Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-05-19

The blood with which he was covered
was the panther's not his own. But
eI Blanche's embrace was his-a price
less treasure-an index of her hearts
emotions and affections. 1t was to col
OF her whole future life, as will be seen
III the progress of our story.
Slowly and silently, save the OCCASION
al creak, dip, and plash Of the steers
mans oar, the boat Of our voyagers was
borne along upon the bosom of the cur
rent, on the third night of the voyage.
The hour was waxing late, and Eugene,
the only one astir except the watch, was
: suddenly startled, by rough hand be-
ing placed upon his shoulder, accompa-
MED by the words, in the gruff voice of
the boatman:
II say, Cap'n, here's trouble -
"What is it, Dick??'' inquired Eu-
gene, starting to his feet
Don't you see thar's heavy fog
rising, that'H soon kiyer us up so thick
that we won't be able to tell a white
man from a niGger?' replied the boat
man.-Dick Winter by name-a tall,
bony, muscular, athletic specimen of
his class.
'Good heaven! so there ISIS exclaim-
ed Eugene, looking offupon the already
misty waters. cit must have gathered
very suddenly, for all was clear a min
ute ago. What is to be done now?-
This is something | was not prepared
for, on such night as this
ut looks troublous, Cap'n I'll allow
returned Dick; E'but we're in fort, that
is sartin, and ] pose We'll have to make
the best 'ona57
"But what is to be done?-what do
you advise??" asked Eugene, in a quick,
excited tone, that indicated some de-
gree of alarm.
"Why, eff YOU war'nt so skeered
about the young lady, and it warn't so
dead agin the orders from head quar-
ters, my plan would be cl'ar and easy
one-pd Just run over to the kaintuck
shore, and tie up
''No, no." said Eugene, positively :;
'Fthat will never do, Dick-that will
never do! [ would not think of such 4
thing for a moment! We must keep
i'll the current by all means!''
''Ef you can," reioined the boatman,
''but when it gifts so dark YOU can't
tell one thing from t'other, it'll be pow
erful hard to do; and eff we don't run
agin a bar or bank afore morning, IN
spite Of the best O us, it'll be the luck
lest go that ever | had hand in. See
Cap'n-it's thickning up fast; we can't,
see eyther bank at all, nor the water
nyther; the stars is gettin' dim, and it
looks as if thar was a cloud all around
us.''
81 see! I see!!' returned Eugene, ex-
citedly. "Merciful Heaven! hope no
accident will befall us here-and vet
my heart misgives me!-for this, [ be-
lieve, is the most dangerous part of our
journey-the vicinity where most of
our boats have been captured by the
savages."
Saying this Eugene fastened below,
where he found the other boatmen
sleeping so soundly as to require con-
siderable effort, on his part, to wake
them. At last, getting them fairly
reused, he informed them, almost in a
whisper, for he did not care to disturb
the others, that heavy fog had sud
denly arisen, and he wished their pres
ence on deck, Immediately.
"a fog, Cap'n?" exclaimed one, in a
tone which indicated that he compre-
hended the peril with the word.
!, ''Hush!'' returned Eugene; ''there is
no necessity for waking the others, and
having scene. Up! and follow me,
2 without a wordr'
He glided back on deck, and was al
most Immediately joined by the boat
men, to whom he briefly made known
his hopes and fears.
They thought, like their companion,
that the boat would be safest if made
fast to an overhanging limb of the Ken
tucky shore; but frankly admitted that
this could not be done without difficult
ty and danger, and that there was a
possibility Of keeping the current.
''Then make that possibility a. GER
, tainty, and it shall be the best nights
! work you ever performedr' rejoined
Eugene, in quick, excited tone.
''We'll do the best We can, Cap'n,"
was the response; ''but no man can be
sartin of the current Of this here crook
ed stream in foggy night"
A long silence followed-the voyag-
, ers slowly drifted down through mis-
ty darkness impenetrable TO the eye
when, suddenly, our young commander
who was standing near the bow, felt
f the extending branch Of an overhang-
ing limb silently brush his face He
: started, with an exclamation of alarm,
t and at the same moment the boatmen
on the right called out:
t ''Quick here, boys. we're again the
shore, as sure as death!''
Then followed scene of hurried and
J anxious confusion, the voices of the
, three boatmen mingling together in
loud, quick, excited tones.
''Push off the bow!' cried one.
'Quick! altogether, now! over with
: her - shouted another.
"The de'il's in it! she's running
aground here on muddy bottomn' al
: most yelled third.