The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-04-27

OF the indian. lie was silent, and like
the rest in the boat, in The attitude of ex-
pectation. Beside him sat resolute
looking youth, habited like the oarsmen,
save that he wore in addition to their
costume, a crimson sash as the badge of
superiority. His hand rested on the
short helm, and he evidently was the
steersman Of the barge. There was no
conversation, and scarcely was there
breathing audible.
Suddenly low, prolonged whistle was
heard from some point above the banks of
the inlet, and the moment afterwards a
tall young man in rich hunting dress,
and wearing bonnet ornamented with
the war eagles crest, descended the bank
and leaped on board.
They comep he said in low guarded
tone dip your oar blades just beneath
the surface, men, and be ready to send the
barge into. the stream at single ef-
FORT
Twenty oars fell lightly into the water,
the men sat in the attitude to obey his
order. Ina few minutes afterwards, the
silence that followed his words was broken
by the distant fall of heavy sweeps from
the river as if freighted barge was la
boriously making its slow way up against
the stream. Nearer and nearer the
sounds came, and soon after there ap-
peared in sight one of those keel boats
that in that day navigated the western
waters Slowly it ascended against the
current, keeping far out in the middle Of
the stream, as if purposely avoiding the
shore, which, with line passed from tree
to tree, it was usually towed. 1t was
deeply laden with merchandise from New
Orleans, and seemed also to contain pas
sengers, for occasional notes of guitar,
accompanied by a rich manly tone, with
a sweet female voice intermingling, came
pleasantly across the wave to the ears Of
those concealed in the barge Slowly
and heavily it ascended until it had cross
ed the wake of the moon and got some
distance higher up the stream than the
inlet, when the yoang man who had leap
ed into the barge, cried in a low, thrilling
| tone
.No,v! Let her slipp
Like au arrow loosened from the bow
string, the barge shot ont from the dark
inlet into the bright river, and still i'm
PEELED forward by score of flashing
oars, cast the spray high from her PROV
as she swiftly approached the ascending
boat In few seconds. she was under
her stern, and the young captain sprang
from the little deck upon which lie had
be,n anding, on board of her. ~.
| Make no resistance and your lives are
safe,' he cried cody. =.
So unexpected was the appearance ot
the barge and so bold and daring the act
that the few men on board had neither
|, time nor disposition for defending them
selves. Without word they submitted
and at the command of their captor be
gan to pull in towards the inlet. Or
the bows oftSe captured barge was con
structcd small cabin for the accommo
dation of such passengers as OCCASIONAL.
chose this mode Of conveyance to reacl
the Canadas and Atlantic States from
New Orleans. Towards this apartmen
the young man, who had-suffered none t.
come on board save himself and the hunt
8 er, now made his way. Before it's en-
I trance was dropped curtain, and h
I heard from within the low voices of pray
er. He hesitated, for he was just abou
to enter, and paused to listen. II
could not hear the words distinctly, bu
the sweet tone of voice in which the
were uttered, and the fearful eloquence o
the pleader, spoke to his hear. II
!, ,lgently put aside the curtain. With he
back towards him, he beheld kneelini
/. before cruci6x, q graceful girl, wit
light flowing hair covering. her shoulder
and half concealing a figure of exquisit
] symmetry. Beside her, with his left arr
about her waist, knelt youth, scare
twenty years of age. In his right hant
3 he grasped richly chased pistol, wit
: the muzzle directed to her heart, while hi
! calm eye was set resolutely upon the en-
E trance to the cabin, as if expecting mo
: mentarily to see it violently crossed. H
f was a strikingly handsome and mani
: youth, with hair like the plumage of tn
f raven, high, pale forehead, with Gre
t clan profile Of the highest finish, Hi
! person was tall and strikingly elegant
and gaace rather than strength, had Civ
t en- the last touches in filing up the out
line. "a edT--.ie liRg / .isTzo7'ST'5j
Tho young Captain sawat glance hi
r sacri6cial intention, and was for a me
9 ment uncertain what course to take t
4 prevent it; for he felt convinced from hi
b determined eye as well as from the wait
t ing submission Of the maiden, that b
: would offer her up q victim to virgin pu
Q rity If he should make the first step to ad
vance. His bols spirit, however, 500
/ came to decision. At single boun
he was beside the youth, and in an instan
D possessed himself of the weapon. Tn th
, struggle it went of, and the ball passin,
through the cabin door, slightly wound
n1 ing one of the zoarsmen In the barge :