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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1941-05-22, Page 6PAGE SIX The Inland Sea ' But you've 'been talking with Dun -'!bit 'of 'fresh water, to talk 'French. 'If can of Lundie concerning Jasper, and it were down on the Atlantic, now, his words have raised misgivings." where 'a seafaring ratan has occasion ''Not it, not eo in the least; for, sometimes to -converse with a'pilot, cr whole conversing with the Major, my a linguister, in that language, I should feelings were 'altogether the other not think so much of it,—though we way; and I endeavoured to convince always look with suspicion, even 'there him all I could that he did the boy in- at a shipmate who knows ton much justi•ee. But there is no use in holding of the tongue; but up here, on Ontar- o'ut against a presentiment, -I find;- io; I hold it to be a most suspicious and II fear there is something in the circumstance," suspicion after all." "But jasper must talk itt French to "I know nothing of ,presentiments. the people ,m the other shore," said Sergeant but I have known jasper Pathfinder, "or hold his tongue, as Eau -deuce since he was a boy, and I there are Crone hut French to speak have as much faith in his honesty I have in my own, or tat of :Ce jar- "You don't neap to tell tire, Path - rent himself" finder. that France lies here away, on "`But the Serpent. Pathfinder, bas the opposite coast?" cried Tap, 'perk - his tricks anti ambushes in war as ing a thumb over his shoulder in the well as another. direction of the Canada; "that one "'Ay, them are his nat'ral Gifts, and sine .-'f the !bit of 'fresh water is York, are such as 'belong to his people. and the other France " Neither red -skin nor pale -lace can "I mean to tell you this is York, deny -name; 'but IC•hingachtrook is not and that is 'Upper 'Canada; and that a man to feel a presentiment against." English and Dutch and Indian are "That I 'believe; nor should I have .poker in the first, French and In - thought i'.1 of Jasper this very morn- dian in the 'last. Even the Mitgns int;. it seems to me. Pathfinder, since have ,;rat litany of the French wards I've taken up this presentiment. that m their dialect, and it is no improve - the lad does not ;bestir about his deck earn' neither." naturally. as he used to do: 'but that "Very true: and what sort of people -he is silent and moody and thought- are the Min•gos. my friend?" inquired fol, like a man who has a load on his the Sergeant. touching the other on conscience." his shoulder, by way of enforcing a "J-asper is never noisy; and he tells remark, the inherent truth of which me noisy ships are generally i11- sensdie increased its value in the worked '.hips. 'Master Cap agrees in eyes of the speaker: "No one 'knows this too. No, no; I will 'believe naught them 'better than yourself, and I ask against !Jasper until I see it. Send for you what sort of a tribe are they?" y, ur'brother, Sergeant, and led u 'Jas'per is no ISfingo. Sergeant." tiucetion him in this matter; for to "He speaks French, and 'he might sleep with distrust of one's friend in as well he, in that particular Brother the heart is like sleepine with lead Cap. can you recollect no m.nwentent there. I have no faint in yonr 'presenti. of this unfortunate young man, in the men's." 'way of hie calling, that would seem to The Sergeant. althangh he scarcely denote treachery?" knew himself with what object. cont- "Not distinctly, Sergeant, though 'he plied. and Cap was summoned to join has :gone to work wrongend foremost in the c•cnsttitatien. As Pathfinder half his time. It is true that one of his was more collected than his contpan- hands coiled a rope against the sun, icn, and 'felt so 'tron.:g s .:onviction of and he called it guerling a rope, ten, the good faith of the party aec:tsed. he when I asked him what he was about; assumed the e Tice of spokesman. bet I am not certain that anything lie ltn•c esker yen to come down. was mean t'hy it: f daresay. the Master Cap" Inc s'cramme'd '"in order French coil half their running rigging to inquire if you have remarked any- the ,Tong way. and may call it 'quer- thinc tett cf the enmmasn way in the line it down,' too, ,for that