party engaged in laying out the wild lands of the country.

These persons had apparently just finished their dinner. Apart from
the group walked a young man of a tall and compact frame. He moved
with the elastic tread of one accustomed to constant exercise in the
open air. His countenance wore a look of decision and manliness not
usually found in one so young.

Suddenly there was a shriek, then another, and several in rapid
succession. The voice was that of a woman, and seemed to proceed from
the other side of a dense thicket. At the first scream, the youth
turned his head in the direction of the sound. When it was repeated,
he pushed aside the undergrowth and, quickening his footsteps, he soon
dashed into an open space on the bank of the stream, where stood a rude
log cabin.

It was but the work of a moment for the young man to make his way
through the crowd and confront the woman. The instant her eye fell on
him, she exclaimed: "Oh, sir, you will do something for me. Make them
release me, for the love of God. My boy, my poor boy is drowning, and
they will not let me go." "It would be madness; she will jump into the
river," said one, "and the rapids would dash her to pieces in a moment."

The youth scarcely waited for these words, for he recollected the
child, a fine little boy of four years old, who was a favorite with all
who knew him. He had been accustomed to play in the little inclosure
before the cabin, but the gate having been left open, he had stolen
out, reached the edge of the bank, and was in the act of looking over,
when his mother saw him.