Chapter 19 - Page 2

objects on the land. He preferred the
south because it was the weather shore, and because he thought it
was that which the enemy would the least expect him to take, though
it necessarily led near his settlements, and in front of one of
the strongest posts he held in that part of the world.

Of all this, however, Cap was happily ignorant, and the Sergeant's
mind was too much occupied with the details of his military trust
to enter into these niceties, which so properly belonged to another
profession. No opposition was made, therefore, and before morning
Jasper had apparently dropped quietly into all his former authority,
issuing his orders freely, and meeting with obedience without
hesitation or cavil.

The appearance of day brought all on board on deck again; and,
as is usual with adventurers on the water, the opening horizon
was curiously examined, as objects started out of the obscurity,
and the panorama brightened under the growing light. East, west,
and north nothing was visible but water glittering in the rising
sun; but southward stretched the endless belt of woods that then
held Ontario in a setting of forest verdure. Suddenly an opening
appeared ahead, and then the massive walls of a chateau-looking
house, with outworks, bastions, blockhouses, and palisadoes, frowned
on a headland that bordered the outlet of a broad stream. Just
as the fort became visible, a little cloud rose over it, and the
white ensign of France was seen fluttering from a lofty flagstaff.

Cap gave an ejaculation as he witnessed this ungrateful exhibition,
and he cast a quick suspicious glance at his brother-in-law.

"The dirty tablecloth hung up to air, as my name is Charles Cap!"
he muttered; "and we hugging this d----d shore as if it were our
wife and children met on the return from an India v'y'ge! Hark'e,
Jasper, are you in search of a cargo of frogs, that you keep so
near in to this New France?"

"I hug the land, sir, in the hope of passing the enemy's ship without
being seen, for I think she must be somewhere down here to leeward."

"Ay, ay, this sounds well, and I hope it may turn out as you say.
I trust there is no under-tow here?"

"We are on a weather shore, now," said Jasper, smiling; "and I think
you will admit, Master Cap, that a strong under-tow makes an easy
cable: we owe all our lives to the under-tow of this very lake."

"French flummery!" growled Cap, though he did not care to be heard
by Jasper. "Give me a fair, honest, English-Yankee-American tow,
above board, and above water too, if I must have a tow at all, and
none of your sneaking drift that is below the surface, where one
can neither see