matter. movements of Eatt-d.,nce this even- Then Jasper himself 'belayed the end him" of the jib -halyards to a stretcher in "His movements arc eentmon es- the rigging, instead of !bringing in to ough, I diresay. far fresh water .Mas the mast, where they 'belong, at least ter Pathfinder. though ewe should among British sailors: think most of his Treece rings irren'ul- "I daresay Jasper may have got ar down en the coast.' some Canada notions about working Yes, ye.; At know yon will never his craft, front 'being so much on the agree with hint aeaset the manner the "leer side." Pathfinder interposed: cutter ought to be managed: ant it is "but catching an idee, or a word, isn't on another paint we wish your .pin- treachery and 'bad faith. I sometimes get an !dee from the'Mingos themsel- The Pathfinder then explained to vee; ,but my heart has aiways ;been Cap the nature -f the .raspicions with the Delaware's. No. no, (jasper is which the 'Sergeent entertained. and trite; and the Sang might trust him the reasons why they had .been excit- with his crown, just as he would trust ed, so far as the latter hats been earn- his eldest son, who, as he is to wear municated by Major Durran. it one day ought to be the last man 'The youngster talks French, does to wish to steal it," he?" said' Cap. "Fine talking, fine talking!" said "They 'say he speaks it 'better than Cap; "all fine talking, Master Path - common," returned the Sergeant finder, but d -✓el little logic. In the gravely. "Pathfinder knows this to 'be first place, the kin'g's majesty cannot true" lend his crown, it' being contrary to "'P11 not (gainsay it," answered the the laws of the realm, which require guide; "at least, they tell me such is him to wear it at all times, in order the fast. 'But .this would prove noth- that his sacred person may' be known, ing ag'in a 'Mississagua, :and, least cif just as the silver oar is necessary to a ail, ag'in one like Jasper. I speak sheriff's afloat. In the next place, it's ibfingo dialect myself, having learnt it high treason, by law, for the eldest while a prisoner among the reptyles; son of his majesty ever to covet the but who will sayal am their friend? crown, or to have a child, except in Not that I am a enemy, either, ac- lawful wedlock, as either 'would der - cording to Indian notions; though I ange the succession. Thus you see, am their enemy, I will admit, agree- friend Pathfinder, that in order to alble to Christianity." reason truly, one must get ender way, "'Ay, 'Pathfinder; but 'Jasper 'did not as it might Ibe, on the right tack. Law get his :French as a prisoner; he todk is reason, and reason is philosophy, it in !boyhood, when the mind is eas- and 'philosophy is a :teary drag; ily impressed 'and gets its permanent whence it follows that crowns are notions; 'when nature has a presenti- regulated by law, reason and philos- ment, as it were, which may the char- ophy." aster is likely to incline." "I know little tta all this, .Master "A 'very just remark," added 'Gap, Cap; lout nothing short of seeing and "for that is the time of life "when we feeling -will make me think Jasper all learn the catechism, 'and other 'Western a traitor," moral improvements. The 'S'ergeant's "There you are wrong again, Path - Observation 'shows that he 'under- finder; for .there is a way of proving stands human nature, and` I - agree 'a thing much more 'conclusively than 'with hien .perfectly; it is a rammtalble by either seeing or feeling, or Iby'both thing for a youngster, 'u'p here, on this together; and that is a circomstanoe," THE SEAFORTH NEWS "'It may be so in the settlements; batt it i, not so here on -the lines." "It is -so nature, which is monarch over all, 'There was a circumstance, just after we carte on board this ev- ening, that is extremely suspicious, and which may be set 'down at once as a make 'weight against this lad. Jas- per bent on the king's ensign :with his own hands; anti, while he pretended to 'be looking at 'Mabel and the sold- ier's wife, giving directions about showing t(le 7 n below here and all that, he got the 'Slag anion down!" That might have been accident," returned The Sengeant, "for such a thing has happened to myself; be- sides, the halyards lead to a