Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-12

| the savage monster was literally hacked in
| pieces with their knives and hatchets, and Eu-
| gene, covered with blood, was dragged from
under his carcass. Surprising him to be dead
or mortally wounded, Blanche threw her arms
around his neck and gave way to passionate
burst Of grief. But he was not dtad-he was
not even hurt, with the exception of few
slight scratches. The blood with which be
was covered was the panther's, not his own.
But Blanche's embrace was hs-a priceless
treasure-an index of her hearts emotions
and affections. 1t was to color his whole fu-
tlre life, as Will be seen in the progress of our
story.
Slowly and silently, save the occasional
creak, dip, and plash Of the steerman's oar,
the boat ofour vOyagers was borne along upon
the bosom of the current, on the third night
of the voyage. The hour was waxing late,
and Engene, the only one astir except the
watch, was suddenly startled, by rough
hand being placed upon his shoulder, accom-
panied by the words, in the gruif voice of the
boatman:
Il say, Cap'n, here's troublel''
"What is it, Dick?" inquired Eugene, start
ing to his feet.
Don't you see thar's a heavy fog rising,
thatll soon kiver us up thick that we won t
be able to tell white man from a nIgger?"
replied the boatman-Dick Winter b., name
a tall. bony, muscular, athletic specimen of
his class
Good heaven! so there is" exclaimed Eu-
gene, looking OF upon the already misty wa
tiers. sit must have gathered very suddenly,
for all was clear minute ago. What is 10 be
done now? This is something | was not pre-
pared tor. on such night as this''
at looks troublOus, Cap'n, I'll allow" re-
turncd'Dick; .hut we're in fort. that's sartin,
and l s'pose We'll have to make the best ont"
But what is to be done?-what do you ad-
vise?" asked Eugene, in quick, excited tone,
that indicated some degree of alarm.
why, ef you war'nt so skeer'd about the
young lady, and it war'nt SO dead agin the
orders from head quarters. my plan would be
Il cl'ar and easy one-I'd just run over to thu
Kaintuck share. and tie up"
No, no" said Eugene. positively; THAT will
never do, Dick-that will never do! l would
not think Of such a thing for a moment! We
must keen in the current by all IN -ans!'
EFF you can" rejoined the boatman; "but
when it gifts so dark we can't tell one thing
from t'other, it'll be powerful hard to do: and
Of We dOn't run agn bar or bank afur
mOraing, in spite of the best o US. it'll be the
luckiest 90 that ever l had hand in. See,
Cap'n-it'S thiCkening up fast; we can't see
eyther bank ut all, nor the water nyther; the
stars is gettin' DIM, and it looks as if thar war
cloud all round US"
II see! | see.'' returned Eugene, excitcdly.
''Merciful Heaven! | hope no accident will be
fall Us here aud yet my heart almost IN sgives
for this, believe, is the most dangerous
part OF our iourney-lhe vicinity where most
OF our boats have been captured by the sava-
g.s'
Saying this. Eugene FASTENED below, where
he found the other buatmen sleeping so sound
~ as To require considerable effort, Oh his part.
To wake them. At last, getting them fairly
reused. he Informed them, almost in IA wills
per, for he did not care TO disturb the others.
that IA heavy fog had suddenly arisen, and he
wished their presence on deck, Immediately.
"a fog, Cap'n?' exclaimed one. in a tone
which indicated that he cUmprehendud the
peril with the word
'lIush,' returned Eugene; there is no ne
ccssiJy for waking the others and having a
scene. Up! and follow me without IA wOrd.'
lie Gid d 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 he safest if made fast to an o.
vcrhanying limb of the kentucky shOre but
frankly admitted that this could not now be
done without difficulty and danger, aud that
there was n possibility of Keeping the current
"rhen make that possibility "A certainty,
and it shall be the best nights work you ever
perlormedW rcjoined Eugene, i'll quick, eX-
cited tone.
.'We'll do the best we can, Cap'n," was the
response; "but no man can be sartn of the
current of this here crooked stream in foggy
night
A long silence followed-the voyagcrs
slowly drifting down through a misty dark
ness impenetrable to the eye--whcn, sudden
ly, our young commander, who was standing
near tn. bow. felt the extended branch of an
ovcrhanging Limb silently brush his face. He
started with AN exclamation of alarm, and at
the same moment the boatman on the right
called ont:
Quick, here, boys! we're agin the shore,
as sure as death!
Then followed a scene of hurried and aux-
ious confusion, the VOICES Of the three boat
men mingling together in loud, quick, excited
tones.
Push Oft the bow cried one.
Quick! altogether, now! Over with hertz
shouted another.
The dc'I's in it. she's running aground
here on Il muddy bottomw almost yelled
third.
Meantime the laden boat was brushing
along against prof citing bushes and over
reaching limbs, and every moment getting
more and more cntauged while the long
pol : and sweeps OF the boatIpcn, rs they at
tempted to push her of, were often plunged F.,
without touching bottom into what appeared |
to be Il soft, claycy mad, from which they |
were only eXtricdtcd by such an outlay of |
strength "a tended still more to draw the /
clumsy craft upon the bank they wished to /
AVOID. At length, scarcely more than min |
ute from the first alarm. there was kind of |
settling together. aS it Were, and the boat be-
came fast aud immOvable
The fact was announced by Dick Winter.
in his characteristic manner-whO added, with
m oath, that il was just what he expected
For moment or two n dead silence follow
I'd, rs if each comprehended that the mat
ter was one to be viewed in II very serious
light
I'm get over the bow, and try to git the
lay OF the land with my, feet, - said Tom Har-
ris; and forthwith he set about the not very
pleasant undertaking.
At this moment Eugene heard his name I
pronounced by voice that seldom failed to
Excite IA peculiar emotion in his breast and
now sent IA strange thrill through every nerve;
AID fastening below he found Blanche, iully
dressed, with a light in her hand, standing
ust outside of her cabin, in the regular pas
sage which led lcngthwise through the center
IF the boat.
Il have heard something, Edgene," she
said, enough to know that we have met with
IN accident, but not sufficient to fully COM
nreheud its nature.n
Unfortunately, about two hours ago" re-
pl!cd Eugene, I'VE suddenly became involved
n dense fog; and in spite of our every pre-
CAUTION ana care We nave fua aground
nay b. against the Ohio shore-it may be "a
saiust an isllnd--it is So dark We cant tell /
But be- not alarmed, Miss Blanche" h hurri-
oily add Il; II trust We shall soon be atuat
gain; though in any event, the darkness is
Hfcicnt 10 conceal Us from the savages even
we're they in the vicinity
Il know little of Indians, returned Blanche;
but have always understood that they are
remarkable fer their acuteness OF
rearing; aud if such is the case, there would
y no necessity Of their being very near, to b.
made acquainted with our locality, Judging
rom the loud voices | heard few minutes
,go.'
Il tear we've been rather imprudent," said