The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-03-04

Whosver," said he to himself. has pusnsa
off into the river at such time = this, in tnss
.skiff, must be strong Of limb and stout OF nea"'
for the current will carry him down 80 tar' INA,
before he reaches the other shore, the storm WIZ
oyertake him." Another bright flash, followed
by quiyering glare, showed single man IN inc
canoe. While Levenworth was watching tne
progress of the daring voyagsr, he heard distant
roar in the forest, and nearer, the began
to moan, and creak, as they caught the hrsi
breath of the tempest The frequent lurchss oil
the boat showed that the river had begun TO be
vexed by the demon abroad in the air. Inc
thunder, which had been growing at a distance
now rolled grandIy over the woods and revsr-
berated from the shores, each peal nearer and
ouder than the preceding few large drops
Of rain falling upon deck warned Levsnwortn
TO 90 below. Before he entered the cabin, ne
looked anxiously at the solitary boatman, VINO
had gained the middle of the river and was pull
inc steadily, while his little skif danced over
waves, tipped with firs by tho lightnings thai
PLAYED around him-one flash scarcely ceasing
10 ouiyer before another darted from some other
quarter of the heavens.
While Levenworth fingered upon the boiler
deck, the Captain of the Reindeer came up 10
his side and threw hasty glance upon the
river.
That man in the skiff is in great peril, is he
notl'' said Levenworth-
"His boat will be shivered into thousand
pieces" replied the Captain, " II the gale strikes
IL before he lands, and there IT comes now"
The groaning of the woods. the crash Of strong
boughs torn from their parent trunks, and Of
old giants Of the wilderness topping to the earth,
told plainly enough that the storm-spirit was at
hand.
"a wild night, but have run through many
such BEFORE" said the Captain as he hurried
away to another part Of the boat where his pres
ence was demanded. furious dash Of rain
drove Leyenworth into the cabin, where he
nearly lost his footing as the boat, with ire
mendous lurch and culver in every joint, yield
ed to the shock Of the tempest
"Good Heavens =" he said to himself, " what
will become of that poor man who is out on the
wild river in such night as this"
His concern for the solitary voyager was soon
lost In sense of imminent peril 10 himself and
his friends. The fury Of the storm increased
every moment. A blaze Of lightning which
dinmed the lights in the cabin, was instantly
followed by fearful crash Of thunder, and then
came another fierce onset Of the gale, which
burst open the doors ard made part of one of
the chimneys rattle upon the hurricane deck
| In the pauses Of the storm, the sharp and loud
voices of the officers could be heard, calling to,
and answering each other. 1t soon became aP-
parent that something was creating among the
crew an unusual commotion. Those of the
passengers who knew the river, gave signs Of
alarm, and Que Of them-an old traveller, told
Levenworth that the boat had been driven into
dangerous proximity TO a shoal.
| The first being he thought CT was Inez, and
all sense of his own peril was merged in con-
Germ for her safety. lie thought it best to seek
Mr.. Radcif, who was with his daughter in the
ladies' cabin, that he might be near them in case
ofsny sudden catastrophe. He had just reached
the door of the ladies' cabin, when he found him.
self obliged to cling TO it for support against
tremendous shock, which was followed by cries
of dismay and horror. The cause of the alarm
was soon ascertained. The boat had struck one
of those snags formed by trunks of trees imbed-
| I-A IN the mud of shoals, and thtowinS M their
pointed sxtremites to the surface. Ii had pierre
ed her keel and lower deck, and damaged the
works of the engine.
Most of fha rushsd mt he
guards, while Levenworth made his way to the
side Of Inez and her father. When they reach
ed the hurricane deck, on which many per-
Sons sought refuge as the part Of the boat that
would remain longest above water, they were
met by sights and sounds that might have chilled
the stoutest heart. The snag had snapped, and
the boat was swinging round into deep water
The wind and rain had abafed. but the lightning
still quivering far and wide over the boiling riv-
er, showed them that they were far from the
nearest shore, while the sharp commands of the
officers, the cries Of women and children, and
the din Of men hurrying to and fro in utter con-
fusion, mingled with the wailings Of the storm,
as 1t swept in ftful gusts over the raging wa
tiers and the wild woods, which were unbroken
by the least sign of human habitation.
When the boat struck, some persons on the
lower deck had put off in the yawl, which was
never seen nor heard Of afterwards. The three
in whom we are most interested had taken a po-
sition in which the pilot-house afforded them a
partial shelter from the wind and rain Before
the cabin was entirely submerged, Leveuworth
went down and soon returned with his cloak,
which he threw over lnez. She trembled, but
uttered no exclamation of terror. She asked
her father in voice that showed but little agita-
ton, what was the prospect Of escape. He re-
Piled that the part of the boat on which they
were standing, would probably remain above
water until they could be taken of in the yawl |
This forlorn hope was soon extinguished. As
the boat swayed round into deep water, it was
gradually dsengaged from the snag, and settled |
down more rapidly. As it rolled from side to
side, the upper deck was already splashed by the
over the waters on which the looked-for boat
was where to be seen.
The more daring now leaped into the river,
while the timid wrung their hands or ran wildly |
about, shrieking for help from those who were
helpless themselves. Some knelt upon the
deck and called upon God to save them from the
horrible death that yawnsd before them, while
the blue lightning gave an insane glare to eyes
that were turned towards the scowling heavens.
The waves were beginning to sweep over the