Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-05-15

with goods from Eastern marts; which goods were
iran ported by land over this mountaIs to Kanaw-
ha, and thence by water to the Falls of tho Ohio,
wh.nce their removal to Fort Bertrand became an
easy matter. 70 purchase and ship these goods,
and deliver package Of letters to friends in the
East, Eugene had Teen thrice d;spatched-his third
Commission extending to the escorting Of the beau.
tful heir,ss, with her servants to her nav homc.-
This last cnmni. sion had been so far executed ct
tho tine chosen for the opening of story, to
hrng the different parties to Il mouth of tho great
slowly h'atin2 off upon the still, CLASSY bosom
of 'tle belle of rivers" o..
The day, which was an auspicious one, tas sed Oh
without anything occurring worthy Of note, until
on the fore ral OF the seek gazing at the lovely
scene which surrounded her, she saw teemin adv
flying b'dy suddenly leave limb of . gigantic
tree, (wbose mighty branches extended far over the
river, and near which the boat was then swayed bv
the action of the currently and alght with crash
upon the deck Of the boat, Pot more than eight
feet from her. One glance suicod to show her what
the object was, and to freeze the blood in her veins
The suddenntss Of the shock which this discovery
gave her was Overpowering. With . aeafeninx
Shrek she fell upon her knees and elapsed her
hands before her breast. The panther crouched fur
the deadly leap, but ere he sprang, the hunting
knife of Eugene Fairfax [whc, with the Sherman
was the only person on deck besides Blanchs,l was
buried to the hil in hf side, inaiaing severe but
not fatal wound. Tho infuriated beast ct once
turned III on Eugene and deadly struggle ensued.
But it as a short one. TIE polished blade OF the
knife played back anu for b like lightning fashss
and at every plunge it buried to the ht in The
panther's body, who SOON fell to the deck drag
gig the dauntless Eugene with him. On seeing
her protector sal Blanche uttered another shrisk
and rushed to his aid but assistance from stezter
arms was at hand. The boatmen gathered found.
and the savage monster was literally hacked in
pieces with their knives and hatchets and Eugene,
covered with blood was dragged from under hia
n 10 unpfa1 H.
wounded, Blanche threw her az ms around his neck
and gave way to a passionate burst of grief. Bat
ne was not dead-lot even hurt, with the exception
OF few slight scratches. The blood with which
ne was covered was the panther's, not his own.-
But Bianche's embrace was hs-a priceless treasure
an index Of her hearts emotions and affections
1t was t! color his whole future life, ~ will b
cen in the lrogress Of our story.
slowly and silently, the occasional creak,
diy and plash Of the stsersman 3 oar, the boat Of
our voyagers was borne along OF the bosom of the
curr mt, on the third night of the voyage. The
hour was waxing late, and Eugene, the only one
rough hand being placed upon his shoulder, accom-.
panied by the word, in the gra voice Of the bat
man
II say, Cap'n, here's trouble %
what is it , Dick ?" inquired Eugene starting T.
his feet
Cd mt you SEQ tnars a heavy fog rising, that1l
soon kiver us up so thick that we won't be able to
tel Whit man from Niger replied the boat.
mdu-Dich W inter Dy name-a TAN, bOny, muocu-
lar, athletic specimen of his class.
Good heaven! SO there is p exclaimed Eugene,
E look ing off upon the already misty waters. at
must have gathered very suddenly, for oil WAS
clear tainute ago. What is to be done now o
his is something was not prepared for, on such
a night as this ?''
1T looks trouhlaus, Csp'n, III allow" returned
Dick; { but we're in fort, that's sartin, and I
/ s'pose wen have to make the best ont"
, Gut what's to be done what do you adviser
asked Eugene. in quick, excited tor, that indica-
ted some degree Of ALARM.
why, eff you warn't skeered about tho young
lady, and it warn't 50 dead agn the orders from
head quarters, my plan would bs cl'ar and easy
one-l'd just run over to the Kaintuck shore, and
, tie up
No no. said Eugene, potively; that will nsvs,
do, DcK-sha: will never do! would not think
Of such thing for nomect! We must keep in
the current by ali means !!
