Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-01-29

the most dangerous OF the rockS, III Order 10
shape his course by them when in the
stream. He had scarcely formed his con-
clusion when his gaze rested on q white
object in the water, which he knew at
once to be the boys dress, and while his CON-
panions, aghast at his temerity, were pre-
vented as much by CONSERVATION as by the
awe with which he had already inspired
them, from interfering, he plunged head
long into the wild and roaring rapids.
"Thauk God! he will save my child"
gasped the woman, "See-therc he is-oh
my boy, my darling boy, how could leave
you"
Every one had rushed to the brink of the
precipice, and was now following with eager
eyes the perilous progress of the youth, as
the current bore him onward, like feather
in the embrace of hurricane. Now it SEEM
ed as if he would be dashed against jet
ting rock over which the water flew in foam;
and now a whirlpool would drag him in,
from whose grasp escape would seem impos-
sible At times the current bore him under
and he would be lost to sight; and then,
just as the spectators gave him up, he would
reappear, though far enough from where he
vanished, still buffeting amid the vortex
Oh how that mothers straining eye follow
ed him in his perilous career; how her heart
sank when he went under-and with what
a gush ofjoy she saw him emerge again from
the waters, and fiinging the waves aside with
his athletic form, struggle on in pursuit 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, overtake the
drowning child.
On they few, the youth and the child,
and it was miraculous how each escaped be-
ing dashed to pieces against the rocks
Twice the boy went out of sight, and a sup
pressed shrek escaped the mothers lips but
twice he reappeared, and then, with hands
wrung wildly together, and breathless ankle
ty, she followed his progress, as his unresst-
ing form was hurried onward with the cur
rent.
The youth now appeared to redoublc his
exertions, for they were approaching the
most dangerous part of the river, where the
rapids, contracting between the narrow
shores, shot almost perpendicularly down a
declivity of fifteen feet The rush of the
waters at this spot was tremendous, and no
one venturei to approach its vicinity, even
in canoe, lest they should be sucked in
What then would be the youths fate unless
he speedily overlook the child! lie seemed
fully sensible of the increasing peril, and mr.
ged his way now through the current with
desperate strength. Three several times he
was on the point of grasping the child when,
the waters whirled the prize from him. The
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 sroaned
aloud, fully expecting to see the youth give
up the task But no !. he only pressed for
ward the more eagerly; as they breathlessly
watched, they saw amid the boiling waters,
as if bearing charmed life, the form of the
brave youth following close afterthe boy. And
now, like an arrow from the bow, pursuer and
pursued shot to the brink of the precipice.
An instant they hung there, distinctly visi,
ble amid the CLASSY waters, that seemed TO
pause on the edge of the descent. Every
brain grew dizzy at.the sight. Butts shout Of
involuntary exultation burst from the specta,
tors when they saw the boy held aloft by the
, right arm of the youth--a shout, alas. that
was suddenly checked by horror when the
rescuer and rescued vanished into the abyss.
Amoment-rathcr many moments-elaps,
ed before word was spoken or breath
drawn. Each of The group felt that to look
into the mothers face was impossible. She
fherself had started eagerly forward and now
stood on the bank, 4 few PAGES nearer the
cataract, where she could command 4 view
of its foot, gazing thither with fixed eyes, as
if her all depended on what the next moment
should reveal. Suddenly she gave a glad
cry.
"There they are" she exclaimed, "see
they are safe-great God, | thank thee!
and for moment wildly turning her face
towards heaven, she hurried with trembling
steps along the side Of the river in the direc'
! ton of the fall.
! Every eye followed hers, and, sure enough
there was the youth, still uuharmel and still
! bufeting the waters. He had just emerged
from the boiling vortex below the cataract
! With one hand he held aloft the child, and
with the other he was making for the shore
! They ran, they shouted, they scarcely
knew what they did until they reached hi:
side, just as he had struggled to the bank
They drew him out almost exhausted. The
boy was scnscless, but his mother declared
he still lived, as she pressed him franticaly )
to her bosom. His prescrver, powerfully
built ard athletic as he was, could scarcel y
stand, 50 faint was he from his exertiOns.
Who shall describe The scenes that follow
ed--thc mothers calmncSS while she strovt
to resuscitate her boy, and her wild graft
tude to his preserver, when the child wa;
out of danger, and sweetly sleeping in hel
arms? Our pen shrinks at the task. But
her words pronounced them-we may hops
in the spirit of prophecy-were remembered