
Hismovementsarecommonenough，Idaresay，forfreshwater，MasterPathfinder，thoughweshouldthinkmostofhisproceedingsirregulardownonthecoast。
Yes，yes。weknowyouwillneveragreewiththeladaboutthemannerthecutteroughttobemanaged。butitisonanotherpointwewishyouropinion。
ThePathfinderthenexplainedtoCapthenatureofthesuspicionswhichtheSergeantentertained，andthereasonswhytheyhadbeenexcited，sofarasthelatterhadbeencommunicatedbyMajorDuncan。
TheyoungstertalksFrench，doeshe？saidCap。
Theysayhespeaksitbetterthancommon，returnedtheSergeantgravely。Pathfinderknowsthistobetrue。
I’llnotgainsayit，answeredtheguide。atleast，theytellmesuchisthefact。Butthiswouldprovenothingag’inaMississagua，and，leastofall，ag’inonelikeJasper。
IspeaktheMingodialectmyself，havinglearntitwhileaprisoneramongthereptyles。butwhowillsayIamtheirfriend？NotthatIamanenemy，either，accordingtoIn-
diannotions。thoughIamtheirenemy，Iwilladmit，agree-
abletoChristianity。
AyPathfinder。butJasperdidnotgethisFrenchasaprisoner：hetookitinhisboyhood，whenthemindiseasilyimpressed，andgetsitspermanentnotions。whennaturehasapresentiment，asitwere，whichwaythecharacterislikelytoincline。
Averyjustremark，addedCap，forthatisthetimeoflifewhenwealllearnthecatechism，andothermoralimprovements。TheSergeant’sobservationshowsthatheunderstandshumannature，andIagreewithhimper-
fectly。it_is_adamnablethingforayoungster，uphere，onthisbitoffreshwater，totalkFrench。IfitweredownontheAtlantic，now，whereaseafaringmanhasoccasionsometimestoconversewithapilot，oralinguister，inthatlanguage，Ishouldnotthinksomuchofit，——thoughwealwayslookwithsuspicion，eventhere，atashipmatewhoknowstoomuchofthetongue。butuphere，onOntario，Iholdittobeamostsuspiciouscircumstance。
ButJaspermusttalkinFrenchtothepeopleontheothershore，saidPathfinder，orholdhistongue，astherearenonebutFrenchtospeakto。
Youdon’tmeantotellme，Pathfinder，thatFrancelieshereaway，ontheoppositecoast？criedCap，jerkingathumboverhisshoulderinthedirectionoftheCanadas。
thatonesideofthisbitoffreshwaterisYork，andtheotherFrance？
ImeantotellyouthisisYork，andthatisUpperCanada。andthatEnglishandDutchandIndianarespokeninthefirst，andFrenchandIndianinthelast。
EventheMingoshavegotmanyoftheFrenchwordsintheirdialect，anditisnoimprovement，neither。
Verytrue：andwhatsortofpeoplearetheMingos，myfriend？inquiredtheSergeant，touchingtheotheronhisshoulder，bywayofenforcingaremark，theinherenttruthofwhichsensiblyincreaseditsvalueintheeyesofthespeaker：nooneknowsthembetterthanyourself，andI
askyouwhatsortofatribearethey？
JasperisnoMingo，Sergeant。
HespeaksFrench，andhemightaswellbe，inthatparticular。BrotherCap，canyourecollectnomovementofthisunfortunateyoungman，inthewayofhiscalling，thatwouldseemtodenotetreachery？
Notdistinctly，Sergeant，thoughhehasgonetoworkwrong-endforemosthalfhistime。Itistruethatoneofhishandscoiledaropeagainstthesun，andhecalledit_querling_arope，too，whenIaskedhimwhathewasabout。
butIamnotcertainthatanythingwasmeantbyit。
though，Idaresay，theFrenchcoilhalftheirrunningrig-
gingthewrongway，andmaycallit’querlingitdown，’
too，forthatmatter。ThenJasperhimselfbelayedtheendofthejib-halyardstoastretcherintherigging，insteadofbringingintothemast，wheretheybelong，atleastamongBritishsailors。
IdaresayJaspermayhavegotsomeCanadanotionsaboutworkinghiscraft，frombeingsomuchontheotherside，Pathfinderinterposed。butcatchinganidee，oraword，isn’ttreacheryandbadfaith。IsometimesgetanideefromtheMingosthemselves。butmyhearthasalwaysbeenwiththeDelawares。No，no，Jasperistrue。andthekingmighttrusthimwithhiscrown，justashewouldtrusthiseldestson，who，asheistowearitoneday，oughttobethelastmantowishtostealit。
Finetalking，finetalking！saidCap。allfinetalk-
ing，MasterPathfinder，butd——dlittlelogic。Inthefirstplace，theking’smajestycannotlendhiscrown，itbeingcontrarytothelawsoftherealm，whichrequirehimtowearitatalltimes，inorderthathissacredpersonmaybeknown，justasthesilveroarisnecessarytoasheriff’sofficerafloat。Inthenextplace，it’shightreason，bylaw，fortheeldestsonofhismajestyevertocovetthecrown，ortohaveachild，exceptinlawfulwedlock，aseitherwouldderangethesuccession。Thusyousee，friendPath-
finderthatinordertoreasontruly，onemustgetunderway，asitmightbe，ontherighttack。Lawisreason，andreasonisphilosophy，andphilosophyisasteadydrag。
whenceitfollowsthatcrownsareregulatedbylaw，reason，andphilosophy。
Iknowlittleofallthis。MasterCap。butnothingshortofseeingandfeelingwillmakemethinkJasperWesternatraitor。
Thereyouarewrongagain，Pathfinder。forthereisawayofprovingathingmuchmoreconclusivelythaneitherseeingorfeeling，orbybothtogether。andthatisbyacircumstance。
Itmaybesointhesettlements。butitisnotsohereonthelines。
Itissoinnature，whichismonarchoverall。Therewasacircumstance，justafterwecameonboardthiseven-
ing，thatisextremelysuspicious，andwhichmaybesetdownatonceasamakeweightagainstthislad。Jasperbentontheking’sensignwithhisownhands。and，whilehepretendedtobelookingatMabelandthesoldier’swife，givingdirectionsaboutshowingthembelowhere，andathat，hegottheflaguniondown！
Thatmighthavebeenaccident，returnedtheSer-
geant，forsuchathinghashappenedtomyself。besides，thehalyardsleadtoapulley，andtheflagwouldhavecomeright，ornot，accordingtothemannerinwhichtheladhoistedit。
Apulley！exclaimedCap，withstrongdisgust。I
wish，SergeantDunham，Icouldprevailonyoutouseproperterms。Anensign-halyard-blockisnomoreapul-
leythanyourhalbertisaboarding-pike。Itistruethatbyhoistingononepart，anotherpartwouldgouppermost。
butIlookuponthataffairoftheensign，nowyouhavementionedyoursuspicions，asacircumstance，andshallbearitinmind。Itrustsupperisnottobeoverlooked，however，evenifwehaveaholdfulloftraitors。
