The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-05-02

have plunged in after her child, and both
been lost. Several of the men Immediately
approached the bank and were on the point
Of springing in after the child, when the
sight of the sharp rocks crowding the chan
mel, the rush and whirl of the waters, and
the want of any knowledge where to leok
for the boy determined them, and they gave
up the enterprise.
Not so with the youth we here introduce.
His first work was TO throw off his coat; his
next to spring TO the edge Of the bank. Here
he stopt for second, running his eye rapidly
over the scene below, and taking in, with a
glance, the different currents and the most
dangerous of the rocks, in order 10 shape his
course by them when in the stream. He
had scarcely formed this conclusion, when
his gaze rested on white object in the water
that he knew at once TO be the boys dress,
and, while his companions, aghast at his
temerity, were prevented as much by con-
sternation as by the awe with which he had
already inspired them, from interfering, he
plunged headlong into the wild and roaring
rapids
"Thank God-he will save my child,"
gasped the woman, " see-there he is-oh!
my boy, my darling boy, how could | leave
you?"
Every one had rushed 10 the brink of the
precipice, and was now following, with eager
eyes, the perlous progress of the youth, as
the current bore him onward, Ike feather
in the embrace of hurricane. Now il
seemed as If hc would be dashed against a
iutting rock over which the water flew in
foam; and now whirlpool would drag him
in, from whose grasp escape would appear
impossible. At times The current bore him
under and he would be lost 10 sight; then.
Just as the spectators gave him up, he would
re-appear, though far enough from where he
vanished, still buffeting amid the vortex.
Oh! how that mothers strainng eyes fol-
lowed him in his perlous career-how her
heart sank when he went under-and with
what gush of Joy she saw him emerge again
from the waters, and ainging the waves aside
with his athletic arms struggle on in pur-
suit of her boy. But it seemed as if his
generous efforts were to be of no avail, for
though the current was bearing off the boy
before his eyes, scarcely ten feet distant, he
could not, despite his gigantic efforts, over
take the drowning child.
On they flew, the youth and the child, and
it was miraculous how each escaped being
dashed to pieces against the rocks. Twice
the boy went out of sight, and a suppressed
shrek escaped the mothers lips; but twice
he re-appeared, and then, with hands wrung
wildly together and breathless anxiety, she
followed his progress, as his unresstng form
was hurried onward with the current.
The youth now appeared 10 redouble his
exertions, for they were approaching the
most dangerous part of the river, where the
rapids, contracting between the narrowed
shores, shot almost perpendicularly down
declvty of fifteen feet The rush of the
water at this spot was tremendous, and no
one ventured TO approach lis vicinity, even
in canoe, lest they should be sucked ill.,
! What then would be the youths fate unless
, he speedily overlook the child? He seemed
fully sensible of the increasing peril, and
2 urged his way now through the current with
!, desperate strength. Three several times he
4 was on the point of grasping the child, when
S the waters whirled the prize from him. The
a third effort was made just as they were about
: entering within the influence of the current
: above the fall, and when it failed the moth.
\ er's heart sank within her, and she groaneo
d aloud, fully expecting to see the youth give
9 up the task But no!--he only pressed
forward the more eagerly, and as they breath
lessly watched, they saw, amid the broiling
S waters, as if bearing charmed life, the pur
: suer and pursued shot to the brink of the
q precpice. An instant they hung there, dis
tinctly visible amid the CLASSY waters that
}. seemed to pause on the edge of the descent
Every brain grew dizzy at the sight. But Q
y shout of involuntary exultaton burst from
the spectators when they saw the boy hello
P aloft by the right arm of the youth-a shout
d alas! that was suddenly checked by horror
0 when the rescued vanished into the abyss
d A moment-rather many moments, elaps
ed before word was spoken or breatf
G drawn. Each of the group felt that to look
}, into the mothers face was impossible. She
/ herself had started eagerly forward and now
e stood OH the bank, few PAGES nearer the
e cataract, where she could command view
a of its foot, gazing thither with fixed eyes
s as if her all depended on what the next mo
!. ment should reveal. Suddenly she gave {
n glad cry;
S There they are," she exclaimed, see
y they are safe-grcat God I thank thee!'
S and for moment turning her face wildly
e towards heaven, she hurried with trembling
r, steps along the side Of the river in the di
!. rection of the fall.
d Every eye followed hers, and sure enougl
there was the youth, still unframed, ant
d still bufeting the waters. He had Jus
Q emerged from the boiling vortex below tn
/ cataract. With one hand he held aloft th'
l. child and with the other he was making TO