Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-05-21


to be decoycd to either shore ~
81 hope we understand our duty better,
Colonel said ono of the men, respectfully
81 doubt it not replied the commander of
the Point 81 believe you are all faithful and
true men, or you would not have been select
ed by the agent of Col. Bertrand for taking
down more precious freight than you ever
carried before but still the wisest and best
OF men have lost their lives by giving ear to
the most earnest appeals Of humanity. You
understand what | meant White men, APP
parently in the greatest distress. will hail your
boat, represent themselves as having just
capped from the Indians and beg Of you, for
the love Of God, in the most ptcous tones.
to come to their relief; but turn deaf ear to
them--to each and all Of them-even should
you know the pleadors to be of your own
kin for in such case your own brother
might deceive you-not wiliully and volunta-
rily. perhaps-but because of being goa0od
on by tho savages. themselves concealed
Yes. such things have been known as one
friend being thus used to lure another to his
destruction and so be cautious, vigilant,
brave and true. and may the good God keep
you from all harm!'
As he finished speaking, Blanche proceed
ed to take an adectionate leave of all, recoiv-
/ from those who held thom in love and vcuor-
alton; and the boat swung out, and began to
/ float down with the current, now fairly enter
/ ed upon the most dangerous portion Of long
and dangerous journey.
The father of Blanche, Colonel Philip Ber-
trand, was a native of Virginia, and a descend
ant of one of the llugenot refugees, who fled
/ from their native land after the revocation
of the cdict Of Naniz in Cos. lie had been
an officer of some note during the Revolution
/ Ill warm political and personal friend Of the
/ author of the Declaration Of Independence
and gentleman who had always stood high
in the esteem of his associates and cotempo-
raries
Though at one time a man of wealth, Colo
mel Bertrand had lost much and suffered
much, through British invasion and when
shortly after the close of the war. he had met
with few more serious reverses, he had been
iain to accept grant of land near the Falls
Of the Ohio, now Louisville, rendered him by
Virginia, which then held jurisdiction over
the entire territory now constituting the State
of Kentucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel upon
seeking his new possessions and building up
a new home in then Far West and as his wife
/ had insisted upon accompanying him on his
first tour. he had asscnted to her desire on
condition that Blanche should be left among
her friends tin such time as place could
be prepared which might in some degree be
considered fit abode for one 80 carefully and
tendoroly reared.
Blanche would gladly have gone with her
parents but on this point her father had
been MISUNDERSTANDING that sho would
have to remain at the East till he should see
I proppr % enp1 far bor. and nc bo ,,.,e g, ,o,
of positive character. and q rigid disciplnari-
an, the matter had been settled without argu-
mcnt
Whom Colonel Bertrand removed to the
West, Eugene Fairfax, as VIC have seen, ac-
companicd him. and coming of age shortly
after, he had accepted the liberal offer Of his
noble bcnetacter, to remain with him in the
capacity of private secretary and confidential
agent. On taking possession of his grant,
the Colonel had almost Immediately erected
a fort, and offered such inducements to set
tiers as to speedily collect around him quite
a little community-of which, as a matter of
course, he became the head and chief; and to
supply the wants of his own family and 9TH
ers, and increase his gains in legitimate
way, he had opened store and filled it with
goods from the Eastern marts, which goods
were transported by land over the mountains
to the Kanawha, and thence by water to the
Falls of the Ohio whence their removal to
Fort Bertrand became an easy matter. To
purchase and ship these goods, and deliver a
package of letters to friends in the East, Eu-
gene had been thrice dispatched-his third
commission also extending to the escorting
OF the beautiful heiress, with her servants, to
her new home This last commission had
been so far executed at the time chosen for
the opening of our story, as to bring the diff
icrent parties to the mouth Of the great Kan
awha. whence the reader has seen them float
ing off upon the still, CLASSY bosom of ''thc
belle of rivers.
The day, which was an suspicious one.
passed without anything occurring worthy of
note until near four o'clock, when as Blanche
standing on the fore part of the deck
/ gazing at the lovely scene which surrounded
her, she saw a seemingly flying form sudden
ly leave limb of n gigantic tree, Whose
mighty branches extended far over the river.
and near which the boat was then swayed by
the action of the current and alight with a
crash upon the deck of the boat. not more
than eight feet from her One glance suiliced
to show her what the object was, and to freeze