Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-14


Colonel" said one Of the men, respectfully.
II doubtit not" replied the commander
of the Point 81 believe you are all faithful
and true men, or you would not have been
selected by the agent of Colonel Bertrand,
for taking down more precious freight than
you ever carried before but still the wisest
and the best of men have lost their lives by
giving ear to the most earnest APPEALS OF hui.
manly. You understand what | mean
White men, apparently in the greatest dis
tress, will hail your boat, represent them
selves as having just escaped from the To-
diaps. and beg OF you, for the love OF God.
in the most piteous tones, to come to their
relief but turn a deaf ear to ihem-.o each
and all of tbem-even should YOU know the
pleaders to be Of your own kin; tor IN such
a case your ewn brother might deceive you
DOT wiliully and voluntarily, perhaps
but because Of being goaded on by the
savages, themselves ejnceaed. Yes, such
things have been known as one friend being
thus used to lure another to his d'strnc.
ton and 30 be cautious, vigilsnt, brave and
true, and may the good God keep YOU all
from harm !"
A. be flushed speaking, Blanche proceei-
ed to take an etfsctiUnste leave Of all, recelv-
ing MANY a tender message for her parents
from those who held them in love and veoe-
ration; and the boat, swung out, and begun
to float down with the current, now fairly en-
tered upon the most dangerous portion of
long and perilous journey.
The father of Blanche, Colonel Philip
Bertrand, was native of Virginia, and
descendant of one Of the lluguenot refugees,
who fled from their native land after the
revocation of the edct Of Nautz 10 l665.-
He had been an officer OF some note during
the Revolution-s warm political aud per-
suual friend of the author OF the Declaration
OF udependence-aud gentleman who bad
ALWAYS stood high 10 the esteem ot his ASST
ciates and cutemporaries.
Though at one time man OF wealth, Col.
Bertrand had lost much, aud suffered much,
through British invasion aud when, shortly
after the close OF the war, he had met with
few more serious reyerses, he had been
fam 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 prant had decided the Colonel upon
seeking his pew possessions and bulldog up
a new home 10 the then Far West, and as
bis wife had insisted upon accompanying
him on his frs. tour, be had asseuted TO her
desire, on condition that Blanche should be
left among her friends, till such time as
place could be prepared which might 10 some
degree be considered I'll abode tor one 80
carefully and tenderly reared.
Blanche would gladly have gone with her
parents; bu. on this point her father mad
been Observation-Disclosures that she would
have TO remain at the East till be should see
proper to send for her; and as be was a man OF
positive character, and rigid disclPlina-
raD, the matter had been settled without
argument
When Colonel Bertrand removed to the
West, Eugene Fairfax, as we have seen, ac-
com paDie hiI; and coming Ut age shortly
alter, be had accepted the liberal Utfer OF MS
noble beneiactor, to remain with him 10 the
capacity of private secretary and confidential
agent. % taking possession 0t his grant,
the Colonel bad almost Immediately erected
a fort, and offered such inducements to set-
tiers IS tu speedily collect around him quite
little community-ot which, as matter
of course, be became the head aud CHIEF; and
10 supply the wants of his own family and
others, and increase his gains 10 legitimate
way, be Dad opened store, and filled 1t 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 Onio, whence their removal to
| Fort Bertrand became an easy matter. 10
purchase aud ship these goods, and deliver
| a package Of letters to friends 10 the East,
| Eugene had been thrice dispatehed-his thlrd
comm ssion also extending to the escort'ng
of the beautiful beress, with her servants, to
her new hume. This last commission had
been 30 far executed at the time chosen for
the opening Of our story, As to briog the
different parties to the mouth OF the great
ksnawha, whence the reader has seen them
slowly floating of on the still, CLASSY bosom oil
1.-The 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 was standing 90 the fore part OF
the deck gazing at the lovely scene which
surrounded her, she saw a seemingly flying
body suddenly leave limb OF gigantic
tree, Whose mighty branches extended far
over the river, and near which the boat
was then swayed by the action Of the cur.
reut,) and alight with a crash upon the
deck Of the boat, not more than eight feet
from her, One glance suliced to show her
what she object was, and to freeze the blood
in her veins. The glowing eyes OF huge
panther met her gaze. The suddenness of
the shock which this discovery gave her was
overpowering. With deafenpg shrek she
fell upon Der knees and clasped her hands
before her breast. The panther crouched for
his dea lily leap. bat ere he spraDg, the hun
ting knife of Eugene FART <, (who. with the
steersmsu, was the only person on dc.k be
sides Blanche, was buried to the hiit IN his
side, inh,ctng a severe but not fatal wound
The Infatuated beast at unce turned upon
Eugene, and deadly struggle ensued. Bat
it was short one. The polished blade OF
the knife played back and forth like lightning
flashes, and al every plunge it was buried to
the hilt in the pauther's body, who S on fell
to the deck, dragging the dauntess Eugene
with him. On seeing her protector TALL
Blanche uttered another shrek and rushed
10 his aid but assistance frcm stouter arms
was at hand. The boatlnen gathered round
aud the savage monster was literally backed
in piecos With their knives and hatcheis, and
Eugene. covered with blood, was dragged
from under his carcass. Surprising him to
be dead Or MORALLY wounded, Blanche threw
her arms around HE neck and gave way TO a
e - pnf hn mi