Itwillbedulyattendedto，brotherCap。butIshallcountonyouforaidinmanagingthe_Scud_，shouldany-
thingoccurtoinducemetoarrestJasper。
I’llnotfailyou，Sergeant。andinsuchaneventyou’llprobablylearnwhatthiscuttercanreallyperform。for，asyet，Ifancyitisprettymuchmatterofguesswork。
Well，formypart，saidPathfinder，drawingaheavysigh，IshallclingtothehopeofJasper’sinnocence，andrecommendplaindealing，byaskingtheladhimself，with-
outfurtherdelay，whetherheisorisnotatraitor。I’llputJasperWesternagainstallthepresentimentsandcir-
cumstancesinthecolony。
Thatwillneverdo，rejoinedtheSergeant。There-
sponsibilityofthisaffairrestswithme，andIrequestandenjointhatnothingbesaidtoanyonewithoutmyknowl-
edge。Wewillallkeepwatchfuleyesaboutus，andtakepropernoteofcircumstances。
Ay，ay！circumstancesarethethingsafterall，re-
turnedCap。Onecircumstanceisworthfiftyfacts。ThatIknowtobethelawoftherealm。Manyamanhasbeenhangedoncircumstances。
Theconversationnowceased，and，afterashortdelay，thewholepartyreturnedtothedeck，eachindividualdis-
posedtoviewtheconductofthesuspectedJasperinthemannermostsuitedtohisownhabitsandcharacter。
CHAPTERXIV。
Evensuchaman，sofaint，sospiritless，Sodull，sodeadinlook，sowoe-begone，DrewPriam’sCurtaininthedeadofnight，Andwouldhavetoldhim，halfhisTroywasburned。
SHAKESPEARE。
Allthistimematterswereelsewherepassingintheirusualtrain。Jasper，liketheweatherandhisvessel，seemedtobewaitingfortheland-breeze。whilethesoldiers，ac-
customedtoearlyrising，had，toaman，soughttheirpalletsinthemainhold。Noneremainedondeckbutthepeopleofthecutter，Mr。Muir，andthetwofemales。TheQuar-
termasterwasendeavoringtorenderhimselfagreeabletoMabel，whileourheroineherself，littleaffectedbyhisas-
siduities，whichsheascribedpartlytothehabitualgallantryofasoldier，andpartly，perhaps，toherownprettyface，wasenjoyingthepeculiaritiesofasceneandsituationwhich，toher，werefullofthecharmsofnovelty。
Thesailshadbeenhoisted，butasyetnotabreathofairwasinmotion。andsostillandplacidwasthelake，thatnotthesmallestmotionwasperceptibleinthecutter。
Shehaddriftedintheriver-currenttoadistancealittleexceedingaquarterofamilefromtheland，andthereshelay，beautifulinhersymmetryandform，butlikeafix-
ture。YoungJasperwasonthequarter-deck，nearenoughtohearoccasionallytheconversationwhichpassed。buttoodiffidentofhisownclaim，andtoointentonhisduties，toattempttomingleinit。ThefineblueeyesofMabelfollowedhismotionsincuriousexpectation，andmorethanoncetheQuartermasterhadtorepeathiscomplimentsbeforesheheardthem，sointentwassheonthelittleoc-
currencesofthevessel，and，wemightadd，soindifferenttotheeloquenceofhercompanion。Atlength，evenMr。
Muirbecamesilent，andtherewasadeepstillnessonthewater。Presentlyanoar-bladefellinaboatbeneaththefort，andthesoundreachedthecutterasdistinctlyasifithadbeenproducedonherdeck。Thencameamurmur，likeasighofthenight，aflutteringofthecanvas，thecreakingoftheboom，andtheflapofthejib。Thesewell-
knownsoundswerefollowedbyaslightheelinthecutter，andbythebellyingofallthesails。
Here’sthewind，Anderson，calledoutJaspertotheoldestofhissailors。takethehelm。
Thisbrieforderwasobeyed。thehelmwasputup，thecutter’sbowsfelloff，andinafewminutesthewaterwasheardmurmuringunderherhead，asthe_Scud_glancedthroughthelakeattherateoffivemilesinthehour。Allthispassedinprofoundsilence，whenJasperagaingavetheordertoeaseoffthesheetsalittleandkeepheralongtheland。
Itwasatthisinstantthatthepartyfromtheafter-cabinreappearedonthequarter-deck。
You’venoinclination，Jasperlad，totrustyourselftoonearourneighbourstheFrench，observedMuir，whotookthatoccasiontorecommencethediscourse。Well，well，yourprudencewillneverbequestionedbyme，forIliketheCanadasaslittleasyoucanpossiblylikethemyourself。
Ihugthisshore，Mr。Muir，onaccountofthewind。
Theland-breezeisalwaysfreshestclosein，providedyouarenotsonearastomakealeeofthetrees。WehaveMexicoBaytocross。andthat，onthepresentcourse，willgiveusquiteoffingenough。
I’mrightgladit’snottheBayofMexico，putinCap，whichisapartoftheworldIwouldrathernotvisitinoneofyourinlandcraft。Doesyourcutterbearaweatherhelm，masterEau-douce？
Sheiseasyonherrudder，masterCap。butlikeslook-
ingupatthebreezeaswellasanother，wheninlivelymotion。
Isupposeyouhavesuchthingsasreefs，thoughyoucanhardlyhaveoccasiontousethem？
Mabel’sbrighteyedetectedthesmilethatgleamedforaninstantonJasper’shandsomeface。butnooneelsesawthatmomentaryexhibitionofsurpriseandcontempt。
Wehavereefs，andoftenhaveoccasiontousethem，
quietlyreturnedtheyoungman。Beforewegetin，Mas-
terCap，anopportunitymayoffertoshowyouthemannerinwhichwedoso。forthereiseasterlyweatherbrewing，andthewindcannotchop，evenontheoceanitself，morereadilythanitfliesroundonLakeOntario。
Somuchforknowingnobetter！IhaveseenthewindintheAtlanticflyroundlikeacoach-wheel，inawaytokeepyoursailsshakingforanhour，andtheshipwouldbecomeperfectlymotionlessfromnotknowingwhichwaytoturn。
Wehavenosuchsuddenchangeshere，certainly，
Jaspermildlyanswered。thoughwethinkourselvesliabletounexpectedshiftsofwind。Ihope，however，tocarrythisland-breezeasfarasthefirstislands。afterwhichtherewillbelessdangerofourbeingseenandfollowedbyanyofthelook-outboatsfromFrontenac。
DoyouthiuktheFrenchkeepspiesoutonthebroadlake，Jasper？inquiredthePathfinder。
Weknowtheydo。onewasoffOswegoduringthenightofMondaylast。Abarkcanoecamecloseinwiththeeasternpoint，andlandedanIndianandanofficer。
Hadyoubeenoutlyingthatnight，asusual，weshouldhavesecuredone，ifnotbothofthem。
Itwastoodarktobetraythecolorthatdeepenedontheweather-burntfeaturesoftheguide。forhefeltthecon-
