The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-05-20

a. minute ago. What is to be done now7 This
is something was not prepared for, on such
night as this"
at looks troublous, Cap'n, I'll allow" return
ed Dick but we're in fort, that's sartin, aud
s'pose we'll have to make the best ont
=" But what is to be done H-what do you ad-
wise ?" asked Eugene, in quick excited tone,
| that indicated some degree OF alarm.
"Why eG you war'nt SO skeered about the
young lady, and it wan't SO dead agin the orders
from head quarters, my plan would be clar
and easy one-ld just run over TO the kaintuck
shore, aud tie up
"No, no. said Eugene, positively; "that will
never do, Dck-that will never do would
not think of such thing for moment! We
must keen in the current, by all meaus!'
! "Ef you can reioined the boatman "but
when it gets so dark we cant tell one thing
| from t'other it'll be powerful hard to do; and
eft we don't run agin bar or bank atoro morn
ing, in spite of the best o US, it'll be the uckcst
90 that ever had hand in. See, Captn, its
thckeniug up fast we can't see eyther bank ut
all, nor the water nyther tho stars is gittin'
dim, and it looks as if there war cloud all
round us
81 see ! | see !" returned Eugene, cxcitedly.-
" Merciful Heaven hope no accident will b..
fall us here--and yet my heart almost misglves
me for this, believe is the most dangerous
part OF our journey-the vicinity Of where mos
Of our boats have been captured by the savages
Saying this, Eugene hastaned below, where he
found the other boatmen sleeping 80 souudly as
TO require considerable effort on his part to
awake them. AT last, getting them fairly arous-
ed, he informed them, almost in whisper, for
he did not care to disturb the others, that a
heavy fog had suddenly arisen, and he wished
their presence on deck, Immediately
"A fog Capt'n,' exclaimed one, in tone
which indicated that he comprehended the peril
with the word.
Hush - returned Eugene " there is no ne
cessity of waking the others,and having II scene.
Up ! aud follow me, without aword.
He gllded back to the deck, and was almost
medlaely joined by the boatmen, TO whom he
briefly made known his hopes and fears.
They thought, like their companion that the
boat wo uld be safest il fastened to an overhang-
ing limb on the Kentucky shore; but frankly
admitted that this could not be done without
difficulty and danger, and that there was a pos
sblily of keeping the current.
"Then make that possibility certainty, and
it shall be the best nights work you ever per-
formed > reioined Eugene, in quick, excited
tone.
'We1l do the best we can, Captn," was the
response; "but no man can be sartin of the
current OF this here crooked stream in foggy
night
, A long silence followed-the voyagers slowly
drifting down through misty darkness impen-
etrable to the eye-when suddenly our young
commander, who was standing near the bow felt
the extended branch of some overhanging limb
; silently brushing his face He started, with an
exclamation OF alarm, and at the same moment
the boatman on the right called OUT
Quick, here boys we're agin the shore as
sure as death y
Then followed a scene of anxious and hurried
confusion, Jhe voices of the three boatmen min g.
, ling togr ther in loud, quick, excited tones.
8" Push off the bowl" cried one.
"Quick, now, altogether! over with her y
shouted another.
"The d.Tls in it ~ almost yelled a third
Meantime, the laden boat was brushing along
against projecting brushes and overreaching
, limbs, and every moment getting more and more
tangled, while the long poles and sweeps OF the
boatmen, as they attempted to push her of, were
often plunged, without touching the bottom in
, to what appeared TO be soft cIayey mud, from
which they were only extracted by such an out
lay of strength tended still more to draw the
clumsy craft upon the bank they wished to
g Svnid. At longth, scarcely less than minute
: from The first alarm, ,rliere was kind of settling
tog ather as it were, aud the boat became fast
y cnd immOvable.
: The fact was announced BY Dick Wipter, in
: his characteristic m nnsr,-who added with an
oath thai it was just what he expected. For mo-
a. ment or two, dead silence followed, us if each
y comprehended that the matter was one to be view
: ed in very serious light.
I "Pll git over the bow, and try to git the lay
b of the land with my feet, said 'Pom Harris and
forthwith he set abou the not very pleasant
e undertaking.
; At this moment Eugene heard his name pro.
y nounced by voice that never failed to excite .
peculiar emotion in his breast, and now sent a
strange thrill through every nerve Fastening
< below, he found Blanche fully dressed, with a
! light in her hand, standing just outside of her
u cabin, in the regular passage which led length
= wise through the center oi the boat.
:" have heard something, Eugene she said
enough to know that We have met with an ac-
J. cident, but not sufficient to fully comprehend
i its ma ture.
a Unfortunately about two hours ago" replied
!; Eugene, " we became suddenly involved in a
dense fog and in spite of our every precaution
: and care we have run aground-it may be on
7, an sland-its so dark we can't tell. But be not
! alarmed Miss Blanche" he hurriedly added -
:, trust we shaI soon be aloat again; though in
u any event, the darkness is suficent to conceal
3 US from the savages, even were they in the vi
cinity."
o 81 know little of Indians" rejoined Blanche
/ but have always understood that they are
somewhat remarkable for their acuteness o
IT hearing; and if such is the case there would b,
IS 40 necessity of their being very near to become
{ acquainted with our locality, judging from the
70 load voices heard few minutes ago"
v 90 fear we have been rather inprudsnt." re
IS piled Eugene, in a deprecating tone " but the
u excitement-
e His words were suddenly cut short by sever
: al loud voices of alarm from without, followed
Is by quick and heavy trompling across the deck
aud the next moment Seth Harper and Dict
<, Winter burst into the passag +, the former ex
Il claiming:
m "Weve run plum into red nigger's nest
E Captn, and Tom lrrs is already bulchered all,
y scalped!"
"a And even as he spoke, as in conirmatior
r OF his dreadful intelligence, there a series
&c OF wild, piercing demoniacal yels, followed b!
dead and ominous silence.
So far we have followed the lovely heroin,