The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-06-29

were separated. When reached the landing
the skitf was lying in the water, and Mr.. Stan
ton was standing near it, with tears in hls eyes
eXpostuIating with negro boatman who stood
by. A dense mass of human beings surrounded
them in a semi-circle. By croRdlng along at
the edge OF the water, succeeded, with diff
Guilty in getting inside of the circle / noticed
that the skif was quite small and could carry
but few persons.
The people on the island were still standing
on the verandah, which the water had now
reached. and was undermining Mrs. Stanton
was waving her handkerchief incessantly, bu;
the young ladies' stood apart, clasped in each
others arms silent and motionlrss, looking with
an earnest stradfast gaze, at the river and the
landing opposite.
"Wil no one 60 ~ cried Mr.. Stanton, in ag-
ony. 81 have neither tn strength nor the skill
to row the boat across. I'll give any man
thousand dollars who will do It A thousand
dollars 20 he repeated wildly ; cor any amount
one will ask ~
ga Thousand dollars. and your freedom,
Jack" he exclaimed, addressing the negro
boatman, "'if you will but take the boat to
them"
But the negro shook his head slowly, as he
answered
81 can't, Massa Stanton-it's no use, the boat
can't go back, and | would be left there TO
drown"
''I'lI give FIVE thousand dollars TO whoever
will go five thousand dollars - he cried,
looking wildly around.
| asked 'Vhat all this meant and was ans
wered that the skiff would only hold four per-
sons with safety consequently, the persons on
the lSland-6ve in number, of whom two were
chIldren-woud fill il to the utmost capaci-
ty.
The young man Stanton was good oarsman
and if he had the sklf, could easily bring off
the whole party but whoever should take them
the boat, must, perforce, take their place ant
remain in the island ill the boat could rriurn
for Ills deIiverance. But it was now almost
night, and heavy storm was fast approach
ing, and it would be quite impossible for the
skilf to 60 back TO the island before the storm
and the darkness would render the attempt
hopeless.
This was the cause OF Mr.. Slanton's excite
ment. No one was willing to undertake the
enterprise; it was too dangerous. 1t was evident
that the island would wholly disappear before
morning and it was also evident that the sskf
could not return that night. The skf couid
not possibly carry more than FIVE persons on the
island and either one OF them, or the person
taking It to them, must remain, with an al
most absolute certainty OF perishIng.
What shall We 90 q! What can be- done
were the questions that passed through the
crowd; but no one could answer them. 1t SEEM
ed like going to certain death-and who was
ready 10 die !
profound silence fell upon the crowd, and
all stood motlonless and lrrrs1lutr, as a feeling
Of dread crept over them. The silence was OPP
pressivr, and not sound broke the stiffness,
except the rushing OF the water along the edge
Of the ieYee. The silence seemed of longer
duration than it really vast had lasted per-
haps tull minute, when the stranger who had
walked down from the town with me, stepped
quietly out from the throng, and SAID, IN low,
calm voice
81 will CO." And withou. waiting for any ex-
planatIon, or any thanks iron Mr.. Stanton, who
attempted 10 express his gratitude, and repeated
his offer OF reward, he stepped into the skrF and
took up the oars.
"iake the rope and draw the skIff UP 10 the
point yonder, where that there log lies GU,
into the rlver," said he, in a commanding
tone.
SS'Nihl IlSi sP4 diiS dTu dlU S6lZfQ lDe
rope. The bject of this was, to take the boat
up the river considerable distance above the
point where he Intended to land on the other
side. The spectators followed the boat RAPIDLY,
and there was an evident feeling OF relief 10
the prospect OF the family being at last deliver
ed.
During the passage up to the point lndca ted
The stranger did not speak-Scarcelv once look
ed around, but kept his attention fixed upon the
boat, which he carefully guided with the oars,
keeping II out IN the stream sufficiently to a.
volc striking he shore. When the men who
were drawing it reached the spot, they all let 60
the rope but two, and these walked out care
fully on the log TO Its extremity.
THAT vii! do" said the stranger. oThrow
the rope into the boat"
They obeyed and exerting all his strength
upon the oars, the skif shot out rapidly into the
stream.
There was much wondering in the crowd,
and many questions asked about the stranger ;
but no one could answer ihem-no one knew
au4 III: about him.
AT the point where he started out into the
river, the current was rot very strong near the
| shore, but when about third of the way across
the Skrtt entered the main channel of the stream
and he was swept rapidly down. He still kept
the Prov Of the boat pointed towards the opPo
site shore, but has utmost eXertion could propel
It but slightly forward, while the current bore
him along downward with great rapidty. The
| spectators, following the motion OF the boat,
hastily retraced their steps to :he landing IN
front OF the warehouses, but before I'VE reached
the spot, the sklff had passed through the most
rapid part of the river, and entered the eddy
formed just below the island. In few mo-
men,s more the stranger had brought the skif