The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1858-05-21

, action OF the current |, and aligkt with
crash upon the deck Of the boat, not more
: than eight feet from her. One glance
sufficed to show her what the object was,
and to freeze the blood in her veins
The glowing eyes Of a huge panther met
her gaze. The suddenness Of the shocL
which this discovery gave her was over.
powering. With a deafening shrek she
fell upon her knees and clasped her hands
before her. breast. The panther couch
ed for his deadly leap, bat ere he sprang,
the hunting.knile Of Eugene Fairfax (whc
with the steersman was the only person
on deck besides Blanche), was buried to
the hilt in his side, inhicting severe but
not fatal wound. The infuriated beast at
once turned upon Eugene, and a deadly
struggle ensued. But it was short one.
The polished blade Iof the knife played
back and forth like lightning flashes, and
at every plunge it was buried to the hilt
in the panther's body. who soon fell to
the deck, dragging the dauntless Eugene
with him. On seeing her protector fall,
Blanche uttered another shrek and rush
ed to his aid; but assistance from stouter
arms was at hand. The boatmen gather
ed round, and the savage monster was
literally hacked in pieces with their
knives aed hatchets, and Eugene, cover
ed with blood, was dragged from under
his carcass. Supposing him to be dead
or mo.tally wounded, Blanche threw her
arms around his neck and gave way to
passionate burst Of grief. But he was
not dead-he was not even hurt, with the
exception ola 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 treasure
an index of her hearts emotions and af-
fections. 1t was to color his whole fu.
ture life, as will be seen in the progress Of
our story. rtu
Slowly and silent ly, save the occasion
al creak, dip, and plash Of the steersman's
oar, the boat Of our voyagers was borne
along the bosom Of the current, 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 a rough hand being placed
upon his shoulder, accompanied by the
words. in the gruff voice of the boatman:
II say. Cap'n, here's troubled"
"What is it, Dick?" inquired Eugene,
starting to his feet.
"Don't you see thar's heavy fog ris.
ing, that. II soon kiver us up SO thick that
we won't be able to tell white man from |
a nlgger?" replied the boatman-Dick
Winter by name tall, bony, musculer,
athletic specimen oil class Il, b4 |
"Good heavenl SO there is!' exclaimed
Eugene; looking off upon the already mis-
ty waters. ut must have gathered very
suddenly. for all was clear minute ago.
What is to be done now? This is some-
thing I was not prepared for, on such a
night as this." .fa fap,ist,
"It looks troublous, Cap'n, I'll allow"
returned Dick, "but we're in fort, that's
sartin, and I s'pose we'll have to make
the best ont, st.. sl e,af s.e ,lsdv
"But what is to be done7--what doyou
adviser" asked Eugene. in a quick, ex-
cited tone, that indicated some degree Of
alarm. ssa as.a a .euiosau sidt
a"Why, eff fyou war'ntso skeered about
The young lady, ard it war'nt SO dead
agin the orders from head quarters, my
plan would be a cl'ar and easy one-Pd
lust run over to the Kaintuck shore and
lie up j da4.e yaa o7fe l.oar nj
"No, no." said Eugene, positively;
.that will never do, Dick--that will new
,r do! would not think Of such a thing
;or' a moment! Wemust keep the current
by all means'' - '.''-' p
"Ef you cam" rejoined the boatman;
.hut when IL pits so dark as we can't tell