The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-05-20
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last, getting them fairly reused, he in
formed them, almost in a whisper, for he
did not care to disturb the others, that a
heavy fog had suddenly arisen, and he
wished their presence on deck, immedi-
ately
"a fog, Cap'n?" exclaimed one. in a
tone which indicated that he comprended
the peril with the word.
"Hush!" returned Eugene; "there is
no necessity for waking the others. and
having scene. Up! and follow ME with
out a word !"
He glided back to the deck, and was
almost Immediately joined by the boat
meG, 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 overhanginS limb of the Kentucky
shore Dut frankly admitted that this
could not now be done without difficulty
and danger, and that there was posi-
bilitv of keeping the current.
"Then make that possibility a certain
ty, and it shall be the best nights work
you ever performed" rejoined Eugene,
in quick, excited tone.
''We'n do the best we can, Cap'n was
the response; "but no man can be sartin
of the current OF this here crooked stream
in foggy night"
A long silence followed-the voyagars
slowly drifting down through a misty
darkness impenetrable to the eye-wheu,
suddenly, our young commander, who
was standing near the bow, felt the ex-
tended branch of an overhanging limb ST.
lently brush his face. He started, with
an exclamation of alarm, and at the same
moment the boatman on the right called
out:
"Quick, here, boys! we're agin the
shore, as sure as death !"
Then followed a scene of hurried and
anxious confusion, the voices of the three
boatmen mingling together in loud, quick,
excited tones.
"Push off the bow" cried one.
"Quick altogether, now! over with
her shouted another
"The de'ils in it! she's running
aground here on muddy bottom." al
most yelled third.
Meantime the laden boat was brushing
along against projecting bushes and over
reaching limbs, and every moment get
ting more and more entangled while; the
long poles and sweeps of the boatmen, as
they attempted to push her of, were Of
ten plunged without touching bottom, in
to what appeared to be a soft clayey mud,
from which they were only extricated 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 a minute from the
first alarm, there was kind of settling
as it were, and the boat became
fast and immovable.
The fact was announced by Dick Win
ter, in his characteristic manner-who
added, with an oath, that it was just what
he expected. For a moment or two
dead silence followed, as if each compre-
hended that the matter was one to be
viewed in very serious light.
"I'll get over the bow, and try to git
the lay of the land with my feet" said
Tom Harris; and forthwith he set about
the not very pleasant undertaking.
At this moment Eugene heard his
name pronounced by voice that seldom
failed to excite peculiar emotion in his
breast, and now sent a sAange thrill
through every nerve; and fastening be-
low, he found Blanche, fully dressed, with
d light in her hand, standing just outside
Of her cabin, in the regular passage which
led lengthwise through the centre of the
boat
II have heard something, Eugene"
she said "enough to know that We have
met with an accident, but not sufficient
to fully comprehend its nature"
'Unfortunately, about two hours ago."
replied Eugene, ave suddenly became in
volvcd in dense fog; and in spite Of our
every precaution and care, We have run
aground-it may be against the Ohio
shore-it may be against an island-itis
50 dark we can't tell. But be not alarm
ed, Miss Blanche" he hurriedly added;
Il trust We shall soon be ahoat again;
though in any event, the darkness is suf-
feient to conceal us from the saVages,
even were they in the vicinity"
know little of Indians" returned
Blanche; "but | have always understood
that they are somewhat remarkable for
their acuteness of hearing; and If such
be the case, there would be no necessity
of their being very near, to be made ac-
quainted with our locality, judging from
the loud voices l heard few minutes
ago."
Il fear we've been rather imprudent,"
said Eugene, in deprecating tone; "but
in the exeitement-"
His words were suddenly cut short by
several loud voices of alarm from without.
followed bv a quick and heavy trampling
across the deck; aud the next momeHs