The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-05-27

Eugene, looking oil upon the already misty
waters. "It must have gathered very sud
denly, for all was clear minute ago.
What is to be done now! This is some.
thing was not prepared for, on such
night as this"
alt looks troublous, Cap'n, I'll allow"
returned Dick, "but we're IN fort that's
sariin, and Is'pose we'll have to make the
best ont" .g 1
"But what is to bo done,--what do you
advise" asked Eugene, in quick excited
tone, that indicated some degree OF alarm.
"Why,. EFF you war'nt skeered ABOUT the
young lady, and it warn't so dead agin the
orders from head quartes, my plan would be
a clar and easy one--Pd just. run. over to
the Kaintuck shore and tie up"
"No, no." said Eugene, positively; "that
will never do, Dick-ethat will never do! II
would not think of such o. thing for q mo.
ment! We must keep in the current by all
means!" 4
>. "Ef you cam" rejoined the boatman;
''but when it gifts SO dark as we can't tell
one thing from t'other, it'll be powerful
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 luckiest go that ever had
hand in. See Cap'n--it's thickening 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 war q cloud all round
u.s." ,........ ., :.
81 see! see!'' returned Eugene, excited.
ly. "Merciful Heoven! | hope no acci.
dent will befall US here--and yet my heart
almost misgives me!--for this, belive, is
the most dangerous part Of our journey
the vicinity where most Of our boats have
been captured by the savages."
Saying this, Eugene, hastened below,
where he found the other boatmen sleeping
go soundly as to require considerable effort
on his part, to wake them. At last getting
them fairly reused, he informed them, al
most in a whisper, for he did not care to
disturb the others, that heavy fog had
suddenly arisen, and he wished their pres.
ence on deck, Immediately.
ga fog, cap'n?" exclaimed one in a tone
which indicated that he comprehehded the
peril with the word. .-.e -.
"Hush" returned Eugene; "there is no
necessity for waking the others and having
scene. Up! and follow me, without a
word?"
He glided Back TO the deck, and was al.
most Immediately Joined by the boatuien, 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 Kentucky shore;
but frankly admitted that this could not now
be done without difficulty and danger, and
that there was possibility of keeping the
current.
"Then make that possibility certainty,
and it shall be the best nights work you
ever performed" rejoined Eugene in quick
excited tone.
"We'll do the best we can, Cap'n," was
the response; "but no man can be sartn of
the current of this here crooked stream in
a foggy night"
| A long silence followed--the voyagers
slowly drifting down through misty dark
nees impenetrable to the eye--when sud.
denly, our young commander, who was
standing near the bow, felt the extended
branch of an overhanging limb silently
brush his face. He started, with an cxcla.
nation of alarm, and at the same moment
the boatmen on the right called out:
"Quick, here, boys! we're agih the shore,
as sure as death!"
Then followed a bcene of hurried and
anxious confusion, the voices of the three
boatmeh 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 ruhnng AgroGnd
here on muddy b0ttom!" almost yelled
third.
Meantime tie laden boat was brtshihg
along against projecting bushes and over.
reaching limbs, and every moment getting
more and more entang4ed the while; the
long poles and sweeps of the boatmen, as
| they attempted to push her off, were often
| plunged, without touching bottom, into what
appeared to be soft, clayey mud, from
which they We're only extricated by such an
outlay of strength as tended still more to
draw the clumsey craft upon the bank they
wished to avoid. At length, scarcely more
than o minute from the first alarm, there
was kind OF settling together, as it were;
and the boat became fast and immoveable.
The fact was announced by Dick Win.
ter, in his characteristic manuer-who ad.
ded, with an oath, that it was Just what he
expected. For q moment or two dead 81.
lence followed, as il each comprehended
that the matter was one to be viewed in a
very serious light.
''ll get over the bow, and try to get the
lay Of the land with my feet" said Tom
Harris; and forthwith he set about the not
very pleasant undertaking.
At this moment Eugene heard his fianie
pronounced by voice that seldom failed to
excite peculiar emotion in his breast, onG
now sent a strange thrill through every
nerve; ard fastening below, he found
Blanche, fully dressed, with light in her
hand, standing just outside Of her cabin, in
the regular passage which led lengthwise
through the centre of the boat.
Il have heard something, Eugene" she
said, "enough to know that we haye met
with an accident; but not sufficient to fully
comprehend its nature"
"Unftrtunately; about two hours ueo,"
replied Eugene, tive suddenly became in.
volsed in dense fog; and in spite of our
every precaution and care, we have run
aground-it may be against the Ohio shore
lit may be against an island--it is so dark
we can't tell. But be not alarmed, Miss
Blanche," he hurriedy added; "I trust we
shall soon be afioat again; though in any
event; the darkness is sufficient to conceal
US from the savages, even were they in the
vicinity"
81 know little Of Indians" returned
Blanche; "but have always understood
that they are somewhat remarkable for their
ncuteness of hearing; and if such is the
case there would be no necessity Of their