Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-05-20

assistance from stouter arms was at hand
The boatmen gathered round, and tn
savage monster was literally hacked il
pieces with their knives and hatchets
and Eugene, covered with blood, wa
dragged from under his carcass. Sup
posing him to be dead or murtally wound
ed, Blanche threw her arms around hi!
neck and gave way to passionate burs
Of grief. But he was not dead-he WA
not even hurt, with the exception of :
which lie was covered was the panther S
not his own. But Blance's embrac,
was his-a priceless treasure-an index
Of her hearts emotions and affectio rs
1t Was to color his whole future life, a
Will be seen in the progress of oul
story.
Slowly and silently, save the occasion
al creak, dip, and plash of the steers
man oar, the boat of the voyagers wa:
borne 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 be-
ing placed upon his shoulder, accompan-
led by the words, in the gruf voice oi
the boatman
Il say, Cap'n, here's troubler
'W What is it, Dick?'' inquired Eugene,
startling to his feet.
Don't you see that's 4 heavy fog ris-
ing, that'll soon kiver US up SO thick that
we won be able to tell white man
from niggcr?' replied the boatman-
Dick Winter by name-a tall, bony,
muscular, athletic specimen of his class.
'.Good heaven so there is!' exclaim-
cd Eugene, looking off upon the already
misty waters. 1T must have gathered
very suddenly. for all was clear a min
ute ago. What is to be done now? This
is something was not prepared for, on
such u night as this
1T looks troublous, Cap'n' I'll allow, u
returned Dick" but We re i'll fo-'t, that S
sartin, aud I s'posc we'll have t" make
the best on't.'
''But what is to be donc?-what do you
advise p asked Eugene, in quick, ex-
cited tone, that indicted some degree of
alarm.
why. you war Mt so skeercd about
the young lady, and it warn't SO dead
agiu Tie orders from head quarters, my
plan would tc a cl'ar and easy onc-I d
Just rrn ev r to the kaintuck shore,
aud tie up"
''No, no" said Eugene, positively:
that Will never do, Dick-that will
nevcr Go! l would not think Of such
IA thing for moment! We must keep
in the current by all means
''Eff you can, rcjOincd the boatman.
but when it gifts so dark as we can't
tell one thing from tother, it'll be pow
crful hard to do; and ef We don't run
aein a bar or bank afore morning, i'll
spite of the best o US, it'll be the luck
lest 80 that ever had hand in. See
Cap n--it's thickening up fast; we can't
see cythcr bank at all, nor the water
nither; the stars is gettin dim, and it
looks rs if thar war Il cloud all around
us"
9" I see I sec !'' returned Eugene.
e,;citedly. 'Mercilul Heaven! L hope
no accident will beiall us hcre-and yet
my heart almost missgivcs mc!-fcr this,
believe is the most dangerous part OF
our journcy-the vicinity where most Of
our boats have been captured by the
SavaeCs.'
Saying this, Eugene hastened below,
where lie found the other boatmen sleep
ing so soundly as to require consider
able effort, on his part, to wake them
1T last getting them fairly reused, he
informed them, almost in whisper, for
he did not care to disturb the others,
that heavy fog had suddenly arisen,
and lie wished their prcseuce on deck,
Immediately.
''A fog, Cap'n?" exclaimed one in
tone which indicated that he compre-
hcnded the peril with the word.
Hush !; returned Eugene; there is
no necessity for waking the others, and
having scene. Up! and follow me
without wordi'
lie glided back to the deck, and was
almost Immediately Joined by the boat
men, 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 overhanging limb of the Ken
tucky shore but frankly admitted that
this could not now be done without diff
ticulty and danger, and that there was
Il possibility of keeping the current.
Then make that possibility certain
ty, and it shall be the best nights work
you ever performed, rcjoined Eugene,
in quick, excited tone.
'Wc'll do the best we can, Cap'n, >
was the response; ''but Lo man can be
sartin of the current of this crooked
stream in a foggy night"
y long silence followcd-the voyagers
slowly drifting down through a misty
dark ness impenctrable to the cye-when,
suddenly cur young commander, who
was standing hear the bow, felt the en-
tended branch of an ovcrhanging limb
silently brush his face. He stated, with
an exclamation of alarm, and the same
moment the boatman on the right called
out:
'Qick, here, boys! we're agin the
shore, as sure as death !"
Then followed Il scene of hurried and
anxious confusion, the voices Of the
three boatmcn mingling together in loud
quick, excited tones.
''Push off the bow !'' cried one.
Quick! altogether, now ! over with
hcrn shouted another.