The Pathfinder; Or, The Inland Sea

by James Fenimore Cooper

  CHAPTER XVII.

  His still refuted quirks he still repeats; New-raised objections with new quibbles meets, Till sinking in the quicksand he defends, He dies disputing, and the contest ends. COWPER.

  As the soldier's wife was sick in her berth, Mabel Dunham was the onlyperson in the outer cabin when Jasper returned to it; for, by an act ofgrace in the Sergeant, he had been permitted to resume his proper placein this part of the vessel. We should be ascribing too much simplicityof character to our heroine, if we said that she had felt no distrust ofthe young man in consequence of his arrest; but we should also be doinginjustice to her warmth of feeling and generosity of disposition, if wedid not add, that this distrust was insignificant and transient. Ashe now took his seat near her, his whole countenance clouded with theuneasiness he felt concerning the situation of the cutter, everythinglike suspicion was banished from her mind, and she saw in him only aninjured man.

  "You let this affair weigh too heavily on your mind, Jasper," said sheeagerly, or with that forgetfulness of self with which the youthful ofher sex are wont to betray their feelings when a strong and generousinterest has attained the ascendency; "no one who knows you can, ordoes, believe you guilty. Pathfinder says he will pledge his life foryou."

  "Then you, Mabel," returned the youth, his eyes flashing fire, "do notlook upon me as the traitor your father seems to believe me to be?"

  "My dear father is a soldier, and is obliged to act as one. My father'sdaughter is not, and will think of you as she ought to think of a manwho has done so much to serve her already."

  "Mabel, I'm not used to talking with one like you, or saying all I thinkand feel with any. I never had a sister, and my mother died when I was achild, so that I know little what your sex most likes to hear--"

  Mabel would have given the world to know what lay behind the teemingword at which Jasper hesitated; but the indefinable and controllingsense of womanly diffidence made her suppress her curiosity. She waitedin silence for him to explain his own meaning.

  "I wish to say, Mabel," the young man continued, after a pause whichhe found sufficiently embarrassing, "that I am unused to the ways andopinions of one like you, and that you must imagine all I would add."

  Mabel had imagination enough to fancy anything, but there are ideas andfeelings that her sex prefer to have expressed before they yield themall their own sympathies, and she had a vague consciousness that theseof Jasper might properly be enumerated in the class. With a readinessthat belonged to her sex, therefore, she preferred changing thediscourse to permitting it to proceed any further in a manner so awkwardand so unsatisfactory.

  "Tell me one thing, Jasper, and I shall be content," said she, speakingnow with a firmness which denoted confidence, not only in herself, butin her companion: "you do not deserve this cruel suspicion which restsupon you?"

  "I do not, Mabel!" answered Jasper, looking into her full blue eyes withan openness and simplicity that might have shaken stronger distrust. "AsI hope for mercy hereafter, I do not!"

  "I knew it--I could have sworn it!" returned the girl warmly. "And yetmy father means well;--but do not let this matter disturb you, Jasper."

  "There is so much more to apprehend from another quarter just now, thatI scarcely think of it."

  "Jasper!"

  "I do not wish to alarm you, Mabel; but if your uncle could be persuadedto change his notions about handling the _Scud_: and yet he is somuch more experienced than I am, that he ought, perhaps, to place morereliance on his own judgment than on mine."

  "Do you think the cutter in any danger?" demanded Mabel, quick asthought.

  "I fear so; at least she would have been thought in great danger by usof the lake; perhaps an old seaman of the ocean may have means of hisown to take care of her."

  "Jasper, all agree in giving you credit for skill in managing the_Scud_. You know the lake, you know the cutter; you _must_ be the bestjudge of our real situation."

  "My concern for you, Mabel, may make me more cowardly than commonbut, to be frank, I see but one method of keeping the cutter from beingwrecked in the course of the next two or three hours, and that youruncle refuses to take. After all, this may be my ignorance; for, as hesays, Ontario is merely fresh water."

  "You cannot believe this will make any difference. Think of my dearfather, Jasper! Think of yourself; of all the lives that depend on atimely word from you to save them."

  "I think of you, Mabel, and that is more, much more, than all the restput together!" returned the young man, with a strength of expressionand an earnestness of look that uttered infinitely more than the wordsthemselves.

  Mabel's heart beat quickly, and a gleam of grateful satisfaction shotacross her blushing features; but the alarm was too vivid and tooserious to admit of much relief from happier thoughts. She did notattempt to repress a look of gratitude, and then she returned to thefeeling which was naturally uppermost.

  "My uncle's obstinacy must not be permitted to occasion this disaster.Go once more on deck, Jasper; and ask my father to come into the cabin."

