erved Sergeant Dunham at his
brother-in-law's elbow; "and we place great reliance on his skill in
our expeditions. But come, one and all, we have but half an hour more of
daylight to embark in, and the boats will be ready for us by the time we
are ready for them."

On this intimation the whole party separated, each to find those trifles
which had not been shipped already. A few taps of the drum gave the
necessary signal to the soldiers, and in a minute all were in motion.

CHAPTER XIII.

The goblin now the fool alarms,
Hags meet to mumble o'er their charms,
The night-mare rides the dreaming ass,
And fairies trip it on the grass.
COTTON.

The embarkation of so small a party was a matter of no great delay or
embarrassment. The whole force confided to the care of Sergeant Dunham
consisted of but ten privates and two non-commissioned officers,
though it was soon positively known that Mr. Muir was to accompany the
expedition. The Quartermaster, however, went as a volunteer, while some
duty connected with his own department, as had been arranged between
him and his commander, was the avowed object. To these must be added the
Pathfinder and Cap, with Jasper and his subordinates, one of whom was a
boy. The party, consequently, consisted of less than twenty men, and a
lad of fourteen. Mabel and the wife of a common soldier were the only
females.

Sergeant Dunham carried off his command in a large bateau, and then
returned for his final orders, and to see that his brother-in-law and
daughter were properly attended to. Having pointed out to Cap the boat
that he and Mabel were to use, he ascended the hill to seek his last
interview with Lundie.

It was nearly dark when Mabel found herself in the boat that was to
carry her off to the cutter. So very smooth was the surface of the lake,
that it was not found necessary to bring the bateaux into the river
to receive their freights; but the beach outside being totally without
surf, and the water as tranquil as that of a pond, everybody embarked
there. When the boat left the land, Mabel would not have known that she
was afloat on so broad a sheet of water by any movement which is usual
to such circumstances. The oars had barely time to give a dozen strokes,
when the boat lay at the cutter's side.

Jasper was in readiness to receive his passengers; and, as the deck of
the _Scud_ was but two or three feet above the water, no difficulty was
experienc