sciousnessofhavinglingeredinthefortthatnight，listen-
ingtothesweettonesofMabel’svoiceasshesangballadstoherfather，andgazingatthecountenancewhich，tohim，wasradiantwithcharms。Probityinthoughtanddeedbeingthedistinguishingqualityofthisextraordinaryman’smind，whilehefeltthatasortofdisgraceoughttoattachtohisidlenessontheoccasionmentioned，thelastthoughtthatcouldoccurwouldbetoattempttopalliateordenyhisnegligence。
Iconfessit，Jasper，Iconfessit，saidhehumbly。
HadIbeenoutthatnight，——andInowrecollectnosuffi-
cientreasonwhyIwasnot，——itmight，indeed，haveturnedoutasyousay。
Itwastheeveningyoupassedwithus，Pathfinder，
Mabelinnocentlyremarked。surelyonewholivessomuchofhistimeintheforest，infrontoftheenemy，maybeexcusedforgivingafewhoursofhistimetoanoldfriendandhisdaughter。
Nay，nay，I’vedonelittleelsebutidlesincewereachedthegarrison，returnedtheother，sighing。anditiswellthattheladshouldtellmeofit：theidlerneedsarebuke-yes，heneedsarebuke。
Rebuke，Pathfinder！Ineverdreamtofsayingany-
thingdisagreeable，andleastofallwouldIthinkofre-
bukingyou，becauseasolitaryspyandanIndianortwohaveescapedus。NowIknowwhereyouwere，Ithinkyourabsencethemostnaturalthingintheworld。
Ithinknothingofwhatyousaid，Jasper，sinceitwasdeserved。Weareallhuman，andalldowrong。
Thisisunkind，Pathfinder。
Givemeyourhand，lad，givemeyourhand。Itwasn’tyouthatgavethelesson。itwasconscience。
Well，well，interruptedCap。nowthislattermatterissettledtothesatisfactionofallparties，perhapsyouwilltellushowithappenedtobeknownthattherewerespiesnearussolately。Thislooksamazinglylikeacircum-
stance。
Asthemarinerutteredthelastsentence，hepressedafootslilyonthatoftheSergeant，andnudgedtheguidewithhiselbow，winkingatthesametime，thoughthissignwaslostintheobscurity。
Itisknown，becausetheirtrailwasfoundnextdaybytheSerpent，anditwasthatofamilitarybootandamoc-
cassin。Oneofourhunters，moreover，sawthecanoecross-
ingtowardsFrontenacnextmorning。
Didthetrailleadnearthegarrison，Jasper？Path-
finderaskedinamannersomeekandsubduedthatitre-
sembledthetoneofarebukedschoolboy。Didthetrailleadnearthegarrison，lad？
Wethoughtnot。though，ofcourse，itdidnotcrosstheriver。Itwasfolloweddowntotheeasternpoint，attheriver’smouth，wherewhatwasdoinginport，mightbeseen。butitdidnotcross，aswecoulddiscover。
Andwhydidn’tyougetunderweigh，MasterJasper，
Capdemanded，andgivechase？OnTuesdaymorningitblewagoodbreeze。oneinwhichthiscuttermighthaverunnineknots。
Thatmaydoontheocean，MasterCap，putinPath-
finder，butitwouldnotdohere。Waterleavesnotrail，andaMingoandaFrenchmanareamatchforthedevilinapursuit。
Whowantsatrailwhenthechasecanbeseenfromthedeck，asJasperheresaidwasthecasewiththiscanoe？
anditmatterednothingifthereweretwentyofyourMingosandFrenchmen，withagoodBritish-builtbottomintheirwake。I’llengage，MasterEau-douce，hadyougivenmeacallthatsaidTuesdaymorning，thatweshouldhaveover-
hauledtheblackguards。
Idaresay，MasterCap，thattheadviceofasoldasea-
manasyoumighthavedonenoharmtoasyoungasailorasmyself，butitisalongandahopelesschasethathasabarkcanoeinit。
Youwouldhavehadonlytopressithard，todriveitashore。
Ashore，masterCap！Youdonotunderstandourlakenavigationatall，ifyousupposeitaneasymattertoforceabarkcanoeashore。Assoonastheyfindthemselvespressed，thesebubblespaddlerightintothewind’seye，andbeforeyouknowit，youfindyourselfamileortwodeadundertheirlee。
Youdon’twishmetobelieve，MasterJasper，thatanyoneissoheedlessofdrowningastoputoffintothislakeinoneofthemeggshellswhenthereisanywind？
IhaveoftencrossedOntarioinabarkcanoe，evenwhentherehasbeenagooddealofseaon。Wellmanaged，theyarethedriestboatsofwhichwehaveanyknowl-
edge。
Capnowledhisbrother-in-lawandPathfinderaside，whenheassuredhimthattheadmissionofJaspercon-
cerningthespieswasacircumstance，andastrongcir-
cumstance，andassuchitdeservedhisdeliberateinvestiga-
tion。whilehisaccountofthecanoeswassoimprobableastoweartheappearanceofbrow-beatingthelisteners。
Jasperspokeconfidentlyofthecharacterofthetwoindi-
vidualswhohadlanded，andthisCapdeemedprettystrongproofthatheknewmoreaboutthemthanwastobegath-
eredfromameretrail。Asformocassins，hesaidthattheywereworninthatpartoftheworldbywhitemenaswellasbyIndians。hehadpurchasedapairhimself。andboots，itwasnotorious，didnotparticularlymakeasoldier。
AlthoughmuchofthislogicwasthrownawayontheSer-
geant，stillitproducedsomeeffect。Hethoughtitalittlesingularhimself，thatthereshouldhavebeenspiesdetectedsonearthefortandheknownothingofit。nordidhebelievethatthiswasabranchofknowledgethatfellpar-
ticularlywithinthesphereofJasper。Itwastruethatthe_Scud_had，onceortwice，beensentacrossthelaketolandmenofthischaracter，ortobringthemoff。butthenthepartplayedbyJasper，tohisowncertainknowledge，wasverysecondary，themasterofthecutterremainingasignorantasanyoneelseofthepurportofthevisitsofthosewhomhehadcarriedtoandfro。nordidheseewhyhealone，ofallpresent，shouldknowanythingofthelatevisit。Pathfinderviewedthematterdifferently。Withhishabitualdiffidence，hereproachedhimselfwithaneglectofduty，andthatknowledge，ofwhichthewantstruckhimasafaultinonewhosebusinessitwastopossessit，appearedameritintheyoungman。Hesawnothingex-
traordinaryinJasper’sknowingthefactshehadrelated。
whilehedidfeelitwasunusual，nottosaydisgraceful，thathehimselfnowheardofthemforthefirsttime。
Asformocassins，MasterCap，saidhe，whenashortpauseinvitedhimtospeak，theymaybewornbypale-
facesaswellasbyred-skins，itistrue，thoughtheyneverleavethesametrailonthefootofoneasonthefootoftheother。AnyonewhoisusedtothewoodscantellthefootstepofanIndianfromthefootstepofawhiteman，whetheritbemadebyabootoramoccassin。ItwillneedbetterevidencethanthistopersuademeintothebeliefthatJasperisfalse。