  While the young man was complying with this request, Mabel sat listeningto the howling of the storm and the dashing of the water againstthe cutter, in a dread to which she had hitherto been a stranger.Constitutionally an excellent sailor, as the term is used amongpassengers, she had not hitherto bethought her of any danger, and hadpassed her time since the commencement of the gale in such womanlyemployments as her situation allowed; but now that alarm was seriouslyawakened, she did not fail to perceive that never before had she been onthe water in such a tempest. The minute or two which elapsed before theSergeant came appeared an hour, and she scarcely breathed when she sawhim and Jasper descending the ladder in company. Quick as language couldexpress her meaning, she acquainted her father with Jasper's opinion oftheir situation and entreated him, if he loved her, or had any regardfor his own life, or for those of his men, to interfere with her uncle,and to induce him to yield the control of the cutter again to its propercommander.

  "Jasper is true, father," added she earnestly; "and if false, he couldhave no motive in wrecking us in this distant part of the lake at therisk of all our lives, his own included. I will pledge my own life forhis truth."

  "Ay, this is well enough for a young woman who is frightened," answeredthe more phlegmatic parent; "but it might not be so excusable in onein command of an expedition. Jasper may think the chance of drowningin getting ashore fully repaid by the chance of escaping as soon as hereaches the land."

  "Sergeant Dunham!"

  "Father!"

  These exclamations were made simultaneously, but they were uttered intones expressive of different feelings. In Jasper, surprise was theemotion uppermost; in Mabel reproach. The old soldier, however, was toomuch accustomed to deal frankly with subordinates to heed either; andafter a moment's thought, he continued as if neither had spoken. "Noris brother Cap a man likely to submit to be taught his duty on board avessel."

  "But, father, when all our lives are in the utmost jeopardy!"

  "So much the worse. The fair-weather commander is no great matter; itis when things go wrong that the best officer shows himself in his truecolors. Charles Cap will not be likely to quit the helm because the shipis in danger. Besides, Jasper Eau-douce, he says your proposal in itselfhas a suspicious air about it, and sounds more like treachery thanreason."

  "He may think so; but let him send for the pilot and hear his opinion.It is well known that I have not seen the man since yesterday evening."

  "This does sound reasonably, and the experiment shall be tried. Followme on deck then, that all may be honest and above-board."

  Jasper obeyed, and so keen was the interest of Mabel, that shetoo ventured as far as the companion-way, where her garments weresufficiently protected against the violence of the wind and her personfrom the spray. Here maiden modesty induced her to remain, though anabsorbed witness of what was passing.

  The pilot soon appeared, and there was no mistaking the look of co
ncernthat he cast around at the scene as soon as he was in the open air. Somerumors of the situation of the _Scud_ had found their way below, it istrue; but in this instance rumor had lessened instead of magnifying thedanger. He was allowed a few minutes to look about him, and then thequestion 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 ofJasper.

  "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 ofCap that there was a secret arrangement between her commander and thepilot to cast away the _Scud_; most probably with the hope of effectingtheir escape. He consequently treated the opinion of the latter with theindifference he had manifested towards that of the former.

  "I tell you, brother Dunham," said he, in answer to the remonstrancesof the Sergeant against his turning a deaf ear to this doublerepresentation, "that no seaman would give such an opinion honestly. Toanchor on a lee shore in a gale of wind would be an act of madness thatI could never excuse to the underwriters, under any circumstances,so long as a rag can be set; but to anchor close to breakers would beinsanity."

  "His Majesty underwrites the _Scud_, brother, and I am responsiblefor the lives of my command. These men are better acquainted with LakeOntario than we can possibly be, and I do think their telling the sametale entitles them to some credit."

  "Uncle!" said Mabel earnestly; but a gesture from Jasper induced thegirl to restrain her feelings.

  "We are drifting down upon the breakers so rapidly," said the young man,"that little need be said on the subject. Half an hour must settlethe matter, one way or the other; but I warn Master Cap that thesurest-footed man among us will not be able to keep his feet an instanton the deck of this low craft, should she fairly get within them. IndeedI make little doubt that we shall fill and founder before the secondline of rollers is passed."

  "And how would anchoring help the matter?" demanded Cap furiously, as ifhe felt that Jasper was responsible for the effects of the gale, as wellas for the opinion he had just given.

  "It would at least do no harm," Eau-douce mildly replied. "By bringingthe cutter head to sea we should lessen her drift; and even if wedragged through the breakers, it would be with the least possibledanger. I hope, Master Cap, you will allow the pilot and myself to_prepare_ for anchoring, since the precaution may do good, and can do noharm."

