Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-08-12
RIFLES AND RANCHEROS.
BY PHAZNfA.

hlr LEO AND hANCHEhOS.
By PHAzMA.
In the city of Puebla lS43J there is an old dutch
man who is very fond of relating the story here
introduce. When making his first visit to the conn
try many years snce he happened to travel sole
panon of sturdy Kentuckian in diligence between
two of the large cities. Of course the two travellers
soon became familiar, and quite much matter of
course was it that their thoughts and conversation
should turn upon the dangers of the road The Ken
tuckian was master of superb rifle, which seemed
to be almost part of himself, indeed he paid far
more attention to it, and handled it with care,
than he dreamed of bestowing his own person.
In the diligence he carried it between his knees,
zle down. and while he rode he would pat and fondle
it as tendery as maternal dotage would an lnnocent
babe.
The Dutchmans weapon of defence was double
barrel shot gun, which he had carefully loaded on the
occasion, and the two very soon agreed to do what
slaughter they could before the outlaws should make
free with the smallest valuable they had about then.
They had no sooner arrived at this conclusion than
the driver was commanded to join the compact, and
it was arranged that upon the first indication of ap
preaching danger, the two travellers should be
ed and the diligence should stop.
This arrangement was scarcely made before it was
called into action, and the driver hastily gave notice
that eight ten mounted ranchcros in the road
advancing slowly to meet the diligence.
"Stop the horses-give her lick back-stop her.
roared the Kentucan he kicked the door open and
jumped into the road. The Dutchman was hardly
second in the movements being upon the outside of
the opposite door with simultaneous rapidty. AT
about two hundred and fifty yalds distance, three of
the foremost robbers were advancing abreast. 1t
was upon the most lonely and desolate part of the
road between Puebla and the city of Mexico, and in
the misty dawn Of morning. The Kentuckian and
the Dutchman placed themselves side by side in from
of the diligence, each with the most indomitabe dc
termination to fight until the last breath in defence
of their rights. The Dutchman, however. was muci
puzzled at seeing his comrade in elevate his ri
file perpendcularly in the air, and slowly let the
ze fall In drawing deliberate aim at the advancing
hOrseman.
"Men Cot ton't waste de powder = said the Ger
man. "What are you for going to fire q
"Let me Just level old Kantuck, replied the Ken
tuckan-" keep cool, and I'll pick out that middle
chap in minute"
"Mein Cot, man. said the Dutchman, cit is more
farder offdan Won mile ?,
The old Dutchman made no allowance for the I'M
certain light of early dawn, but the Kentuckan knew
every shade of the sky from morning to midnight, s.
at this time he of his shot as though the
ranchero had already fallen from his horse.
"Ifyou kill de rashcal at such much distance
said the Dutchman you "vl only waste de pullet.'
But the Kentuckian had got his aim, and just as
the Dutchman ceased speaking, old Kaintuck po-
litely spoke up and sent the middle robber tumbling
from his saddle. The eyes of the Dutchman expan-
ded with astonishmeht at the effect of the Kentuck-
ans shot, and broken expressions of extravagant
prise issued from his lips.
The old hunter said nothing, but quietly loaded his
rifle again, and with pleasant gravity lifted it up
his shoulder. In The meantime the rancheros made
off with the most interchangeable expedition at the first
broad hint of poMder and shot.
care there any of them in sight q said the Ken
tuckian he cOolly let the muzzle of his rifle fall
in search of another victim.
This question was answered by the driver, who
seeing that the Dutchman was too much astonshed
to speak, ventured to that tie robbers were
out of sight far enough, but whether they were out
of the reach Of that rifle he could not venture to say.
The Kentuckan has travelled away, Heaven knows
where, since the adventure speak Of but the hon
est old Dutchman is living in the city of Pueba,
and swears, even to this day, that the distance at
which the Kentucky man killed the robber was bos
ftively so more ash mile"