Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1858-05-15
SEEPHERDSTOWN JEFFERSON COUNTY, VA SATURDAY MORNING

we won't be able 10 tell white man from
a niger! g replied the boatman--Dick
Winter by name--a tall, bony, muscu-
lar. athletic specimen of his class.
GOOD heaven so there is !" eXciaim-
ed Eugene, looking off upon the already
misty waters. alt 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 nigh, as this"
''It looks lroublous, Cap'n, I'll allow y
returned Dick 'but we're in fort, that's
sarrin, and s'pose we'Il have TO make
the best ont"
"But what is to be done ?--what do
you advise ?" asked Eugene, in quick,
excited tone, that indicated some degree
of alarm.
"Why, ef you war'nt so skeered about
the young lady, and it war'nt SO dead agin
the orders from head quarters, my plan
would be a cl'ar and easy one--rd just
run over 10 the Kaintuck shore, and tie
up"
"No, no." said Eugene. positively ;
"that will never do, Dick-that will new
er do Il would not think of such thing
for moment We must keep in the cur,
rent by ali means !"
"Ef you can," rejoined the boatman !
"but when it gifts so dark as we can't tel
one thing from tolher, it'll be powerful
hard to do and eff we don't run agin g
bar or bank afore morning, in spite Of the
best O. us,it'll be the lucklest 60 that ever
had hand in. See, Cap'n-il's thick
ening up fast we can't see eyther bank
at all. nor the water nylher; the stars i:
gettin' dim, and il looks as if thar war {
cloud all round us
81 see see returned Eugene, ex
ciledIy. "Merciful Heaven ! | hope NJ
accident will befalI us here-and yet my
heart almost misgives me for this, be-
leve, is the most dangerous part of ouI
journey-the vicinity where most of our
boats have been captured by the savages.
Saying the Eugene FASTENED below
where he found the other boatmen sleep.
ing so soundly as to require considerable
effort, on his part,to wake them. Al last
getting them fairly reused, he informed
them, almost in whisper, for he did no
care TO disturb the others, that a heavy
fog had suddenly arisen, and he wished
their presence ON deck, Immediately.
"A fog, Cap'n 2" exclaimed one, in Z
tone which indicated that he omprehend
ed the peril with the word.
Hush !" returned Eugene ; "there is
no necessity for waking the Others. and
having scene. Up ard follow me-
without word ~
He glided back TO the deck, and was al,
most Immediately joined by the bcatmen,
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 overhanging limb Of the Kentucky
shore but frankly admitted that this
could not now be done without difficulty
and danger, and that there was a possibil-
ity Of keeping the current
"Then make that possibility certainty,
and it shall be the best nights work you
ever percoImed !" reJoined Eugene, in a
quick, excited tone.
"We'll do the best We can, Cap'n,"
was the response ; "but no man can be
sarlin of the current Of this here crooked
stream in foggy night"
A long silence folowed--the voyagers
slowly drifting down through misty
darkness impenelrable 10 the eye-when,
suddenly, our young commander, who
was standing near the bow, felt the ex-
tended branch of an overhanging limb ST.
lenily brush his face. He started, with
an exclamation Of alarm, and at the same
moment the boatmen on the right called
out:
"Quick, here, boys we're agin the
shore, as sure as death ~
Then followed scene of hurried and
anxious confusion, the voices of three
boatmen mingled together in loud. quick,
excited tones.
"Push eff the bow ~ cried one.
"Quick altogether, now over with
her !" shouted another.
"The de'il's in it 4! she's running
aground here on a muddy bottom !" al
most yelled third.
Meantime the laden boat was brushing
along against projecting bushes and over
reaching limbs, and every moment getting
more entangled while the long poles and
and sweeps oflhe boatmeD, as they al
tempted 10 push her off, were often
plunged, without touching bottom, into
what appeared TO be soft, clayey mud,
from which they were only exlricaied by
such an outlay OF strength as tended still
more TO draw the clumsy craft upon the
bank they wished TO avoid. At length,
scarcely more than minnie from tho n rsi