Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-04-03

pieeze. LIS WlQe-opeD eyes were
glancing calmly and scrutinizingly in
to the faces otthe men who stood around
those features are never to be forgot
ten!-for while Hinch lays on the stripes
with all his furious strength, blasphe-
ming as they fall, that glance dwells on
each face with a cold, keen, searching
intensity, as lift marked them to be re.
membered in hell! The mans air was
awful-so concentrated-so stil-so
enduring! He-never spoke or groan
ed, or writhed-but those intense eyes
of hisi.-the wretches couldn't stand
them, and began to shuttle and get be-
hind each other. But it was too late;
he had them a!l-ten men. They acre
registered.
We will drop the curtain over this
horrible scene. Suffice it to say, that
after flashing him until he tainted, the
Regulators left him;teIlirg his wife that
if they were not out of the country in
ten days he should be shot. He did
go within the specified time; and, as ii
was said, returned with his family tc
Arkansas, where his wile's father lived.
The incident was soon forgotten IN
Shelby county amidst the constant re-
curence of similar scenes.
About four months after this affair." in
company with an adventurous friend,
was traversing Western Texas. Our
object was to see the country, and a
muse ourselves hunting for a time over
any district we found well adapted fol
a particular sport-as for bear-hunting.
deer-hunting, buffalo-hunting, &C.
Either ofthese animals is to be found
in greater abundance, and of course
pursued to greater advantage in pecu-
liar reg o1s, and as we were anxious to
make ourselves familiar with all the
modes oflife in the country, we made
tia point in passing through to stop
wherever the promise of anything spe-
cially interesting offered itself. Pra-
ries, timber and water were better dis
tributed in Shelby than any county we
had passed throttle timber predomi-
mating over The prairie, though interlaid
by it in every direction. This diversi-
ty of surface attracted greater varie-
ty and quantity of game, as well as af-
forded more perfect facilities to the
sportsman. Indeed it struck us as a
perfect Hunters Paradise, and my
friend happening to remember man of
some wealth, who had removed from
his native county, and settled, as he
had understood, in Shelby, we inquir-
ed for him.
Whateverelse may be said or thought
of the Texans, they are unquestionably
most generously hospitable. We were
frankly and kindly received, and hor-
ses, servants, guns, dogs, and whatey-
er else was necessary to ensure our en-
Joyment fthe sports of the country, as
well as the time of our host himself,
were forthwith at our disposal, and we
were soon, to our hearts content, en-
gagged in every character Of exciting
chase. .r-.
One day we had all turned out for a
deer-driye. This hunt, in which dogs
are used for driving the game out ofthe
timber, scatters the hunters very much;
they are stationed at the different
Islands," which are sometimes miles
apart, to watch for the deer passing
out; for this reason the party seldom
gets together again until night. We
divided in the morning, and skirted up
opposite sides of wide belt of bottom
timber while the "drivers and dogs
penetrated it, to rouse the deer, which
ran out on either side by the stands,
which We're known to the hunters
We were unusually successful, and re-
turned to late dinner at our hosts, the
planters house. By dusk all had come
in, except my friend, whose name was
Henry, and man named Stoner, one
of the neighbors, who had joined our
hunt. Dinner was ready, and we sat
down to it, supposing they would be in,
in. a few moments. The meal was
nearly over, when Henry, who was a.
gay, voluble fellow, came busting into
the room, and, with slightly Hurried
manner, addressed our host:-"Squire,
this is a strange country Of yours! Dol
you let crazy people range ii with
guns in their hands?"
"Not when we know it. Why
What about crazy people, You look
excited"
"Well, l think I've had enough to
make me feel little curious"
"What is it, What is it exclaim
ed everybody eagerly.
"Why, have met with either the
Old Harry himself--a gbost-or a
madm an;-and which it is, am con-
foundedly puzzled to tell'"
"Where, Howl
He threw himself into chair, wiped
the respiration from his forehead, and
COMMUNICATION know, Stoner and
myself, when we parted from YOU all