of　Jasper　in　general；　but　distrust　had　been　insinuated　be…
  tween　his　former　confidence　and　the　obligations　of　duty；
  and；　as　he　now　felt　that　everything　depended　on　his　own
  vigilance；　by　the　time　the　boat　reached　the　side　of　the　_Scud_
  he　was　in　a　proper　humor　to　let　no　suspicious　circumstance
  go　unheeded；　or　any　unusual　movement　in　the　young　sailor
  pass　without　its　comment。　　As　a　matter　of　course；　he
  viewed　things　in　the　light　suited　to　his　peculiar　mood；
  and　his　precautions；　as　well　as　his　distrust；　partook　of　the
  habits；　opinions；　and　education　of　the　man。
  The　_Scud's_　kedge　was　lifted　as　soon　as　the　boat　with　the
  Sergeant；　who　was　the　last　person　expected；　was　seen　to
  quit　the　shore；　and　the　head　of　the　cutter　was　cast　to　the
  eastward　by　means　of　the　sweeps。　　A　few　vigorous　strokes
  of　the　latter；　in　which　the　soldiers　aided；　now　sent　the
  light　craft　into　the　line　or　the　current　that　flowed　from
  the　river；　when　she　was　suffered　to　drift　into　the　offing
  again。　　As　yet　there　was　no　wind；　the　light　and　almost
  imperceptible　air　from　the　lake；　that　had　existed　previ…
  ously　to　the　setting　of　the　sun；　having　entirely　failed。
  All　this　time　an　unusual　quiet　prevailed　in　the　cutter。
  It　appeared　as　if　those　on　board　of　her　felt　that　they　were
  entering　upon　an　uncertain　enterprise；　in　the　obscurity　of
  night；　and　that　their　duty；　the　hour；　and　the　manner　of
  their　departure　lent　a　solemnity　to　their　movements。　　Dis…
  cipline　also　came　in　aid　of　these　feelings。　　Most　were　silent；
  and　those　who　did　speak　spoke　seldom　and　in　low　voices。
  In　this　manner　the　cutter　set　slowly　out　into　the　lake；　until
  she　had　got　as　far　as　the　river　current　would　carry　her；
  when　she　became　stationary；　waiting　for　the　usual　land…
  breeze。　　An　interval　of　half　an　hour　followed；　during　the
  whole　of　which　time　the　_Scud_　lay　as　motionless　as　a　log；
  floating　on　the　water。　　While　the　little　changes　just　men…
  tioned　were　occurring　in　the　situation　of　the　vessel；　not…
  withstanding　the　general　quiet　that　prevailed；　all　conversa…
  tion　had　not　been　repressed；　for　Sergeant　Dunham；　having
  first　ascertained　that　both　his　daughter　and　her　female
  companion　were　on　the　quarter…deck；　led　the　Pathfinder　to
  the　after…cabin；　where；　closing　the　door　with　great　caution；
  and　otherwise　making　certain　that　he　was　beyond　the　reach
  of　eavesdroppers；　he　commenced　as　follows：
  〃It　is　now　many　years；　my　friend；　since　you　began　to
  experience　the　hardships　and　dangers　of　the　woods　in　my
  company。〃
  〃It　is；　Sergeant；　yes　it　is。　　I　sometimes　fear　I　am　too
  old　for　Mabel；　who　was　not　born　until　you　and　I　had　fought
  the　Frenchers　as　comrades。〃
  〃No　fear　on　that　account；　Pathfinder。　　I　was　near　your
  age　before　I　prevailed　on　the　mind　of　her　mother；　and
  Mabel　is　a　steady；　thoughtful　girl；　one　that　will　regard
  character　more　than　anything　else。　　A　lad　like　Jasper
  Eau…douce；　for　instance；　will　have　no　chance　with　her；
  though　he　is　both　young　and　comely。〃
  〃Does　Jasper　think　of　marrying？〃　inquired　the　guide；
  simply　but　earnestly。
  〃I　should　hope　not　　at　least；　not　until　he　has　satisfied
