Chapter 14 - Page 2

after-cabin reappeared
on the quarter-deck.

"You've no inclination, Jasper lad, to trust yourself too near our
neighbours the French," observed Muir, who took that occasion to
recommence the discourse. "Well, well, your prudence will never
be questioned by me, for I like the Canadas as little as you can
possibly like them yourself."

"I hug this shore, Mr. Muir, on account of the wind. The land-breeze
is always freshest close in, provided you are not so near as to
make a lee of the trees. We have Mexico Bay to cross; and that,
on the present course, will give us quite offing enough."

"I'm right glad it's not the Bay of Mexico," put in Cap, "which is
a part of the world I would rather not visit in one of your inland
craft. Does your cutter bear a weather helm, master Eau-douce?"

"She is easy on her rudder, master Cap; but likes looking up at
the breeze as well as another, when in lively motion."

"I suppose you have such things as reefs, though you can hardly
have occasion to use them?"

Mabel's bright eye detected the smile that gleamed for an instant
on Jasper's handsome face; but no one else saw that momentary
exhibition of surprise and contempt.

"We have reefs, and often have occasion to use them," quietly
returned the young man. "Before we get in, Master Cap, an opportunity
may offer to show you the manner in which we do so; for there is
easterly weather brewing, and the wind cannot chop, even on the
ocean itself, more readily than it flies round on Lake Ontario."

"So much for knowing no better! I have seen the wind in the Atlantic
fly round like a coach-wheel, in a way to keep your sails shaking
for an hour, and the ship would become perfectly motionless from
not knowing which way to turn."

"We have no such sudden changes here, certainly," Jasper mildly
answered; "though we think ourselves liable to unexpected shifts
of wind. I hope, however, to carry this land-breeze as far as the
first islands; after which there will be less danger of our being
seen and followed by any of the look-out boats from Frontenac."

"Do you think the French keep spies out on the broad lake, Jasper?"
inquired the Pathfinder.

"We know they do; one was off Oswego during the night of Monday
last. A bark canoe came close in with the eastern point, and landed
an Indian and an officer. Had you been outlying that night, as
usual, we should have secured one, if not both of them."

It was too dark to betray the color that deepened on the weather-burnt
features of the guide; for he felt the consciousness of having
lingered in the fort