Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-05-21

of keeping the current.
"Then make that possibility certain
ity, and it shall be the best nights work
you ever performed !" rejoined Eugene,
in quick, excited tone.
"We'Il 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"
A long silence followed-the voyagers
slowly drifting down through misty
darkness impenetrable 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. He started, with an ex-
clamation of alarm, and at the same mo-
ment the boatman un the right called
out
"Quick, here, boys! we're agin the
shore, as sure as death p
Then followed a scene of hurried and
anxious confusion, the voices of the three
boatmen mingling together in loud, quick
excited tones.
'Push off the bow Y cried one.
"Quick altogether, now over with
her !' shouted another.
"The de'iPs in it she's running
aground here on muddy bottom" al
most yelled a third.
Meantime the laden boat was brush
ing along against projecting bushes and
overreaching limbs, and every moment
getting more and more entangled, while
the long poles and sweeps of the boatmen
as they attempted to push her off, were
often plunged, without touching bottom
into what appeared to be a soft, clayey
mud, from which they were only extrica.
ted by such an outlay Of strength as ten
ded still more to draw the clumsy Graf
upon the bank they wished to avoid
AT leugth, scarcely more than a minute
from the first alarm, there was kind o
settling together, as it were, and the boa
: became fast and immovable.
>, Ine IaCU WIS auHUunUUu ny OIcK W IN
u ter, in his characteristic manner-wht
added, with an oath, that it was just wha
- he expected. For moment or two ;
q" dead silence followed, as if each compre
hended that the matter was one to b,
viewed in a very serious light.
"Ill get over the bow, and try to ge
o the lay of the land with my feet : salt
Tom Harris and forthwith he set abou
70 the not very pleasant undertaking.
A' At this moment Eugene heard hi
e name pronounced by a voice that seldom
failed to excite a peculiar emotion in hi
" breast, and now sent a strange thri
~ through every nerve; and fastening be
y low, he found Blanche, fully dressed
= with light in her hand, standing ju:
III outside of her cabin, in the regular pai
sage which led lengthwise through tn
=; center of the boat.
u Il have heard something, Eugene" sh
y said, "enough to know that we have MT
NC with an accident, but not sufficient to flu
ly comprehend its nature"
Unfortunately about two hours ago
ell replied Eugene "we suddenly became il
III volved in dense fog and in spite
a our every precaution and care, we ha,
Oh run aground-it may be against the Oh
lat shore-it may be against an island-it
ts so dark we can't tell. But be not alarr
Ter ed, Miss Blanche" he hurriedly added
he Il trust we shall be afoat again thoul
lar in any event, the darkness is sufficient
conceal us from the savages, even we
* they in the vicinity"
ho Il know little Of Indians" returns
ny Blanche "but have always understo
'0- that they are somewhat remarkable
'uf their acuteness of hearing and if su
Jul is the case, there would be no necessity
v" their being very near, to be made
quainted with our locality, judging fro
'"' the loud voices / heard a few minu
eP ago"
bic Il fear we've been rather impruden
At said Eugene, in a depecating tone 81
in in the excitement--"
he His words were suddenly cut short
It a several loud voices Of alarm from wi
he out, followed by quick and heavy tran
edi- ling across the deck and the next 4
ment Seth Harper and Dick Win
l a burst into the passage, the former (
're- claiming:
"We've run plump into red nigg'
e is nest, Cap'n, and Tom Harris is alrei
and butchered and scalped p
ith- And even as he spoke, as ifin con
nation Of his dreadful intelligence, th
was arose a series of wild, piercing. demo
oat- cal yells, followed by dead and omni
bis silence.
So far we have followed the loy
"A