There was a roaring in the wind all night;The rain came heavily, and fell in floods;But now the sun is rising calm and bright;The birds are singing in the distant woods.
WORDSWORTH.
As the light returned, Pathfinder and Cap ascended again to the roof, with a view to reconnoitre the state of things once more on the island.This part of the block-house had a low battlement around it, which afforded a considerable protection to those who stood in its centre;the intention having been to enable marksmen to lie be-hind it and to fire over its top.By ****** proper use, therefore, of these slight defences, -- slight as to height, though abundantly ample as far as they went, -- the two look-outs commanded a pretty good view of the island, its covers excepted, and of most of the channels that led to the spot.
The gale was still blowing very fresh at south; and there were places in the river where its surface looked green and angry, though the wind had hardly sweep enough to raise the water into foam.The shape of the little island was nearly oval, and its greater length was from east to west.
By keeping in the channels that washed it, in consequence of their several courses and of the direction of the gale, it would have been possible for a vessel to range past the island on either of its principal sides, and always to keep the wind very nearly abeam.These were the facts first noticed by Cap, and explained to his companion; for the hopes of both now rested on the chances of relief sent from Oswego.At this instant, while they stood gazing anxiously about them, Cap cried out, in his lusty, hearty manner, "Sail, ho!"Pathfinder turned quickly in the direction of his com-panion's face; and there, sure enough, was just visible the object of the old sailor's exclamation.The elevation en-abled the two to overlook the low land of several of the adjacent islands; and the canvas of a vessel was seen through the bushes that fringed the shore of one that lay to the southward and westward.The stranger was under what seamen call low sail; but so great was the power of the wind, that her white outlines were seen flying past the openings of the verdure with the velocity of a fast-travelling horse -- resembling a cloud driving in the heavens.
"That cannot be Jasper," said Pathfinder in disappoint-ment; for be did not recognize the cutter of his friend in the swift-passing object."No, no, the lad is behind the hour; and that is some craft which the Frenchers have sent to aid their friends, the accursed Mingos.""This time you are out in your reckoning, friend Path-finder, if you never were before," returned Cap in a man-ner that had lost none of its dogmatism by the critical cir-cumstances in which they were placed."Fresh water or salt, that is the head of the _Scud's_ mainsail, for it is cut with a smaller gore than common; and then you can see that the gaff has been fished -- quite neatly done, I admit, but fished.""I can see none of this, I confess," answered Pathfinder, to whom even the terms of his companion were Greek.
"No! Well, I own that surprises me, for I thought your eyes could see anything! Now to me nothing is plainer than that gore and that fish; and I must say, my honest friend, that in your place I should apprehend that my sight was beginning to fail.""If Jasper is truly coming, I shall apprehend but little.
We can make good the block against the whole Mingo na-tion for the next eight or ten hours; and with Eau-douce to cover the retreat, I shall despair of nothing.God send that the lad may not run alongside of the bank, and fall into an ambushment, as befell the Sergeant!""Ay, there's the danger.There ought to have been sig-nals concerted, and an anchorage-ground buoyed out, and even a quarantine station or a lazaretto would have been useful, could we have made these Minks-ho respect the laws.If the lad fetches up, as you say, anywhere in the neighborhood of this island, we may look upon the cutter as lost.And, after all, Master Pathfinder, ought we not to set down this same Jasper as a secret ally of the French, rather than as a friend of our own? I know the Sergeant views the matter in that light; and I must say this whole affair looks like treason.""We shall soon know, we shall soon know, Master Cap;for there, indeed, comes the cutter clear of the other island, and five minutes must settle the matter.It would be no more than fair, however, if we could give the boy some sign in the way of warning.It is not right that he should fall into the trap without a notice that it has been laid."Anxiety and suspense, notwithstanding, prevented either from attempting to make any signal.It was not easy, truly, to see how it could be done; for the _Scud_ came foaming through the channel, on the weather side of the island, at a rate that scarcely admitted of the necessary time.Nor was any one visible on her deck to make signs to; even her helm seemed deserted, though her course was as steady as her progress was rapid.
Cap stood in silent admiration of a spectacle so unusual.
But, as the _Scud_ drew nearer, his practised eye detected the helm in play by means of tiller-ropes, though the per-son who steered was concealed.As the cutter had weather-boards of some little height, the mystery was explained, no doubt remaining that her people lay behind the latter, in order to be protected from the rifles of the enemy.As this fact showed that no force beyond that of the small crew could be on board, Pathfinder received his compan-ion's explanation with an ominous shake of the head.