  every　one　of　his　fitness　to　possess　a　wife。〃
  〃Jasper　is　a　gallant　boy；　and　one　of　great　gifts　in　his
  way；　he　may　claim　a　wife　as　well　as　another。〃
  〃To　be　frank　with　you；　Pathfinder；　I　brought　you　here
  to　talk　about　this　very　youngster。　　Major　Duncan　has　re…
  ceived　some　information　which　has　led　him　to　suspect　that
  Eau…douce　is　false；　and　in　the　pay　of　the　enemy；　I　wish　to
  hear　your　opinion　on　the　subject。〃
  〃Anan？〃
  〃I　say；　the　Major　suspects　Jasper　of　being　a　traitor　　a
  French　spy　　or；　what　is　worse；　of　being　bought　to　betray
  us。　　He　has　received　a　letter　to　this　effect；　and　has　been
  charging　me　to　keep　an　eye　on　the　boy's　movements；　for
  he　fears　we　shall　meet　with　enemies　when　we　least　suspect
  it；　and　by　his　means。〃
  〃Duncan　of　Lundie　has　told　you　this；　Sergeant　Dun…
  ham？〃
  〃He　has　indeed；　Pathfinder；　and；　though　I　have　been
  loath　to　believe　anything　to　the　injury　of　Jasper；　I　have　a
  feeling　which　tells　me　I　ought　to　distrust　him。　　Do　you
  believe　in　presentiments；　my　friend？
  〃In　what；　Sergeant？〃
  〃Presentiments；　　a　sort　of　secret　foreknowledge　of
  events　that　are　about　to　happen。　　The　Scotch　of　our　regi…
  ment　are　great　sticklers　for　such　things；　and　my　opinion
  of　Jasper　is　changing　so　fast；　that　I　begin　to　fear　there
  must　be　some　truth　in　their　doctrines。〃
  〃But　you've　been　talking　with　Duncan　of　Lundie　con…
  cerning　Jasper；　and　his　words　have　raised　misgivings。〃
  〃Not　it；　not　so　in　the　least；　for；　while　conversing　with
  the　Major；　my　feelings　were　altogether　the　other　way；　and
  I　endeavored　to　convince　him　all　I　could　that　he　did　the
  boy　injustice。　　But　there　is　no　use　in　holding　out　against
  a　presentiment；　I　find；　and　I　fear　there　is　something　in
  the　suspicion　after　all。〃
  〃I　know　nothing　of　presentiments；　Sergeant；　but　I　have
  known　Jasper　Eau…douce　since　he　was　a　boy；　and　I　have
  as　much　faith　in　his　honesty　as　I　have　in　my　own；　or　that
  of　the　Sarpent　himself。〃
  〃But　the　Serpent；　Pathfinder；　has　his　tricks　and　am…
  bushes　in　war　as　well　as　another。〃
  〃Ay；　them　are　his　nat'ral　gifts；　and　are　such　as　belong
  to　his　people。　　Neither　red…skin　nor　pale…face　can　deny
  natur'；　but　Chingachgook　is　not　a　man　to　feel　a　pre…
  sentiment　against。〃
  〃That　I　believe；　nor　should　I　have　thought　ill　of　Jasper
  this　very　morning。　　It　seems　to　me；　Pathfinder；　since　I've
  taken　up　this　presentiment；　that　the　lad　does　not　bustle
  about　his　deck　naturally；　as　he　used　to　do；　but　that　he　is
  silent　and　moody　and　thoughtful；　like　a　man　who　has　a
  load　on　his　conscience。〃
  〃Jasper　is　never　noisy；　and　he　tells　me　noisy　ships　are
  generally　ill…worked　ships。　　Master　Cap　agrees　in　this　too。
  No；　no；　I　will　believe　naught　against　Jasper　until　I　see　it。
  Send　for　your　brother；　Sergeant；　and　let　us　question　him
  in　this　matter；　for　to　sleep　with　distrust　of　one's　friend
  in　the　heart　is　like　sleeping　with　lead　there。　　I　have　no
  faith　in　your　presentiments。〃
  The　Sergeant；　although　he　scarcely　knew　himself　with
  what　object；　complied；　and　Cap　was　summoned　to　join　in
  the　consultation。　　As　Pathfinder　was　more　collected　than
