Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-07-18
From the Democratic Review.
THE SHOT IN THE EYE.
A TRUE STORY OF TEXAS BORDER LIFE
(C0ncluded.)
by c. WILKINS EIMI.


(Concluded.)
One day we had all turned out for deer
drive. This hunt. in which the dogs are
used for driving the game out OF tho TIMBER
scatters the hunters very much; they arc
stationed at the different Stands which are
sometimes miles apart to watch for the deer
passing out for this reason the party sell
dom gets together again until night. We
divided in the morning, and skirted up OPP
posite 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, and were known to the hun
; tiers. We were unusually successful, and
returned 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 neigh
bors, who had Joined our hunt. Dinner was
ready, and we sat down to it, supposing they
would be in, in few moments. The meal
was nearly over, when Henry, who was gay
vouble fellow, came bustlng into the room,
and with a slightly Hurried manner addressed
our host-'Squire, this is strange country
of yours! Do you let crazy people range it
with guns in their hands?'
) mot when we know it. Why? What
about crazy people You look excited
'Well, | think I've had enough TO make
) me feel little curious
, sWhat is it =? What is it?' exclaimed eve
ny body eagerly.
why, l have met with either the old Har-
ry himself-a ghost-or madman ;-and
which it is am confoundedy puzzled to
, tell
Where? How!
; lie threw himself into a chair, wiped the
) perspiraion from his forehead, and continu-
: ed:-'You know, Stoner and myself when
we parted from you all this morning, took
up the right hand side of the bottom timber.
Well, Sioner accompanied me to my stand,
where we parted; he to go on 10 his; and
have seen nothing ofhim since. Soon after
he left me, deer passed out shot it
wounded It-and jumped on my horse to
pursue it. The deer had staggered at my
fire, but was not so badly wounded as sup
posed, and led me of, until it suddenly &C.
Cured to me that might get lost, and |
: reigned up; but soon found that this sober
l. second thought had come too late, and that
# | was already out of my latitude. wan
u
:. care not to 90 very far in any one direction
t. before came across anything which prom
20 ised to set me right again. at last came
" upon wagon trail, and felt revived, for
:. knew II must take me to some point where
- | could get information. The trail was mar
= row, leading through scrubby thickets; ant
o' | was riding along slowly, looking down, il
IL the hope of meeting the tracks of some O
your horses, when the violent shyirg Of N,
rs horse caused me 10 raise my eyes. And
SIS by George it was enough to have 'stampe
r. ded' regiment of hore On the left of tn
IN trail stood very tall skeleton-like figure
III dressed in skins one foot advanced, as
It. he had stopped in the act stepping aeros
i'll it, and long heavy gun, jus, swinging dow
10 TO the level, bearing on me. OF course, m
- heart leaped into my throat, and my fles
VI shrank and crept. Before | could think {
IN raising my gun, my eyes met those of tn
as strange figure; and such eyes Surprise &
its their cold, unnatural expression, suspende
or my action; burning with chill, singula
Oh brilliancy, in deep.sun!;en sockets, they look
We ed as if they never winked. Dwelling steat
MT lily upon my face for moment, they seen
M ed to be satisfied, and the gun was slowl
" thrown back upon his shoulders; and pluck
ing at long gris!y beard, william impatiel
of gesture Of his bony hands, the figure made
lie stride across the trail, and without speakir
&c. word plounged into the thicket. | was
IN confounded by this curious dumb-show, tn
he he was nearly concealed in the brush befo
vi found my tongue 10 shout 10 him to stoT
,on 1u' he Kept on, not even turning his hea
-" was provoked and spurred my horse
VIC alter him, as far as could penetrate, but
'"o kept on, and lost sight of him in nome
up and whether he can talk at all, IS more In;
He can tell =
de, Did you look at his feet Henry 2 inte
will rupted one OF the party. l expect il W
inc old
,nl Never mind what you expect hear n
OUT he continued. Il followed the ira
which wound about, il seemed to me, I
and wards all the points of the compass, for
der hour or more; when at last it led me out
eth, to prairie, which thought | recognize
lere stopped, and was looking around to ma
will out the landmarks, when horse with sa
who die on burst from the woods behind me, a
,ous tore OIL across the prairie, as if he had Sc
''9' the DEVIL
What color was ho2 exclaimed half
o"s dozen voices in breath.
'ro" lie was too far of for me to distingu
gets more than that he was dark horses
'ing about as much so as mine. | could dist
d in gush the pommel of the saddle and the ST
us. rups flying =
'Stoner's horse was dark bay v
a. buzzed around the table, in low tones, eve
Nv one looking seriously in his neighbor 5 ia
Al" Yes J said the Squire, rising and ST.
eu'' ping to the window, 'Stoner's horse wa.
rty good deal like yours he must have got au
ue from him, and that is what detaIns him.
)lde then the nag was very kind creature q
ans well trained. wonder il should have
lack haved SO =
IKE Don't believe 'bay' would have done
was Squire said one OF the men. Some thin
,een gone wrong, think Was the bride doy
with Mr.. Henry 2
,,,or 1t was too far off for me to tell.
,ho lowed in the direction the horse to
,a Wv ana soon found myself here, and expected
iom' find il here too =
= "w 3. NO Stoner's is beyond here, said
o"' Squire. That wagon trail Won we're n,
'doy ing and twisting about in, Is a road
opened to a number of board trees we