only
chance will lie in getting through the breakers in that."

"I would willingly man anything to save Mabel," answered Jasper, with a
melancholy smile; "but no human hand, Pathfinder, could carry that
canoe through yonder breakers in a gale like this. I have hopes from
anchoring, after all; for once before have we saved the _Scud_ in an
extremity nearly as great as this."

"If we are to anchor, Jasper," the Sergeant inquired, "why not do it at
once? Every foot we lose in drifting now would come into the distance we
shall probably drag when the anchors are let go."

Jasper drew nearer to the Sergeant, and took his hand, pressing
it earnestly, and in a way to denote strong, almost uncontrollable
feelings.

"Sergeant Dunham," said he solemnly, "you are a good man, though you
have treated me harshly in this business. You love your daughter?"

"That you cannot doubt, Eau-douce," returned the Sergeant huskily.

"Will you give her--give us all--the only chance for life that is left?"

"What would you have me do, boy, what would you have me do? I have acted
according to my judgment hitherto,--what would you have me do?"

"Support me against Master Cap for five minutes, and all that man can do
towards saving the _Scud_ shall be done."

The Sergeant hesitated, for he was too much of a disciplinarian to
fly in the face of regular orders. He disliked the appearance of
vacillation, too; and then he had a profound respect for his kinsman's
seamanship. While he was deliberating, Cap came from the post he had
some time occupied, which was at the side of the man at the helm, and
drew nigh the group.

"Master Eau-douce," said he, as soon as near enough to be heard, "I have
come to inquire if you know any spot near by where this cutter can
be beached? The moment has arrived when we are driven to this hard
alternative."

That instant of indecision on the part of Cap secured the triumph of
Jasper. Looking at the Sergeant, the young man received a nod that
assured him of all he asked, and he lost not one of those moments that
were getting to be so very precious.

"Shall I take the helm," he inquired of Cap, "and see if we can reach a
creek that lies to leeward?"

"Do so, do so," said the other, hemming to clear his throat; for he
felt oppressed by a responsibility that weighed all the heavier on his
shoulders on account of his ignorance. "Do so, Eau-douce, since, to be
frank with you, I can see nothing better to be done. We