“What cheer, Master Pathfinder?” demanded Cap, permitting a voice that was usually deep, loud, and confident to sink into the cautious tones that better suited the dangers of the wilderness.  “Has the enemy got between us and our port?”

“Anan?”

“Have any of these painted scaramouches anchored off the harbor towards which we are running, with the hope of cutting us off in entering?”

“It may be all as you say, friend Cap, but I am none the wiser for your words; and in ticklish times the plainer a man makes his English the easier he is understood.  I know nothing of ports and anchors; but there is a direful Mingo trail within a hundred yards of this very spot, and as fresh as venison without salt.  If one of the fiery devils has passed, so have a dozen; and, what is worse, they have gone down towards the garrison, and not a soul crosses the clearing around it that some of their piercing eyes will not discover, when sartain bullets will follow.”

“Cannot this said fort deliver a broadside, and clear everything within the sweep of its hawse?”

“Nay, the forts this-a-way are not like forts in the settlements, and two or three light cannon are all they have down at the mouth of the river; and then, broadsides fired at a dozen outlying Mingoes, lying behind logs and in a forest, would be powder spent in vain.  We have but one course, and that is a very nice one.  We are judgmatically placed here, both canoes being hid by the high bank and the bushes, from all eyes, except those of any lurker directly opposite.  Here, then, we may stay without much present fear; but how to get the bloodthirsty devils up the stream again?  Ha!  I have it, I have it! if it does no good, it can do no harm.  Do you see the wide-topped chestnut here, Jasper, at the last turn in the river —­ on our own side of the stream, I mean?”

“That near the fallen pine?”

“The very same.  Take the flint and tinderbox, creep along the bank, and light a fire at that spot; maybe the smoke will draw them above us.  In the meanwhile, we will drop the canoes carefully down beyond the point below, and find another shelter.  Bushes are plenty, and covers are easily to be had in this region, as witness the many ambushments.”

“I will do it, Pathfinder,” said Jasper, springing to the shore.  “In ten minutes the fire shall be lighted.”

“And, Eau-douce, use plenty of damp wood this time,” half whispered the other, laughing heartily, in his own peculiar manner; “when smoke is wanted, water helps to thicken it.”

The young man was soon off, making his way rapidly towards the desired point.  A slight attempt of Mabel to object to the risk was disregarded, and the party immediately prepared to change its position, as it could be seen from the place where Jasper intended to light his fire.  The movement did not require haste, and it was made leisurely and with care.  The canoes were got clear of the bushes, then suffered to drop down with the stream until they reached the spot where the chestnut, at the foot of which Jasper was to light the fire, was almost shut out from view, when they stopped, and every eye was turned in the direction of the adventurer.