Columbia gazette and the southern mines advertiser. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne County, Calif.) 1855-1858, 1858-07-01
IA TUoLUMNE CO.. CAL, THURSDAY. july /, 1855

>(<AAZse 2
ter and rigid disciplanarian, the mat
| ter had been-settled without argument
When Colonel Bertrand removed to
the West, Eugene Fairfax, as we have
seen, accompanied him and coming OF
age shortly after, he had accepted the
liberal offer Of his noble beneiactor, to
remain with him in the capacity o. pri-
vate secretary and confidential agent.
On taking possession Of his grant, the
Colonel had almost immediately erected
fort, and Of red such inducements to
settlers as to speedily collect around
him quite little communicate which !,
as q matter Of course, be became the
head and chief aud to supply the
wants of his o,a family and others, and
increase his eairs in a legitimate way,
/ he had openea q store and filed it with
goods, from Tia Eastern marts, which
goods were transported by land over the
mountains to tie Kanawha, and thence
by water to the Falls of the Ohio,
whence their removal to Fort Bertrand
became an easy matter. To purchase
and ship these goods, and deliver a
package of letters in the East, Eugene
had been thrice despatched-his third
commission also extending to the escort
ing Of the beautiful heiress, with her
servants, to her new home. This last
commission had oeen so far executed at
the time chosen for the opening Of our
story, as to bring the different parties
to the mouth CT the great Kanawha,
whence the reader has seen them slowly
floating off upon the still, CLASSY bosom
Of "the belle Of ,ivers.''
The day, whicL vas an suspicious one,
passed without anything occurring
worthy Of note, Until near four o'clock,
when as Blanche was standing on the
forepart of Ike deok gazing at the lovely
cue ~ ssf "a So sl.--i-,fss
seemingly ngings ody suddenly leave a
limb Of gigantic tree, lwhose mighty
branches extended far over the river,
and near which the boat was then swayed
by the action Of the current, aud light
with crash upon the deck-of the boat,
net more than eight feet from her. One
glance suficed to. show her what the
object was, and to freeze the blood 10
her veins The glowing eyes OF huge
panther met her gaze. The suddenness
of the shock which this discovery gave
her was overpowering. With dealen
ing shrek she fell upon her knees and
clasped her Hands before her breast -
The panther crouched for her deadly
leap; ere she sprang, the hunting knife
Of Eugene Fairfax (who, with the steers
man, was the only one on deck besides
Blanche was buried to the hilt in her
side, inficsing a severe but not fatal
wound. The Infatuated beast at once
turned upon Eugene, and deadly
struggle ensued But it was a short
one. The polished blade of the knife
played back and forth like lightning
flashes, and at every plunge it was
buried to the hilt in the panther's body,
who soon fell to the deck, dragging the
dauntless Eugene with her. On seeing
her protector fall Blanche uttered an
other sbriels aud rushed to his aid; but
assistance from stouter arms was at
hand. The boatmen gathered 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 car
cass. Surprising him to be dead or
MORALLY wounded, Blanche threw her
arms around his neck and gave way to
passionate burst of grief. But he was.
not dead-he was not even hurt Ah
the exception Of few slight .serafs
The blood with which he:wz ssered
was the panther's, not ii own. Bat
Blanche's embrace vas his.a priceless
treasure-an index of her hearts emo
tons and affections. 1t was to color
his whole future. life, as will be seen in
the grcgress of our story.
Slowly and silently, save the occa-
sional creak, dip and splash of the
steersman' car, the boat of our vow
ayers was bore 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
rough hand being placed upon his shout
der, accompanied by the words, in the
gruff voice of the boatman
Il say, Cap'n, here's trouble -
"What is it, Dick :" inquired Eugene,
starting to his feet.
Don't you see thar's heavy fog
rising, that'll soon kiycr US up SO thick
that we won't be able to tell a white
man from a niger Z" replied the boat
man-Dick Winter by name-a tall,
bony, muscular, athletic specimen of his
class.