Chapter 16 - Page 2

the qualities of the hardy and experienced seaman
which he truly was. The hands soon imbibed a respect for his
skill; and, though they wondered at the disappearance of their old
commander and the pilot, for which no reason had been publicly
given, they soon yielded an implicit and cheerful obedience to the
new one.

"This bit of fresh water, after all, brother Dunham, has some spirit,
I find," cried Cap about noon, rubbing his hands in pure satisfaction
at finding himself once more wrestling with the elements. "The
wind seems to be an honest old-fashioned gale, and the seas have
a fanciful resemblance to those of the Gulf Stream. I like this,
Sergeant, I like this, and shall get to respect your lake, if it
hold out twenty-four hours longer in the fashion in which it has
begun."

"Land, ho!" shouted the man who was stationed on the forecastle.

Cap hurried forward; and there, sure enough, the land 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 American 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 ramparts, the sombre palisades, 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
appeared traced in immovable lines in the air, were all soon to
be seen though no sign of animated life could be discovered. 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 garrison 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