Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-07


in riotous joy around him; butmother wanted some
water from the branch and the frolic must be Civ
en- over while Jack would go and bring it. So jump
ing up he left the little folks pouting willlully as
they looked after him from the door, and started.
This stream was only about hundred yards from
the house, and the path leading to it was through a
dense high thicket. 1t was against Jacksreigon
ever to leave his house without his gun; but the
wife whom he loved above all the universe of sem
timent and everything else, was in hurry for the
water, ana the distance so short so he sprang
gaiy out with the vessel in his hand, leaving the
rifle behind. The water had been dipped up, and
! he was returning along the narrow path closely
bordered by brush when he felt light tap on each
shoulder and his career strangely lmpeded. lie
had Just time to perceive that lasso had been
thrown over him, which would conlne his arms
when he saw himself suddenly surrounded, and
was rushed upon by number OF men. lie III
stantly recognized the voice Of llinch, shouting,
down with mm Drag him down! as the men who
had hold Of the lasso about his body ierked at 1t
violently in the effort to throw him. All his trc-
mendous strength was put forth in one convulsive
effort which would have freed him. but that the
internal moose had fallen true, and bound his arnv
/ As it was he dragged the six stout men wlo 'lt1s
| it after his frantic bounds nearly to his owneipgt
before he was Frustrated and then it was by beaHS
blow dealt him over the head with the butt ola gun.
The last objects which met his eyes as he sank
and wife looking out upon him!
The blow deprived him of his senses for some
time, and when he recovered he found himself half
stripped, and dashed to Il tree "A short distance from
his house. uinch in front of him, with a knotted
rope in his hand his wife on the ground, wailing
and clingng with piteous entreaty round the mon
ster's knees his children weeping by her, and out
, side this group circle of men with guns in their
hands. That fearful awakening was Il new birth
to Jack Long His eye took in every thing at one
glance A shudder, like that of an oak rifting to
its core, sprang along his nerves, and seemed to
pass out at his feet and through his fingers, leaving
them as rigid as marble; and when the blows of
the hdeous hooking devil before him fell upon his
white flesh, making it welt in purple ridges, spout
dull black currents, he felt them no more than the
dead Intel of his door would have done; and the
agony of that poor wife shrilling frantic echo to
every harsh sashng sound seemed to have no
more effect upon his ear than it had upon the trees
, above them, which shook its green leaves to the
9 selfsame cadence they had held yesterday in the
! breeze. His wide opened eyes were glancing
, calmly and scrutnzingly into the faces of those
who stood around those features are never to be
forgotten for while Hinch lay on the stripes with
all his furious strength disappearing as they fell,
= that glance dwells each face with cold, keen,
searching intensity, if it marked them to be re-
: membered in hell The mans air was awful so
concentrated--so stll-so enduring He never
spoke. or groanet or wrhed-but those intense
=, eyes of his the wretches couldn't stand them
: and began 10 shuttle and get behind each other
3 But it was too late he had them all-ten mem
They were registered.
: we will drop the curtain over this horrible scene
Suffice it to say, that after ashing him untik he
tainted, the Regulators left him. telling 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 it was said, returned with his family
= to Arkansas where his wife's father lived. The
fln1l,,
: the constant recurrence of similar scenes.
:, About four months after this affair, in company
with an adventurous friend, | was traversng Yves
tern Texas. Our object was 10 see the country
and amuse ourselves in hunting for time over any
/ district we found adapted for particular sport as
= for the bearhunting, deer hunting buffalo hunting
= &c Either of these animals are to be found il
greater abundance, and of course purs ed to great
err advantage in peculiar regions, and as we wert
! anxious to make ourselves familiar with all the
: modes Of life in the country, we made it point il
= passing through to stop wherever the promise o
II anything especially interesting offered ITSELF
Praries, tirnber and water were better distributed
:, in Shelby than any county we had passed through
y the timber predomnating over the prairie, thong
4 interaid by it in every direction The diversity
Il surface attracted greater variety and quantity
= game, well as afforded more perfect facilities
80 the sportsman. Indeed it struck as a periec
81 Hunters Paradise; and my friend happening to re
e member a man of some wealth, who had remove
. from his native country, and settled, he had III
- derstood in Shelby, we inquired for him and yer
~, readily found him.
no Whatever else may be said or thought of til
n Texans, they are unquestionaby most generousl
nj hospitable. We were frankly and kindly received
ar and horses, servants guns dogs, and whatever els
Sc vas Hc0cS9i'y " ousuie GU, SiJUylleit vi u
lis sports OF the country, as well as the time of OF
IT. host himself were forthwith at our disposal, AZ
we were soon to our hearts content, engaged
as every character Of exciting chase.
ooI Concluded next week