Youwillallow，Pathfinder，thattherearesuchthingsintheworldastraitors？putinCaplogically。
Ineverknewanhonest-mindedMingo，——onethatyoucouldputfaithin，ifhehadatemptationtodeceiveyou。
Cheatingseemstobetheirgift，andIsometimesthinktheyoughttobepitiedforit，ratherthanpersecuted。
ThenwhynotbelievethatthisJaspermayhavethesameweakness？Amanisaman，andhumannatureissometimesbutapoorconcern，asIknowbyexperience。
Thiswastheopeningofanotherlonganddesultoryconversation，inwhichtheprobabilityofJasper’sguiltorinnocencewasargued_pro_and_con。_，untilboththeSergeantandhisbrother-in-lawhadnearlyreasonedthemselvesintosettledconvictionsinfavorofthefirst，whiletheircorn-
paniongrewsturdierandsturdierinhisdefenceoftheaccused，andstillmorefixedinhisopinionofhisbeingunjustlychargedwithtreachery。Inthistherewasnothingoutofthecommoncourseofthings。forthereisnomorecertainwayofarrivingatanyparticularnotion，thanbyundertakingtodefendit。andamongthemostobstinateofouropinionsmaybeclassedthosewhicharederivedfromdiscussionsinwhichweaffecttosearchfortruth，whileinrealityweareonlyfortifyingprejudice。
BythistimetheSergeanthadreachedastateofmindthatdisposedhimtovieweveryactoftheyoungsailorwithdistrust，andhesoongottocoincidewithhisrelativeindeemingthepeculiarknowledgeofJasper，inreferencetothespies，abranchofinformationthatcertainlydidnotcomewithinthecircleofhisregularduties，asacir-
cumstance。
Whilethismatterwasthusdiscussednearthetaffrail，Mabelsatsilentlybythecompanion-way，Mr。Muirhavinggonebelowtolookafterhispersonalcomforts，andJasperstandingalittlealoof，withhisarmscrossed，andhiseyeswanderingfromthesailstotheclouds，fromthecloudstotheduskyoutlineoftheshore，fromtheshoretothelake，andfromthelakebackagaintothesails。Ourheroine，too，begantocommunewithherownthoughts。Theex-
citementofthelatejourney，theincidentswhichmarkedthedayofherarrivalatthefort，themeetingwithafatherwhowasvirtuallyastrangertoher，thenoveltyofherlatesituationinthegarrison，andherpresentvoyage，formedavistaforthemind’seyetolookbackthrough，whichseemedlengthenedintomonths。Shecouldwithdifficultybelievethatshehadsorecentlyleftthetown，withalltheusagesofcivilizedlife。andshewonderedinparticularthattheincidentswhichhadoccurredduringthedescentoftheOswegohadmadesolittleimpressiononhermind。
Tooinexperiencedtoknowthatevents，whencrowded，havetheeffectoftime，orthatthequicksuccessionofnoveltiesthatpassbeforeusintravellingelevatesobjects，inameasure，tothedignityofevents，shedrewuponhermemoryfordaysanddates，inordertomakecertainthatshehadknownJasper，andthePathfinder，andherownfather，butlittlemorethanafortnight。Mabelwasagirlofheartratherthanofimagination，thoughbynomeansdeficientinthelast，andshecouldnoteasilyaccountforthestrengthofherfeelingsinconnectionwiththosewhoweresolatelystrangerstoher。forshewasnotsufficientlyaccustomedtoanalyzehersensationstounderstandthenatureoftheinfluencesthathavejustbeenmentioned。
Asyet，however，herpuremindwasfreefromtheblightofdistrust，andshehadnosuspicionoftheviewsofeitherofhersuitors。andoneofthelastthoughtsthatcouldhavevoluntarilydisturbedherconfidencewouldhavebeentosupposeitpossibleeitherofhercompanionswasatraitortohiskingandcountry。
America，atthetimeofwhichwearewriting，wasre-
markableforitsattachmenttotheGermanfamilythatthensatontheBritishthrone。for，asisthefactwithallprovinces，thevirtuesandqualitiesthatareproclaimednearthecentreofpower，asincenseandpolicy，gettobeapartofpoliticalfaithwiththecredulousandignorantatadistance。Thistruthisjustasapparentto-day，incon-
nectionwiththeprodigiesoftherepublic，asitthenwasinconnectionwiththosedistantrulers，whosemeritsitwasalwayssafetoapplaud，andwhosedemeritsitwastreasontoreveal。Itisaconsequenceofthismentalde-
pendence，thatpublicopinionissomuchplacedatthemercyofthedesigning。andtheworld，inthemidstofitsidleboastsofknowledgeandimprovement，islefttore-
ceiveitstruths，onallsuchpointsastouchtheinterestsofthepowerfulandmanaging，throughsuchamedium，andsuchamediumonly，asmayservetheparticularviewsofthosewhopullthewires。PresseduponbythesubjectsofFrance，whowerethenencirclingtheBritishcolonieswithabeltoffortsindsettlementsthatcompletelysecuredthesavagesforallies，itwouldhavebeendifficulttosaywhethertheAmericanslovedtheEnglishmorethantheyhatedtheFrench。andthosewhothenlivedprobablywouldhaveconsideredthealliancewhichtookplacebe-
tweenthecis-AtlanticsubjectsandtheancientrivalsoftheBritishcrown，sometwentyyearslater，asanevententirelywithoutthecircleofprobabilities。Disaffectionwasarareoffence。and，mostofall，wouldtreason，thatshouldfavorFranceorFrenchmen，havebeenodiousintheeyesoftheprovincials。ThelastthingthatMabelwouldsuspectofJasperwastheverycrimewithwhichhenowstoodsecretlycharged。andifothersnearheren-
duredthepainsofdistrust，she，atleast，wasfilledwiththegenerousconfidenceofawoman。Asyetnowhisperhadreachedhereartodisturbthefeelingofreliancewithwhichshehadearlyregardedtheyoungsailor，andherownmindwouldhavebeenthelasttosuggestsuchathoughtofitself。Thepicturesofthepastandofthepresent，therefore，thatexhibitedthemselvessorapidlytoheractiveimagination，wereuncloudedwithashadethatmightaffectanyinwhomshefeltaninterest。andereshehadmused，inthemannerrelated，aquarterofanhour，thewholescenearoundherwasfilledwithunalloyedsatis-
faction。
Theseasonandthenight，torepresentthemtruly，wereofanaturetostimulatethesensationswhichyouth，health，andhappinessarewonttoassociatewithnovelty。
