Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-05-08

bowling blasphemies at each blow, YET
those eyes pnmoyingIy, with cold search,
glanced around into the faces Of the men.
That regard was clinging and keen, as II
/ the faintest lineament were intended 10 De
remembered in hell The mans look
wss positively awful, aud it dwelt fxedly
upon one after another with an icy light
that shot fleeing and underlined sense OF
/ fear INTO their souls, beasiaized as they
were. The villains could not Stand II,
and began to shrink and shuttle behind
each other to avoid it, but Il was too latel
He had them ALL Ten meni They
toere registered xiii him Kill him !
He's dangerous I" shouted several. en-
do for him, d--n himr' painted Hnch, as
ne labored yet more furiously with the
lash. We will drop cuftan over the
scene. II is enough to say that they lelt
him for dead, lying in his blood, his wife
swoonlng on the ground with the children
weeping plaintiyely over her, and silence
and darkness fell around the desolate
group, as the sun went down which had
risen in smiles upon the innocent happl-
ness OF that simple family.
Nothing more was seen or heard Of
Jack Long. His hut was deserted aud
his family disappeared, nor did any know
or care what had become of them. For
a little while there were various rumors,
but the whole affair was soon forgotten
amidst the frequent occurrence of similar
scenes.
1t was about four months after these
occurrences that with a friend was ira.
versing Western Texas. We were both
anxious to familiarize ourselves with the
topography Of the country, and to CON-
b1e, as much as possible, amusement
with our researches into IT'S natural blsto.
Iry. About equally jealous for science
and the sports" we nude it point, on
reaching any district which promised
much for ether, 10 make some excuse for
stopping. The modes of chase, and the
animals principally nbounding in The DIFF
ferent counties, varied greatly, and were
determined by the characteristics of the
surface, the predominauce Of prairie or
timber, with the scarcity or abundance OF
water; or else, as we found to be the
case IN Shelby. the equal distribution OF
all. Islands Of timber ("Mous," with
long belts of forest fringing the streams,
were dotted and stretched in most delight
ful variety over the broad ground work
of now undulatlng, now level prairie. -
Here was diversity Of attraction sufficient
to suit the nature OF all den,zens, whether
Of wafer, wood or plsin; and, accord.
ingy, in penetrating a short distance we
observed such numbers and so many dii-
ierent species Of game, that tha country
seemed to be a true paradise Of hunters.
The prospect Of rare sport in ell lis ph'a-
ses proved too attractive for our philoso-
ply, and a stay of week or two in Shell.
by county was promptly determined on
between US. My friend happened TO re.
collect that a man who had removed from
his native county in Virginia to Texas,
and taken with him some wealth in prop
eriy, had finally settled in Shelby conn-
tv. We inquired for him at the first
house, and readily found his where-s-
bouts He was large Planter, aud re.
ceived us with great frankness and cordi-
atty. Whatever else mag be said OF The
Texans, they are nqueslionably most
generously hosptabe. Our host forth
with placed at our disposal, not only his
own time, but horses, dogs, negroes, aud
oil the Ell cetera insuring our enjoyment
to the fullest exteut OF every amusement
the country afforded. We were soon ac-
lively and entirely absorbed in daily
round Of exciting chases. One cay Sc
yera Of the 'neighbors were invited to
join us, and all of our forces were muster
ed for grand deer Drive" In this
sport dogs are used, and under the charge
oil the "driver," as he is called, they are
taken into the woods for the purpose oil
rousing and driving out the deer, who
have habit of always passing out from
one line of timber 10 another at or near
the same spot, and these places are either
known to the hunters from experience o!
observation or of the nature of the ground.
AT these "crossing places" the "Stond.
ers" are stationed with rifles to watch for
the coming out the deer, who are shot as
they go by. On getting TO the ground
|. we were uINiutu hulo tNo PdiAitSi tdCil
flanking up the opposite edge Of a line OF
timber, over a mile in width, while the
Driver" penetrated it with the days.
On our side, the sport wOs unusually
good, iii wearied, with slaughter, we re-
turned in the afternoon towards the plan.
ter's house, TO partake OF a late dinner of
game with him before the party should
separate. IL was near shutdown when we
+ dismounsed. Soon aztec we were seated,
il was announced tina, dinner wss ready.
We now discovered the absence Of my
friend Henry. and one of the neighbors
whose name was Stoner. Bot every one
thought they would be there directly, and
our appettes limited pretty strongly, that
it would be vastly uncourteous of US 10
leave the dinner Of our Hostess to spool
by waiting. We sat down, and were do.
Jog undoubted justice to the 'are-ihere
is no appetizer like the headlong excite.
ment OF the chase, out where the wilder.
ness winds blow upon you--when Henry,
who was an Inclusive, voluble soul, came
busting INTO the room, with something
of an unusual furry in his manner, be.
ginning 10 talk by the time he got his
head into the door