[figure description] Page 047.[end figure description]

The cause of the sudden change of the
cry, `All are lost,' to the shouts of joy
and the cries of `Well done,' `Bravely
done,' and the means by which those
in the skiff were finally rescued, were
owing to Jack's courage and presence of
mind.

As he stood on the extremity of a fallen
tree with the rope coiled ready for a
throw, he perceived that the current was
stronger than their oars, and they would
inevitably be carried over the falls before
they could come within catching
distance of his rope, though it was fifty
feet long.

There was not a moment left for hesitation.
The distance between the skiff,
and the rolling verge of the rapids, was
equal, and the strength of the rowers was
failing, while that of the river gained
power as it approached the leap. Jack,
with the prompt action which characterises
seamen, and which had led him at
the first to hasten for the rope, on learning
that there was some one being carried
down the river, (for your true tar has
great faith in a rope in all dangers,) no
sooner saw that they would inevitably be
carried over the cataract, than he secured
with a double turn one end round the tree,
and the other about his body beneath his
arms. This was the work of an instant.
He then sprung out into the river as far
as he could leap, crying to those on the
shore, `to stand by to pull him in.'

He boldly struck out so as to meet the
skiff, as it was driving fast down the
stream, and as it passed him he caught
hold of it with an iron grasp, first with
one hand and then with the other.'

All now for a moment, a single moment,
depended on his individual exertion.
Archibald, with great presence of
mind, dropped his oar on seeing that he
held fast, and cast the boats' painter over
his shoulders, and took a turn rapidly
round the forward thwart. This bound
the boat to the brave sailor, who in his
turn was held to the land by the rope,
which he had tied to the tree. At this
there were already half a dozen of stout
men pulling, and the skiff was dragged,
Jack and all, bodily through the foaming
water to the shore. A dozen of men
sprang into the water, to draw the boat
up to a safe spot. A thousand voices
shouted with exultation, and the names
of the brave young men and the daring
sailor, were on every lip in accents of
praise.

Captain Talbot who stood on the shore
silently watching the whole scene, but
without the power to speak or give an
order, now caught his daughter to his
heart, and aloud thanked Heaven for
her escape. He grasped the hands of
the two young men, and wept with joy
over them.

`You have saved my child. God
bless you, for I cannot reward you,' and
then he turned from them to clasp his
child once more to his breast. A hundred
hands were extended to shake the
hands of the brave young men, and of
Jack, whose presence of mind and courage,
contributed to their ultimate safety,
and the friends and acquaintances of the

[figure description] Page 048.[end figure description]

father crowded around him with the
warmest congratulations.

That was, indeed, a day long to be
remembered by those who witnessed
the scenes we have described. The
towns-people thought that no language
could sufficiently express the courageous
and fearless conduct of the two young
men. They could not for weeks afterwards
pass the streets without being
pointed out to those who did not know
them, and their names pronounced with
that reverence, which all men pay to
true courage, when exercised in the
cause of humanity.

If the towns-folk had reason to remember
the exciting events of that day,
much more so had the two young men.
The success of their enterprise for her
rescue, and the dangers they had shared
with her, could not but make an impression
upon their minds, and deeply interest
them in a beautiful girl, whose life
they had been instrumental in saving;
even though they had never beheld her
before. But both of them had known
her from boyhood. They had grown up
and been at school with her, till she was
removed from the `mixed school,' to one
for girls exclusively.

They both thought her the prettiest
maiden in town, and when togethey they
often talked about her, bvt without any
rivalry. Indeed each concealed from
the other, the true depth of his interest
in her. She, however, regarded neither
of them with any marked favor; though
she had been heard to say to one of her
youthful, confidential friends, that she
thought that Archibald Worthington
was the handsomest youth, and the most
polite, mannorly person, she had ever
seen.

Such was the state of feeling of the
parties when the danger in which Blanche
had been placed, and her rescue, gave
a more decided form and shape to the
previously existing partiality felt by the
young men for her.

It was a matter of course that both of
them should call at the old captain's the
very same evening of the rescue, to ask
after her welfare; for her alarm and
exposure, had rendered her almost insensible—
and when her father received
her from them, she fainted in his arms.

The old captain met them beneath his
own roof with a hearty welcome, and a
warm embrace. He told them again and
again, how happy they had made him;
for his daughter he had loved dearer
than any object on earth. From him
they learned the cause of the accident
which had placed her life in such peril.
It seems she had been a few miles up
the river with her aunt, on a visit of two
or three days to a relation's house, and
when returning, as they went, in the
stage, they two, being the only passengers,
had hastened their return home on
account of the rise in the river, fearing
the roads would be impassable in the
lower places, if they delayed. On reaching
the bridge, the river was nearly on
on a level with the floor, and the driver
hesitated whether to cross or not; but
as it was a very strong bridge, and looked
firm, he resolved to make the attempt—
and, whipping up his horses dashed
forward.