  "Overhaul your ranges, if you will, and get your anchors clear, withall my heart. We are now in a situation that cannot be much affectedby anything of that sort. Sergeant, a word with you aft here, if youplease."

  Cap led his brother-in-law out of ear-shot; and then, with more of humanfeeling in his voice and manner than he was apt to exhibit, he openedhis heart on the subject of their real situation.

  "This is a melancholy affair for poor Mabel," said he, blowing hisnose, and speaking with a slight tremor. "You and I, Sergeant, are oldfellows, and used to being near death, if not to actually dying; ourtrades fit us for such scenes; but poor Mabel!--she is an affectionateand 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 withthe good in every v'y'ge; and the only serious objection that an oldseafaring man can with propriety make to such an event is, that itshould happen on this bit of d----d fresh water."

  Sergeant Dunham was a brave man, and had shown his spirit in scenes thatlooked much more appalling than this; but on all such occasions he hadbeen able to act his part against his foes, while here he was pressedupon by an enemy whom he had no means of resisting. For himself he caredfar less than for his daughter, feeling some of that self-reliance whichseldom deserts a man of firmness who is in vigorous health, and who hasbeen accustomed to personal exertions in moments of jeopardy; but asrespects 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 hisdaughter must perish together.

  "Do you think this must come to pass?" he asked of Cap firmly, but withstrong 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 thatcaldron to leeward?"

  The prospect was, indeed, little calculated to encourage hope. By thistime the _Scud_ was within a mile of the shore, on which the galewas blowing at right angles, with a violence that forbade the idea ofshowing any additional canvas with a view to claw off. The small portionof the mainsail actually set, and which merely served to keep the headof the _Scud_ so near the wind as to prevent the waves from breakingover her, quivered under the gusts, as if at each moment the stoutthreads which held the complicated fabric together were about to be tornasunder. The drizzle had ceased; but the air, for a hundred feet abovethe surface of the lake, was filled with dazzling spray, which had anappearance not unlike that of a brilliant mist, while above all the sunwas shining gloriously in a cloudless 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 cutterand the shore the view was still more wild and appalling. The breakersextended nearly half a mile; while the water within their line was whitewith foam, the air above them was so far filled with vapor and spray asto render the land beyond hazy and indistinct. Still it could beseen that the latter was high,--not a usual thing for the shoresof Ontario,--and that it was covered with the verdant mantle of theinterminable forest.

  While the Sergeant and Cap were gazing at this scene in silence, Jasperand his people were actively engaged on the forecastle. No sooner hadthe young man received permission to resume his old employment, than,appealing to some of the soldiers for aid, he mustered five or sixassistants, and set about in earnest the performance of a duty which hadbeen too long delayed. On these narrow waters anchors are never stowedin-board, or cables that are intended for service unbent, and Jasper wassaved much of the labor that would have been necessary in a vessel atsea. The two bowers were soon ready to be let go, ranges of the cableswere overhauled, and then the party paused to look about them. Nochanges for the better had occurred, but the cutter was falling slowlyin, and each instant rendered it more certain that she could not gain aninch to windward.

  One long, earnest survey of the lake ended, Jasper gave new orders in asimilar manner to prove how much he thought that the time pressed. Twokedges were got on deck, and hawsers were bent to them; the inner endsof the hawsers were bent, in their turns, to the crowns of the anchors,and everything was got ready to throw them overboard at the propermoment. These preparations completed, Jasper's manner changed from theexcitement of exertion to a look of calm but settled concern. He quittedthe forecastle, where the seas were dashing inboard at every plunge ofthe vessel, the duty just mentioned having been executed with the bodiesof the crew frequently buried in the water, and walked to a drier partof the deck, aft. Here he was met by the Pathfinder, who was standingnear Mabel and the Quartermaster. Most of those on board, with theexception of the individuals who have already been particularlymentioned, were below, some seeking relief from physical suffering ontheir pallets, and others tardily bethinking them of their sins. Forthe first time, most probably, since her keel had dipped into the limpidwaters of Ontario, the voice of prayer was, heard on board the _Scud_.

  "Jasper," commenced his friend, the guide, "I have been of no use thismorning, for my gifts are of little account, as you know, in a vessellike this; but, should it please God to let the Sergeant's daughterreach the shore alive, my acquaintance with the forest may still carryher through in safety to the garrison."

  "'Tis a fearful distance thither, Pathfinder!" Mabel rejoined, the partybeing so near together that all which was said by one was overheard bythe others. "I am afraid none of us could live to reach the fort."

  "It would be a risky path, Mabel, and a cro
oked one; though some of yoursex 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 onlychance will lie in getting through the breakers in that."

