Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-12-15

had been carried off by some wild beast
| Bears and wolves, as we'll as more harmless
animals frequent these woods ; and though rhe
| wolves, retreating to the mountains, were sell
dom seen here except in winter, yet the bears
were said to be numerous. They were not
considered fierce and dangerous at this season
of the year, when berries and other sweet
vegetables were plenty, but yet would, per-
haps, destroy child. G
However, though with little hope, the party
proceeded to explore the remaining ground,
| but when they came to the Dead Brook with
out any further trace of the object of their
search, all the company seemed to yield to the
| conviction that their duty was done Most of
them, indeed, seemed exhausted from fatigue
and want of accustomed food and rest for
| they had not ceased moment in their effort
| since called from their beds long before morn
| ing, and had taken no refreshment except such
as could be passed from hand to hand along
the line. 1t was now late and very dark, and
there were evident signs of rain. The whole
company gradually gathered towards the left
| extremity of the line, at the confluence of the
| Dead Brook with the main river They had
| ALL in passing down the Dead Brook, explored
it thoroughly, and all agreed that there was no
point where the child could possibly have cross
| ed it. 1t was broad, deep and impossible, for
many miles back Much was said about a
| place called Beaver Dam, about two miles up
| the stream but several men of reliable judg-
ment had examined this the only supposed
place of crossing, and had found it, beyond all
question, impossible to be passed by child
| Hope had deserted every heart, and the Col >,
with pale and haggard features worn with
fatigue and anxiety, and with trembling voice,
! thanked them for their kindness, and dismissed
| them to their homes
1t was now near midnight very dark, and
| beginning to rain. They had long before pro-
yided themselves with torches TO pursue their
| search ; and, as the large company departed
and separated themselves into different grour s.
extending for miles in different directions. the
woods seemed as if illuminated BY vast army
| But all did not depart The colonel aud bis
sons, Deacon Arbor and Alex, Jeb Brown and
josiah, with about twenty others, remained on
| the ground, some with a vague impression
| that something might vet be done besides
some were too much exhausted TO return with
out refreshment and rest 4 large FIRE was
! kindled, and food. which had been forwarded
| from the contributions of many houses during
the day, was brought boughs and leaves
were collected, old garments spread down. and
the colonel and deacon, and few Others
were persuaded to lie down and rest.
| But Alex, though he had been one Of the
most active during the day, and had been
searching the woods the whole night before.
showed no signs Of fatigue After brief re-
freshment. and seeing his father and the colo
mel as comfortably disposed Of as eircumstan-
ceS would permit he declared his determine
/ ~
as has been stated, was two miles IN the Dead
| Brook Some ten or twelve volunteered TO
| accompany him, and preparing their torches,
they departed
| II now began to rain fast. but their pitch
wool torches famed brightly. and they moved
/ swiftly. In half an hour they were at the bea-
| ver-dam The first glance gave no encourage
| meut The old dam consisted Of masses of de-
| cayed wood sank in the stream, and on the far
| ther side reaching to the surface of the water,
| forming an eddy above, covered with floating
| sticks aud leaves the dam which vas evident
| " the work of beavers some years since, was
decayed and washed away on the hither side,
| leaving q space Of clear deep water, OF six or
| eight feet breadth, between the dam and the
| shore, so that the stream was clearly inpas-
| sable
But the searching eyes of Alex noticed that
| from the hithcr end Of the dam Z loose and
rotten log of wood swung down stream aud
| vibTated in the slow current, its upper end
still attached to the end of the dam Ii ap-
peared, from the lightReSs with which it float
| cd that il could not have been in the water
| long Measuring it with his ere. he judged
that it would about span the space between
| the shore and the dam The thought flashed
| in his mind that such had been It's position
/ till very lately, and that some slight cause had
displaced it, and calStzl il to ioat TO It's pre-
/ sent position. That slight cause might he the
/ foot of little Amy If 80. she might have
crossed or, more likely, might be sleeping in
| the dark waters beneath them
[ This last superstition seemed most likely,
/ when Alexis dog I4oa, who had beea the ac-
| tive companion o: his master in all the search.
/ now. after rapidly suGfIHg the ground near
/ where the loose end of the log might have
I been attached. and pat1iR. his fOre-IawS in;O
/ the stream. a. If TO search il, uttered long
and melancholy howl. Alex was then coli
yiaced that Amy had been there. She WAS
/ probably there now or had been carried Z lit
/ tie distance down the slow stream But she
might possibly have gained the ether SIDE. and
/ he still living He determined to seek tlre Iir-
/ ing child before searching the water for the
dead
/ The water was deep. bnt Alex could swim
/ His clothes were already vet with rain. and
/ therefore hc c0gId not take them or In a
miUate nc Rl.s eH the other side, and Lon.
Kbo eOujd swim as web * lsis master, Vas
+ there too. After = moments smiling. Lion
+ sPraH- about, Wild with excitement. He hal
eySteA;!y made discovery. He woald rua Z
few steps into the bushes, dart back, take :
/ ciTcRit, and make of again, aud then return
AMI look wiStfl.llE AZ bis master, as If anxiols
that he shoad a0mpaay him Alex shouted
for the others TO come over . stick was found