Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-10-10
THE BoRDERERs,s CHrLE,,
OR, WASHINGTON AT EIGHTEEN.

l75O-the scene piece of forest land on
the Northern Neck of Virginia, contigu-
Gus to noble stream Of water. Imple-
ments of surveying were lying about, and
severalsmen idly reclining under the trees,
|betokened by their dress and appearance
that they composed party engaged in lay
ing out the wild lands of the then frontier
OF the Old Dominion. These persons had
apparently just finished their noon-tide
meals, for the relics of the banquent were
scattered around.
Apart from the group walked young
man evidently superior to his companions,
though was nothing obtrusive in his air,
which, on the contrary, was distinguished
by aliabiity. A certain dignity of aspect,
however, accompanied him. Added to
this, he was Of tall and compact frame,
q moved with an elastic tread of one accus-
toned to constant exercise in the open air.
His countenance could not have been said
TO be handsome, but it wore look of de-
clslon and manliness not usually found in
one SO young, for he was apparently little
over eighteen years of age. His hat had
been cast off, as if for comfort, and he had
paused with one foot advanced, in grace
full and natural attitude, at the momeut we
have introduced him to the reader.
Suddenly there was a SHREK, then ano-
Their, and then several in rapid succession.
The voice was that of woman, and SEEM
ed 10 proceed from the outer side of dense
thicket. At the first scream the youth
turned his head in the direction whence
the sound proceeded, but when it was re-
peated, he pushed aside the underground
which separated him from 1t, and quekening
his footsteps as the cries succeeded each
other with alarming rapidity, he soon DASH
ed into all open space, or clearing as
the borderers even then called it, on the
banks Of the stream, in the centre of which
a rude log cabin stood, whose well-polc
poised over one end, and smoke curling
from the chimney, gave signs of hahita-
ton. AS the young man, with face flush
ed by haste, broke from the underground,
he saw his companions crowded together
midst a woman, from whom proceeded the
shrieks, was VISIBLE, held back by two OF
the most athletic Of men, but struggling vi.
gorously for freedom.
1t was but the work of an instant, to
make his way through the crowd and con-
front the female. The moment her eye
fell on him she exclaimed,
"Oh! sir-you will do something fo'
me. Make them release me-Ior the love
of God! My boy-my poor boy is drown
ing, and they will not Ict me go!'
cit would be madness-she will JUMP
into the river" said one Of those who Eelt
her, as the frantic mother strove again tt
break from his grasp. "The rapids woulo
dash her to pieces i'll moment"
The youth had scarcely awaited fol
these words. HIS eyes took in at single
glance the meaning of the sad group. liz
recoIIected the child of the woman, boll
little fellow of four years old, whose hand
some blue eyes and faxen ringlets made
him a favorite with strangers, and fiIle(
the mothers heart with pride whencve
she gazcd on him. He had been accus
toned to play at will, in the little enclo
sure before the cabin, but this morning
the gates having accidentally been left open
he had stolen incautlously out, when hi
mothers back was turned, reached the edg
of the bank, and was in the act Of lookin;
over when his parents eye caught sight Q
him. The shrek she uttered precipltate
the catastrophe she feared, for the child
frightened al the cry, lost his balance an
fell headlong into the stream, which her
went foaming and roaring along amid III
Vulnerable rocks, constituting the mos
dangerous rapids known in that section c
country. Scream now followed scream i
rapid succession, as the agonized parer
rushed to the bank.
She arrived there simultaneously wit
the party whom she left reclining in tn
shade, and who were scattered about witt
Is IN few steps of the accident. Fortuna
was it that they were so near, else the mt
e. Their would have jumped after the child an
W both been lost. Several of the men al
~ proachedsthe brink and were on the poil
Or of springing in after the child, when I'll
W sight ef the sharp rocks crowding the char
Is mel, the rush and whirl of the waters, an
le the want of any knowledge where TO loo
for the boy, deferred them. and they gay
up The enterprise.
Not so with the youth we have intr
duced. His first work was TO throw Of h
lip coat; next to spring to the edge of the BAN
Here he stood for second, running h
= eyes rapidly over the scene below, and
% king with glance the different curren
W and the most danrerous of the rocks.