'Ef You can, rejoined the boatman-'but when
it gifts so dark S we emit tell one thisg from
t'eher, it'll be powerful hard to do-and eff We don't
snn sgin bar or bank afore morning, in spite Of
the best c. US, it'll be the luckes thing ever had
hand ia. See, Cap'n-it's thckening MP fast-
!, we can't see eyther bank at all, nor tho water
nyher-the stars is gettin' dim, and it looks ~ il
thar cloud all round US
i see! I see returned Eugene, exctedly.-
!, Mercu Heaven no pa no accident will befall
us here J. and yet my heart almost misgives me
for this, believe, is the most dangerous part of
our jour7eJ-the vicinity where most of our beats
have been captur ID by the savas s.
Saying this, Eugene FASTENED below, where hs
found tho o:her bo.tmen sleeping so soundly AZ 10
reqni-c e Ms dcrable eff 1t bis part TO awake
hem. Al last, getti:g tn: m fairly reused, he in
focms: h m almost in whisper, for be did not
to 2istur the others, that heavy fog ha suddenly
arisen, AID be wiebed their ryesene On deck iInms.
date.
"A fog. Cap'n 2 exclaimed one, in tone which
indicated that he compreheaded the peril with tho
VOID
tu,.L ,, r.lu.,,l p-.- <.l.,. =. - .,....:,.
for waking the others, and having q scene. Up!
and follow me vii hout word 7!
lie glided back to the deck, ard was almost i'm
m, dately followed by the boatmsu, to whom he
brief; made known his hopes and fears.
Thy thought, like their companion, that the boat
would be safest If made fast to an ovsrbanging limb
Of he kentucky shore-but frankly admitted that
this ceuid not now be done without difficulty and
danger, and that there was possibility Of keeping
the current.
Then make that possibility certainty, and Il
shall BE- the best nigh s work you ever performed
rejo,ned Eugene, in quick, excited tone.
wen 90 The best We can, Cap'n,' was tie r.
spCrst-'tut no be sartin Of the uurrs Mt Of
this hera crooked stream in foggy night
long silence followed-the voyagers 10 Wy
7rtcd down through misty darkness impenetrable
to the eye-when, suddenly, Cur young commander,
who standing ne the bow, felt tho extsnded
branch of an overhan ging limb silently brush his
face. He started with an exclamation of alarm,
I'd at the same msment the boatman on the right
called out:
'Qnck. here, boys! ware agin the shore, q sure
Then followed a scene of hurried and anxious
confusion the voices of the three boatmen ningling
together in loud, quick, excited tones.
Push off the Low p cried one.
''Quick altogether, now over with her ! shout
e! another.
The Je'i's in it she's running aground here on
a muddy bottom F.! almost yelled third.
Meantime the laden b at brushing along
tIp hrchc vaatSa
end every moment getting more and more eatsn.
gled, while the leng poles ard sweeps of the Soat-
men, Al they attempted to push her of, were often
plunge without touching bottom, into what ap-
were only extricated by such outlay of strength
tended still more to draw tho clumsy craft upon
the bank they wishsd to avoid. At length scarcely
moro than minute from tho first alarm, there WAS
kind of settling together, it were, and the hoat
became fast and mn ovable.
The fact was announced by Dick Winter, in lie
characteristic msnner-who added with oath.
that it was Just what he expected. For moment
| or two dead silence followed as If each oomprs-
hended that thematter was one to be viewed in y
very ser ious light. =
az get over the bow, and try to got the lay e
land with my feet, said Tom Harris-and f.rthwikh
be set about the not very pleasant undertaking..
At tais moment Eugene heard his name pre-
nounced by voice thai seldom faiisd to t1ei,s y
peculiar emotion in his breass. and nes sent
strange thrill through every nerre-ana AasteniAg
below, he found BLANCHE, fully dressed, with lighr
in her ham, standing just outside Of her cabin, In
the regular passage which led lengthwiss through
| the center Of the boat.
4 have beard something, Eugene,' she said,
enough t. know that have met with an accident.
but not sufficient to fully compreh nd its NATURE
Unfortunately, about two houSs ago. rsplisd
eugene, we suddenly became involved in dense
fog-and in spite of our every precauton and care,
we have run aground-t may DO against the 0his
shore-t may be against an issnd-it il so dask
can't tell. But be no. alarmed. Miss Rianohe. .