Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-05-01

BIN alone with bis long rile, amidst the
timber islands Of the plain, or IN the deep
woods; and he always appeared 10 have
been so successful, that the rumor gradu.
ally got abroad that he was splendid
shot. This attracted attention somewhat
more to his apparently unsociai and soil
tary habits. They had the curiosity to
watch him, and when they saw how devo-
TED he appeared TO his wIie--the gloe De.
came general, tina, he was ga hen-pecked
husband, under petticoal government,
and other ike gratifying expression
THIS, taken 10 connection with his loiling,
awkward gait and rather excessive ex-
preston OF simplicity and easy temper
disposed those harsh, rude men very
greatly to sneer al him as a soft fellow,
who could be run over with lmpunity.--
They even bullied him with taunts--but
Jack looked like such formidable Gus
toner to be taken hold Of, that no one OF
them felt disposed 10 push him too far and
risk being made individually the subject
of display of the great strength indsca-
ted in the size OF bis body and limbs. tie
was upwards Of six feet four in height,
with shoulders like the bu,tresses Of a
tower, and proportions developed in fine
symmetry. Indeed, but for slight lnelina.
ton to corpulency, aud that sluggshness
OF manner we have spoken oil, which
made him seem too lazy ever to under
take the feat--he looked Just the man
who would take Buffalo bull by the
horns amidst his believing peers, aud
bring him to the ground with all his shay
gy bulk. Finding they could not tempt
him to personal fray, they changed the
note, and by every kind OF csjolery en-
deavored TO enlist tae remarkable physie-
al energy and skill he was coniectured to
possess, ia the service OF their schemes OF
brutal violence. But Jack waved all
sort of participation IN them with sml-
ling and unvarying good humor, which
though it enrsged the bofiled rusiians
gave them no possible excuse for proyo-
cation. They would not have regarded
this, but that there was still less invitation
in the formidable person end rifle. and
somehow or other they had an underlined
sense that the man was not cat himself,
as the saying goes in toe west--that he
had not yet been reused TO conscious
ness of his own energies and capabilities,
and they were without acknowledging IT,
little averse TO waking him. They
finally gave him up, therefore, and Jack
might after all, have been left in peace To-
love Molly end the children as hard as he
pleased, and indulge bis passion for mark
manship only at the expense Of the dumb,
wild things around him, but that he was
accidentally led to make an unfortunate
display Of it. A few log huts near the
centre constituted the county town.
There was the grocery. Oh store, as it
was digni6ed--at which alone powder
and lead and whiskev were to be obtain
ed for MANY miles around. Jack hap.
pened to get out OF ammunition and came
into this place for fresh supply. At
tracted by the whiskey, this was tho
head quarters of the Regulators, and
they were all collected for grand shoot
ing match, and Of course getting drunk
as fast as possible to steady their nerves.
When Jack arrived, he found them gath
cred IN a groop undera cluster of trees,
several hundred yards from the house.
Ii bad been some time since there had
been any alteration between any OF them
and himself; and though he supposed it
was all forgotten, yet he felt some littls
Discrimination to joining them, and had
resolved not to do it. But as on ce, and
again, again that sharp report he loved
SO well to hear would ring out, followed
by the clamors, exclama,Ions ana eager
grouping Of the meE around The target TO
shot. HIS passion for the sport. and curiosi.
ty TO see how others shot, overcome
haf.de6ned feeling tia, be was going to
do what, for Moliy's SAX e, was an impu-
dent thing. HIneh, the Regulator Cap
tain, had always been the unriyalled hero
Of such occasions for apar, from the
fact that he was really an admiral Bile shot,
he was known to BE-, so fierce, clustering
and vlndletye bully, that nobody dared
try very hard TO beat him, since he would
be certain to make a personal affair oil il
whoever presumed TO be so lucky or so.
skIllful. Now every body in tie county
was well aware Of this but Jack, and he
either was not aware, or dad not care Tor
the matter, ii he did know II. He knew,
though, that IIinch was famous shot !;
and noticing that he was preparing TO
shoot, started TO join them, determined to
see for himself what they called good
shooting. lie cana swinging himself
carelessly among them, with long heavy
strides, es they We're all vociferatng in
nan drunken rsptures over the glorious
shot just made by Hinch---and he, in his
customary mo nner, was swearing and raw
ing at every One around him, taunting
'hem WITT their bungling, and delying
them TO try again. Observing Jack he
lerke5 the target away, and with loud
grating laugh, thrust il insaltlngly close
" his face :-"Hahi Jack Long-legs!
They soy that you can shoot Look at
thati Look close, will you ~ pushing it
closer to his eyes. Scan you beat it,"
Jack stepped back and looking deliberate
~ at the board target, said very dryly--
"Phaw ! the cross amt clean out
think was doin any great
things TO beat such shootin' as that -
u 4 a =