Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-02-17


t the dead midnight to howl. Not huma
J, being tenants the thousand Isles; the
! ara sprinkled here and there in wonder
] Gus irregularity the deep river winds i
g and out among them as If lost or tarry.
2 ing; and the tourist passing by is re-
minded of some tableau in the melo
drama, too beautiful and unexpected t,
be real.
10 pursuit Of Ingram, we explored
every islet of this region. We found
hundred traces of him, for he was forevei
iiuing TO and fro--nOw the embers o
his fire, now the echo of bis rife, now tb,
report of some alarmed fisherman, whom
the fugitive bad passed like an apparltion
One day at sunset we saw him--a rag
ged, haggard, hatless being, standing up
on rock scarcely larger than a mans
hand, with the waters churning around
him, aud his hateau at bis feet. He was
sharply outlined against he red sky, aud
he stood in an attitude Of despair, lean.
ing YEARLY upon his rife. / thought Of
the wandering jew, or the last Indian OF
his race, batting on the brick of the
! Pacific. Suddenly he beheld ia; gnash-
ing his teeth, and lifting his clencbed
hand, he leaped into his vessel, aud
sculked away like the wind we lost him
in the darkness, and saw him no more
for many days.
Two weeks had now been consumed
in this singular pursuit. At last Bal
lagan become troubled and doubtful
1t was possible for Ingram, changing his
position every night, to lead US upon a
wild chase for a year. He could plum.
der barns and riyer-craft for nourishment
and fish and game were plentiful Des-
perate, in view of the penalty of bis Of
fense, we knew that rowing among these
green Island was consonant with his
adventurous nature. Fresh from five
years entombment in the Jail, aud hope
fuI of guilty gain, be would leave no
artifce untried to retain his liberty; and
Ballasan feared that he would Surrender
himself to the Canadian authorities, when
the device of Mr.. Pepin Petit might be
manifest. One day, at Alexandria Bay,
we received 81 dispatch from a station far
down the river; Jules Iogram had been
seen near the head Of the First Rapid !;
he had foiled Us, and with a long start,
was making his way vigorously toward.
The Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Every stroke of the oars was a new
hope to him; in ten hours he would pass
he American boundary line, and then
'ur difficulties would multiply ten,fold
3allagan acted with bis usual decision
We took the first express steamer, and
pushed on with all the energy of current
nd steam. 1t was midnight when we
cached the head Of the rapids, and as it t
vas forbidden to descend them in the 3
darkness, the vessel halted at quay. aud G
raited for the morning. It was a grand t
teamer-a floating palace-and having &
'alked with Ballagan up and down the t
old promenads-deck, listening to the roar 0
{ the waters, wearied of his impatence, S
nd retired to my sumptuous state room.
was soundly dreaming; my heart was Il
ack among the Thousand Isles, aud our v
lid search was all forgotten, when raps ?
pom my chamber.door brought me to my "
.et. 1t was Ballagan, and | knew by d.
is blank, spbinx-like countenance that =
,methng was to ensue. a
"Come out at once" be said in deep. !
monotone. "Help me to :
lunch the boat; you are to 60 on the
ater with me. No finching or, by :,
e Great American Eagle, your life isn't 70
orth rushight." II
A premonition of danger crept coldy n,
Jon me l knew that he saw me falter,
1t l did not speak. | marked in the sn
'ay dawn from the windy deck the aw- th
/ surging of the rapids, tossing their d.
amy hairs into the sky, blending their hi
rays in white cataracts of mist, and IT,
shing upon black rocks, imperfeclly re- ra
ialed, as if meaning TO wrest them from rii
cir everlasting bases. The whole wide IN
Lawrence was fierce, tumultuous w
trent, boiling, and churning, and clamor- pc
2. The boes of some huge trees were on
ssing down the current, and l marvel do
to mark them tossed alolt like reeds, bl,
3 waters catching them as they fell on
d hurIing them high into the air, till lif
ssug from cascade to cascade, they
lerged at las; a mile below, bruised, tw
Scared, and broken. OF what ad de