Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-07-11

the western term is for rowing family ; and
though still young man, had pushed on
ahead Of the settlement of two territories,
and had at last followed the game towards
the south, and finding it abundant in Shelby
county, had stopped here, just as he would
have stopped at the foot Of the Rocky Noun
tains had it been necessary to pursue 1t SO
far. He had never been in the habit Of asking
leave of any power where he should settle,
and of course scarcely thought of the ueces-
sity of doing so now but quietly set to work,
and built himself nice log cabin, as far of
from every body as he could get. And the
first thing that was known of lin, he had his
pretty young wife and two little ones snugly
slowed away in it, and was Staying the deeI
and bears right and left.
The honest brotherhood had made seve.
raj attempts at feeling Jacks pulse and as
certaining his availability but he always
seemed so impassivcIy good natured, and put
them of so pleasantly, that they could find
no ground for either disturbing or quarreline
with him. What was more, he was physi.
cally rather an ugly looking customef,' with
six feet four inches of Drawn and bone 3
though the inclination just discoverable in
his figure to corpuency together with broad
full, good humored face, gave an air of slug
gishness to his energies, and an expression
of easy simplicity TO his temper, which offer
ed neither invitation to gratuilous insult nol
provocation TO dislike. lie was the very
impersonation of inptiensive, loyal honesty
slumberng on its conscious strength; and
these men, without exactly knowing why, fell
Ii,tla lie, 81:
He had evidently never been reused to a
knowledge of himself, and others felt Just as
uncertain what that knowledge might bring
forth as he did, and we're not specially zeal
Gus of The honor ofhaving it tested upon theiI
own persons. SO that Jack Long might
have heen left for many day in quiet, even
in this formidable neighborhood, to cultivate
his passion for craftsmanship, at the expense
of the dumb, wild things around him, but for
an unfortunate display he was induced tc
make of it.
Happening to fall short OF ammunition, he
went one day to the store for fresh supply
THIS cabin, together with the blacksmith.
shop and one or two other hu,s, constituted
the county town. ~; aud as powder and Ii.
qnor were only TO be obtained there, it was
the central resort of the Regulators. Jack
found them all collecting for shooting match
in preparation for which they we're all get.
ting drunk as fast as possible, TO steady Their
nerves. Hinch, the Regulator captain, had
always been the hero of such occasions for
in addition to being a first rate shot, it was
known that it would be dangerous exertior
OF skill for any man TO beat him-for he wa.
furious and vndictive bully, and would MOI
fail to make personal affair of it witt, any
one who should morify his vanity by carry.
ing off the prize from him. In addition, the
band of Scoundres he commanded was en-.
trely at his service in any extreme, so thai
they made fearful odds for single man &c
contend with.
Everybody else in the county was aware o.
tins state Of things but Jack Long, and he
either didn't know or didn't care. After
they had fired several rounds, he went loung.
ing lis,essly into the crowd which had gath.
cred round the target, exclaiming in admra
tion over the the last brilliant shot of Hinch
which was triumphantly the best. The bul.
ly was, as usual, clustering very vehement.
ly, tauntlng every one around him, and wher
he saw Jack looking very coolIy at the ia.
nous shot, with no grain of that deferen,ia
admiration in his expression which was de.
manded, he snatched up the board, anc
thrusling it insulingly close TO his face, roar
ed out
Here you Jack Long Shanks-look IA
that Take good look Can you bea
it" Jack drew back with quiet laugh
and said good humoredly-
'Psha /! You don't brag on such shoot.
in as that do youl'
Drag on it! I'd like TO see such moor
eyed chap as YOU beat it =
Il don't know as I'D be very proud tc
beat such bungling work as that
you don't, don't you p yelled the fel.
low now fairly in rage at Jacks GOODNESS
You'll try it, won't you! You must try il
You shall try it, by Cd! Wen sec
what sort of a swell you are !
'Oh, well,' said Jack, iuterrup,ing him a.
he was proceeding to rave for quantity s.
just set up your board if you wish to see me
put ball through every hole you can make!
Perfectly asionished at this rash boarding
OF the llon-for il was difficult to tell wheth.
er contempt or simplicity dictated Jack,
manner-the men sci up the board, while ht
walked back to the stand, and careless,
swinging his heavy rifle from his shoulder
fired seemingly as quick as thought. Its q
trick of nine said he, moving towards the
mark, as he lowered his gun | caught il
! from shootin' varmins in the eyes always
takes 'em there. It's notion I've got-it'.
my fun They all ran eagerly to the tar
get, and sure enough his ball, which wa,
larger than Hinch's had passed through the
same hole, widening il
He's humbug! It's all accident! lie
can't do that again = shouted the ruffian
turning pale. till his lips looked blue, as the
board was held up. 'I'll be, the ears of a
buffalo calf against his, that he can't do il
again.
IF you mean by that, to bet your own
ears against mine, III take you up said
Jack, laughing, while the men could not re-
sist joining him. tlinch glared around him
with fierce chafed look, before which those
who knew HIM best quailed, and with CON-
pressed lips silently loaded his gun. A new
target was put up, at which, after long and
careful aim, he fired. The shot was fine
one. The edge Of the ball had just broken
the centre. Jack, after looking a, il, quietly
remarked
Plumbing out the centre is my fashion
III show you kirk or two, Captain Hinch
about the clear thing in shootin'. Give us
another board there, boys =
! Another was set up, and after throwing