  "I would willingly man anything to save Mabel," answered Jasper, with amelancholy smile; "but no human hand, Pathfinder, could carry thatcanoe through yonder breakers in a gale like this. I have hopes fromanchoring, after all; for once before have we saved the _Scud_ in anextremity nearly as great as this."

  "If we are to anchor, Jasper," the Sergeant inquired, "why not do it atonce? Every foot we lose in drifting now would come into the distance weshall probably drag when the anchors are let go."

  Jasper drew nearer to the Sergeant, and took his hand, pressingit earnestly, and in a way to denote strong, almost uncontrollablefeelings.

  "Sergeant Dunham," said he solemnly, "you are a good man, though youhave treated me harshly in this business. You love your daughter?"

  "That you cannot doubt, Eau-douce," returned the Sergeant huskily.

  "Will you give her--give us all--the only chance for life that is left?"

  "What would you have me do, boy, what would you have me do? I have actedaccording to my judgment hitherto,--what would you have me do?"

  "Support me against Master Cap for five minutes, and all that man can dotowards saving the _Scud_ shall be done."

  The Sergeant hesitated, for he was too much of a disciplinarian tofly in the face of regular orders. He disliked the appearance ofvacillation, too; and then he had a profound respect for his kinsman'sseamanship. While he was deliberating, Cap came from the post he hadsome time occupied, which was at the side of the man at the helm, anddrew nigh the group.

  "Master Eau-douce," said he, as soon as near enough to be heard, "I havecome to inquire if you know any spot near by where this cutter canbe beached? The moment has arrived when we are driven to this hardalternative."

  That instant of indecision on the part of Cap secured the triumph ofJasper. Looking at the Sergeant, the young man received a nod thatassured him of all he asked, and he lost not one of those moments thatwere getting to be so very precious.

  "Shall I take the helm," he inquired of Cap, "and see if we can reach acreek that lies to leeward?"

  "Do so, do so," said the other, hemming to clear his throat; for hefelt oppressed by a responsibility that weighed all the heavier on hisshoulders on account of his ignorance. "Do so, Eau-douce, since, to befrank with you, I can see nothing better to be done. We must beach orswamp."

  Jasper required no more; springing aft, he soon had the tiller in hisown hands. The pilot was prepared for what was to follow; and, at a signfrom his young commander, the rag of sail that had so long been set wastaken in. At that moment, Jasper, watching his time, put the helm up;the head of a staysail was loosened forward, and the light cutter, as ifconscious she was now under the control of familiar hands, fell off, andwas soon in the trough of the sea. This perilous instant was passed insafety, and at the next moment the little vessel appeared flying downtoward the breakers at a rate that threatened instant destruction. Thedistances had become so short, that five or six minutes sufficed for allthat Jasper wished, and he put the helm down again, when the bows ofthe _Scud_ came up to the wind, notwithstanding the turbulence of thewaters, as gracefully as the duck varies its line of direction on theglassy pond. A sign from Jasper set all in motion on the forecastle, anda kedge was thrown from each bow. The fearful nature of the drift wasnow apparent even to Mabel's eyes, for the two hawsers ran out liketow-lines. As soon as they straightened to a slight strain, both anchorswere let go, and cable was given to each, nearly to the better-ends. Itwas not a difficult task to snub so light a craft with ground-tackleof a quality better than common and in less than ten minutes from themoment when Jasper went to the helm, the _Scud_ was riding, head tosea, with the two cables stretched ahead in lines that resembled bars ofiron.

  "This is not well done, Master Jasper!" angrily exclaimed Cap, as soonas he perceived the trick which had been played him; "this is notwell done, sir. I order you to cut, and to beach the cutter without amoment's delay."

  No one, however, seemed disposed to comply with this order; for so longas Eau-douce saw fit to command, his own people were disposed to obey.Finding that the men remained passive, Cap, who believed they werein the utmost peril, turned fiercely to Jasper, and renewed hisremonstrances.

  "You did not head for your pretended creek," added he, after dealingin some objurgatory remarks that we do not deem it necessary to record,"but steered for that bluff, where every soul on board would have beendrowned, had we gone ashore."

  "And you wish to cut, and put every soul ashore at that very spot!"Jasper retorted, a little drily.

  "Throw a lead-line overboard, and ascertain the drift!" Cap now roaredto the people forward. A sign from Jasper sustaining this order, it wasinstantly obeyed. All on deck watched, with nearly breathless interest,the result of the experiment. The lead was no sooner on the bottom, thanthe line tended forward, and in about two minutes it was seen that thecutter had drifted her length dead in towards the bluff. Jasper lookedgravely, for he well knew nothing would hold the vessel did she getwithin the vortex of the breakers, the first line of which was appearingand disappearing about a cable's length directly under their stern.

