“Ay, there’s the danger.  There ought to have been signals concerted, and an anchorage-ground buoyed out, and even a quarantine station or a lazaretto would have been useful, could we have made these Minks-ho respect the laws.  If the lad fetches up, as you say, anywhere in the neighborhood of this island, we may look upon the cutter as lost.  And, after all, Master Pathfinder, ought we not to set down this same Jasper as a secret ally of the French, rather than as a friend of our own?  I know the Sergeant views the matter in that light; and I must say this whole affair looks like treason.”

“We shall soon know, we shall soon know, Master Cap; for there, indeed, comes the cutter clear of the other island, and five minutes must settle the matter.  It would be no more than fair, however, if we could give the boy some sign in the way of warning.  It is not right that he should fall into the trap without a notice that it has been laid.”

Anxiety and suspense, notwithstanding, prevented either from attempting to make any signal.  It was not easy, truly, to see how it could be done; for the Scud came foaming through the channel, on the weather side of the island, at a rate that scarcely admitted of the necessary time.  Nor was any one visible on her deck to make signs to; even her helm seemed deserted, though her course was as steady as her progress was rapid.

Cap stood in silent admiration of a spectacle so unusual.  But, as the Scud drew nearer, his practised eye detected the helm in play by means of tiller-ropes, though the person who steered was concealed.  As the cutter had weatherboards of some little height, the mystery was explained, no doubt remaining that her people lay behind the latter, in order to be protected from the rifles of the enemy.  As this fact showed that no force beyond that of the small crew could be on board, Pathfinder received his companion’s explanation with an ominous shake of the head.

“This proves that the Sarpent has not reached Oswego,” said he, “and that we are not to expect succor from the garrison.  I hope Lundie has not taken it into his head to displace the lad, for Jasper Western would be a host of himself in such a strait.  We three, Master Cap, ought to make a manful warfare:  you, as a seaman, to keep up the intercourse with the cutter; Jasper, as a laker who knows all that is necessary to be done on the water; and I, with gifts that are as good as any among the Mingos, let me be what I may in other particulars.  I say we ought to make a manful fight in Mabel’s behalf.”

“That we ought, and that we will,” answered Cap heartily; for he began to have more confidence in the security of his scalp now that he saw the sun again.  “I set down the arrival of the Scud as one circumstance, and the chances of Oh-deuce’s honesty as another.  This Jasper is a young man of prudence, you find; for he keeps a good offing, and seems determined to know how matters stand on the island before he ventures to bring up.”