Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-05-14


Eastern marts, which goods were trans
; ported by land over the mountains !:
the Kanawha, and thence by water t
the Falls OF the Ohio, whence their re
, moval to Fort Bertrand became an cas-
matter. To purchase and ship thes
goods, and deliver a package of letter
to friends in the East, Eugene had beel
thrice dispatchcd-hs third commission
also extending to the escolting of tn
beautiful hciress, with her servants, t,
her new home. This last commission
had been SO far executed at the tim,
cEosen for the opening of our story. al
to bring the different parties to the moutl
of the great kanawha, whence the read
er has seen them slowly floating off upor
the still, CLASSY bosom of the belle o
rivers
The day which was an auspicious one
passed without anything occurring wor.
thy of note when, as Blanche was stand.
ing on the fore part of the deck, gazing
at the lovely sccncc which surrounded
cd her, she saw a seemingly flying body
suddenly leave limb of a gisanctic,ree,
Whose mighty branches extended fal
over the river, and near which the boat
was then swayed by the action of the
currcntl, and alight with crash upon
the deck of the boat, not moro than
eight feet from her. One glance suficed
to show her what the object was. ard to
freeze the blood in her veins. The glow
ing eyes Of huge panther met her gaze.
The suddcnness of the shock
which this discovery gave her was
overpowering. With dcaicning shrek
she fell upon her knees and clasped her
hands before her breast. The panther
crouched for his leap, but ere he sprang,
the hunting kni c of Eugene Fairfax,
(who, with the steer snan. was the only
person o. deck, besides Rlanchc), was
buried to the hilt in his side, inAictng a
severe but not fatal wound. The infuri-
ated beast at once turned upon Eugene,
and deadly struggle ensucd. But it
was short one. The polished blade of
the knife played back and forth like
lightning flashes, and at every plunge it
was buried to the hilt in the panther $
body, who soon fell to the deck, d-ag-
ging the dauntl,ss Eugene with him. -
On seeing her protector fall, Blanche
uttered another shrek and rushed % his
aid; but assistance from stouter arms was
at hand. The boatmen gathered round .
and the savage monster Was literally
hacked in pieces with their knives and
hatchets, and Eugene, covered with
blood, was dragged from under his car.
cass. Supposing him to be dead or NOR.
tally wounded, Blanche threw her arms
around his neck, and gave WY to pas
sionate burst of grief. But he was not
dead-he was not even hurt, with the
exception of a few slight scratches
The blood with which he was covered
was the panther's, not his own. But
Blanche S embrace was his-a priceless
treasurc-an index of her hcart's emo
tions and affections. 1t was to color
his whole future life, as will be seen in
the progress of our story.
Slowly and silently, save the occesion
al crcall, dip and plash of the steersman's
oar, the boat OF our voyagcrs was borne
along upon the bosom Of the current, on
the third night Of the voyage. The
hour was waxing late, and Eugene, the
only one astlr excepting the watch, was
suddenly startled by rough hand being
placed upon his shoulder, accompanied
by the words, in the gruff voice of the
boatman
Il say, Cap'u, here's trouble
What is it, Dick 2 inquired Eugene,
starting to his feet.
Don't you see thar's heavy fog ris-
ing that'll soon kiver us up so thick that
we won't be able to tell white man
from a nigscr:' replied the boatman.
Dick Winter by name-a tall, bony,
muscular, athletic specimen of his class.
Good heaven ! so there is !! exclaim-
ed Eugene, looking off upon the already
misty aters. 1t 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.
1t looks troublous, III allow returned
Dick; but we're in fort, that's sartin,
and | s'pose we'll have to make the best
ont
But what is to be ne:-what do
you advise ? asked Eusenc, in a quick
excited tone, that indicated some degree
of alarm.
why, if you war'nt so skccrcd about
the young lady, and it warn't SO dead
asin the orders from headquarters, my
plan would be cl'ar and easy one-Td d
Just run over to the kaintuck shore, and
tie up
No, no, said Eugene, positively; that
will never do, Dick that will never do !
| would not think of such thing for a
moment. We must keep in the current
by all means
'Ef you can rcjoined the boatman:
out when 1t gifts so dark as we can't tell
one thing from t'other, it'll be powerful
hard TO do; aud eff we don't run a5in a
bar or bank afore morning, in spite Of
the best of us, It'll be the luckiost go
that ever | had hand in. See, Cap
it's thickcning up fast; we can't see ey-
ther bank at all, nor the water, nyther;
the stars is gttin dim, and it looks as
if thar war cloud all round u.s.
i see ! l sec = said Eugene ,cxcitcdly
'Mereiful Heaven hope no accident
will befaA US here--and yet my heart al
most missives me for this, I believe.
is the most dangerous part Of our jour-
ncy-the. vicinity where most of our
boats have been captured by the sava-
ges.'