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


its Of all bad and suspicious characters or III 9th
er words, of all men who dared refuse to be as vile
as they wereo if they were, who chose TO act
independently of them and their schemes. This
precious brotherhood soon became the scourge OF
all that region. Whenever an individual was UNI
fortunate enough to make himself obnoxious to
them, whether by successful villoiny, the pro-
ceeds of which he refused to share with them, or
by the hateful contrast of the propriety of his
course he was forthwith surrounded, threatened
had his stock driven off or killed wantonly and
if these annoyances and hints were not sufficient
to drive him away, they would publicly warn him
to leave the county in certain number OF days
under the penalty Of being scourgcd or shot. The
common preteXt for this the accusation Of hov-
ing committed some crime, which they themselves
had perpetraed with view of furnishing charge
to bring against him. Their hate was entirely
ruthless, and never stopped short of accomplishing
itspurposes; and in many a bloody fray and cruel
outrage had the question OF their supremacy been
uooed, until at last there were few left to dispute
with them, and they tyran2ed at will
Among these few was Jack Long, as he was
called who neither recognized nor denied their
power and, indeed, never troubled himself about
them one way or the other lie kept hiUsclf to
himself hunted necessarily, and nobody knew
much about him, Jack had come OF a wild turk
ey breed, the western term is for a rowing fam
lily; 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 Mountains had it been necessary to
pursue it so far He had never been in the habit
of asking leave Of any power where he should set
tie, and of course scarcely thought of the neccssi
ty of doing SO now; but quietly set to work, and
built himself nice log cabin, US far off from
! ry body as he could get. And the first thing that
was known Of him, he had his pretty young wife
and two little ones snugly slowed away in it, and
was Staying the deer and bears right and left.
The honest brotherhood had made several at
tempts at feeling Jacks pulse and ascertaining his
availability; but he always seemed so impassively
good natured, pnd put them off so pleasantly, that
they could find no ground for either disturbing or
quarreling with him. What was more, he was
physically rather an ugly looking customer with
six feet four inches of Drawn and bone; though
the inclination Just discoverable in his figure to
corpulency, together with broad, full, good-hu-
mored face, gave air of sluggishness to his en-
ergies, and an expression of easy simplicity TO his
temper, which offered neither invitation to gratuit-
GUS insult nor provocation to dislike. He was the
very impersonation Of inoflensive loyal honesty.
slumbering on its conscious strength; and these
men, without exactly knowing why, felt some little
Discrimination to waking him. He had evidently
never been reused to a knowledge of himself, and
others felt Just as uncertain what that knowledge
might bring forth he did, and were not specially
Jealous Of the honor of having it tested upon their
own persons So that Jack Long might have been
left for many day in quiet, even in this formida-
Bile neighborhood 10 cultivate his passion for marks
manship, at the expense of the dumb, wild things
around him, but for an unfortunate display he was
induced to make of it.
Happening to fall short of ammunition, he went
one day to the store for fresh supply. This cab
in, together with the blacksmith's shop and one or
two other huts constituted the county town. and
= as powder and liquor only to be obtained
there, 1t was the central resort of the Regulators
Jack found them all collecting for shooting match
in preparation for which they were all getting 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 frs
n rate shot. it was known that it would be danger
r Gus exertion of skill for any man to beat him-fo
e he was furious and vindictive bully, and would
not fail to make personal affair of it with any one
/ who should mortify his vanity hy carrying off tho
t prize from him. In addition the band Of scoun
, drels he commanded entirely at his service IL
any extreme, so that they made fearful odds for
d single man to contend with
n Every body else in he county was aware ofthi
S state of things but Jack Long, and he either ddn'
:, know or didn't care. After they had fired severa
5 rounds he went lounging lisessly into the crow
5, which had gathered round the target, eXclaimln
l. in admiration over the last brilliant shot of Hincl
e which was triumphantly the best. The bully was
as usual, clustering very yehemcntly, taunting eN
1t cry one around him, and when he saw Jack LOOK
d ing very cooy at the famous shot, with no grain
W that deie Standardization in his expression whic
IS was demanded, he snatched up the board, an
lie thrustng it insutingy close to his face, roare
l. out
re sHere! YOU Jack Longs hanks-look at tina
H. Take "a good look! Can you beat it" Jack DIRE
ly back with quiet laugh, and said good humoredly
in 'Psha You don't brag on such shootin as thu
IT. do you?
ly Drag on it? I'd like to see such mooney
it chap as you beat itn
IT. j don't know as I'd be very proud to beat SUI
on bunghng work as that
You don't, don't you?' yelled the fellow, nc
he fairly in a rage at Jacks GOODNESS. You'll try
ct won't you? You must try 1t! You shall try
it by Cd! Wen see what sort of swell "
Or are p
ad 'Oh, WE'LL said Jack interruptng him as he W
ng proceeding to rave for quantity - just put up yo
it'll board if you wish to see me put ball through
nst cry hole you can maken
ort Perfectly astonished at this rash boarding of
ut on-for it was difficult to tell whether conten
to or simplicity dictated Jacks manner--the men
ed up the board, while he walked back to the stan
MS and carelessly swinging his heavy rifle from
ing shoulder fired seemingly quick as thought. 8
he a trick of mne,' said he, moving towards the ma
or us he lowered his gun; Il caught it from shoot
OBJ varmins in the eyes; always takes 'em there.
ia notion I've got-its my fun They all ran
gerly TO the target, and sure enough his ball, VIII
ent, was larger thon Hinchs, had passed through
the same hole, widening it!
ur- He's humbug! It's all accident! He CT
lty; do that again shouted the rufian, turning pa
re- till his lips looked blue the board was held
APP r bet the ears of buffalo calf against his, t
Not he can't do it againp
in IF you mean by that to bet your own ears Gal
fine mine, I'll take you up said Jack, laughing, wi
att the men could not resist joining him Hinch 81