Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-08-21
THRILLING sRErcH.

From the ne.s .r6pel, called d" Miriam Ce6fn "
THE MURDERER's FATE.
Bat hist seest thou that lurking
rascal, prowling stealthily around the
warehouse 2"
"hy-'tis the same that had to do
with the boys just now and see,-the
lad is again gambolins in the water.
Let US keep an eye upon him"
The Indian soon afterwards deposit
ed his bundle of clothes between two
oil casks, and dropped silently into the
water, from the side of the wharf
next the Grampus. lie disappeared
beneath the surface, as he doubled the
corner of the pier, which hal previously
hid him from the sight Of Isaac, who
was carelessly and boyishly turning
summersets in the water-sometime
floating like q sleeping animal upon its
surface, aud then diving like a water.
fowl, and re-arpearing after half mi.
nute's absence, a long distance from
the place Of his exit.
IL was necessary for him TO breathe
more than once before. he reached l..
saac; and he did so with the dexteri-
~ worthy Of en- Indian, by turning on
his back, and merely projectin his
nose for an instant above water.
Jethro and the captain watched the
wary approach of the Indian to the
vicinity of the unsuSpecting boy, I'M
I'll they had satisfied themselves Of the
ulterior design Of the assailant. The
skill was again in motion. Assailant
aud assailed had both disappeared. the
first to ferret out his prey, and take him
by surprise and the other, without a
thought of what was about to ensue.
to try the length Of time that he could
remain beneath the water without
drawing breath. Presently two heads
approach simultaneously above water.
confronting each other and two long
breathing sounds, like the blowing Of a
porpOise, accompanied by q hurried
election Of water from the mouth.
freed the lungs Of both the swimmers
at the same moment.
a strife Of breaSting the waves again
ensucd, which betrayed the earnest
ness with which each sought to Guido
the other. In every thing, physical.
~ speaking, the Indian appeared to be
superior TO the boy. Ills sinewy
frame. broad chest. and cat feet. we're
the identical requisites for a swimmer ;
while the undeyeloped form Of Isaac.
aud his protracted exertion in the wa
tiers, untitled him for coping with his
athletic opponent.
Bot though he WAS mot the equal Of
the Indian in strength Of limb, he was
superior to him in stratsge M, " hieh the
aquatic disciples Of Franklin, Who, in
his time was . praclised swimmer,
knew so we'll how 10 execute in the
water. QUibby had several times near
" overtaken Isaac, and had stretched
forth his hand to secure his prey but
the little fellow eluded his grasp, and
slid away from him Under the water, 4.
an opposite direction. which left the
Indian completely 81 fault. Though
the scOundrel was balIled time after
time. he returned 70 the assault 90 o.
ten and so uDrslen,ingly, that he sue
oeeded al last 10 firing the boy dow n.
Isaac made his last live, but The Indian
anticipated him. and bounced upon his
back, as he was repeating, foe the fifth
time, the tricks Of passing under his
opponent snd thus. by we'll manased
fein,, drawing his attention 10 a point
towards which he appeared 10 be steer.
ing while bis head was above water.
bat changed 20 q different direction the
moment bis body became submerged.