The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-05-20


sartih, and | S'posc wen have to make
the best ont" ..s.u
" But what is to be done ?-what do
you adviser" asked Eugene, in quick,
excited tone, that indicated some degree
of alarm.
Why efyou war'ntso skcered about
the young lady, and it warn't so dead
agin the orders from head quarters, my
plan would be cl'ar and easy one--Id
Just run over to the Kaintuck shore, and
tie up"
"No, no." said Eugene, positively;
" that will never do, Dick-that will
never do | would not think Of such a
thing for a moment! Wemust keep in
the current by all means!" F."
"Ef you cam" rejoincd the boatman
"but when it gets so dark as we can't
tell one thing from tother, it'll be pow
erful hard to do; and ef we don't run
agin bar or bank afore morning, in
spite of the best O US, it'll be the luck
lest 90 that ever [ had hand in See,
Cap'n-it's thickening so fast we cant
see eyther bank at ALL nor the water NY
ther the stars is gettin dim, and it
looks as if thar war a cloud all around
us"
"I sec! I see " returned Eugene
excitedly "Merciful Heaven hope
no accident will befal us here-and yet
my heart almost misgives meI-for this,
| believe, is the most dangerous part of
our iourney-thc vicinity where most of
our boats have been captured by the
savages." q
Saying this, Eugene fastened below,
where he found the other boatmen sleep
ing so soundly as to require considerable
effort, on his part, to wake them. At
last, getting them fairly reused, he in
formed them, almost in a whisper, for he
did not care to disturb the others, that a
heavy fog had suddenly arisen, and he
wished their presence on deck, immedi-
ately.
"a fog, Cap'n2" exclaimed one, in a
tone which indicated that he comprehen
ded the peril with the word.
"Hush!" !" returned Eugene; there
is no necessity for waking the others,
and having a scene. Up! and follow
me, without word "
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 boatwould be safest if made fast
to an ovorhanging limb Of the Kentucky
shore; but frankly admitted that this
could not now be done without difficulty
and danger, and that there was a posi-
bility of keeping the current.
"Then make that possibility certainty,
and it shall be the best nights work you ever
performed" rejoined Eugene, in quick, ex-
cited tone.
GWell do the best We can, Capn," was the
response; "but no man can be sartin Of the
current of this here crooked stream in q foggy
night"
Along silence followed-the voyagers slowly
drifting down through o misty darkness i'm
penetrable to the eye-when, suddenly, our
young commander, who was standing near
the bow, felt the extended branch of an over
hanging limb silently brush his face. lie
started, with an exclamation of alarm, and
at the same moment the boatman on the right
called OUT
"Quick, here boysl we're Ogin the shore, as
sure as DEATH"
Then followed q scene of hurried and anx-
ious confusion, the voices of the three boatmen'
mingling together in loud, quick, excited
tones.
"Push off the bowl" cried one.
"Quick! altogether now! over with her!'
shouted another.
oThe de'ils in it! she's running aground on
a muddy bottOm!' almost yelled third.
Meantime the laden boat was bursting along
against projecting bushes and overreachiug
limbs, and every moment getting more ana
more entangled awhilei the long poles and
sweeps Of the boatmen, as they attempted to
push her off, were often plunged, without touch
inr bottom, into what appeared to be soft
clayey mud, from which they were only extri-
Gated by such an outlay Ofstrength as tended
still more to draw the clumsy craft upon the
bank they wished to avoid. AT length, scarcely
more than minute from the first alarm, there
was a kind of settling together, as 1t were,
and the boat became fast and immovable.
The fact was announced by Dick Winter,
in his characteristic manner-who added with
an oath, that it was just what he expected
For moment or two dead silence followed,
as if each comprehended that the matter was
one to be viewed in very serious light.
0Tll 90 over the bow, and try to git the lay
of the land with my fee" said Tom Harris
and forthwith he set about the not very pleas
ant undertaking.
At this moment Eugene heard his name pro-
nounced by a voice that seldom failed to ex-
cite peculiar emotion in his breast, and now
senta strange thrill through every nerve
and fastening below, he found Blanche, fully
dressed, with light in her hand, standing
lust outside of the cabin, in the regular pass
age which led lengthwisc through the center
of the boat.
~ have heard something, Eugene" she said
Genough to know that we have met with an
accident but not sufficient to fully comprc-
hend its nature
cunfortunately, about two hours ago re-
pliri pgene, 1--WE suddenly became involved
I d. &c fog; and in spite of our every pre-
iehtEeF sse, we have run aground-it
q III gsfGn the. Ohio shore-it may be
- Iii is so dark we cant tell.
ed Miss Blanche" he hurried
s. kust wpAE shall soon be afoat