pulley, and the ,flag 'worth have coarse right, or not, aecordin'g to the manner in 'bier' ,the lad hoisted it." "A pulley!" exclaimed Cap, with strong disgust; '",1 wish Sergeant Dunham, 'I 'could prevail on you to use 'p -roper terms. An ensign -halyard - block is no ;more a 'pulley 'than your halbert is a 'boanding.pi+ke, It is true that by hoisting on one part, another part 'would go uppermost; but I cook upon that affair of the ensign now you here mentioned your suspicious, as a circumstance, and shall 'bear it in mind. I tnuet supper is not to be over- looked, however, even if we have a hold full of traitors," "1t will .he duly •attended to, brother .Cap; but I shall count on you. for aid in managing she Scud, should anything Occur 10 induce ane to arrest Jasper." "I'll not fail you, Sergeant; and in strati an event you'll 'probalbly learn in hat this cotter can really perform; for, as yet, 1 'fancy it is pretty much matter of ,guesswork." "Well for my part said Pathfitttl- er, thawing a heavy sigh, "I shall ding to the hope of !lasper's innoc- ence, and recommend plain dealing, by asking the lath himself, without further delay, whether -he is or is not a traitor, 1'11 put Jasper Western ag- ainst all the 'presentiments and cir- cumstances in the colony," "That will never do," rejoined the Sergeant, "The responsibility of this affair rests with me, and I request and enjoin that nothing be said to any one without my knowledge. We wilt ail keep va'tchful eyes about ns, and take proper note of circumstances." "Ay, ay! circumstances are the things after all," returned Cap. "'One circumstance is north fifty faces. That 1 know to be the law of the realm. Many a man has been hanged on circumstances,' The 'conversation now ceased, and, after a short 'd'eliy, the 'whole party returner' to the deck, each individual disposed to view the 'conduct of the suspected jasper in the maturer most suited to his own habits and eharact er. 'CHIA.PTTR XIV All this time natters were else- where passing in 'their usual train. gasper, like the weather and 'his 'ves- sel, seemed to waiting for- the land - breeze; "while the soldiers, accustom- ed to early rising had, to a man, sought 'their 'pallets in the grain hold. None remained on deck but the people of the cutter, Mr. ,Muir, anti the two females, The .Q.uartermaster was endeavouring to render himself agreeable to Mabel, while our heroine herself, tittle affected by his assiduit- ies, 'which she ascribed .partly, perhaps to her own pretty face was enjoyine THURSDAY, MAY 220941 tlte'peculiarities of a scene and situat- ion which, to her were dull of the. charms of novelty. The sails had been hoisted, !but as yet not a 'breath of air was in motion; and so still and, placitl was the lake, that not the smallestmotion'was per- ceptible in the cutter. She had drifted in the river current to a distance a little exceeding a quarter of a rile from the land, and she lay, 'bea'utiful in her symmetry ant 'form, 'but tyke a fixture. Young Jasper was on the quarter-deck, near enough Ito hear oc- casionally the conversation .which .pas-. sed.; ibu•t too diffident of his own claim and too intent on his duties, td at- tempt tomingle in 'it. 'P'r'e fine 'blue eyes of Mabel followed his 'notions in curious expectation', and more than once the 'Quartermaster had to re - Peet his •coniplintenta before she heard them, so intent was she -on 'the little occurrences of the vessel, anti, we might add, so indifferent to the eloq- uence of tier companion, At length, even tier, 'Muir 'became silent, 'and there 'was a deep stillness on the wat- er. Presently an oar-Iblade dell in a boat 'beneath the fort, land the sound reached 'the cutter as 'distinctly as if it had 'been produced on her deck. Then came a murmur like a sight of the night, a ,fluttering of .canvas, the creaking Of the boons, and the flap of the jib. These well=known sounds were followed by -a slight heel in the cutter, and by the :bellying of all the sails "Here's the .wind, .Anderson," call- ed out Jasper to the oldest of his sail- ors; "take the 'helm," This .brief order was Obeyed; the helot was 'put up, the cutter's bows fell off, and in a few ntimntee the wat- er vas heard murmuring under her herd, as tie - Scud glanced through the take at the tate of ,five miles in tile hour. All this passed .in profotutd silence, when Jasper again gave the order 'to "case off the sleets a little, and kee-p tier along the lend." It ,'vas at this instant that the 'panty from the after -cabin appeared on the quarter-deok. "You've no inclination, Jasper lad, to trust yourself too near our .neigh - hours the :French," observed Linluit, taking that occasion to commence the discourse. 