第76章

Jasper can hardly be true, and Pathfinder false; and,as for the last, I would as soon distrust your honor as distrust him.""It would seem so, Sergeant; it would indeed seem so.

But Jasper is not the Pathfinder, after all; and I will own, Dunham, I should put more faith in the lad if he didn't speak French.""It's no recommendation in my eyes, I assure your honor; but the boy learned it by compulsion, as it were, and ought not to be condemned too hastily for the cir-cumstance, by your honor's leave."

"It's a d----d lingo, and never did any one good -- at least no British subject; for I suppose the French themselves must talk together in some language or other.I should have much more faith in this Jasper, did he know nothing of their language.This letter has made me uneasy; and, were there another to whom I could trust the cutter, Iwould devise some means to detain him here.I have spoken to you already of a brother-in-law, who goes with you, Sergeant, and who is a sailor?""A real seafaring man, your honor, and somewhat preju-diced against fresh water.I doubt if he could be induced to risk his character on a lake, and I'm certain he never could find the station.""The last is probably true, and then, the man cannot know enough of this treacherous lake to be fit for the em-ployment.You will have to be doubly vigilant, Dunham.

I give you full powers; and should you detect this Jasper in any treachery, make him a sacrifice at once to offended justice.""Being in the service of the crown, your honor, he is amenable to martial law.""Very true; then iron him, from his head to his heels, and send him up here in his own cutter.That brother-in-law of yours must be able to find the way back, after he has once travelled the road.""I make no doubt, Major Duncan, we shall be able to do all that will be necessary should Jasper turn out as you seem to anticipate; though I think I would risk my life on his truth.""I like your confidence -- it speaks well for the fellow;but that infernal letter! there is such an air of truth about it; nay, there is so much truth in it, touching other matters.""I think your honor said it wanted the name at the bottom; a great omission for an honest man to make.""Quite right, Dunham, and no one but a rascal, and a cowardly rascal in the bargain, would write an anonymous letter on private affairs.It is different, however, in war;despatches are feigned, and artifice is generally allowed to be justifiable.""Military manly artifices, sir, if you will; such as am-bushes, surprises, feints, false attacks, and even spies; but I never heard of a true soldier who could wish to under-mine the character of an honest young man by such means as these.""I have met with many strange events, and some stranger people, in the course of my experience.But fare you well, Sergeant; I must detain you no longer.You are now on your guard, and I recommend to you untiring vigilance.I think Muir means shortly to retire; and, should you fully succeed in this enterprise, my influence will not be wanting in endeavoring to put you in the vacancy, to which you have many claims.""I humbly thank your honor," coolly returned the Ser-geant, who had been encouraged in this manner any time for the twenty preceding years, "and hope I shall never disgrace my station, whatever it may be.I am what nature and Providence have made me, and hope I'm satisfied.""You have not forgotten the howitzer?"

"Jasper took it on board this morning, sir.""Be wary, and do not trust that man unnecessarily.

Make a confidant of Pathfinder at once; he may be of service in detecting any villainy that may be stirring.His simple honesty will favor his observation by concealing it.

He _must_ be true."

"For him, sir, my own head shall answer, or even my rank in the regiment.I have seen him too often tried to doubt him.""Of all wretched sensations, Dunham, distrust, where one is compelled to confide, is the most painful.You have bethought you of the spare flints?""A sergeant is a safe commander for all such details, your honor.""Well, then, give me your hand, Dunham.God bless you! and may you be successful! Muir means to retire, --by the way, let the man have an equal chance with your daughter, for it may facilitate future operations about the promotion.One would retire more cheerfully with such a companion as Mabel, than in cheerless widowhood, and with nothing but oneself to love, -- and such a self, too, as Davy's!""I hope, sir, my child will make a prudent choice, and I think her mind is already pretty much made up in favor of Pathfinder.Still she shall have fair play, though dis-obedience is the next crime to mutiny."

"Have all the ammunition carefully examined and dried as soon as you arrive; the damp of the lake may affect it.

And now, once more, farewell, Sergeant.Beware of that Jasper, and consult with Muir in any difficulty.I shall expect you to return, triumphant, this day month.""God bless your honor! If anything should happen to me, I trust to you, Major Duncan, to care for an old sol-dier's character."

"Rely on me, Dunham -- you will rely on a friend.Be vigilant: remember you will be in the very jaws of the lion; -- pshaw! of no lion neither; but of treacherous tigers:

in their very jaws, and beyond support.Have the flints counted and examined in the morning -- and -- farewell, Dunham, farewell!"The Sergeant took the extended hand of his superior with proper respect, and they finally parted; Lundie has-tening into his own movable abode, while the other left the fort, descended to the beach, and got into a boat.