ances 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."

"It's a d----d lingo, and never did any one good--at 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?"

"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 brother-in-law of yours must be able to
find the way back, after he has once travelled the road."

"I make no doubt, Major Duncan, we shall be able to do all that will
be necessary sho