Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-12
gottin dim, and it looks as if thar war cloud

gettin dim, and it looks as if thar war cloud
| all round us"
:" see! see :" returned Eugene, excitedly.
| Merciful Heaven, 1 hope no accident will
befail US here.and yet my heart misgives me;
Tor this, L believe, is the most dangerous part
of our journey-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 soundly
as to require considerable effort, on his part, to
wake them. AT last, getting them fairly reused,
he informed them, alost 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. Immediately.
"A fog, Cap'n - exclaimed one, in tone
which indicated that he cOmprehended the
peril with the word.
"Hush!' returned Eugene; "there is no
necessity for waking the others, and having a
scene. Up! and follow me, without word w
He glided back to the deck, and was almost
immediately 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
1t shall be the best nights work you ever per-
formed" rejoined Eugene, in quick, excited
tone.
We'll 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"
long silence follOwed-the voyagers slowly
drifting down through misty darkness impen-
etrable to the eye-when, suddenly, our young
commander, who was standing near the bow,
felt the extended branch Of an Overhanging
limb silently brush his face; lie started, with
an exclamation of alarm, and at the same mo-
ment the boatman 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 the three bOatmen min
CLING together in loud quick, excited tones.
g Push off the bowl cried one.
Quick. altogether, now. Over with her"
shouted another.
g The de lis in it, she's running aground here
on a muddy bottom" almost yelled third
Meantime the laden boat was brushing along
against projecting bushes and ovorreaching
limbs. and every moment getting more and
more entangled while the long poles and
sweeps of tho boatmen, as they attempted to
push her off, were often plunged, without touch
ing bottom. into what appeared to be soft,
clayey mud, from which they were only ex-
tricated 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 n minute from the
first alarm, there was u kind of settling to-
gether, as it were, and the boat became fast
and immOvabe
The fact was announced by Dick Winter, 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 cOmprehended that the matter was one to
be viewed in n 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 pleas
ant undertaking.
At this moment Eugene heard his name pro-
nOunced by a voice that seldom failed to excite
peculiar emotion in his breast and now sent
a strange thrill through every nerve; and has
tening below, he found Blanche, fully dressed,
with light in her hand, standing just outside
of her cabin, in the regular passage which led
lengthwise through the centre of the boat.
g. have heard something, Eugene, she said
enough to know that We have met with IN
accident, but not sufficient tofully comprehend
its nature"
Unfortunately, about two hours ago" re-
piled Eugene, . We suddenly became involved
in densc fog; and in spite of our every pre-
caution and care, We have run agrOund-it
may be against the Ohio shore-it may be
against an island-it is so dark we can 1t tell.
But don't be alarmed, Miss Blanche he hur-
riedly added; Il trust we shall soon be ailOat
again; though in any event, the darkness is
sufficient to conceal US from the savages even
were they in the vicinity
II know little of Indians returned Blanche;
" but have always understood that they are
somewhat remarkable for their acuteness OF
hearing; and if such is tho case, there would
be no necessity of their being very near, to be
made acquainted with our locality, judging
from tho loud voices | heard few minutes
ago"
Is L fear we've been rather imprudent," said
Eugene, in deprecating tone; but in the
excitement-'
His words were suddenly cut short by several
loud voices Of alarm from without, followed by
quick and heavy trampling across the deck
and the next moment Seth Harper and Dick
| Winter burst into the passage, the former ex
claiming:
We've run plum into red nigger's nest
| Cap n, and Tom Harris is already butchereC
| and scalped."
| And even as he spoke, as if in confirmation
OF his dreadful intelligence, there arose a series
of wild, piercing, demoniacal yells, followed
| by dead and OminOus silence.
| So far We have followed the lovely herOin,
and her friends in this adventure for the fore
| going is all that we can publish in our columns
| The balance of the narrative can only be founC
| in the New York Ledger, the great famil,
paper which can be obtained at all the periodi
cal stores where papers are sold. Remember
to ask for the Ledger" dated May 22d, anC
in it you will get the continuation of the mar
rative from where it leaves of here. If ther,
are no bookstore or news-offces convenient t.
where you reside, the publisher of tho Ledge
will send you copy by mail, if you will sent
| him five cents in letter. Address, kOber
Bonner, Ledger Office, Al Ann street, New
York. This story is entitled, ''Perls of tn,
Border and grows moro and more interesting
| NJ it goes on.