Theweatherwaswarm，asisnotalwaysthecaseinthatregioneveninsummer，whiletheairthatcameofftheland，inbreathingcurrents，broughtwithitthecoolnessandfragranceoftheforest。Thewindwasfarfrombeingfresh，thoughtherewasenoughofittodrivethe_Scud_
merrilyahead，and，perhaps，tokeepattentionalive，intheuncertaintythatmoreorlessaccompaniesdarkness。
Jasper，however，appearedtoregarditwithcomplacency，aswasapparentbywhathesaidinashortdialoguethatnowoccurredbetweenhimandMabel。
Atthisrate，Eau-douce，——forsoMabelhadalreadylearnedtostyletheyoungsailor，——saidourheroine，wecannotbelonginreachingourplaceofdestination。
Hasyourfatherthentoldyouwhatthatis，Mabel？
Hehastoldmenothing。myfatheristoomuchofasoldier，andtoolittleusedtohaveafamilyaroundhim，totalkofsuchmatters。Isitforbiddentosaywhitherwearebound？
Itcannotbefar，whilewesteerinthisdirection，forsixtyorseventymileswilltakeusintotheSt。Lawrence，whichtheFrenchmightmaketoohotforus。andnovoyageonthislakecanbeverylong。
SosaysmyuncleCap。buttome，Jasper，Ontarioandtheoceanappearverymuchthesame。
Youhavethenbeenontheocean。whileI，whopre-
tendtobeasailor，haveneveryetseensaltwater。Youmusthaveagreatcontemptforsuchamarinerasmyself，inyourheart，MabelDunham？
ThenIhavenosuchthinginmyheart，JasperEau-
douce。WhatrighthaveI，agirlwithoutexperienceorknowledge，todespiseany，muchlessonelikeyou，whoaretrustedbytheMajor，andwhocommandavessellikethis？Ihaveneverbeenontheocean，thoughIhaveseenit。and，Irepeat，IseenodifferencebetweenthislakeandtheAtlantic。
Norinthemthatsailonboth？Iwasafraid，Mabel，yourunclehadsaidsomuchagainstusfresh-watersailors，thatyouhadbeguntolookuponusaslittlebetterthanpretenders？
Giveyourselfnouneasinessonthataccount，Jasper。
forIknowmyuncle，andhesaysasmanythingsagainstthosewholiveashore，whenatYork，ashenowsaysagainstthosewhosailonfreshwater。No，no，neithermyfathernormyselfthinkanythingofsuchopinions。MyuncleCap，ifhespokeopenly，wouldbefoundtohaveevenaworsenotionofasoldierthanofasailorwhoneversawthesea。
Butyourfather，Mabel，hasabetteropinionofsoldiersthanofanyoneelse？hewishesyoutobethewifeofasoldier？
JasperEau-douce！——Ithewifeofasoldier！Myfatherwishesit！Whyshouldhewishanysuchthing？WhatsoldieristhereinthegarrisonthatIcouldmarry——thathecould_wishme_tomarry？
Onemayloveacallingsowellastofancyitwillcoverathousandimperfections。
Butoneisnotlikelytolovehisowncallingsowellastocausehimtooverlookeverythingelse。Yousaymyfatherwishesmetomarryasoldier。andyetthereisnosoldieratOswegothathewouldbelikelytogivemeto。
Iaminanawkwardposition。forwhileIamnotgoodenoughtobethewifeofoneofthegentlemenofthegarri-
son，Ithinkevenyouwilladmit，Jasper，Iamtoogoodtobethewifeofoneofthecommonsoldiers。
AsMabelspokethusfranklysheblushed，sheknewnotwhy，thoughtheobscurityconcealedthefactfromhercompanion。andshelaughedfaintly，likeonewhofeltthatthesubject，howeverembarrassingitmightbe，de-
servedtobetreatedfairly。Jasper，itwouldseem，viewedherpositiondifferentlyfromherself。
ItistrueMabel，saidhe，youarenotwhatiscafle~
alady，inthecommonmeaningoftheword。
Notinanymeaning，Jasper，thegenerousgirleagerlyinterrupted：onthathead，Ihavenovanities，Ihope。
Providencehasmademethedaughterofasergeant，andI
amcontenttoremaininthestationinwhichIwasborn。
Butalldonotremaininthestationsinwhichtheywereborn，Mabel。forsomeriseabovethem，andsomefallbelowthem。Manysergeantshavebecomeofficers——evengenerals。andwhymaynotsergeants’daughtersbecomeofficers’ladies？
InthecaseofSergeantDunham’sdaughter，Iknownobetterreasonthanthefactthatnoofficerislikelytowishtomakeherhiswife，returnedMabel，laughing。
_You_maythinkso。buttherearesomeinthe55ththatknowbetter。Thereiscertainlyoneofficerinthatregi-
ment，Mabel，whodoeswishtomakeyouhiswife。
Quickastheflashinglightning，therapidthoughtsofMabelDunhamglancedoverthefiveorsixsubalternsofthecorps，who，byageandinclinations，wouldbethemostlikelytoformsuchawish。andweshoulddoinjusticetoherhabits，perhaps，werewenottosaythatalivelysensa-
tionofpleasurerosemomentarilyinherbosom，atthethoughtofbeingraisedaboveastationwhich，whatevermightbeherprofessionsofcontentment，shefeltthatshehadbeentoowelleducatedtofillwithperfectsatisfaction。
Butthisemotionwasastransientasitwassudden。forMabelDunhamwasagirloftoomuchpureandwomanlyfeelingtoviewthemarriagetiethroughanythingsoworldlyasthemereadvantagesofstation。Thepassingemotionwasathrillproducedbyfactitioushabits，whilethemoresettledopinionwhichremainedwastheoffspringofnatureandprinciples。
Iknownoofficerinthe55th，oranyotherregiment，whowouldbelikelytodosofoolishathing。nordoI
thinkImyselfwoulddosofoolishathingastomarryanofficer。
Foolish，Mabel！
Yes，foolish，Jasper。Youknow，aswellasIcanknow，whattheworldwouldthinkofsuchmatters。andIshouldbesorry，verysorry，tofindthatmyhusbandeverregrettedthathehadsofaryieldedtoafancyforafaceorafigureastohavemarriedthedaughterofonesomuchhisin-
feriorasasergeant。
_Your_husband，Mabel，willnotbesolikelytothinkofthefatherastothinkofthedaughter。
Thegirlwastalkingwithspirit，thoughfeelingevidentlyenteredintoherpartofthediscourse。butshepausedfornearlyaminuteafterJasperhadmadethelastobserva-
tionbeforesheutteredanotherword。Thenshecon-
tinued，inamannerlessplayful，andonecriticallyatten-
tivemighthavefanciedinamannerslightlymelan-
choly，——
Parentandchildoughtsotoliveasnottohavetwohearts，ortwomodesoffeelingandthinking。AcommoninterestinallthingsIshouldthinkasnecessarytohappi-
nessinmanandwife，asbetweentheothermembersofthesamefamily。Mostofall，oughtneitherthemannorthewomantohaveanyunusualcauseforunhappiness，theworldfurnishingsomanyofitself。
