第72章

The goblin now the fool alarms, Hags meet to mumble o'er their charms, The night-mare rides the dreaming ass, And fairies trip it on the grass.

COTTON.

The embarkation of so small a party was a matter of no great delay or embarrassment.The whole force con-fided to the care of Sergeant Dunham consisted of but ten privates and two non-commissioned officers, though it was soon positively known that Mr.Muir was to accompany the expedition.The Quartermaster, however, went as a vol-unteer, while some duty connected with his own depart-ment, as had been arranged between him and his com-mander, was the avowed object.To these must be added the Pathfinder and Cap, with Jasper and his subordinates, one of whom was a boy.The party, consequently, con-sisted of less than twenty men, and a lad of fourteen.

Mabel and the wife of a common soldier were the only females.

Sergeant Dunham carried off his command in a large bateau, and then returned for his final orders, and to see that his brother-in-law and daughter were properly at-tended to.Having pointed out to Cap the boat that he and Mabel were to use, he ascended the hill to seek his last interview with Lundie.

It was nearly dark when Mabel found herself in the boat that was to carry her off to the cutter.So very smooth was the surface of the lake, that it was not found necessary to bring the bateaux into the river to receive their freights;but the beach outside being totally without surf, and the water as tranquil as that of a pond, everybody embarked there.When the boat left the land, Mabel would not have known that she was afloat on so broad a sheet of water by any movement which is usual to such circum-stances.The oars had barely time to give a dozen strokes, when the boat lay at the cutter's side.

Jasper was in readiness to receive his passengers; and, as the deck of the _Scud_ was but two or three feet above the water, no difficulty was experienced in getting on board of her.As soon as this was effected, the young man pointed out to Mabel and her companion the accommoda-tions prepared for their reception.The little vessel con-tained four apartments below, all between decks having been expressly constructed with a view to the transporta-tion of officers and men, with their wives and families.

First in rank was what was called the after-cabin, a small apartment that contained four berths, and which enjoyed the advantage of possessing small windows, for the ad-mission of air and light.This was uniformly devoted to females whenever any were on board; and as Mabel and her companion were alone, they had ample accommoda-tion.The main cabin was larger, and lighted from above.

It was now appropriated to the Quartermaster, the Ser-geant, Cap, and Jasper; the Pathfinder roaming through any part of the cutter he pleased, the female apartment excepted.The corporals and common soldiers occupied the space beneath the main hatch, which had a deck for such a purpose, while the crew were berthed, as usual, in the forecastle.Although the cutter did not measure quite fifty tons, the draft of officers and men was so light, that there was ample room for all on board, there being space enough to accommodate treble the number, if necessary.

As soon as Mabel had taken possession of her own really comfortable cabin, in doing which she could not abstain from indulging in the pleasant reflection that some of Jasper's favor had been especially manifested in her be-half, she went on deck again.Here all was momentarily in motion; the men were roving to and fro, in quest of their knapsacks and other effects; but method and habit soon reduced things to order, when the stillness on board became even imposing, for it was connected with the idea of future adventure and ominous preparation.

Darkness was now beginning to render objects on shore indistinct, the whole of the land forming one shapeless black outline of even forest summits, to be distinguished from the impending heavens only by the greater light of the sky.The stars, however, soon began to appear in the latter, one after another, in their usual mild, placid lustre, bringing with them that sense of quiet which ordinarily accompanies night.There was something soothing, as well as exciting, in such a scene; and Mabel, who was seated on the quarter-deck, sensibly felt both influences.

The Pathfinder was standing near her, leaning, as usual, on his long rifle, and she fancied that, through the grow-ing darkness of the hour, she could trace even stronger lines of thought than usual in his rugged countenance.

"To you, Pathfinder, expeditions like this can be no great novelty," said she; "though I am surprised to find how silent and thoughtful the men appear to be.""We learn this by making war ag'in Indians.Your militia are great talkers and little doers in general; but the soldier who has often met the Mingos learns to know the value of a prudent tongue.A silent army, in the woods, is doubly strong; and a noisy one, doubly weak.

If tongues made soldiers, the, women of a camp would generally carry the day.""But we are neither an army, nor in the woods.There can be no danger of Mingos in the _Scud_.""No one is safe from a Mingo, who does not understand his very natur'; and even then he must act up to his own knowledge, and that closely.Ask Jasper how he got com-mand of this very cutter."