'y\Vell, .well, your prudence will never be questioned by tile. Inc I like the Canada: as little as you can possibly like them yourself.' '11 hug this shore,' Mr. !Muir, on ac- count of the wind, The landshreeze is always -freshest .close in, 'provided you are not so near as to make a lee of the trees. We have Mexico Bay to cross; and that, on the 'present -course will give es suite offing enough," ";l'nt right ;glad it's not the Bay i;f Mexico," 'put in Cap, "which is a part of the world I -could rather not visit in one of your inland craft. Does your cutter hear weather helm, 'Master Earn -donne?" "She is easy on her rudder, Mester Cap; but tikes' looking tap at the breeze as well as another, when in lively motion." , "I suppose you have such things as reefs, though you can hardly ha -we oc- casion to use theist?" Mabel': bright eye detected the smile that ,gieamed ,For an instant on jasper's handsome face; but no one else saw That momentary exhibition of surprise and sontempt. - ,t\>,'e have reefs, and often have oc- casion to use them," quietly returned the young ratan, "Before we get yin, Master 'Cep, an opportunity may offer tea show you the manner in which sae do so; •for there is easterlyweather brewing, and the 'wind cannot 'chop, even on the ocean itself, more readily than it flies round on :Lake Ontario." "So Hutch for knowing -no 'better! I have seen the wind in the Atlantic fly round like a coach -wheel, in a way to keep your sails shaking for 'an hour tied the ship would ibectorne .Perfectly motionless from not 'knowing which way to turn," "iWe have no such changes here, certainly," (Jasper mildly .answered; ',though we think ourselves liable to unexpected shifts of wind. I hope, however, to carry this land -'breeze as far as the first islands; after which there will' be less danger ,of 'our being seen and .followed by any .of the look- out 'boats ,from Frontenalc," "Do you: -think the French keep spies mit on the 'broad l'a'ke, jasper?" inquired tite 'Pathfinder. "We know they do; one 'was off Oswego 'during the night of :IvIonclat last, A bank canon came close in wrath the eastern 'point, and landed an In- dian and an officer. Had you 'been outlying that night, as usual,- 'we should have secured one, if not (both of them." It was too dank to 'betray the eel - our that deepened onthe weather. burnt features of t'he guide; for he felt ,the consciousness of having ling- eredin the fort that night, listening to the sweet tones of rela'be1's •'•Dice as she sang 'ballade to herfather, and, gazing at the countenance which, to hint, was radian', with charms. Prob- ity in thought and deed ;being the dis- tinguishing quality of this extraord- inary man's mind, while he felt 'that a sort of disgrace ought to attach to his idleness on the occasion ment- ioned, the last thought that could oc- cur would be to attem-pt to palliate or deny his negligence. "I confess it, Jasper, I con fess it," said he humbly. "Had I'been out that night,—anal I now recollect no suffic- ient reason why I was nu,—it aright, indeed, have turned out as you say." "It was the evening you passed with ns, Path(in•der," Weibel innocent- ly remarked; "surely one wito lite, so much of his time in the forest, in front of the enemy, may he excused for giving a few hours of his time to an old friend and his 'daughter." 