Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-02-16

With great effort he succeeded in keeping it
headed down the river, and in the very moment
in which it was swept over the brink, he leaped
with the power and energy of despair, and went
down-down- till he struck the water, and
then fortunately shot UP again beyond the
reach of the cataract, and struck out bravely
for the shore
But though he had escaped one neril, he
found himself compassed by another and
greater. When within few feet of the left
bank, he found all his efforts to reach it una
vailing, and the current bearing him down.
He threw his whole strength into one desperate
effort, but there was a bound over which he
could not pass, and to his horror, (for he had
began to think himself safe,) he found that he
was being drawn to the middle Of the stream
again, and even back towards the other shore,
and up and round to the very place he had
leaped in. He was in the unrelenting embrace
of a whirlpool Round and round it whirled
him. in circles less and less, smaller and swifter
till he closed his eyes, clenched his teeth and
| uGINcu HlIlS6ll W Iuc5b Jue u0dLu buuO nO IuCN-
itably awaited him.
Drowning men catch at straws 1t was not
a straw that his hands grasped, it was some
thing more tang ble,-something that moved
him through the waters-he was conscious of
that. With death-like tenacity he held on; he
felt his feet touch the land he opened his eyes,
and standing on the bank of the river, pulling
with might and main the pole to which he
clung, was a man, his head silvered with age,
his eyes beaming with excitement, and his
whole countenance glowing with hope.
For the moment, Leon was bewildered but
after standing for few minutes upon the bank,
the whole scene of the perils through which he
had passed, came back to his memory
90, my God, how strange! " he exclaimed
in the excitement of the moment. &c Is it pos
sible it was all accldent?"
cit was, on the contrary, all design" said
the old man, uncertain to which Leon referred,
his forced launch upon the river, or his rescue.
F" But not here, my lad. Come with me"
who are you? o. my God
"Do you doubt me? Do you think
would injure you too? Come"
Leon leaned against ledge of rocks, and fell
to weeping convulsively
You are wet and chilled. Don't cry now.
You are safe from all but a cold and fever. It's
only few steps to my lodge, where you can
get dry and warm. Come | have got some
thing to tell you"
He took Leon by the hand and led him along
as fast as he could, back from the river to the
base OF the mountain. Here he had construct
ed little seven by-nine room, under a shelving
rock in one end of which he soon had glow
ing fire kindled, and in front of it bed of
boughs.
Leon wrung the water from his wet clothes,
and in a short time found himself in very COM
Portable quarters, and very comfortable himself,
though somewhat exhausted by the great exer-
tions he had made, and the extreme excitemen.
he had experienced.
A small pile of wood on one side of the
apartment, and near the fire, and large log on
the other, served for seats, on which the two so
singularly met sat and talked.
Yes, said Leon, in answer to a question
from the other, g came from st. Aubin.'
The old man regarded him with evidently in
terest for few moments, but remained silent.
But" continued Leon, you have not told
me yet how it happened that you rescued me. !"
81 will tell you. have little business of
my own in this region, which / need not speak
of, and have been stopping in this lodge for a
few days. was fishing this afternoon, in
sheltered nook above the falls, when observed
a couple of men on the other side of the river
drawing q rude skiff along through the woods,
(the same in which you went over the falls, )
} and launch it in the river. Their movements
were SO cautious and hurried that | suspected
at once that some evil was intended to some-
body, and in consequence, kept close watch
on the boat, and all around, after the men left,
till near sun-down, when | went to my lodge
: for supper. 1t was dusk when 7 returned, and
the boat was gone, and looking down the river,
e beheld yourself in the skiF, rushing over the
rapids. started at once, with all speed for
e the foot of the falls, where | arrived just in
I time to drag you from the whirlpool"
e What narrow escape said Leon, NOV
S ing uneasily on his seat at the recollection.
livery two minutes later you would have
a been past hope. But wish to make some en-
S ouiries-do you know any Howards at St. ,Au-