The Pathfinder: Or the Inland Sea

ields were sho

brim our r

y of wate

and boun

dash’d, and r

ns spouted

YA

eying. The Oswego is formed by the junction of the Oneida and the Onondaga, both of which flow from lakes; and it pursues its way, through a gently undulating country, some eight or ten miles, until it reaches the margin of a sort of natural terrace, down which it tumbles some ten or fifteen feet, to another level, across which it glides with the silent, stealthy prog

tation as steersman; “let it go down with the current. Should any of these infarnals, the Mingos, strike our trail, or follow it to this point they will not fail to lo

, made a leap, landing lightly, and without disturbing its equilibrium, in the bow of the canoe. As soon as it had reached th

its luggage, many hundred yards; and it would not have exceeded the strength of a single man to lift its weight. Still it was long, and, for a canoe, wide; a want of steadiness being its principal defect in the eyes of the uninitiated. A few hours practice, however, in a great measure remedied this evil, and both Mabel and her uncle had learned so far to humor its movements, that they now maintained their places with perfect composure; nor did the addit

bel was half reclining behind her uncle, while the Pathfinder and Eau-douce stood erect, the one in the bow, and the other in the stern, each using a paddle, with a long, steady, noiseless sweep.

ation of centuries, and black with loam, the stream that filled the banks nearly to overflowing, and the “fresh and boundless wood,” being all as visible to the eye as the pen of Bryant has elsewhere vividly presented them to the imagination. In short, the entire scene was one of a rich and benevolent nature, before it had been subjected to the uses and desires of man; luxuriant, wild, full of promise, and not without the charm of the picturesque, even in its rudest state. It will be remembered that this was in the year 175-, or long before even speculation had brought any portion of western New York within the bounds of civiliz

that the Sarpent, there, and I have passed happily among the streams, living on venison, salmon, and trout without thought of a Mingo or a scalp! I sometimes wish that them blesse

rtial friend could scarcely term his sunburnt and hard features handsome, even Mabel thought his smile attrac

o see his daughter through the wilderness,” the young woman answered,

nd the fight that we have had — stood shoulder to shoulder in, as he would c

end of whom my father has spo

antage of me by thirty years; yes, he is thi

began to revive when he found the water once more flowing around him. “The thirty years t

e of the young man in the stern. As a last resource, her spirited but soft blue eyes sought refuge in the water. Just at this momen

s ears like a dog that hears a distant baying; “it

nder; “it is merely this river tumblin

?” demanded Mabel, a still bri

not better give the canoe a sheer, and get nearer to the shore? These waterfalls have generally rap

e, and I cannot boast of being much even of that; but we understand rifts and rapids and c

vil, man! you do not dream of going dow

ier to shoot them than to unload the canoe and to carry th

for, just at that moment, a fresh roar of the fall was borne to her ears by a new c

uietly observed, “we three white men, all of whom are used to the water

is shoulder; “for you are accustomed to see waves tumbling about; and without some one to steady

l feebleness of man when exposed to its fury. Still his pride revolted at the thought of deserting the boat, while others not only steadily, but coolly, proposed to continue in it. Notwithstanding the latter feeling, and his innate as w

r his niece raising another qualm in his conscience. “We ca

tur’ to be found where he is least expected. No fear of him on a beaten path; for he wishes to come upon you when unprepared to meet him, and the fiery villains make it a po

of Pathfinder and the two sailors. Notwithstanding his professional pride, Cap would have gladly foll

on this affair as anything more than canoeing in the woods. There is no seamanship in tumbling o

the Canada, they are narvous enough for a new beginner. Let the Sergeant’s daughter stand on yonder rock, and she will see the manner in which we ignorant backwoodsmen get ov

e stern of the light boat, governing its movements. As soon, however, as she reached a point where she got a view of the fall, she gave an involuntary but suppressed scream, and covered her eyes. At the next instant, the latter were again free, and the entranced girl stood immovable as a statue,

, and in a manner not to interfere with the efforts of his companion. The latter still stood erect; and, as he kept his

there where you see the water foam. Bring the top of the

heerfully have renounced every claim to glory that could possibly be acquired by the feat, to have been safe again on shore. He heard the roar of the water, thundering, as it might be, behind a screen, but becoming more and m

exclaimed, unable any longer to suppress his anxie

him for a single instant, with his silent, joyous laugh — “down we g

sing in a caldron. He felt the bow of the canoe tip, saw the raging, foaming water careering madly by his side, was sensible that the light fabric in which he floated was tossed about like an e

and, searching for a tin pot and a horn spoon, he began delibe

rly measured spoonfuls. I have, you must ack

” returned Jasper seriously, “that I

o, since you say it; but I have

through a narrow passage, at an angle of about forty or forty five degrees. Down this ticklish descent the canoe had glanced, amid fragments of broken rock, whirlpools, foam, and furious tossings of the element, which an uninstructed eye would believe menaced inevitable destruction to an object so fragile. But the very lightness of the canoe had fa

er suppose we are

er will add that

carried over these

fe

aid of his admiration of the boldness of the exploit. Still he was indisposed to express all he felt, lest it might be conceding too much in favor of fresh

all, to know the channel in such a place is the main point. I have had cockswa

region that can shoot the Oswego, but Eau-douce there, with any sartainty; though, now and then, one has blundered through. I can’t do it myself unless by means of Providence, and it needs Ja

canoe; you told him how

ave spoken, or thought would he have given to the public. An Indian knows how to hold his tongue; but we white folk fancy we are always wiser

spray to shooting London Bridge which is done every day by hundreds of persons, and often by th

hese falls; for a boat’s breadth, either way, may make a drowning matter of it. Eau-douce, we shall

joking now! Surely it is not possible for a

over it with my own eyes; and if we both live I hope to satisfy you that the feat can be done. For my part, I

ome time; for, sooth to say, he had never suspected the possibility of going down Niagara, feasible a

ked; Cap, Jasper, and his niece in one boat and Pathfinder, Arrowhead, and the wife of the latter in the other. The Mohican had

anding the plunge; and to those on the shore it was evident that, by a timely application of his skill and strength, the canoe had received a sheer which alone carried it clear of a rock over which the boiling water was leaping in jets d’eau — now leaving the brown stone visible, and now covering it with a limpid sheet, as if machinery controlled the play of the element. The tongue cannot always express what the eyes view; but Mabel saw enough, even in that moment of fear, to blend for ever in her mind the pictures presented by the plunging canoe and the unmoved steersman. She admitted that insidious feeli

e falls,” said Pathfinder, looking at Mabel, while he addressed her uncle; “though I’v

Cap; “and you did well, friend, to humor her weaknes

een how little you cared about the matter. I went over once with a raw hand, and he j

which was so dry, while it was so simple, that a less obtuse subject than the old sailor mig

t to show his skill among us ignoranters. What became of him? Why, he went down

, smiling, though he was evidently more disposed than h

e canoes being now so near that they almost touched; “he is sartainly

have wished that it had not been attempted, though, now it is over,

but neither Eau-douce nor myself is of that race. My natur’ has few turns in it, and is a straight natur’; nor would it be likely to lead me into a vanity of this sort while out on duty. As for Jaspe

the sight of youth and beauty was so rare on that remote frontier, that even the rebuked and self-mortif

ad we waited to carry the canoe across the portage, time would have been l

oes move swiftly, and two hours, you hav

to the Sergeant, and most, I think, to yourself, to see you safe from harm. Ha, Eau-douce! what

nder; he is making signs to u

ation and steadiness would never take this trouble. Courage, all! We are men, and must meet devilry as becomes our color and our callings.