He had, however, got but half way
across when a loud cracking behind
them, told them of the peril they were
in. The driver had only time to shout
and tell them to save themselves, and to
leap from his box. Aunt Sarah at the
same instant, sprung from the window,
and followed the driver, who was flying
over the upheaving timbers to the pier,
which stood firm—while all the bridge
besides was undulating and breaking up,
and plunging in huge sections into the
flood. Blanche had got out immediately
after her aunt, and attempted to fly to

[figure description] Page 049.[end figure description]

the security of the pier, but the crashing
and heaving of the planks and timbers
around her appalled her. While the
horses, terrified, were struggling over the
breaking floor, and at length clearing
themselves from the coach, dashed together
over the sinking parapet and were
crushed among the parting rafters.—
Blanche, amid this scene of ruin, was
afraid to move a step from the coach;
and giving herself up for lost, she instinctively
clung to it, as it was launched
into the stream by the sudden plunge,
and submersion of the fragment of the
bridge on which she stood. It struck the
water without turning over, and getting
upon it, she began to hope yet to escape.
But as she found herself borne rapidly
down the dark, wild river, amid a field
of floating timber, trees, cattle, and
dwellings, and shattered boats, she felt
that there was little hope that she should
ever tread the solid land once more.—
She was carried down between dark
wooded banks, amid forest scenery, and
part cultivated farms with the same rapidity,
and the same absence of all aid.
She saw people on the shore, and some
waved their hands, and bade her keep
courage, though for want of boats they
could not help her. Some ran along by
the bank for miles to find a skiff, till
obstructions on the shore or fatigue compelled
them to give up and leave her to
her fate. And this fate, she believed,
would be death! She knew that unless
some one came off to her aid before she
reached the rapids, which were seventeen
miles below the place where she
had been thrown from the falling bridge,
she should perish. At length, after she
had been nearly three hours upon the
top of the drifting coach, she came in
sight of her native town. She now began
to revive her torpid faculties, and
tried to hope for life yet. As she was
borne onward she waved her hands, for
she saw the people on the hills; but she
could not cry for the aid she so eloquently
implored by her gestures. She prayed
that God would send some strong arm
to deliver her, and then committed herself
to her fate.'

The reader already knows how wonderfully
that fate was averted.

The young men listened to this account
given to them by the Captain, with
deep interest. When at length Blanche
entered the room, and thanked them for
what they had done for her with so natural
feeling and hearty gratitude, they
both felt that they were more than repaid
for the risk they had run. Aunt
Sarah, who had been taken from the
pier with no little danger by men in
boats, and who had given her niece up
as lost, was scarcely less warm in her
expressions of thankfulness to them.

From this day the house of the old
Captain became a very frequent visiting
place for the two young gentlemen; and
they were always received by Blanche
and her farher with that kindness which
the service they had done them commanded
should be extended to them,
even though they should have possessed
no agreable qualities in themselves to
recommend them. But these they did
possess. Nelson Osborne was lively,
full of anecdote, and could make himself
very entertaining, especially to the
elder persons. Indeed, he seemed to
have far less faculty for pleasing a young
lady than Archibald Worthingham, to
whose conversation Blanche was always
a very deeply interested listener; for
Archibald was well educated, had seen
something of the world, and quited to
natural intelligence, he had improved in
the best manner all his advantages. He
had taste in poetry, painting and flowers,
and was skilled as well in graver and
more substantial studies. Blanche, young,
ardent, and susceptible, felt his

[figure description] Page 050.[end figure description]

superiority and power, and willingly lent her ear
to his words till they had stolen away
her heart.

Nelson Osborne was not long in discovering
that Blanche very clearly preferred
his society to his own. He saw
that while he was entertaining the Captain
with some humorous story, either
made up, or embellished for the occasion,
and while he and Aunt Sarah were
laughing most heartily at it, Blanche
and Archibald were talking together in
a low tone by the window, or rather, the
latter talking, and the former listening,
with her eyes fixed with sweet attention
upon his face.

Nelson saw that he was losing ground
in trying to win the daughter by pleasing
the old people, and that Archibald,
trusting to his own native powers, to
truth, and the sincerity of his deep-rooted
love, was winning the prize he had
resolved should be his own.

There is no passion that so soon awakens
the evil in a man's heart as jealousy.
A look, a word, nay, a suspicion
will kindle the spark, and brooding
thought will act upon it like oil.

`Archy,' said Nelson, as they walked
home together that night, `you seem to
be getting along finely with Blanche!
wish you would not try to win her heart
in that way! This was said with a sort
of sullen reproach.

