the pathfinder-第62章
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was visible through the drizzle； at the distance of about
half a mile； the cutter heading directly towards it。 The
first impulse of the old seaman was to give an order to
〃stand by； to ware off shore；〃 but the cool…headed soldier
restrained him。
〃By going a little nearer；〃 said the Sergeant； 〃some of
us may recognize the place。 Most of us know the Ameri…
can shore in this part of the lake； and it will be something
gained to learn our position。〃
〃Very true； very true； if； indeed； there is any chance of
that we will hold on。 What is this off here； a little on
our weather…bow？ It looks like a low headland。〃
〃The garrison； by Jove！〃 exclaimed the other； whose
trained eye sooner recognized the military outlines than
the less instructed senses of his connection。
The Sergeant was not mistaken。 There was the fort；
sure enough； though it looked dim and indistinct through
the fine rain； as if it were seen in the dusk of evening or
the haze of morning。 The low； sodded； and verdant ram…
parts； the sombre palisdes； now darker than ever with
water； the roof of a house or two； the tall； solitary flagstaff；
with its halyards blown steadily out into a curve that ap…
peared traced in immovable lines in the air； were all soon
to be seen though no sign of animated life could be dis…
covered。 Even the sentinel was housed； and at first it
was believed that no eye would detect the presence of their
own vessel。 But the unceasing vigilance of a border gar…
rison did not slumber： one of the look…outs probably made
the interesting discovery； a man or two were seen on some
elevated stands； and then the entire ramparts next the lake
were dotted with human beings。
The whole scene was one in which sublimity was singu…
larly relieved by the picturesque。 The raging of the tem…
pest had a character of duration that rendered it easy to
imagine it might be a permanent feature of the spot。 The
roar of the wind was without intermission； and the raging
water answered to its dull but grand strains with hissing
spray； a menacing wash； and sullen surges。 The drizzle
made a medium for the eye which closely resembled that
of a thin mist； softening and rendering mysterious the im…
ages it revealed； while the genial feeling that is apt to ac…
company a gale of wind on water contributed to aid the
milder influences of the moment。 The dark interminable
forest hove up out of the obscurity； grand； sombre； and
impressive； while the solitary； peculiar； and picturesque
glimpses of life that were caught in and about the fort；
formed a refuge for the eye to retreat to when oppressed
with the more imposing objects of nature。
〃They see us；〃 said the Sergeant； 〃and think we have
returned on account of the gale； and have fallen to leeward
of the port。 Yes； there is Major Duncan himself on the
north…eastern bastion； I know him by his height； and by
the officers around him。〃
〃Sergeant； it would be worth standing a little jeering； if
we could fetch into the river； and come safely to an anchor。
In that case； too； we might land this Master Eau…douce；
and purify the boat。〃
〃It would indeed； but； as poor a sailor as I am； I well
know it cannot be done。 Nothing that sails the lake can
turn to windward against this gale； and there is no an…
chorage outside in weather like this。〃
〃I know it； I see it； Sergeant； and pleasant as is that
sight to you landsmen； we must leave it。 For myself； I
am never so happy in heavy weather as when I am certain
that the land is behind me。〃
The _Scud_ had now forged so near in； that it became in…
dispensable to lay her head off shore again； and the neces…
sary orders were given。 The storm…staysail was set forward；
the gaff lowered； the helm put up； and the light craft； that
seemed to sport with the elements like a duck； fell off a
little； drew ahead swiftly； obeyed her rudder； and was soon
flying away on the top of the surges； dead before the gale。
While making this rapid flight； though the land still re…
mained in view on her larboard beam； the fort and the
groups of anxious spectators on its rampart were swallowed
up in the mist。 Then followed the evolutions necessary
to bring the head of the cutter up to the wind； when she
again began to wallow her weary way towards the north
shore。
Hours now passed before any further change was made；
the wind increasing in force； until even the dogmatical
Cap fairly admitted it was blowing a thorough gale of
wind。 About sunset the _Scud_ wore again to keep her off
the north shore during the hours of darkness； and at mid…
night her temporary master； who； by questioning the crew
in an indirect manner； had obtained some general knowl…
edge of the size and shape of the lake； believed himself to
be about midway between the two shores。 The height and
length of the seas aided this impression； and it must be
added that Cap by this time began to feel a respect for
fresh water which twenty…four hours earlier he would have
derided as impossible。 Just as the night turned； the fury
of the wind became so great that he found it impossible to
bear up against it； the water falling on the deck of the lit…
tle craft in such masses as to cause it to shake to the cen…
tre； and； though a vessel of singularly lively qualities； to
threaten to bury it beneath its weight。 The people of the
_Scud_ averred that never before had they been out in such
a tempest； which was true； for； possessing a perfect knowl…
edge of all the rivers and headlands and havens； Jasper
would have carried the cutter in shore long ere this； and
placed her in safety in some secure anchorage。 But Cap
still disdained to consult the young master； who continued
below； determining to act like a mariner of the broad
ocean。
It was one in the morning when the storm…staysail was
again got on the _Scud_； the head of the mainsail lowered；
and the cutter put before the wind。 Although the canvas
now exposed was merely a rag in surface； the little craft
nobly justified the use of the name she bore。 For eight
hours did she scud in truth； and it was almost with the
velocity of the gulls that wheeled wildly over her in the
tempest； apparently afraid to alight in the boiling caldron
of the lake。 The dawn of day brought little change； for
no other horizon became visible than the little circle of
drizzling sky and water already described； in which it
seemed as if the elements were rioting in a sort of chaotic
confusion。 During this time the crew and passengers of
the cutter were of necessity passive。 Jasper and the pilot
remained below； but； the motion of the vessel having be…
come easier； nearly all the rest were on deck。 The morn…
ing meal had been taken in silence； and eye met eye； as if
their owners asked each other； in dumb show； what was to
be the end of this strife in the elements。 Cap； however；
was perfectly composed； and his face brightened； his step
grew firmer； and his whole air more assured； as the storm
increased； making larger demands on his professional skill
and personal spirit。 He stood on the forecastle； his arms
crossed； balancing his body with a seaman's instinct； while
his eyes watched the caps of the seas； as they broke and
glanced past the reeling cutter； itself in such swift motion；
as if they were the scud flying athwart the sky。 At this
sublime instant one of the hands gave the unexpected cry
of 〃A sail！〃
There was so much of the wild and solitary character of
the wilderness about Ontario； that one scarcely expected
to meet with a vessel on its waters。 The _Scud_ herself； to
those who were in her； resembled a man threading the
forest alone； and the meeting was like that of two solitary
hunters beneath the broad canopy of leaves that then cov…
ered so many millions of acres on the continent of America。
The peculiar state of the weather served to increase the
romantic； almost supernatural appearance of the passage。
Cap alone regarded it with practised eyes； and even he felt
his iron nerves thrill under the sensations that were awak…
ened by the wild features of the scene。
The strange vessel was about two cables' length ahead of
the _Scud_； standing by the wind athwart her bows； a
