第98章

"My uncle's obstinacy must not be permitted to occa-sion this disaster.Go once more on deck, Jasper; and ask my father to come into the cabin."While the young man was complying with this request, Mabel sat listening to the howling of the storm and the dashing of the water against the cutter, in a dread to which she had hitherto been a stranger.Constitutionally an ex-cellent sailor, as the term is used among passengers, she had not hitherto bethought her of any danger, and had passed her time since the commencemeut of the gale in such womanly employments as her situation allowed; but now that alarm was seriously awakened, she did not fail to perceive that never before had she been on the water in such a tempest.The minute or two which elapsed before the Sergeant came appeared an hour, and she scarcely breathed when she saw him and Jasper descending the ladder in company.Quick as language could express her meaning, she acquainted her father with Jasper's opinion of their situation; and entreated him, if he loved her, or had any regard for his own life, or for those of his men, to interfere with her uncle, and to induce him to yield the control of the cutter again to its proper commander.

"Jasper is true, father," added she earnestly; "and if false, he could have no motive in wrecking us in this dis-tant part of the lake at the risk of all our lives, his own included.I will pledge my own life for his truth.""Ay, this is well enough for a young woman who is frightened," answered the more phlegmatic parent; "but it might not be so excusable in one in command of an ex-pedition.Jasper may think the chance of drowning in getting ashore fully repaid by the chance of escaping as soon as he reaches the land.""Sergeant Dunham!"

"Father!"

These exclamations were made simultaneously, but they were uttered in tones expressive of different feelings.In Jasper, surprise was the emotion uppermost; in Mabel reproach.The old soldier, however, was too much accus-tomed to deal frankly with subordinates to heed either;and after a moment's thought, he continued as if neither had spoken."Nor is brother Cap a man likely to submit to be taught his duty on board a vessel.""But, father, when all our lives are in the utmost jeop-ardy!"

"So much the worse.The fair-weather commander is no great matter; it is when things go wrong that the best officer shows himself in his true colors.Charles Cap will not be likely to quit the helm because the ship is in dan-ger.Besides, Jasper Eau-douce, he says your proposal in itself has a suspicious air about it, and sounds more like treachery than reason.""He may think so; but let him send for the pilot and hear his opinion.It is well known that I have not seen the man since yesterday evening.""This does sound reasonably, and the experiment shall be tried.Follow me on deck then, that all may be hon-est and above-aboard."

Jasper obeyed, and so keen was the interest of Mabel, that she too ventured as far as the companion-way, where her garments were sufficiently protected against the vio-lence of the wind and her person from the spray.Here maiden modesty induced her to remain, though an absorbed witness of what was passing.

The pilot soon appeared, and there was no mistaking the look of concern that he cast around at the scene as soon as he was in the open air.Some rumors of the situation of the _Scud_ had found their way below, it is true; but in this instance rumor had lessened instead of magnifying the danger.He was allowed a few minutes to look about him, and then the question was put as to the course which he thought it prudent to follow.

"I see no means of saving the cutter but to anchor," he answered simply, and without hesitation.

"What! out here in the lake?" inquired Cap, as he had previously done of Jasper.

"No: but closer in; just at the outer line of the breakers."The effect of this communication was to leave no doubt in the mind of Cap that there was a secret arrangement between her commander and the pilot to cast away the _Scud_; most probably with the hope of effecting their es-cape.He consequently treated the opinion of the latter with the indifference he had manifested towards that of the former.

"I tell you, brother Dunham," said he, in answer to the remonstrances of the Sergeant against his turning a deaf ear to this double represeutation, "that no seaman would give such an opinion honestly.To anchor on a lee shore in a gale of wind would be an act of madness that I could never excuse to the underwriters, under any circumstances, so long as a rag can be set; but to anchor close to breakers would be insanity.""His Majesty underwrites the _Scud_, brother, and I am responsible for the lives of my command.These men are better acquainted with Lake Ontario than we can possibly be, and I do think their telling the same tale entitles them to some credit.""Uncle!" said Mabel earnestly; but a gesture from Jas-per induced the girl to restrain her feelings.

"We are drifting down upon the breakers so rapidly,"said the young man, "that little need be said on the dub-ject.Half an hour must settle the matter, one way or the other; but I warn Master Cap that the surest-footed man among us will not be able to keep his feet an instant on the deck of this low craft, should she fairly get within them.Indeed I make little doubt that we shall fill and founder before the second line of rollers is passed.""And how would anchoring help the matter?" de-manded Cap furiously, as if he felt that Jasper was re-sponsible for the effects of the gale, as well as for the opinion he had just given.