Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-05-20
NUMBER 10.


aground here on muddy bottom! = al
most yelled third.
Meantime the laden boat was brush
ing along against projecting bushes and
ovcrreaching limbs, and every moment
getting more and more entangled while,
the long poles and sweeps of the boat
men, as they attempted to push her off,
were often plunged, without touching
bottom, into what. appeared to be soft
clayey mud, from which they were only
extricatcd by such an outlay of strength
as tended still more to draw the clumsy
craft upon the bank they wished to
avoid. At length, scarcely more than
aminAte- from the FIRST. alarm, there was a
kind Of settling together, as it were, and
the boat became fast and immovablc.
The fact was announced by Dick Win
ter, in his characteristic manncr-who
added, with an oath, that it was just what
he expected. For moment or two
dead silence followed, as if each comprc-
hended that the matter was one to be
be viewed in very serious light.
iii get over the bow, and try to git
the lay of the land with my feet" said
Tom Harris; and forthwith he set about
the not very pleasant undertaking.
At this moment Eugene heard his
name pronounced by avoice that seldom
failed to excite peculiar emotion in
his breast, and now sent strange thrill
through every nerve; and fastening be-
low, he found Blanche, fully dressed,
with light in her hand. standing just
outside Of her cabin, in the regular pas
sage " hich led lengthwise through the
center of the boat.
Il have heard something, Eugene"
she said 'senough to know that we have
met with an accident, but not sufficient
to fully comprehend its nature
"Unfortunately, about two hours ago.
replied Eugene, I'VE suddenly became
involved in dense fog; and in spite of
our every precaution and care, we have
run aground-it may be against the
Ohio shore-it may be against an island
it is so dark we can't tell. But be
not alarmed, Miss Blanche, he hurried
ly added; 4 trust We shall soon .be afloat
again: though in any event, the dark
ness is sufficient to conceal us from the
savages, even were they in the vicinity
Il know little of Indians" returned
Blanche; ''but have always understood
that they are somewhat remarkable for
their acuteness Of hearing; and if such
is the case, there would be no necessity
of their being very ear, to be made ac-
quainted with our locality, judging from
the loud voices l heard few minutes
ago"
Il fear we've been rather imprudent,'
said Eugene, in q deprecating tone;
but in the cxcitemcnt-
His words were suddenly cut short by
several loud voices of alarm from with
out, followed by quick and heavy
trampling across the deck; and the next
moment Seth Harper and Dick Winter
burst into the passage, the former e1-
claiming:
We've run plum into a red nigger's
nest Capn and Tom Harris is already
butchercd and scalped"
And even as he spoke, as if in con-
frmation of his dreadful intelligence,
there arose series Of wild, piercing,
dcmoniacal yells, followed by a dead and
ominous silence.
So far we have followed the lovely
heroine and her friends in this adven-
ture; but the foregoing is all that We can
publish in our columns. The balance
of the narrative can only be founa in
the New York Ledger, the great family
paper, which can be obtained at all the
periodical stores where papers are sold.
Remembc to ask for the Ledger" da-
ted May 22nd, and in you will get the
continuation of the narrative from where
it leaves off here. If there are no book
stores or news offices sconvenientto to where
you reside, the publisher of the Ledger
will send you copy by mail, if you will
send him five cents in Il letter. Address,
Robert Bonner, Ledger Office, Al Ann
street, New York. This story is enti-
tied, ''Perils of the Border and grows
more and more interesting as it goes
on