Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-12-15

struggling to get through to the bank
of the river. There we found a small
ferryboat, but no ferryman. He had
probably gone out hunting after put
ting the cotton wagon across. At all
events, all the shouting we could do
failed to bring him to light; so we
were compelled to take possession of
/ the boat, which was on our side Of
the river, and try to put ourselves
across. BY some mlscalculatlon OF the
force Of the current. which was very
rapid, we had uot proceeded much more
than half way across the river, when
the water began To run over the up
per gangwale ot the boat. The rope
Kept Us from drifting down, but the
horses becoming frightened at the
noise Of the water, began to plunge
and back off. Every effort to pacify
them was unavailing, aud in a few sec
ondS the ambulance had run half way
the boat rapidly filled and we were
all laundering In the river. Those
OF US who could swim struck for the
bank, which we gained with cOusid-
cradle difficulty. The yankee trader
clung to the boat crying out with all
his might for help. Col. Wash got
hold OF the reins and attempted to
swim ahead of the horses, which were
struggling to free themselves from the
ambulance. The Doctor, Johnson and
| gained the bank, and ran along try
ING to get hold Of the driver, who
showed signs of giving out. They
drifted down about three hundred
yards in this way, the horses, wagon
and driver sometimes buried under
the current and sometimes struggling
on its surface, when by good fortune,
they struck bottom, and succeeded in
getting a foothold. By the united
efforts of the Doctor, Johnson, and
myself, we got them on dry land, rath-
er the worse for the adventure, but
not seriously damaged. Col. Wash
sat down, a good deal blown, and com
plained of faintness. The flask of
brandy, together with everything else
had been washed from the ambulance
so that nothing could be done for him
When this discovery was made, he
seemed to lose all control Of himself
and began to swear in such manner
that it was frightful to hear him. In
, the meantime the boat had worked it
self along the rope to the landing ,and
, the yankee made good his escape tC
the shore. While we were consulting
what was to be done next, | chancec
10 look across the river, where | de
scried man sitting upon the bank
| might almost say ali apparltlon. Il
was certainly the most uncOuth look
ing object | had ever laid my eyes up
on-a long, gaunt, sallow man, witt
long yellow hair, a red shirt, big boots
with his brooches thrust in them, &
long corn cob pipe in his mouth, anC
a lon. life in his hand. His long face
, was 50 dreadfully cadaverouS and his
form so long and lean, that he might
well oc the embodiment of the fcver>
aud agues that are said TO lurk ii
these river bottoms. Seeing that W.
Kept looking at him, he ceased putting
!. MS pipe lou a moment, and observed
lin nasal tone:
"Gcntlemeu III trouble you for you
+ lare-jQ-t lay it thar on the bank
four bits for the wagon and two bit
apiece for the men!
: A modest request to make when w
were nearly drowned through his neg
ligence!
; Say guv'ncr," cried Col, Wash il
: voice Of suppressed passion, abe yo'
> the ferryman p
J, II be p replied the man, giving an
other puff at his pipe.
: "And you want dollar and a hall
for putting US over?" shouted Col
Wash.
Il dor
: "Well. then, just draw a check fo
it on your own bank p roared Col
Wash in a perfect fury, land if it ain
paid by the time | get back, I'll settl
. with you then.
The gaunt ferryman laid down hi
= corn cob pipe, opened himself up lik
a tall pen knife, examined the prim
+, ing, set the hair trigger, and thel
quietly observed:
= Conference.-The first man that III
: dertakes to leave them premises with
out a payin' of his faro, I'll drap hin
: sure p
There was no mistaking the SINGER
ity of his threat. The tall ferryma
% was evidently not the kind of person
y to be triaed with. There was fxe,
h look about him and a deliberate COO
p ness in his manner, that sufficient
q indicated his determined character
q Now, it was evident that our frearm
+ were of no present value, being thor
oughIy saturated with water-a fac
that was probably known to ou
. friend across the river, for he CAV
a himself no apparent concern about th
|. matter. To say that Col. Wash ray
l. ed would but family express his col
e dltion in tins mortifying emergency
f | had not seen him iu such vein o
!" profanity from the very beginning 0
our journey. All this time the ferry
a. man stood quietly watching US froI
e the other side, manilesting neither in
.e patience nor resentment at the dur;
il ton or violence of the invective b.
ID slowed upon him. For my part
ii Was quite willing to pay him. | fe
E convinced he would Kill me il faile
10 dn ~ and considered my life wort