  his　companion；　and　felt　so　strong　a　conviction　of　the　good
  faith　of　the　party　accused；　he　assumed　the　office　of　spokes…
  man。
  〃We　have　asked　you　to　come　down；　Master　Cap；〃　he
  commenced；　〃in　order　to　inquire　if　you　have　remarked
  anything　out　of　the　common　way　in　the　movements　of
  Eau…douce　this　evening。〃
  〃His　movements　are　common　enough；　I　daresay；　for
  fresh　water；　Master　Pathfinder；　though　we　should　think
  most　of　his　proceedings　irregular　down　on　the　coast。〃
  〃Yes；　yes；　we　know　you　will　never　agree　with　the　lad
  about　the　manner　the　cutter　ought　to　be　managed；　but　it
  is　on　another　point　we　wish　your　opinion。〃
  The　Pathfinder　then　explained　to　Cap　the　nature　of　the
  suspicions　which　the　Sergeant　entertained；　and　the　reasons
  why　they　had　been　excited；　so　far　as　the　latter　had　been
  communicated　by　Major　Duncan。
  〃The　youngster　talks　French；　does　he？〃　said　Cap。
  〃They　say　he　speaks　it　better　than　common；〃　returned
  the　Sergeant　gravely。　　〃Pathfinder　knows　this　to　be　true。〃
  〃I'll　not　gainsay　it；〃　answered　the　guide；　〃at　least；　they
  tell　me　such　is　the　fact。　　But　this　would　prove　nothing
  ag'in　a　Mississagua；　and；　least　of　all；　ag'in　one　like　Jasper。
  I　speak　the　Mingo　dialect　myself；　having　learnt　it　while　a
  prisoner　among　the　reptyles；　but　who　will　say　I　am　their
  friend？　　Not　that　I　am　an　enemy；　either；　according　to　In…
  dian　notions；　though　I　am　their　enemy；　I　will　admit；　agree…
  able　to　Christianity。〃
  〃Ay　Pathfinder；　but　Jasper　did　not　get　his　French　as　a
  prisoner：　he　took　it　in　his　boyhood；　when　the　mind　is　easily
  impressed；　and　gets　its　permanent　notions；　when　nature
  has　a　presentiment；　as　it　were；　which　way　the　character　is
  likely　to　incline。〃
  〃A　very　just　remark；〃　added　Cap；　〃for　that　is　the　time
  of　life　when　we　all　learn　the　catechism；　and　other　moral
  improvements。　　The　Sergeant's　observation　shows　that　he
  understands　human　nature；　and　I　agree　with　him　per…
  fectly；　it　_is_　a　damnable　thing　for　a　youngster；　up　here；　on
  this　bit　of　fresh　water；　to　talk　French。　　If　it　were　down
  on　the　Atlantic；　now；　where　a　seafaring　man　has　occasion
  sometimes　to　converse　with　a　pilot；　or　a　linguister；　in　that
  language；　I　should　not　think　so　much　of　it；　　though　we
  always　look　with　suspicion；　even　there；　at　a　shipmate　who
  knows　too　much　of　the　tongue；　but　up　here；　on　Ontario；
  I　hold　it　to　be　a　most　suspicious　circumstance。〃
  〃But　Jasper　must　talk　in　French　to　the　people　on　the
  other　shore；〃　said　Pathfinder；　〃or　hold　his　tongue；　as　there
  are　none　but　French　to　speak　to。〃
  〃You　don't　mean　to　tell　me；　Pathfinder；　that　France
  lies　hereaway；　on　the　opposite　coast？〃　cried　Cap；　jerking
  a　thumb　over　his　shoulder　in　the　direction　of　the　Canadas；
  〃that　one　side　of　this　bit　of　fresh　water　is　York；　and　the
  other　France？〃
  〃I　mean　to　tell　you　this　is　York；　and　that　is　Upper
  Canada；　and　that　English　and　Dutch　and　Indian　are
  spoken　in　the　first；　and　French　and　Indian　in　the　last。
  Even　the　Mingos　have　got　many　of　the　French　words　in
  their　dialect；　and　it　is　no　improvement；　neither。〃
  〃Very　t