Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-05-22
VOL XIV, NO 800--sSSHHlEEs YOL7IX, No. AZ.


water to the Falls of the Ohio, whence
t',eir removal to Fort Bertrand became al
eay matter. To purchase and ship these
goods, and deliver package of letters t.
friends in the East, Eugene had been thrice
| dispatched-his third commission also ex-
tending to the escorting of the beautiful
heiress, with her servants, to her new home
This last commission had been so far exc
lcuted at the time chosen for the opening OF
our story, as 10 bring the different parties
to the mouth Of the Great Kanawlia,
whence the reader has seen them slowly
floating off upon the still, CLASSY bosom Of
'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 on the fore part OF
the deck, gazing at the lovely scene which
surrounded her, she saw seemingly flying
body suddenly leave limb of a gigantic
tree, (whosc mighty branches extended
far over the river, aud near which the boat
was then swayed by the action of the cur
rent,) and 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 a
huge panther met her gaze. The sudden
ness of the shock which this discovery
gave her was overrowering. With deaf
ening shrek she fell upon her knees anil
clasped her hands before her breast l he
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 besides Blanche,) was
buried to the hilt in his side, indicting a
severe but not fatal wound. The infuria-
ted beast at once turned upon Eugene, and
a deadly struggle ensued. But it was a
short one. The polished blade of the
knife played back and forth like lightning
flashes, and at every plunge it was buried
to the hilt in the panther's body, who soon
fell to the deck, dragging the danntless
Eugene with him. On seeing her protec-
tor fall, Blanche uttered another shrek and
rushed to his aid; but assistance from
fstouter arms was at hand. The boatman
gathered round, and the savage monster
was literally hack ed in pices with their
knives and hatchets, and Eugeue, covered
with blood, was dragged from under his
arcass. Surprising him to be dead or
MORALLY wounded, Blanche threw her arms
around his neck and gave way to pas
sage burst of grief. But he was not dead
he was not even hurt, with the excep-
ton Of few slight scratches. The blood
with which he was covered was the pan
theirs, not his own. But Blanche's en-
brace was his-a priceless treasure-an in
dex of her hearts emotions and affections
1t was to color his whole future life, as will
be seen in the progress of our story.
Slowly and silently, save the occasional
creek, dip and plash of the stesrsman's oar,
the boat Of our voyagers was borne along
upon the bosom of the current, on the
third night Of the voyage. The hour was
waxing late and Eugene, the only one a
stir except the watch, was suddenly atari
led, by a rough hand being placed upor
his shoulder, accompanied by the words, in
the gruf voice of the boatman:
81 say, Cap'n, hers troubled"
"What is it, Dicks" inquired Eugene,
startling to his feet.
| "Don't you see thar's heavy fog rising
that'l soon kiver us up so thick that
we won't be able to tell white man from
nigger?" replied the boatmsn-Dicl
Winter by name-a tall, bony, muscular
athletic specimen of his class.
GOOD heaven! 50 there isn exclaimed
Eugene, looking off upon the already
misty waters. at must have gathered
very suddenly, for all was clear minute
ago. What is to be done nowa This il
something | was not prepared for, on sacl
a night as this"
at looks troublous, Cap'n, I'll allow,
returned Dick; "but we are in fort, that's
sartin, and | s'pose we'll have to make the
best ont"
"But what is to be done ?-whst dc
you advise = asked Eugene, in quick
excited tone, that indicated some degre.
Of alarm.
"Why, eff you war'nt so skeered abou
the young lady, and it warn't SO dead agil
the orders from headquarters, my plar
would be cTar and easy one I'D jus
run over to the Kaintuck shore and ii,
up"
"No, no. said Eugene, positively; "tha
will never do, Dick = that will never do
l would not think of such thing for !
moment We must keep in the curren
Ity all means!"
/ "Ef you CAM rejoined the boatinan
"but when it gifts so dark as we can't tel
one thing from t'other, it'll be powerful
hard to do; and eff we don't run agin :
bar or bank afore morning, in spite Of The
best O us, it'll be the luckiest 60 that eve
had hand in. See, Capn-it's thick
ening up fast; we can't see either bank, a
all, nor the water nyther; the stars is get
tin dim, and it looks as if thar war clouC
all around us"
/ 81 see I seer' returned Eugene, ex
citedly. 'sMerciful Heaven! | hope no &C
cident will befal us here and yet my
heart almost migives me for this, be
iieye, is the most dangerous part OF ou