`Indeed, and why not, Nelson?' said
Archy laughing, for those may laugh
who win says the proverb, and so thought
Archy; for he knew by the looks of
Blanche's eyes that she loved him, if
not as well as he loved her, almost as
well.

`Why not; because I intend some
day to marry her!

`You do?'

`Yes, I have made up my mind to
that, and I don't want you to cross my
path!'

`There are two sides to that subject,
Nelson,' answered Archy pleasantly;
though he saw that his friend was not in
the best of humors.

`Well, one side I mean to stand to,
and that is my side! I loved Blanche
Talbot before you ever thought of her!
You wouldn't have thought about her, if
it hadn't been that you helped me save
her!'

`That you helped me, rather! But no
matter; I shall not tell you when I first
thought about Blanche; let it suffice for
you to know, Nelson, that I do think
about her.'

`Then the sooner you cease to think
about her the better!'

This was spoken in such a menacing
and decided way, that Archibald stopped
and looking him full in the face, said,

`Are you in earnest, Osborne?'

`I never was more so! I love Blanche
Talbot and no other man shall love her
if I can help it!'

`And suppose you can't help it,' asked
Archibald quietly.

`I will help it; I am not to be cut out
by your blarney with her, Worthington, and
you need not think so. If you don't
want to quarrel with me, you will never
call there again.'

`I shall call to-morrow, certainly, for
I have promised to go with Blanche to
make a call.'

`She has said she will go?'

`Yes.'

`Archibald Worthington, I tell you
once for all, if you go with her, you
make me your mortal enemy!'

`I shall not disappoint Blanche, you
may be assured,' answered Archibald
firmly.

The two young men here parted, for
they had by this time crossed the bridge.
They parted without one word of `good
night,' and on Osborne's part in high
anger. Archibald felt rather like being

[figure description] Page 051.[end figure description]

amused at his friend's angry bearing
and menaces, yet still regretted the misunderstanding
between them. But as to
giving up Blanche, he had no such idea,
but was rather confirmed in his purpose
to woo and win her if possible.

Their conversation, which had been
carried on in rather a louder tone than
was necessary, was overheard by the old
toll-keeper who was seated in his door
smoking his pipe, and it being deep twilight
he was not observed, though he
saw and heard them; and as the Captain
when he crossed the bridge always
used to stop and gossip with the toll-man,
so the next morning when he lingered
to exchange with him the news,
the old toll-gatherer said,

`Why, neighbor, so I see your pretty
daughter is like to prove an apple of
contention between the two brave young
men who saved her life a few weeks
ago.'

`Ah, how is that? how is that?' asked
Captain Talbot quickly. `I have suspected
something of the kind: but what
have you heard?'

`Why you see, as town-folks don't
pay toll only by the quarter and come
and go as they please, I often in the
evening, as I sit in my door, hear a good
deal more talk than folks intend, especially
as the bridge echoes; and so last night
just as it was growing dark I was seated
here in my door smoking, when I heard
two persons coming across and talking
smartly loud. I soon heard 'em mention
your da'ater's name, and know'd one o'
the voices, the loudest to be be that o'
Nelson Osborne!'

`And what did he say of my child?'

`Nothing!' it was a quarrel I found
about her, between Osborne and Archibald
Worthington. I don't say Archy
was quarrelling, it was on the side o'
Nelson, so far as I could hear it. Nelson
said Archibald must give up all
thoughts of your daughter or he'd make
him his enemy and would rue it; which
Archy answers that he shall not be
governed by the other's wishes but do as
he pleases. Nelson was tremendously
angry as they went by me, and just here
by the post, at the bridge end, they parted
in such a way that I shouldn't wonder
if, when they met again, they should
come to blows about her.'

`I'll see to that. I'll forbid them both
my house, if Blanche does owe her life
to them. Do they think because they
saved her from drowning that she belongs
to them, like a piece of drift wood
picked up in the river. I'll teach the
young gentlemen another way to box
their compass.'

`It wan't Archy, capting. He didn't
seem to be to blame or quarrelling; it
was all Nelson who wanted him to say
he would never go to your house again,
because he wanted a clear coast for himself,
you see; and he was mad with
Archy because he said he would go as
often as he pleased. He wouldn't be
bullied, you see.'

`And he was right. But I shall have
to treat 'em both alike. I'll send for
'em both to come and see me to-morrow
and I'll have a talk with em, that'll bring
'em in stays, I reckon. You will oblige
me, neighbour Soule, not to speak of
this to any one.'

`No, I wont, if you say so, capting.'

`I shall settle the matter with them
with a round turn, before Nelson Osborne
is a day older.'

With these words the captain pursued
his way into the village street.