New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-05-14

| and chief; and to supply the wants OF ms OWL
family and Others, and increase his gains u ieII
mate way he bad opened store, and filled y Win
= goods from the Eastern marts, which goods were
transported by land over the mountains TO thu
Kanawha, and thence by water to the Falls OF the
Ohio whence their removal TO Fort Bertrand became
| an easy matter To purchase and ship these goods
and deliver package Of letters to friends in the
East Eugene had been thrice dispatched-his third
commission also extending to the escortng Of the
beautiful heiress, with her servants, TO Der new
! home. This last commission had been so far exc
cuted az the time chosen for the opening of story
as to bring the different parties to the mouth Of the
i great Kanawhs, whence the reader has seen them
slowly floating of upon the still, CLASSY bosom Of
"the belle Of rivers.n
1 The day, which was an suspicious one, passed
without anything occurring worthy of note, unit
near o'clock, when, as Blanche standing on the
fore part Of the deck gazing at the lovely which
surrounded her, she saw seemingly flying body sud
denly leave limb Of gigantic tree, (whose mighty
branches extended far the river aud near which
the boat was then swayed by the action Of the cur
rent,) aud alight 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
huge panther met her gaze. The suddenness Of
the shock which this discovery gave her was over
knees and clasped her hands before her breast The
panther crouched for his deadly leap, but ere he
sprang, the hunting knife OF Eugene Fairfax (who
with the steersman was the only person on deck be-
sides
icting severe but not fatal wound. The iniuriated
beast at once turned upon Eugene, and deadly
struggle ensued But it was short one. The pol
ished blade of the knife played back and forth like
lightning flashes, and at every plunge it was buried
70 the hit in the panthers body who soon fell to the
deck, dragging the dauntless Eugene with him. On
seeing her protector fall, Blanche uttered another
shrek and rushed to his aid but assistance from
stouter arms was at hand. The boatinen gathered
round and the savage monster was literally hacked
in pieces with their knives and hatchets and Eugene
covered with blood, dragged from under his car
cass. Surprising him TO be dead or MORALLY wounded
Blanche threw her arms around bis neck, and gave
way to passionate burst of grief. But he was not
dead-he was not even hurt with the exception Of
few slight scratches The blood with which he was
covered was the panther's, aud not bis own But
Bauche's embrace vas his--a priceless treasure-an
index OF her hearts emotions and affections It was
to color his whole future life as will be seen in the
progress OF our story
Slowly and silently, save the occasional creak dip,
and psh OF the steersmans oar the boat of our voy
ayers was borne along upon the bosom OF the cur
rent, on the third night OF the voyage. The hour
waxing late, and Eugene, the only one astir ex.
cept the watch, was suddenly startled by rough
hand being placed upon bis shoulder, accompanied by
the words in the gruff voice Of the boatman:
say. Capin. here's trouble .
. What is it, Dick inquired Eugene, starting to
his feet
e Don't you see thar's a heavy fog rising, thatll
soon kver us so thick that won't be able to tell
white man from niger replied the boatman--
Dick Winter by name-a tall, bony, muscular ath-
letic specimen of his class
q Good heaven so there IL y exclaimed Eugene
looking off upon the already misty waters at must
have gathered very suddenly for all was clear min
ute ago. What is to be done now This is some
thing was not prepared for, on such a night as
this"
1t looks troublous, Cap'n, I'll allow returned
Dick n but we're in fort that's sartn and spose
wen have to make the best on't.a
g But what is to be done ?--what do you advise ~
asked Eugene in quick excited tone that indicated
s0me degree Of alarm.
sWhy, eff you war'nt so skeered about the young
lady and it warnt SO dead sgn the orders from head
quarters, my plan would be cl'ar and easy one--Id
just run over to the Kaintuck shore, and tie up.r
"No, no. said Eugene, positively 'that will never
do, Dick; that will never do! would not think Of
such thing for q moment We must keep in the
current, by all means!i
EFF you can, rejoined the boatman .but when
il gifts 50 dark can't tell one thing from tother,
it'll be powerful bard to do and Ell we don't run
agin bar or bank afore morning. Ia spite of the best
o us, it'll be the luckest go that ever had hand in
See, Cap'n--its thickeniDg up fast we can't see
eyther bank at ALL the water nyther the stars is
gettin dim, and it looks as If thar war cloud all
round us.''
Il see | see u returned Eugene, exctedly. "Mer-
cifnl Heaven hope no accident will beiall here
and yet my heart almost misgives me for this |
believe, Is the most dangerous part of our journey
the vicinity where most Of our boats have been cap
Saying this, Eugene fastened below, where he
found the other boatmen sleeping so soundly as to re-
quire considerable effort on his part to wake them
At last getting them fairly roused he informed them
almost in whisper for be did not to dsturbt the
Others that heavy fog had suddenly arisen and he
wished their presence on deck Immediately.
"a fog, Cap'n n exclaimed one, in a tone which
indicated that he comprehended the peril with the
word.
Hush ~ returned Eugene "there is no necessity
for waking the Others, and having scene. Up and
follow me, without word !"
He glided back to the deck, aud was almost imme-
diateiy Joined by the boatmen, to whom he briefly
made known his hopes and fears.
They thought, like their companion, that the boat
would be safest II made fast to oyerhaugng limb
OF the Kentucky shore; but frankly admitted that
this could not now be done without difficulty and
dauger, ana that there was possibility OF keeping
the current
Then make that possibility certainty, and 1t
shall be the best nights work you ever perormedr
reloined Eugene, IN quick, excited tone.
"Weh do the best we can, Capn,n was the re-
Spouse but no man can be sartin of the current Of
TINS here crooked stream IN foggy night
long silence followed-the yoyagers slowly drift.
ing down through misty darkness impenetrabe to
tne eye-when, suddenly, our young commander, who
was standing near the bow, felt the extended branch
OF an oVernanglDg limb silently brush his lace. He
started, with an exclamation OF alarm, and at the
same moment the boatman on the right called out:
QUICK, here, boys! were agn the shore, as sure
as death Z!
Then followed scene Of hurried and anxious con-
fusion, the voices Of the three boatmen minglng
1osetne. IN iuue, 9uioh eAciteu tohes'