'Nay, nay,..I''ve done little else but idle since we reached the garrison," returned the other, sighing; "and it is well that the lad should tell me of it: the idler needs a relbuke—yrs, he needs a rebuke." "Rebuke, Pathfinder! I never dreamt of saying anything disagree- able, and least of all would I think of rebuking you, because a solitary spy and an Indian or two hate escaped Now I know- where you were, I think your absence the most natural thin_ in :he world." "I think nothing of what you said, jasper, .ince it -was deserved, 'We ,are alt human, and ail do wrong." '"This is unkind, Pathfinder." "Give me your hand, lad, give ane Y our hand, It wasn't you that - gate the lessor; it was conscience." '+Well, web," interrupted 'Cap; 'Mow this latter matter is settled to the satisfaction of all parties, perhaps you will tell es 'how it happened to the Counter Check Books • We Are Selling Q-uality Books Books are Well Made, Carbon is Clean and Copies Readily. All styles, Carbon Leaf and Black Back. Prices as Low as You Can Get Anywhere. Get our Quotation on Your Next Order. • `The Seaforth News SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, PROFESSIONAL CARDS MEDICAL SEAFORTH CLINIC Dr. E. A. McMaster, M.B,, Graduate of University of Toronto, Paul L. Brady, M.D., Graduate of University of Toronto.' Thelin! C c is fully equipped with+ complete and modern x-ray and other up-to-date diagnostic and thereuptie equipment. Dr. F. J. R. Forster, Specialist 1n Diseases of the Ear, Eye, Nose and Throat, will be at the Clinic the first Tuesday in every month from 4 to 6 p.m. Free- well -baby clinic will be held on the second and last Thursday !n every month from 1 to 2 Pan. JOHN A. GORWILL, Physician and Surgeon In Dr. H. H, Rose' office, Phone 6.1 DR. F. J. R. FORSTER Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Graduate in Medicine,University of Toronto. Late Assistant New York Ophthalmic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's Eye, and Golden Square throat hospitals, London, Eng, At Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month from 2 to 4 p.m. Also at Seaforth Clinic first Tuesday in each month, -53 Waterloo St,, Stratford. Telephone 267. AUCTIONEER GORDON CI, GRANT, , Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at the Seaforth News, or by writing Gordon M. Grant, Goderich Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed. F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Auction eer for Perth and Huron Counties Sales Solicited. Terms on Application. Farm Stock, chattels and real estate property. R. R. No. 4, Mitchell. Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this office. HAROLD JACKSON Licensed in Huron and Perth Coun ties. Prices reasonable; satisfaction guaranteed. For information, write or phone Harold Jackson, 668112, Sete forth central; Brucefield 11.11.1. EDWARD W. ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for Huron. Correspond- ence promptly answered. Immediate arrangements can be made for Sale Date by calling Phone 2'68, Clinton. Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed, Watson & Reid REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT, All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Claes Companies. The McKillop Mutual Fire Insurance Co. HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont. OFFICERS President, Wm. Knox, Londesboroy Vice President, W. R. Archibald, Seaforth; Secretary Treasures', M. A. Reid, Seaforth, AGENTS F. McKereher, R. R.1, Dublin; John E. Pepper, R, R.1, Brucefield; J. F. Prueter, Brodhagen; James Watt, Blyth; Wm. Yeo, Hoimesville, DIRECTORS Alex Broadfoot, Seaforth; William Knox, Londesboro; Chris Leonhardt, Dublin; E. J. Trewartha, Clinton; Thomas Moylan, Seaforth; W. R. Archibald, Seaforth; Alex McEwing, Blyth; Frank McGregor, Clinton; Hugh Alexander, Walton. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers addressed to their respective post offices, known that there spies near iso so lately. This looks amazingly like a ci'roumstam'ce." As the mariner uttered the last sentence, he 'pressed a foot slily on that of the Sergeant, and nudged the 'guide 'with his elbow, 'win'kintlg at 'the same time, though this 'sign was lost in the Obscurity. After a long talk 'on the value of peace, good will and disarmament, a Riverside teacher asked the class if they objected to war. "Yes, sir, I do!" said one boy. "Good! Now tell us why." "Because," said the boy, "wars made history and I hate history." Candidate—"How did you like my speech on the agricultural problem?" Farmer—"It wasn't bad, but a day's rain would do a heap more good,"