AmItounderstand，then，Mabel，youwouldrefusetomarryanofficer，merelybecausehewasanofficer？
Haveyouarighttoasksuchaquestion，Jasper？saidMabelsmiling。
Nootherrightthanwhatastrongdesiretoseeyouhappycangive，which，afterall，maybeverylittle。Myanxietyhasbeenincreased，fromhappeningtoknowthatitisyourfather’sintentiontopersuadeyoutomarryLieutenantMuir。
Mydear，dearfathercanentertainnonotionsoridicu-
lous——nonotionsocruel！
Wouldit，then，becrueltowishyouthewifeofaquarter-master？
IhavetoldyouwhatIthinkonthatsubject，andcan-
notmakemywordsstronger。Havingansweredyousofrankly，Jasper，Ihavearighttoaskhowyouknowthatmyfatherthinksofanysuchthing？
Thathehaschosenahusbandforyou，Iknowfromhisownmouth。forhehastoldmethismuchduringourfrequentconversationswhilehehasbeensuperintendingtheshipmentofthestores。andthatMr。Muiristoofferforyou，Iknowfromtheofficerhimself，whohastoldmeasmuch。Byputtingthetwothingstogether，Ihavecometotheopinionmentioned。
Maynotmydearfather，Jasper，——Mabel’sfaceglowedlikefirewhileshespoke，thoughherwordsescapedherslowly，andbyasortofinvoluntaryimpulse，——maynotmydearfatherhavebeenthinkingofanother？Itdoesnotfollow，fromwhatyousay，thatMr。Muirwasinhismind。
Isitnotprobable，Mabel，fromallthathaspassed？
WhatbringstheQuartermasterhere？Hehasneverfounditnecessarybeforetoaccompanythepartiesthathavegonebelow。Hethinksofyouforhiswife。andyourfatherhasmadeuphisownmindthatyoushallbeso。Youmustsee，Mabel，thatMr。Muirfollows_you？_
Mabelmadenoanswer。Herfeminineinstincthad，indeed，toldherthatshewasanobjectofadmirationwiththeQuartermaster。thoughshehadhardlysupposedtotheextentthatJasperbelieved。andshe，too，hadevengatheredfromthediscourseofherfatherthathethoughtseriouslyofhavingherdisposedofinmarriage。butbynoprocessofreasoningcouldsheeverhavearrivedattheinferencethatMr。Muirwastobetheman。Shedidnotbelieveitnow，thoughshewasfarfromsuspectingthetruth。In-
deed，itwasherownopinionthatthesecasualremarksofherfather，whichhadstruckher，hadproceededfromageneralwishtohavehersettled，ratherthanfromanydesiretoseeherunitedtoanyparticularindividual。Thesethoughts，however，shekeptsecret。forself-respectandfemininereserveshowedhertheimproprietyofmakingthemthesubjectofdiscussionwithherpresentcompanion。
Bywayofchangingtheconversation，therefore，afterthepausehadlastedlongenoughtobeembarrassingtobothparties，shesaid，Ofonethingyoumaybecertain，Jasper，-andthatisallIwishtosayonthesubject，——LieutenantMuir，thoughhewereacolonel，willneverbethehusbandofMabelDunham。Andnow，tellmeofyourvoyage——
whenwillitend？
Thatisuncertain。Onceafloat，weareatthemercyofthewindsandwaves。Pathfinderwilltellyouthathewhobeginstochasethedeerinthemorningcannottellwherehewillsleepatnight。
Butwearenotchasingadeer，norisitmorning：soPathfinder’smoralisthrownaway。
Althoughwearenotchasingadeer，weareafterthatwhichmaybeashardtocatch。IcantellyounomorethanIhavesaidalready。foritisourdutytobeclose-
mouthed，whetheranythingdependsonitornot。Iamafraid，however，Ishallnotkeepyoulongenoughinthe_Scud_toshowyouwhatshecandoatneed。
Ithinkawomanunwisewhoevermarriesasailor，
saidMabelabruptly，andalmostinvoluntarily。
Thisisastrangeopinion。whydoyouholdit？
Becauseasailor’swifeiscertaintohavearivalinhisvessel。MyuncleCap，too，saysthatasailorshouldnevermarry。
Hemeanssalt-watersailors，returnedJasper，laugh-
ing。Ifhethinkswivesnotgoodenoughforthosewhosailontheocean，hewillfancythemjustsuitedtothosewhosailonthelakes。Ihope，Mabel，youdonottakeyouropinionsofusfresh-watermarinersfromallthatMasterCapsays。
Sail，ho！exclaimedtheveryindividualofwhomtheywereconversing。orboat，ho！wouldbenearerthetruth。
Jasperranforward。and，sureenough，asmallobjectwasdiscernibleaboutahundredyardsaheadofthecutter，andnearlyonherleebow。Atthefirstglance，hesawitwasabarkcanoe。for，thoughthedarknesspreventedhuesfrombeingdistinguished，theeyethathadbecomeaccus-
tomedtothenightmightdiscernformsatsomelittledis-
tance。andtheeyewhich，likeJasper’s，hadlongbeenfamiliarwiththingsaquatic，couldnotbeatalossindis-
coveringtheoutlinesnecessarytocometotheconclusionhedid。
Thismaybeanenemy，theyoungmanremarked。
anditmaybewelltooverhaulhim。
Heispaddlingwithallhismight，lad，observedthePathfinder，andmeanstocrossyourbowsandgettowindward，whenyoumightaswellchaseafull-grownbuckonsnow-shoes！
Letherluff，criedJaspertothemanatthehelm。
Luffup，tillsheshakes。There，steady，andholdallthat。
Thehelmsmancomplied。and，asthe_Scud_wasnowdashingthewaterasidemerrily，aminuteortwoputthecanoesofartoleewardastorenderescapeimpracticable。
Jaspernowsprangtothehelmhimselfand，byjudiciousandcarefulhandling，hegotsonearhischasethatitwassecuredbyaboat-hook。Onreceivinganorder，thetwopersonswhowereinthecanoeleftit，andnosoonerhadtheyreachedthedeckofthecutterthantheywerefoundtobeArrowheadandhiswife。
CHAPTERXV。
Whatpearlisitthatrichmencannotbuy，Thatlearningistooproudtogatherup。
ButwhichthepoorandthedespisedofallSeekandobtain，andoftenfindunsought？
Tellme——andIwilltelltheewhatistruth。
COWPER。
ThemeetingwiththeIndianandhiswifeexcitednosurpriseinthemajorityofthosewhowitnessedtheoccur-
rence。butMabel，andallwhoknewofthemannerinwhichthischiefhadbeenseparatedfromthepartyofCap，simultaneouslyentertainedsuspicions，whichitwasfareasiertofeelthantofollowoutbyanyplausiblecluetocertainty。Pathfinder，whoalonecouldconversefreelywiththeprisoners，forsuchtheymightnowbeconsidered，tookArrowheadaside，andheldalongconversationwithhim，concerningthereasonsofthelatterforhavingde-
sertedhischargeandthemannerinwhichhehadbeensinceemployed。
TheTuscaroramettheseinquiries，andhegavehisan-
