The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-13
WASHINGTON CITY, TIL URsDAY, NAY 1s, 1853,
the Soss dangerous portion Of long and pcrots jour


the 'iost dangerous portion of long and pcrous jour-
neyl - sae8asss f1s tkea ssi ~ 4asaA a.
Ths father of Blanche Colonel Philip DeEtrand was
nntivc Of Virginia. and descendant from one of the
HusdSnot refugees who fled from their native land
sitter ~ Fcyocation of the edct of Nantz In 1865 DE
had becp an officer of note during the revolution
Swar political and personal friend Of the author Of the
Decassston Of Lndepeudenco--and gentleman who had
always stood high in the esteem of his associates and
temporaries.
Thorgh ut ono time man of wealth Colonel Bertrand
had lost much and suffered much through British nva
son and when shortly after the close Of the war he hnd
met with few serious he had been ain to
accept grant of land, the Falls of tho Ohio.
Louisville rendered him by Virginia. which then held
jurisdiction the entire territory constituting the
State of Keatucky. ~ sitA ~ ere IN a
The grant had decided the Colonel upon seeking his
possessions and building up new home In tho then
Far West, and, his wife had insisted upon accompany
ing him his st tour he had assentsd to her desire,
on coalition that Banche should DO left among her friends
till such time place could be prepared which might
In be considered 1T abode for one 70 care
fully ~ tendGn3H .xsREeA. seae-eE sfs nj 80;
Blanche would gladly have gone with her parents but
this point her father had been inexorabe declaring
that she would have remain at the East till he should
proper to send for her and he Of posi-
tive character, and rigid dscplinaran the matter had
been settled without argument. fNt e. @e
When Colonel Bertrand removed To the West, Eugene
Fairfax, We have scen accompanied him and coming
Of age shortly after he had accepted the liberal offer Of
his noble bonofactor to remain with him In the capacity
Of private secretary and confidential agent On taking
possession Of his grant the colonel had almost imped
sely erected fort and offered such inducements I'd
tiers to speedily him quite little
munity6 which, matter Of course, he became the
head and chief and to supply the wants Of his own fam
lily and Others and increase his gains in Legitimate way
he had opened store and filled II with goods from tho
eastern marts, which goods transported by land
the mountains to the Kanawha and thence by water
to the Falls Of theOhio whence their removal to Fort
Bertrand became easy matter To purchase and ship
these goods and deliver package of letters to friends in
the East Eugene had been thrice despatched his tird
commission also extended 10 the escorting Of the beau
full hcircss With her servants to her new home. This
last commission had been far executed at the tino
chosen for the opening of our story to bring the diff
ferent parties to the mouth of the great Kanawha,
whence the reader has seen them slowly floating off upon
the still CLASSY bosom Of ssthc belle Of rivers ="
The day, which suspicious passed without
anything occurring worthy Of note until near O'Clock,
when, Blanche was standing on the forepart of the
deck gazing at the lovely which surrounded her,
she a seemingly flying body suddenly leave limb OF
a gigar tree, whose mighty branches extended far
over ri ell, and which the boat then swayed
by the ion of the carrent,) and aIght with crash
upon the deck of the boat not more than eight feet from
her. One glance suiced to show her what the object
was and to freeze the blood in her veins The glowing
eyes of huge panther met her gaze The sudcnness OF
the shock which this discovery gave her was ovcrpowcr-
ing With deafcning shrek she fell upon her knees
and clasped hands before her breast The panther
crouched for his deadly leap, but be srang the hunt
ing knife of Eugene Fairfax (who, with the steersInan,
only person deck besides Banche) buried
to the ht in his side, iptcting but not fatal
wound The infuriated beast at turned upon Eu-
gene and deadly struggle cnsued But it was short
The polished blie OF tho knife played back and
forth like lightning flashes, and at every pungc it Was
buried to the ht In the panther who soon fell TO
the deck DRAGGING the dauntles Eugene with him. On
seeing protecor fall Blanche uttered another shrick
and rushed to his aid but assistance from souter
was at hand. The boatmcn gathered round, and the
savage monster literally hacked In pieces with their
knives and hatchcs and Eugene covered with blood,
dragged from under his SupposinY him to
be dead or mortay wounded, Blanche threw her arms
around his neck and gave way to passionate burst of
grief But he was not dcad-he not hurt with
the exception of few slight scratches The blood with
which he covered the panther not his own.
But Banchcs embrace was hisa priceless treasure an
index of her heart emotions and affections. IL to
color his whole future life, will be seen in thcprogrcss
Of story.
Slowly and silently save the occasional creak dip and
pash of the steersmns oar the boat OF our voyagers
was borne along upon the bosom of the current the
third night of the voyage The hour waxing late.
aud Eugene the only one astr except the watch, was
suddenly startled by rough hand being placed upon his
shoulder accompanied by the words in the gruf voice
of the boatinan ~ &ftN
pIsay. Cap n, here's trouble y i7 IN @F
What is it Dick & Inquired Eugene, starting to his
| feet IL n
Dont YOU sec thar a heavy fog rising that II soon
kvor us up 10 thick that won't be able to tell white
man from niger r. replied the boatman- Dick Winter
by "a TALL bony muscular, athletic specimen of
his class. 81 8@ rs ~ t58 se5 4aF sF iF 1g
s.Good heaven! 30 there is! - exclaimed Eugene,
looking off upon the already misty waters. " 1t must
have gathered very suddenly, for all clear minute
ago What is to be done now! This is something
was not prepared for on such night as this" "
at looks toubous Cap'n. I'll allow, returned Dick;
but in for that's sartin and spose we have
to make the best ont.
a. But what Is to be done what do You advise 2?
asked Eugene, in qnick, excited tone that indicated
some degree Of alarm.
.why ef you war MT skecred about the young lady,
and it warn so dead an the orders from headquarters,
my plan would be a q lar and easy oneId Just
to the Kantuck Shore and tic up
- No, no, said Eugene, positively ''that will never
do, Dick--that will do j would not think Of
such a thing for moment We must keep in the cur
rent by all means y 6..s aNg tsi s. t eaff n
"Ef you cam, reioncd the hoatanan "but when it
gifts dark can't tell thing from other, it'll
be powerful hard to do and ef we don't agin bar
or bank aioe morning, ia spite of tho best O it be
the luckiest go that ever had hand in Zee. Cap
it's thickcning up we can't cyther bank at ALL
the water nyther; the stars is gettin dim, and it
looks as if thar cloud all round us. y fs
81 sec! see " returned Eugene, cxcitedly, ''Mcr-
ciful Heavcnl hope accident will befAll us here
and yet my heart almost misgvcs me!-or this. be-
lieve, the most dangerous part of journey vi
cny where most oAour boats have been captured by the
sayages. ,-lss s;4l sstl. 81 Il s.si +f tlaR,
Saying this, Eugene hastened below, where he found
the other boatmcn sleeping sonndy to require
siderable effort his part to wake them. At last get
ting them fairly roused he informed them, almost In
whisper for Nc did to disturb the Others that's
heavy fog had suddenly arisen and he wished their
cnce deck Immediately.
"A fog, Capnr' exclaimed one, in a tone which
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