Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-05-22

Slowly and silent save the occasional creak
din, and splash of the steersman's oar, the
boat of our voyagers was bore along upon the
bosom of the current on the third night of the
voyage. The hour was waxing late, and Eu-
gene, the only one astir except the watch was
suddenly startled, by rough hand being
placed upon his shoulder, accompanied by
the words, in the gruf voice of the boatmen :
al say, Cap'n, here's trouble !"
"What is il, Dick 2" inquired Eugene, start
| ing to his feet.
"Don't you see thar's heavy fog rising
tbat'll soon kiver us up SO thick that we wont
be able To tel! a white man from a nigger ?"
replied the boatman-Dick Winter by name
"a tall bony, muscular, athletic specimen Of
his class.
"Good heaven so there isl" exclaimed
Engene looking off upon the already misty
waters. at must have gathered very sud
denly, for all was clear minute ago. What
is to be done now ? This is something was
not prepared for on such night as this"
at looks troublous, Cap'n, I'll allow" re-
turned Dick :" but we're in fort, that sartin,
and s'pose we'll have to make the best
ont"
"But what's to be done what do you
advise !" asked Eugene, in quick, excited
tone that indicated some degree of alarm.
Young lady, and it warn't so dead agin the or
ders from head quarters, my plan would be
cl'ar and easy one-Td just run over to the
X Kaintucb shore and tie up.
mo, no." said Eugene, positively; "that
will never do, Dick-that will never do
would not think of such thing for moment
We must keep in the current by all means ;"
OFF you can," rejoined the boatmen but
when it gifts SO dark as we can't tell enc thing
from rother, it'll be powerful hard to do and
ef we don't run agin bar or bank afore morn
ing in spite of the best OF US, it'll be the luck
lest go that ever ! had hand in. See, Cap'n
its thickning up fast I'VE can't see eyther
bank at all, nor the wator nyther; the stars is
gettin dim, and it looks as if thar war cloud
all round u.s."
"I see l see p returned Eugene, excitedly
"Mercirul Heaven | hope no accident will
befall us here-and yet my heart almost mis-.
gives me for this, believe, is the most
dangerous part Of our iourney-the vicinity
where most Of our boats have been captured
by the savages."
Saying this, Eugene fastened below, where
he found the other boatmen sleeping so sound
ly as TO require considerable effort, on his
part, to wake them. At last, ge ting them
fairly aroused he informed them almost in
7,
others, that heavy fog had suddenly arisen,
and he wished their presence on deck, imme
diately.
"a fog, Capn ~ exclaimed one, n tone
which indicated that he comprehended the
peril with the word.
"IIush !" returned Eugene "there is no
necessity for waking The others, and having
scene. Up and follow me without word.
lie pli1ea back to the deck, and wes almost
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 if made fast to an over
hanging limb of the Kentucky shore, but
frankly admitted that this could not now be
done without difficulty and danger, and that
there was possibility of keeping the current |
Then make that possibility a certainty,
and it shall be the best nights work you ever
performed ~ rejOined Eugene, in quick. ex-
cited tono.
"Wel! do the best we can, Capn," was the
response, "but no man can he sartln OF the
current of this here crooked stream IN ioggy
night"
A long silence followed-:he voyngers slow
ly drifting dewn through q misty darkness
impenetrable to the eye-when suddenly, our
Young commander, who was standing near
the bow, felt the extended branch oil an over
hanging limb silently brush his face. lie
starded, with an exclamation OF alarm, and at
the same moment the boatmea on the right
called out.
Quick, here boys we're agin the shore, as
sure as death
Then followed o scene of hurried and anZ-
ious confusion, the voices OF the three boat
men mingling together in loud, quick, excited
tones.
Push of the bow cried one.
Quick altogether, now over with heT J.
shouted another.
"The deiPs in it she's running aground
here on muddy bottom" almost yelled
third
Meantime the laden boat was brushing
along against projecting bushes aud over
reaching limbs and every moment gettihg
more and more entangled while the iohg
poles and sweeps Of the boatmen, as they at
tempted to push her of, were often plunged,
without touching bottom, in to what appeared
to be o soft clayey mud from which they were
only extricated by such an outly of strength
as tended still more to draw the clumsy craft
upon the bank they wished to avoid. AT
length, scarcely, more than a minute from
the first alarm, there was kind OF setting
together, as it were, and the boat became last
and immovable.
The fact was announced by Dick Winter
in his characteristic manner-who added, with
an oath, that it was just what be expected
For q moment or two dead silence followed
as if each comprehended that the matter was
one to be viewed in q very serious hight.
"lll get over the bow, and try to get the
lay of the land with my feet" said Tom llar-
rs, and forthwith he set about the not very
pleasant undertaking.
At this moment Eugene heard his name
pronounced by a voice that seldom failed eX'
cite peculiar emotion in his breast, and now
sent strange thrill through every nerve
and Fastening below, he found Blanche laly
dressed, with light in her hand, standing
lust outside of her. cabin, in the regular pas
sage which led lengthwise through the center
of the boat.
"Ihave heard something, Eugene" she said
enough to know that we have met with an ac-
cidert, but not sufficient to fully comprehend
ito nature"
UNFORTUNATELY, about two hours ago" re-
piled Eugene, 1--WE suddenly became involved
in dense fog, and in spite of our every pre-
caution and care, we have run agrouud-it
may be against the Ohio shore--it may be
against an sland--it is so dark we can't tell.
But be not alarmed, Miss Blanche" hurriedly
added al trust we shall soon be ahoat again