The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-07-08

periloas ioarucy
The -,tsgr 5i anche, Col. Philip Bertrand was
a nat Vrs.na and descendant of one of the
HU -e-a4 rer9 gees, who had fed from their native
lsad a.t.r the revocation of the edct of Nautz in
1868 le had been an officer of some note during
te oluton-a political and personal friend
author of the Declaration of Independence
~ = gentleman who always stood high in the es-
e. IN of his associates and cotemporaries.
Though at one time man of wealth, Col. Bert
rand 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 re-
verses, he had been fah to accept a grant of land
the Falls of the Ohio, Louisville, rendered
him by Virginia, which then held jurisdiction over
the entire territory, constituting the State of
Kentucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel upon seeking
his new possessions, and buildingu up a home in
the then Far West, and his wife had insisted upon
accompanying him his first tour, he had assented
10 her desire, on condition that Blanche should be left
among her friends, till such time a place could be
prepared which might in some degree be considered
fit abode for one carefully and tenderly reared
Blanche would gladly have gone with her parents
but this point her father had been inexorable-de-
caring that she would have remain Mt the Eas, till
he should see proper 20 send for her; and he
a man OF positive character, and rigid discipline
ran, the matter had been settled without argument
When Col Bertrand ell To the West, Eugene
Fairfax, we have seen, accompanied him; and
coming OF age shortly after, he had accepted the
berl offer of his noble beneflctor, to remain with
him IN the capacity of private secretary and confden-
tIal agent. On taking possession of his grant, the
Colonel had almost Immediately erected tort, and
offered such inducements to settlers to speedily
collect around him quite little community-of
which, a matter of course, he became the head and
CHIEF; anu TO suppy the wants of his family and
Others and increase his gains in Legitimate way he
had opened and filled il with gHsls from the
Eastern marrs which goods TRANSPORTED 10y land
over the mountains 10 the kanawha and thence by
to the Falls of the 'hio whence their removal
sOrt Bertrand became easy matter To pur-
cha md in hes and lalf. cEat of
letters friends in the East, Eugene had been thrice
dspatched-his third commission also extending to
the escOrtug of the beautiful heiress with her
wants, to her new home. This last commission had
been far executed the time chosen for the OPEN
ing of story. to bring the different parties
the mouth of the Great Kanawha, whence the reader
has them slowly hnrtng off upon the still, CLASSY
bosom of ''the belle of rivers
The day, which auspic;ous one, passed
without anything occurring worthy of note, until
near O'Clock, when, as Blanche was standing the
torepart OF the deck IZing the lovely which
surrounded her, she saw seemingly flying body
suddenly leave limb of a gigantic tree, (whose
mighty branches extended far over the ri er, and
which the boat then swayed by the action of
the current, y and alight with crash upon the deck
of the boat, not more than eight feet from her. One
glance sutfced show her what the object was, and
to freeze the blood in her veins. The glowing ewes
of huge panther met her gaze. The suddenDess of
the shock which this discovery gave her
powering. With deafening shrek she fell upon
her knees and clasped her hands upon her breast.
The panther crouche for his deadly lelp, but he
sprang the hunting knife of Eugene Fairfax (who,
% & 1ss nas to p e 5 n 81 his a be- s
fcting a severe but not fatal wound The nfuriated
beast at once turned upon Eugene, and n deadly
struggle ensued. Bat il short one. The
polished blade of the knife played back aud forth like
lightning flashes, and at every plunge it buried
the hilt in the panhers body, who fell TO the
deck, dragging the dauntless Eugene with him On
seeing her protector fall, Blanche uttered another
sbriei ed to his aid buta from
stouter arms at hand The boatmen gathered
round, and the savage monster literally hacked
in pieces with their knives and hatchets, and Eugene,
covered with blood, dragged from under his car
case. Surprising him to be dead mortay wounded,
Blanche threw her around his neck and gave
way to a passionate burst of grief. But he not
dead-he not even hurt, with the exception of
few slight scratches. The blood with which he was
covered the panthers not his own. But Blancbes
embrace his-a priceless treasure-an index
of her hearts emotions and affections. 1t was to
color his whole future life, as it will be seen in the
progress of our story.
Slowly and silently, save the occasional creak, dip,
and splash of the steersDans oar, the boat of our
yOyagers borne along upon the bosom of the cur
rent, the third night of the voyage. The hour
waxing late and Eugene the only one astlr, ex-
eept the watch, suddenly startled, by rough
hand being placed upon his shoulder, accompanied
by the words in the gruff voice of the boatman
81. say, Cap'n, here's trouble -
- What is it. Dick 20 inquired Eugene starting to
his feet.
'.Dou't you see tha's heavy fog rising, that'll
soon kiver US up thick that won't he able to
tell a white man from niger - replied the boat
man, Dick Winter by name, tall, bony, muscular,
athletic specimen Of bis class
'.Good heavens 50 there is - exclaimed Eugene,
looking off upon the already misty waters. g 1t must
have gathered very suddenly, for all was clear
minute ago. What is to be done now This is
something was not prepared for on such night as
this -
.sIt looks troublous, Cap'n, Tll allow returned
Dick; but we're ia fort, that's sartin; and spose
we'll have to make the best ont
- But what is to- be done, what do you ndvise?''
asked Eugene in quick excited tone, that indicated
some degree of alarm
lady and il warm 50 dead again the orders from
head-quarters, my plan would be cl'ar and easy
one-I'd JUST over to the Kantuck shore and tie
up
"No, no,' said Eugene positively; :. that will
never do, Dck-that will never do Toud not
think Of such thing for moment; we must keep in
the current by all means.
% Ef you car, - rejoin the boatman; &c but when
it gifts so dark as can't tell thing from tother,
it'll be powerful hard do; and eff don I agin
bar, bank, afore morning. in spite of the best o
US, it II be the luckiest go that ever had hand in
See, Cap'n, it's thickeDing up fast: we can { see
eyther bank at all, the nyther; the stars is
getting dim, and it looks if thar war cloud all
round u.s.
ssI see I see - returned Eugene excifedly.
g Mercfu Heiveni hope accident will beftll
bere-and yet my heart almost misgives mei-for
this, | believe, is the most dangerous part of
journey-the vicinity where most of boats have
been capfure. by the savages.''
Saying this, Eugene FASTENED below, where he
found the other boatmen sleeping soundy to
require considerable effort his part wake them.
At last getting them fairly roused, he informed them,
almost in whisper, for he did to disturb the
others. that a heavy fog had suddenly arisen, and he
wished their presenc, deck, Immediately.
% A fog, Cap'n,' exclaimed one, in tone which
indicated that he comprehended the peril with the
word
Sc Hush 70 returned Eugene; there is necessity
for waking the others, and having scene. Up,
and follow without a word -
He glided back to the deck, and was almost imme-
diately joined by the boatnen, to whom he briefly
made known his no AMI fears.
Thor