swerswiththestoicismofanIndian。Asrespectsthesep-
aration，hisexcuseswereverysimplymade，andtheyseemedtobesufficientlyplausible。Whenhefoundthatthepartywasdiscoveredinitsplaceofconcealment，henaturallysoughthisownsafety，whichhesecuredbyplungingintothewoods。Inaword，hehadrunawayinordertosavehislife。
Thisiswell，returnedPathfinder，affectingtobelievetheother’sapologies。mybrotherdidverywisely。buthiswomanfollowed？
Donotthepale-faces’womenfollowtheirhusbands？
WouldnotPathfinderhavelookedbacktoseeifonehelovedwascoming？
Thisappealwasmadetotheguidewhilehewasinamostfortunateframeofmindtoadmititsforce。forMabelandherblandishmentsandconstancywerebecom-
ingimagesfamiliartohisthoughts。TheTuscarora，thoughhecouldnottracethereason，sawthathisexcusewasadmitted，andhestoodwithquietdignityawaitingthenextinquiry。
Thisisreasonableandnatural，returnedPathfinder。
thisisnatural，andmaybeso。Awomanwouldbelikelytofollowthemantowhomshehadplightedfaith，andhusbandandwifeareoneflesh。Yourwordsarehonest，Tuscarora，changingthelanguagetothedialectoftheother。Yourwordsarehonest，andverypleasantandjust。Butwhyhasmybrotherbeensolongfromthefort？
Hisfriendshavethoughtofhimoften，buthaveneverseenhim。
Ifthedoefollowsthebuck，oughtnotthebucktofol-
lowthedoe？answeredtheTuscarora，smiling，ashelaidafingersignificantlyontheshoulderofhisinterrogator。
Arrowhead’swifefollowedArrowhead。itwasrightinArrowheadtofollowhiswife。Shelostherway，andtheymadehercookinastrangewigwam。
Iunderstandyou，Tuscarora。ThewomanfellintothehandsoftheMingos，andyoukeptupontheirtrail。
Pathfindercanseeareasonaseasilyashecanseethemossonthetrees。Itisso。
Andhowlonghaveyougotthewomanback，andinwhatmannerhasitbeendone？
Twosuns。TheDew-of-Junewasnotlongincomingwhenherhusbandwhisperedtoherthepath。
Well，well，allthisseemsnatural，andaccordingtomatrimony。But，Tuscarora，howdidyougetthatcanoe，andwhyareyoupaddlingtowardstheSt。Lawrencein-
steadofthegarrison？
Arrowheadcantellhisownfromthatofanother。
Thiscanoeismine。Ifounditontheshorenearthefort。
Thatsoundsreasonable，too，forthecanoedoesbelongtotheman，andanIndianwouldmakefewwordsabouttakingit。Still，itisextraordinarythatwesawnothingofthefellowandhiswife，forthecanoemusthavelefttheriverbeforewedidourselves。
Thisidea，whichpassedrapidlythroughthemindoftheguide，wasnowputtotheIndianintheshapeofaquestion。
Pathfinderknowsthatawarriorcanhaveshame。Thefatherwouldhaveaskedmeforhisdaughter，andIcouldnotgivehertohim。IsenttheDew-of-Juneforthecanoe，andnoonespoketothewoman。ATuscarorawomanwouldnotbefreeinspeakingtostrangemen。
Allthis，too，wasplausible，andinconformitywithIn-
diancharacterandcustoms。Aswasusual，ArrowheadhadreceivedonehalfofhiscompensationpreviouslytoquittingtheMohawk。andhisrefrainingtodemandtheresiduewasaproofofthatconscientiousconsiderationofmutualrightsthatquiteasoftendistinguishesthemoral-
ityofasavageasthatofaChristian。TooneasuprightasPathfinder，Arrowheadhadconductedhimselfwithdelicacyandpropriety，thoughitwouldhavebeenmoreinaccordancewithhisownfranknaturetohavemetthefather，andabidedbythesimpletruth。Still，accustomedtothewaysofIndians，hesawnothingoutoftheordinarytrackofthingsinthecoursetheotherhadtaken。
Thisrunslikewaterflowingdownhill，Arrowhead，
heanswered，afteralittlereflection，andtruthobligesmetoownit。Itwasthegiftofared-skintoactinthisway，thoughIdonotthinkitwasthegiftofapale-face。Youwouldnotlookuponthegriefofthegirl’sfather？
Arrowheadmadeaquietinclinationofthebodyasiftoassent。
Onethingmoremybrotherwilltellme，continuedPaLhfinder，andtherewillbenocloudbetweenhiswig-
wamandthestrong-houseoftheYengeese。Ifhecanblowawaythisbitoffogwithhisbreath，hisfriendswilllookathimashesitsbyhisownfire，andhecanlookatthemastheylayasidetheirarms，andforgetthattheyarewarriors。WhywastheheadofArrowhead’scanoelookingtowardstheSt。Lawrence，wheretherearenonebutene-
miestobefound？
WhywerethePathfinderandhisfriendslookingthesameway？askedtheTuscaroracalmly。ATuscaroramaylookinthesamedirectionasaYengeese。
Why，toownthetruth，Arrowhead，weareoutscoutinglike。thatis，sailing——inotherwords，weareontheking’sbusiness，andwehavearighttobehere，thoughwemaynothavearighttosay_why_wearehere。
Arrowheadsawthebigcanoe，andhelovestolookonthefaceofEau-douce。Hewasgoingtowardsthesunateveninginordertoseekhiswigwam。but，findingthattheyoungsailorwasgoingtheotherway，heturnedthathemightlookinthesamedirection。Eau-douceandArrowheadweretogetheronthelasttrail。
Thismayallbetrue，Tuscarora，andyouarewelcome。
Youshalleatofourvenison，andthenwemustseparate。
Thesettingsunisbehindus，andbothofusmovequick：
mybrotherwillgettoofarfromthatwhichheseeks，unlessheturnsround。
Pathfindernowreturnedtotheothers，andrepeatedtheresultofhisexamination。HeappearedhimselftobelievethattheaccountofArrowheadmightbetrue，thoughheadmittedthatcautionwouldbeprudentwithonehedisliked。buthisauditors，Jasperexcepted，seemedlessdisposedtoputfaithintheexplanations。
Thischapmustbeironedatonce，brotherDunham，
saidCap，assoonasPathfinderfinishedhisnarration。
hemustbeturnedovertothemaster-at-arms，ifthereisanysuchofficeronfreshwater，andacourt-martialoughttobeorderedassoonaswereachport。
Ithinkitwisesttodetainthefellow，theSergeantanswered。butironsareunnecessarysolongashere-
mainsinthecutter。Inthemorningthemattershallbeinquiredinto。
Arrowheadwasnowsummonedandtoldthedecision。
TheIndianlistenedgravely，andmadenoobjections。Onthecontrary，hesubmittedwiththecalmandreserveddignitywithwhichtheAmericanaboriginesareknowntoyieldtofate。andhestoodapart，anattentivebutcalmobserverofwhatwaspassing。Jaspercausedthecutter’ssailstobefilled，andthe_Scud_resumedhercourse。
