hear your opinion on the subject."

"Anan?"

"I say, the Major suspects Jasper of being a traitor--a French spy--or,
what is worse, of being bought to betray us. He has received a letter
to this effect, and has been charging me to keep an eye on the boy's
movements; for he fears we shall meet with enemies when we least suspect
it, and by his means."

"Duncan of Lundie has told you this, Sergeant Dunham?"

"He has indeed, Pathfinder; and, though I have been loath to believe
anything to the injury of Jasper, I have a feeling which tells me I
ought to distrust him. Do you believe in presentiments, my friend?

"In what, Sergeant?"

"Presentiments,--a sort of secret foreknowledge of events that are
about to happen. The Scotch of our regiment are great sticklers for such
things; and my opinion of Jasper is changing so fast, that I begin to
fear there must be some truth in their doctrines."

"But you've been talking with Duncan of Lundie concerning Jasper, and
his words have raised misgivings."

"Not it, not so in the least; for, while conversing with the Major, my
feelings were altogether the other way; and I endeavored to convince
him all I could that he did the boy injustice. But there is no use
in holding out against a presentiment, I find; and I fear there is
something in the suspicion after all."

"I know nothing of presentiments, Sergeant; but I have known Jasper
Eau-douce since he was a boy, and I have as much faith in his honesty as
I have in my own, or that of the Sarpent himself."

"But the Serpent, Pathfinder, has his tricks and ambushes in war as well
as another."

"Ay, them are his nat'ral gifts, and are such as belong to his people.
Neither red-skin nor pale-face can deny natur'; but Chingachgook is not
a man to feel a presentiment against."

"That I believe; nor should I have thought ill of Jasper this
very morning. It seems to me, Pathfinder, since I've taken up this
presentiment, that the lad does not bustle about his deck naturally, as
he used to do; but that he is silent and moody and thoughtful, like a
man who has a load on his conscience."

"Jasper is never noisy; and he tells me noisy ships are generally
ill-worked ships. Master Cap agrees in this too. No, no; I will believe
naught against Jasper until I see it. Send for your brother, Sergeant,
and let us question him in this matter; for to sleep with distrust of
one's friend in the heart is like sleeping with lead there. I have no
faith