Cap was obliged to acquiesce; and, as everything around him had the appearance of Jasper’s being sincere, there was not much difficulty in making up his mind to submit.  It would not have been easy indeed for a person the most sensitive on the subject of circumstances to fancy that the Scud was anywhere in the vicinity of a port so long established and so well known on the frontiers as Frontenac.  The islands might not have been literally a thousand in number, but they were so numerous and small as to baffle calculation, though occasionally one of larger size than common was passed.  Jasper had quitted what might have been termed the main channel, and was winding his way, with a good stiff breeze and a favorable current, through passes that were sometimes so narrow that there appeared to be barely room sufficient for the Scud’s spars to clear the trees, while at other moments he shot across little bays, and buried the cutter again amid rocks, forests, and bushes.  The water was so transparent that there was no occasion for the lead, and being of very equal depth, little risk was actually run, though Cap, with his maritime habits, was in a constant fever lest they should strike.

“I give it up, I give it up, Pathfinder!” the old seaman at length exclaimed, when the little vessel emerged in safety from the twentieth of these narrow inlets through which she had been so boldly carried; “this is defying the very nature of seamanship, and sending all its laws and rules to the d—–­l!”

“Nay, nay, Saltwater, ’tis the perfection of the art.  You perceive that Jasper never falters, but, like a hound with a true nose, he runs with his head high as if he had a strong scent.  My life on it, the lad brings us out right in the ind, as he would have done in the beginning had we given him leave.”

“No pilot, no lead, no beacons, buoys, or lighthouses, no —­ "

“Trail,” interrupted Pathfinder; “for that to me is the most mysterious part of the business.  Water leaves no trail, as every one knows; and yet here is Jasper moving ahead as boldly as if he had before his eyes the prints of the moccasins on leaves as plainly as we can see the sun in the heaven.”

“D—–­ me, if I believe there is even any compass!”

“Stand by to haul down the jib,” called out Jasper, who merely smiled at the remarks of his companion.  “Haul down —­ starboard your helm —­ starboard hard —­ so — meet her —­ gently there with the helm —­ touch her lightly — now jump ashore with the fast, lad —­ no, heave; there are some of our people ready to take it.”

All this passed so quickly as barely to allow the spectator time to note the different evolutions, ere the Scud had been thrown into the wind until her mainsail shivered, next cast a little by the use of the rudder only, and then she set bodily alongside of a natural rocky quay, where she was immediately secured by good fasts run to the shore.  In a word, the station was reached, and the men of the 55th were greeted by their expecting comrades, with the satisfaction which a relief usually brings.