The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-05-20
coUDERsPoRT, COUNTY THURSDAY MAY 90 1853

of the beautiful heiress, with her servants,
/ to her new home. This last commission
had been so far executed at the time chosen
for the opening of our story, as to bring
the different parties to the mouth of the
great kanawha, whence the reader has
seen them slowly floating off upon the
still. CLASSY bosom of " the belle of rivers
The day, which was an auspicious one,
passed without anything occurring wor-
thy of note, until near four o clock, when
as Blanche was standing on the fore part
of the deck gazing at the lovely scene
which surrounded her, she saw a seeming.
/ ly flying body suddenly leave limb Of a
gigantic tree, (whose mighty branches ex.
tended far over the river, aud near which
the boat was swayed by the action of the
current), and alight with a crash upon
| the deck Of the boat, not more than eight
feet from her. One glance suficed tC
show her what the object was, and tc
freeze the blood in her veins. The glow
ing eyes of huge panther met her gaze
The suddenncss Of the shock which this
discovery gave her was overpowering
With deatening shrek she fell upon hel
knees and clasped her hands before hel
breast. The panther crouched for his
deadly leap, but ere he sprang. the hunt
ing knife of Eugene Fairfax (who with
the stcersman, was the only person or
deck besides Blanche), was buried to the
hilt IN his side, inficting a severe but not
! fatal wound. The infuriated beast at once
turned upon Eugene, and a deadly strug
gle ensued. But it was short one The
polished blade of the knife played back
and forth like lightning flashes, and al
every plunge it was buried to the hilt in
the panther's body, who soon fell to the
deck, dragging the dauntless Eugene with
him. On seeing he: protector fall
Blanche uttered another shrek and rush
ed to his aid but assistance from stoutel
arms was at hand. The boatmen gather.
ed round, and the savage monster was
literally hacked in pieces with their
knives and hatchets, and Eugene, covered
with blood, was dragged from under his
carcass. Supposing him to be dead or
mortally wounded, Blanche threw her
arms around his neck and gave way to a
passionate burst of grief But he was not
dead-he was not even hurt, with the ex-
ception of few slight scratches. The
blood with which he was covered was the
panther's, not his own. But Blanche 5
embrace was his-a priceless treasure
an index of her hearts emotions and af-
fections. 1t was to color his whole future
life, as will be seen in the progress of our
story.
Slowly and silently, save the occasional
creak, dip, and plash of the steersman's
oar, the boat of our voyagers was borne
along upon the bosom of the current, on
the third night of the voyage The hour
was waxing late, and Eugene, the only
one astir except the watch, was suddenly
startled, by a rough hand being placed
upon his shoulder, accompanied by the
words, in the grutf voice of the boatman {:
I" I say. Cap'n, here's trouble"
What is it, Dick ?" inquired Eugene,
starting to his feet.
Don't you see thars heavy fog ris-
ing, that'll soon kiyer US up so thick that
we won't be able to tell 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 is :" exclaim-
ed Eugene, looking of upon the already
misty waters. at must have gathered
very suddenly, for all was clear minute
ago. What is to be done now? This is
something l was not prepared for, OF such
a night as this"
1T looks troublous, Cap'n, I'll allow"
Dick bat we're in fort, that's
sartin, and s'pose we'll have to make
the best ont"
"But what is to be done what do
you advise 2" asked Eugene, in quick,
excited tone, that indicated some degree
of alarm.
Why, eff you war'nt so skcered about
the young lady, and it warn't SO dead ag;n
the orders from head quarters, my plan
would be cl'ar and easy one-Pd just
run over to the Kaintuck shore, and tie
up"
"No, no." said Eugene, positively );
/" that will never do. Dick-that will nev-
er dc! I would not think of such thing
for moment We must keep in the
current by all means !"
"Ef you can," rejoined the boatman
" but when it gifts so dark as we can't tell
one thing from t'other, it'll be powerful
hard to do; and eff we don't run agin
bar or bank afore morning, in spite of the
best O us, it'll be the luckiest go that ever
| had hand in. See Cap'n--it's thick
ening up fast; we can't see eyther bank
at all, nor the water nyther; the stars is
gettin' dim, and it looks as if thar war
cloud all round US"
6" see | seer' returned Eugene, ex-
citedly, "Merciful Heaven! | hope no
accident will hefall US here-and yet my
heart almost misgives me for this, | be-