The Nevada journal., 1858-06-11

IL lookS trouolOnS, zap II, II aIlOW,
returned Dick, but we're in fort that's
sartin, and s'pose well have to make
the hest ont"
But WHAT'S to be done?-what do
you advise ?" asked Eugene in quick,
excited tone, and indicated some degree
of alarm.
why, eff You war'rt so skeered about
the young lady, and it war'nt so dead
agin the orders from head. quarters. my
plan would be cl'ar and easy one
I'd just run over to the Kaintuck shore
and lie up"
'No, no." said Eugene, positively;
"that will never do, Dick-that will
never do! I would not think of such
thing for moment! We must keep in
the current by all means !"
"Ef you can," rejoined the boatman;
"hut when it gifts SO dark MS we-can't tell
one thing from t'other, it'll be powerful
hard TO do; and eff we don't run agin a
bar or bank afore morning, in spite of
the best o us, it'll be the luckies; go
that ever | had hand in. See, Cap'n
its thickening up fast we can't see
eyther bank at all, nor the water nyrher
the stars is gette' dim, and it looks as
if thar war a cloud all round. us.
Il see! / see!', returned Eugene, ex-
citedly. "MercifuI Heaven! l hope no
accident will befall MS llere-and yet my
heart almost misgives me!--for this. l
believe, is the most dangerous part of
our journey-the vicinity where most
of ot,r boats have been captured by the
savages"
Saying this, Eugene FASTENED below.
where lie found the other boatmen sleep
ing so soundly sto rsquire-considerahle
effort on his art to wake them. At last,
getting them faiily reused, he informed
them, almost in a whisper, for he did
not care to disturb the others, that
heavy fog had Suddenly arisen, and he
wished their presence on deck, imme-
diately
"A fog, Csp'n," exclaimed one, in
tone which Indicated that he compre-
hended 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 -
lie glided back to the deck, and was
almost Immediately joined by the boat
men, to hnn he briefly made known
his hopes d fears.
They thou -ht, like their CONF a1ion,
that the boat would he safest If made
fast to an overhanging limb Of the Ken
lucky shore but frankly adrtitted that
this could not now be done without DIFF
fculty aud danger. aud that there was
possibility of keeping the current.
Then make that possibility GER
tainty, and it shall be the best nights
work you ever peiformed!" rejoined
Eugene, in a quick, excited tone.
We'll do the best we can, Cap'n,"
was the response; ''but no man can be
sartiu { the current ofthis here crooked
stream in foggy night"
A long silence tollowed-the voy-
ayers slowly drifting down through
misty darkness impenetrable to the eye
when suddenly, our young commarder
who was standing near the bow, felt the
extended biancll of an overhangiu
limb silently brush bis face. lie startled,
with an exclamation of alarm. and at the
same moment the boatmen ON the light
called out:
Quick, here, boys! we're agin the
shore, as sure as death ~
Then followed scene of hurried and
anxious confusion, the voices ofthe three
boatmen mingling sethcr i'll loud, quick
and excited tones.
Push off the bow !" cried one.
''Quickr' altogether, now over with
hcr!' shouted another
"1he devil is in it she's running
aground here on muddy bottom !" al
most yelled third.
Meanwhile the laden boat was brt1sh-
ing along against projecting bushes and
overIeaching limbs, and every moment
getting more and more entangled; while
the long poles and sweeps Of the boat
men, as they attempted to push her off,
were often plunged, without touchin z
bottom. into what appeared to be soft,
clayey mud, from which they were only
extracted by such an outlay Of strength
us tended still more to draw tbs clumsy
ciaft upon the bank they wished to
avoid. AT length, scarcely more than
minute from the first alarm. there was
kind of settling together, IS it were, and
the boat tecame fast and immovahle.
The fact was announced by Dick
Winter, in his characteristic manner
who added, with an oath, that it was Just
what lie expected. For a moment or
two a dead silence followed, as If each
mprehended that the matter was one
to be viewed in very serious light.
"l'll get over the bow, and try to git
the lay Of the land with my feet" said
Tom Harlis and forthwith he set about
tac not very pleas s,nt undertaking.
At Ibis moment Eugene heard his
name pronounced by voice that sell
tom failed to excite peculiar emotion
in his breast, and now sent strange
thrill through every nerve and hasten.
ing below, he found blanche, fully
dressed. with light i'll her hand, stan
ding just outside of her cabin, in the
regular passage which led lengihwise