The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-04-27
CHAPTER ".
In THE 3 W MP.

Casting anxious looks behind them, the
fair fugitives saw the flames of their burning
home, and groups of men struggling in the
light of the red glare. IL was a painful,
thrilling spectacle, and they hurried on to
escape it. Jupe, who had proved courageous
and active, encouraged them by precept abd
example. Ruth Hayiland being little be.
hind her companions, heard the footsteps Of
pursuers, and admonished her friends of the
fact, who needed no new stimulus to excite
them to the greatest effort of which they
were capable. They reached the Swamp
and took shelter in it like frightened birds
The laurel was well-nigh impenetrable in
Vulnerable vegetable arms were stretched
out to oppose them; a network of vines
and branches disputed their passage. Their
hands were lacerated by contact with con-
tinually projecting points, and shreds of
their garments were left upon brake and
briar. Urging their way along in the dark
ness and terrible intricacy, they soon and
hnwillingly became separated, while their
attempts to find each other involved them in
new labarynths. Torn, bleeding, fainting
with fear and exhaustion, Jessie Burnside
sank upon the earth.
For time her physical and mental facul-
ties were in such whrl of a tempest that
the consciousness of everything around her
seemed slipping away from her. There re-
manned with her only heavy realization of
something fearful and shocking. At length
the chiliness of the ground and the night
air cooled her feverish system, and restored
her coherency Of thought. She raised her
self, aud supported her head upon her hand.
Her disheveled tresses, her disordered gar
ments, and her lacerated person, reminded
her OF the ordeal through which she had
passed. There was lattice-work of vines
abont and above her. She thought of the
sudden change Of ber circumstances. When
the sun went down last, she had a comfort
able and beloved home; now she had none,
but was hunted, prosecuted fugitive, cow
ering'in n darksOme swamp, the resort Of
wild beasts and lawless men She could
not be so selfish as not to think OF her COM
panions. Where were they? She shud-
dered Mt the possibility OF what might have
befallen them. A painful recollection in
regard to her brave defenders added un-
speakably TO the distraction of her mind
Far of in the depths of the swamp she
heard the shrek of the panther, the howl of
the wolf, and the dismal notes OF the owl
Prightful contrast to tie peace and security
of Laurelwood Looking upward through
the tenacious foliage into the dim sky, she
beheld a cloud of black smoke--all that re-
manned Of her fathers mansion, save few
charred and smouldering brands that still
sent up mournful incense from the fami Y
hearthstone. She wept, sorrowed, and pray
ed-for it is upon God, at last, thar the
tossed, stricken, and disappointed mind
turns. The instincts and experience of the
whole human family prove, beyond the
shadow of question: that He alone can con-
fer blessing and consolation upon the be-
reaved, afflicted, aud world-crushed soul
Prayer to Him made her calmer. a strange,
balmy influence, unexpected and sweet,
stole into her being. She would not, she
did not quite despair. ~ e., 81 - .
There was a sound in the laurel hedges.
| She listened with every sense awake. Per-
sons were working their way through the
tangled masses in the direction of her covert.
| Their progress was slow and difficult. She
heard muttered curses and imprecatioas.-
| Her fears were immeasurably increased, for
| the voice of Martin Vantassle was so odious.
and made so many disagreeable impressions
upon her memory, thst she could not but
recognize its slightest tones. She shrank
and crouched to mother earth for protection
as the startled partridges hides itself be-
meath bough or in the friendly brake, to
escape the hurting shot of the hunter q
| Discovery appeared inevitable, for the
cracking of the limbs and the struggling
and the low -breathed curses came nearer and
nearer. a-.-.s-A's "a - ~ -
"Perdition seize these bramblesl" exclaim.
ed Vantassle. One can neither stand uE
nor lay down, GO forrard nor 60 backr
Jessie heard the speaker cast himself reck