Itwasnowgettingnearthehourtosetthewatch，andwhenitwasusualtoretireforthenight。Mostofthepartywentbelow，leavingnooneondeckbutCap，theSergeant，Jasper，andtwoofthecrew。Arrowheadandhiswifealsoremained，theformerstandingaloofinproudreserve，andthelatterexhibiting，byherattitudeandpas-
siveness，themeekhumilitythatcharacterizesanIndianwoman。
Youwillfindaplaceforyourwifebelow，Arrowhead，wheremydaughterwillattendtoherwants，saidtheSergeantkindly，whowashimselfonthepointofquittingthedeck。yonderisasailwhereyoumaysleepyourself。
Ithankmyfather。TheTuscarorasarenotpoor。Thewomanwilllookformyblanketsinthecanoe。
Asyouwish，myfriend。Wethinkitnecessarytode-
tainyou。butnotnecessarytoconfineortomaltreatyou。
Sendyoursquawintothecanoefortheblanketsandyoumayfollowheryourself，andhandusupthepaddles。Astheremaybesomesleepyheadsinthe_Scud_，Eau-douce，
addedtheSergeantinalowertone，itmaybewelltosecurethepaddles。
Jasperassented，andArrowheadandhiswife，withwhomresistanceappearedtobeoutofthequestion，silentlycompliedwiththedirections。AfewexpressionsofsharprebukepassedfromtheIndiantohiswife，whilebothwereemployedinthecanoe，whichthelatterreceivedwithsubmissivequiet，immediatelyrepairinganerrorshehadmadebylayingasidetheblanketshehadtakenandsearch-
ingforanotherthatwasmoretohertyrant’smind。
Come，bearahand，Arrowhead，saidtheSergeant，whostoodonthegunwaleoverlookingthemovementsofthetwo，whichwereproceedingtooslowlyfortheimpatienceofadrowsyman。itisgettinglate。andwesoldiershavesuchathingasreveille——earlytobedandearlytorise。
Arrowheadiscoming，wastheanswer，astheTusca-
rorasteppedtowardstheheadofhiscanoe。
Oneblowofhiskeenknifeseveredtheropewhichheldtheboat，andthenthecutterglancedahead，leavingthelightbubbleofbark，whichinstantlylostitsway，almoststationary。Sosuddenlyanddexterouslywasthismanoeu-
vreperformed，thatthecanoewasontheleequarterofthe_Scud_beforetheSergeantwasawareoftheartifice，andquiteinherwakeerehehadtimetoannounceittohiscompanions。
Hard-a-lee！shoutedJasper，lettingflythejib-sheetwithhisownhands，whenthecuttercameswiftlyuptothebreeze，withallhercanvasflapping，orwasrunningintothewind’seye，asseamentermit，untilthelightcraftwasahundredfeettowindwardofherformerposition。
Quickanddexterousaswasthismovement，andreadyashadbeentheexpedient，itwasnotquickerormorereadythanthatoftheTuscarora。Withanintelligencethatdenotedsomefamiliaritywithvessels，hehadseizedhispaddleandwasalreadyskimmingthewater，aidedbytheeffortsofhiswife。Thedirectionhetookwassouth-
westerly，oronalinethatledhimequallytowardsthewindandtheshore，whileitalsokepthimsofaralooffromthecutterastoavoidthedangerofthelatterfallingonboardofhimwhenshefilledontheothertack。Swiftlyasthe_Scud_hadshotintothewind，andfarasshehadforcedahead，Jasperknewitwasnecessarytocastherereshehadlostallherway。anditwasnottwominutesfromthetimethehelmhadbeenputdownbeforethelivelylittlecraftwasabackforward，andrapidlyfallingoff，inordertoallowhersailstofillontheoppositetack。
Hewillescape！saidJaspertheinstanthecaughtaglimpseoftherelativebearingsofthecutterandthecanoe。Thecunningknaveispaddlingdeadtowind-
ward，andthe_Scud_canneverovertakehim！
Youhaveacanoe！exclaimedtheSergeant，mani-
festingtheeagernessofaboytojoininthepursuit。letuslaunchit，andgivechase！
Itwillbeuseless。IfPathfinderhadbeenondeck，theremighthavebeenachance。butthereisnonenow。
Tolaunchthecanoewouldhavetakenthreeorfourmin-
utes，andthetimelostwouldbesufficientforthepurposesofArrowhead。
BothCapandtheSergeantsawthetruthofthis，whichwouldhavebeennearlyself-evidenteventooneunaccus-
tomedtovessels。Theshorewasdistantlessthanhalfamile，andthecanoewasalreadyglancingintoitsshadows，ataratetoshowthatitwouldreachthelandbeforeitspursuerscouldprobablygethalfthedistance。Thehelmofthe_Scud_wasreluctantlyputupagain，andthecutterworeshortroundonherheel，cominguptohercourseontheothertack，asifactingonaninstinct。AllthiswasdonebyJasperinprofoundsilence，hisassistantsunder-
standingwhatwasnecessary，andlendingtheiraidinasortofmechanicalimitation。Whilethesemanoeuvreswereinthecourseofexecution，CaptooktheSergeantbyabutton，andledhimtowardsthecabin-door，wherehewasoutofear-shot，andbegantounlockhisstoresofthought。
Hark’e，brotherDunham，saidhe，withanominousface，thisisamatterthatrequiresmaturethoughtandmuchcircumspection。
Thelifeofasoldier，brotherCap，isoneofconstantthoughtandcircumspection。Onthisfrontier，werewetooverlookeither，ourscalpsmightbetakenfromourheadsinthefirstnap。
ButIconsiderthiscaptureofArrowheadasacircum-
stance。andImightaddhisescapeasanother。ThisJas-
perFreshwatermustlooktoit。
Theyarebothcircumstancestruly，brother。buttheytelldifferentways。IfitisacircumstanceagainsttheladthattheIndianhasescaped，itisacircumstanceinhisfavorthathewasfirsttaken。
Ay，ay，buttwocircumstancesdonotcontradicteachotherliketwonegatives。Ifyouwillfollowtheadviceofanoldseaman，Sergeant，notamomentistobelostintakingthestepsnecessaryforthesecurityofthevesselandallonboardofher。Thecutterisnowslippingthroughthewaterattherateofsixknots，andasthedistancesaresoshortonthisbitofapond，wemayallfindourselvesinaFrenchportbeforemorning，andinaFrenchprisonbeforenight。
Thismaybetrueenough。Whatwouldyouadvisemetodo，brother？
InmyopinionyoushouldputthisMasterFreshwaterunderarrestonthespot。sendhimbelowunderthechargeofasentinel，andtransferthecommandofthecuttertome。Allthisyouhavepowertoperform，thecraftbelongingtothearmy，andyoubeingthecommand-
ingofficerofthetroopspresent。