Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-05-21


gene had been thrice dispatched bis third
commission also extending to the eseortine Of
the beautiful heiress. with her servants, t9 her
new home. This last commission haJ been SO
far executed ut the time chosen for tue opening
ef our story, as to bring the different parties
TO The moath Of the great kanawha, whence
tharcader has seen them slowly doatiug off apr
on the sill, CLASSY bosom Of .sthe belle Of riv-
efs.'
The day, which vas an aaspieious one, pas
sed without anything occurring worthy Of note,
until near four clock, when, as Blanche vas
standing on the fore palt Of the deck gazing at
the lovely scene which surrounded her, she saw
| seemingly flying body suddenly leave limb
q gigantic rec, ,gAose mighty branches ez-
tehiad 4sr over tie river, and near Bhieh the
! boat was then sgayed By the action Of The cur
rent, aasl aiight With crash upon tie deck Of
the boat, not more itan eight feet from her
One glance suficed 10 show her what the OBJ
i8et was, and 10 freeze the blood in her yaius.
The glowing eyes of huge panther met her
gaze. The suddenness of the shock which this
discovery gaze her was oyeFpowefing. With a
deafening shrek she fell upon her knees and
clasped her hands before her breast Tie pam.
ihef crouchel for his deadly leap, but ere he
sprang, tue hunting knife of I1uaena Fa1faz
tWho, Wihthe steersHan, was the only person
on deck besides Blancbe,) was buried to the
hilt in his side, inflieting severe but not fatal
wound. The infuriated beast at once turned up
on Eugene, and deadly struggle ensued.--
But it was short ono. The polished blade Of
the knife played back aud forth like lightning
flashes, and at every plunge it was buried to
the hit in the panther's body, who soon fell to
the deck, dragging the dauntless Eugeue with
bin. On seeing her protector fail, Blanche Ut
tered another shrek aud rushed to bis aid; but
assistance from stouter arms was at hand. The
hoatmen gathered rnund, and the savage naoH-
ster was literally hacked IN pieces With their
knives ard hatchets, aul 1ugene, covered with
blgod, was dragged from under his carcass.
Supposiag him 70 be dead or mortally wounded
Blanche threw her arms around bis neck aud
gave way to passionate burst Of grief. But
he was not dead-he was not even hurt, with
the exception of few slight scratches. TIE
blood with which lie was covered was the pan-
ther's, not bis own. Bat BlanrlIe's embrace
Fas is-ys priceless itessare--sn ildez os hes
color his whole future life, as VIII be seen in
fle progress Of onr story.
Slowly aud silea1y, save the occasional
creak, dip, and plsss af the steersman's oar,
The boat Of our yoyaeeFs was horae along up
ca the basori Of the current, on the third nigh.
OF The voyage The hour VAS waxing late,
an Eugene, the only one astir except the
watch, was suldeuly startled, by rough hand
being placed upon his shoulder, accompanied
by tie words, II the graff voice Of ihe boat
man.
81 say, Osp'n, here's trouble!''
ssWhat IS it, Dick ~ inquired Engene, start
lag TO his feet.
"Doat you see thar's heavy fog rising,
that'u som kiver US up SO thick that ye won't
be able 10 tel while man from Niger ~ re-
pled the boatman-Dick Winter BY name--a
tall, bony, muscular, athletic specimen Of his
class,
'sG,od heaven 50 there is - exelaiuiai Eu~
gene, locking off upon the already misty wa
tesa. ell mast have gathered very suddenly,
for all was clear minute ago. What Is to lie
done now This IS something was uat pre-
pared for, on such night as ibis.
'.It looks troublous, Cap'n, III allow re-
turned Dick :; but we're in fort, that's slrtin,
ana | s'pose we'll have 10 make the best
ont"
"But what is to be done ?-what do you adj
gise2 ?" asked Eugene. in quick, excited tone,
that indicated some degree ot alarni
"hhy, ef you warnt.so skeered about the
young lady, and it war nj 50 dead agin the or
deFs from headquarters, my plan would be
cl'ar and easy one-Pd jusl rua over 10 the
Saiatntk shore, and tic up
s'No, no, said Kagene, positively 'sthat
viii never do. Dick --that viii never DO
would not think q such thing for . moment.
We must keep in the current, BIZ all means y
"Ef you car" rejoined the baatman 81 bat
when It gifts so dark as we ean'ttell enc thlng
from t'other, it'll be powerful hard to do: aud
cf we doH't run agin bar or bank aforc morn
ing, in spite IF the best o. US, it'll be the luck
lest 60 that ever | had hand in. See, Cap'n.
Its ihiekeaing up fast; We cant see eyther
bank at all, nor the water nyther; the stars Is
gettin' dim, aud il looks as il thar war cloud
AL round u.s."
81 see / see - returned Eugene, excited
liz. sMerciful Heaven! | hope no accident
will befall us here-and yet my heart almost
msgiyes me for this, believe, is the most
dangerous part Of our journey the vicinity
where most of cur boats haze been captured by
the sayages.'
Saying this, Eugene FASTENED below, where
he found the other boatmen sleeping so sound
IS as to require considerable effort, on ais part,
TO wake them. Al last, getting them fairly
reused, he iaformel them, almost il a whisper,
fos be did not care to disturb the others, that
heavy fog had suddenly arisen, and he wish
ed their presence on deck. immediately.
"A fog, Cap'n = exclaimed oge, in tone
which indicated that be comprchendea tbe per-
| il with the word
i s'Hushl' returned Eugene .'ihere is no ne.
cessitY for waking tie Others, aud having
scene. Up and follow me without 4 word 2
He glide back toths deck, aud was almos
Immediately joined by the boatnlan, to whoa
he briefly made known bis hopes and fears
They tApught Ike their compAaion, thaI