Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-06-19

had prompted him to hurl me into
this fearful peril.
Presently l heard the rippling Of
water near me, and, thinking 1t was
the current flowing among the rocks
or bushes at the shore, / struck out
in the direction with new hope. [
put out my hand and struck some
thing solid. But it was not the
shore 1t was II large snag that
barely peeped ont of the water.
Gladly accepting respite, however, =,
l climbed upon it, almost exhausted
and sat half immersed in water,
shivering, trembling, and wonder
ing whether the morning would see
me alive.
The rain was still pouring &c~H,
and caught the glimmer Of faint
flash of lightning, which was follow
ed by the low rumbling, of distant
thunder. But the lightning was too
dim to reveal tho hidden shore.
Presently felt the snag sinking Le-
meath my weight, and l plunged
into the current again and resumed
my swimming-in what direction 1
did not know.
At last, when / felt that I could
not stay up much longer, 1 caught a
glimpse of light i'm the distance.
1t was evidently shining from a win
dow, and was sure it must be on
shore so, with new coNcage, l
steered for the hight, which for the
first twenty five inmates seemed to
recede from me like an ignis fatuus.
But persevered, determined to
strike as long as a muscle would
move, for I was swimming 10 some
purpose now. Ten minutes more,
and found, that was undoubted-
ly nearing the light. Hope lent me
new strength and courage, and l
think that, exhausted though had
recently felt, ! now did such swim
ming as l had never done before.
Ten minutes moro. I was rapid
ly nearing the light, when, to my
dismay, it suddenly vanished. My
heart sank again any strength was
fast leaving me, and l was about to
60 down with half uttered prayer
on my lips, when my feet touched
the pebbly bottom, and I found my
self i'm shallow water. / stood up,
and with tottering step, waded
out and found myself on shore. l
crawled up a steep and muddy bank
and for a few moments lay down al
most helpless.
The rain had abated somewhat,
though the darkness had not, but
presently flash of lightning reveal
ed the whole scene to me-among
other objects, a little log house, not
more than fifty yards distant. 1
arose from the wet earth, and with
trembling steps went staggering to-
ward the house. Another kindly
fash of lightning guided me to the
very door, at which l knocked with
out hesitation.
"W hos there ?" came from with
in.
"My name is M'Cann," 1 replied.
Il live at New Geneva, and am
mate of the Merry. L fell off. and
have just swan ashore"
"But what was the steamboat
doing on Cheat river ?" asked the
man of the house, striking a light.
"Cheat river !" 1 exclaimed. "We
haven't been on Cheat river"
The door was cautiously opened,
and the farmer appeared, with a
candle IN one hand and a gun in the
other.
"Oh, come in" he said, as he re-
cognIzed me (for he had seen me be-
fore), what's all this ?"
1 tottered in and fell to the floor
exhausted. I must have been pic
ture TO look at-with my wet and
muddy clothes, hair disordered, and
without hat or coat.
The farmer whose name was Da-
Wis assisted me to arise, aud gave
me a seat in an old.fashioned arm
chair.
''Dear me-" I presently heard him
say in a low tone to his wife, who
came il from an adjoining room,
"I've often heard he drank too
much, poor feller, but l never
know'd he got on such terrible 'uns
as this"
But soon convinced them that /
was not on q "terrible un." A roar
ing wood Gre was started in the huge
fire place, and some coffee made for
me, which l drank, and found my
self materially revived.
Then l told my story.
Mr.. Davis house stOOc on the
right bank of the Cheat river, a mile
from it's junction with the Monon-
gahela and it began to appear to
mind-and such was the fact-that
after having swan a couple of miles
down the MODonVahela. had