me to be on my guard against Jasper Western, or Jasper Eau-douce, as he is called, who, it alleges, has been bought by the enemy, and giving me reason to expect that further and more precise information will soon be sent." "Letters without signatures to them, sir, are scarcely to be regarded in war." "Or in peace, Dunham. No one can entertain a lower opinion of the writer of an anonymous letter, in ordinary matters, than myself. The very act denotes cowardice, meanness, and baseness; and it usually is a token of falsehood, as well as of other vices. But, in matters of war, it is not exactly the same thing. Besides, several suspicious circumstances have been pointed out to me" "Such as is fit for an orderly to hear, your honor?" "Certainly, one in whom I confide as much as in yourself, Dunham. It is said, for instance, that your daughter and her party were permitted to escape the Iroquois, when they came in, merely to give Jasper credit with me. I am told that the gentry at Frontenac will care more for the capture of the Scud, with Sergeant Dunham and a party of men, together with the defeat of our favorite plan, than for the capture of a girl, and the scalp of her uncle." "I understand the hint, sir, but I do not give it credit. 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 circumstance, by your honor's leave. If he does speak French, it's because he can't well help it." "It's a d- -d lingo, and never did any one goodat 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, I would 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?" 66 A real seafaring man, your honor, and somewhat prejudiced 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 employment! 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 brotherin-law of yours must be able to find the way back, after he has once traveled 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 into the bargain, would write an anonymous letter, on private affairs. It is different, however, in war. Dispatches are feigned, and artifice is generally allowed to be justifiable." "Military, manly artifices, sir, if you will; such as ambushes, surprises, feints, false attacks, and even spies; but I never heard of a true soldier who could wish to undermine 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 into the vacancy, to which you have many claims!" "I humbly thank your honor," coolly returned the sergeant, who had been encouraged in this manner any time for the preceding twenty years, "and hope I shall never disgrace my station, whatever it may be. I am what nature and Providence have made me, and I 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, bless you, and may you be successful. God Dunham. 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 widowerhood, and with nothing but one's self 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 disobedience 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 soldier'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 hastening into his own movable abode, while the other left the fort, descended to the beach, and got into a boat. Duncan of Lundie had said no more than the truth, when he spoke of the painful nature of distrust. Of all the feelings of the human mind, it is that which is the most treacherous in its workings, the most insidious in its approaches, and the least at the command of a generous temperament. While doubt exists, everything may be suspected, the thoughts having no definite facts to set bounds to their wanderings; and distrust once admitted, it is impossible to say to what extent conjecture may lead, or whither credulity may follow. That which had previously seemed innocent assumes the hue of guilt, as soon as this uneasy tenant has taken possession of the thoughts; and nothing is said or done, without being subjected to the colorings and disfigurations of jealousy and apprehension. If this is true in ordinary affairs, it is doubly true when any heavy responsibility, involving life or death, weighs on the unsettled mind of its subject; undermine 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 into the vacancy, to which you have many claims!" "I humbly thank your honor," coolly returned the sergeant, who had been encouraged in this manner any time for the preceding twenty years, "and hope I shall never disgrace my station, whatever it may be. I am what nature and Providence have made me, and I 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." retire Dunham. God "Well, then, give me your hand, bless you, and may you be successful. 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 widowerhood, and with nothing but one's self to love, and such a self, too, as Davy's!" |