  "Traitor!" exclaimed Cap, shaking a finger at the young commander,though passion choked the rest. "You must answer for this with yourlife!" he added after a short pause. "If I were at the head of thisexpedition, Sergeant, I would hang him at the end of the main-boom, lesthe escape drowning."

  "Moderate your feelings, brother; be more moderate, I beseech you;Jasper appears to have done all for the best, and matters may not be sobad as you believe them."

  "Why did he not run for the creek he mentioned?--why has he broughtus here, dead to windward of that bluff, and to a spot where even thebreakers are only of half the ordinary width, as if in a hurry to drownall on board?"

  "I headed for the bluff, for the precise reason that the breakers are sonarrow at this spot," answered Jasper mildly, though his gorge had risenat the language the other held.

  "Do you mean to tell an old seaman like me that this cutter could livein those breakers?"

  "I do not, sir. I think she would fill and swamp if driven into thefirst line of them; I am certain she would never reach the shore on herbottom, if fairly entered. I hope to keep her clear of them altogether."

  "With a drift of her length in a minute?"

  "The backing of the anchors does not yet fairly tell, nor do I even hopethat _they_ will entirely bring her up."

  "On what, then, do you rely? To moor a craft, head and stern, by faith,hope, and charity?"

  "No, sir, I trust to the under-tow. I headed for the bluff because Iknew that it was stronger at that point than at any other, and becausewe could get nearer in with the land without entering the breakers."

  This was said with spirit, though without any particular show ofresentment. Its effect on Cap was marked, the feeling that was uppermostbeing evidently that of surprise.

  "Under-tow!" he repeated; "who the devil ever heard of saving a vesselfrom going ashore by the under-tow?"

  "This may never happen on the ocean, sir," Jasper answered modestly;"but we have known it to happen here."

  "The lad is right, brother," put in the Sergeant; "for, though I do notwell understand it, I have often heard the sailors of the lake speak ofsuch a thing. We shall do well to trust to Jasper in this strait."

  Cap grumbled and swore; but, as there was no remedy, he was compelled toacquiesce. Jasper, being now called on to explain what he meant by theunder-tow, gave this account of the matter. The water that was driven upon the shore by the gale was necessarily compelled to find its level byreturning to the lake by some secret channels. This could not be done onthe surface, where both wind and waves were constantly urging it towardsthe land, and it necessarily formed a sort of lower eddy, by means ofwhich it flowed back again to its ancie
nt and proper bed. This inferiorcurrent had received the name of the under-tow, and, as it wouldnecessarily act on the bottom of a vessel which drew as much wateras the _Scud_, Jasper trusted to the aid of this reaction to keep hiscables from parting. In short, the upper and lower currents would, in amanner, counteract each other.

  Simple and ingenious as was this theory, however, as yet there waslittle evidence of its being reduced to practice. The drift continued;though, as the kedges and hawsers with which the anchors were backedtook the strains, it became sensibly less. At length the man at the leadannounced the joyful intelligence that the anchors had ceased to drag,and that the vessel had brought up! At this precise moment the firstline of breakers was about a hundred feet astern of the _Scud_, evenappearing to approach much nearer as the foam vanished and returned onthe raging surges. Jasper sprang forward, and, casting a glance overthe bows, he smiled in triumph, as he pointed exultingly to the cables.Instead of resembling bars of iron in rigidity, as before, they werecurving downwards, and to a seaman's senses it was evident that thecutter rose and fell on the seas as they came in with the ease of aship in a tides-way, when the power of the wind is relieved by thecounteracting pressure of the water.

  "'Tis the under-tow!" he exclaimed with delight, fairly bounding alongthe deck to steady the helm, in order that the cutter might ride stilleasier. "Providence has placed us directly in its current, and there isno longer any danger."

  "Ay, ay, Providence is a good seaman," growled Cap, "and often helpslubbers out of difficulty. Under-tow or upper-tow, the gale hasabated; and, fortunately for us all, the anchors have met with goodholding-ground. Then this d----d fresh water has an unnatural way withit."

  Men are seldom inclined to quarrel with good fortune, but it is indistress that they grow clamorous and critical. Most on board weredisposed to believe that they had been saved from shipwreck by the skilland knowledge of Jasper, without regarding the opinions of Cap, whoseremarks were now little heeded.

  There was half an hour of uncertainty and doubt, it is true, duringwhich period the lead was anxiously watched; and then a feeling ofsecurity came over all, and the weary slept without dreaming of instantdeath.