The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-02-06

target was put up, at which, alter long
and careful aim,, he fired. The shot
was a fine one. The edge Of the ball
had just broke the centre. Jack, after
looking at it, quietly remarked n,
"Plumlng out the centre is my fash
ion; iii show you kink or two, Cap
tain Hinch, about the clear thing in
shootn'. Give US another board there,
boysw
Another was set up, and after throw
ing out his gun on the level, in the
same rapid careless style as before, he
fired; and when the eager crowd around
the target announced that he had driv-
en- the centre cross clear out, he turn
ed upon his heel, and with pleasant
nod 10 Hinch, started to walk off. The
rufian shouted hoarsely after him:
81 thought you were Id coward
You've made two good shots by acci-
dent, and now you sneak off to brag
that you've beat me. Come back, sir!
You can't shoot before a muzzle half as
truew
Jack walked on without noticing
this mortal insult and challenge, while
Hinch laughed tauntingly long and
loud ,--jeeringhim with exuIting bitter
ness, as long as he could make himself
heard, as ''a flash in the pan,"--.'a dung
hill cock, who had spread his white
feather" while the men who had been
surprised into a profound respect for
Long, and were now still more aston
ished at what they considered his
"backing OUT, joined clamorousy in
hooting his retreat. ,-
The fools! They made fatal mis-
take, in supposing he left the insult un-
resented from any fear for himself.
Jack Long had young and pretty
wife at home, and his love for her was
stronger than his resentment for his
own indignity. His passions were
slow, and had never been fully reused
none OF them at least but this love, and
that presented her instantly, forlorn
and deserted, with her little ones, in
this wild country, should he thro W
away his life with such desperate odds:
and seeing the turn the affair was like.
y to take, he had prudenlIy determin-
ed to get away before 1t had gone too
far. But had any of those men seen
the spasm of agony which shivered
across his massive features, as these
gliding voices rang upon his ears in in
suit which no proud free hunter might
endure, they would have taken the hint,
to beware of chafing the silently foam
ing boar any longer. ...
This was an iIl-starred day for Jack,
though; from this time troubles began
to thicken about him. The even tenor
Of his simple happy life was destroyed,
and indignity and outrage followed
each other fast. Hinch never forgave
the unlucky skill which had robbed him
of his proudest boast, that of being the
best marksman on the frontier; and he
swore, IN base vindictive hate, to dog
him to the death, or make him leave
the country. Soon after this, valua-
Bile horse belonging to a rich and pow
erful planter, disappeared. He was
one of those men who had compromised
with the Regulators, paying SO much
black-mail for exemption from their
depredations, and protection against
others OF the same stamp; and he now
applied to Hinch, for the recovery Of
his horse, and the punishment of the
thief. This Hinch, under their con-
tract, was bound to do, and promised
to accomplish forthwith. He and some
OF his men went off on the trail of the
missing horse, and returning next day,
announced that they had followed it
with all their skill through great many
windings, evidently intended to throw
of pursuit, and had at last traced tito
Jack Longs picket fence, and there
could be no doubt but he was the thief!
The planter knew nothing Of Jack, but
that he was new conner, and demand
ed that he should be forced to give up
the horse, and punished to the extremi-
ty ofthe frontier code. But this was
Hinch's policy yet awhile. He knew
the proofs were not strong enough to
make the charge plausible. even before
a Lynch Court, oi which he himself was
both the prosecutor, Judge, and execu-
toner. His object was to first get up
a hue and cry against Long, and under
cover Of general excitement, accom-
plush his deviish purposes without ques-
ton or mock trial even. So that, after
a great deal OF maneuvring, for eight
or ten days, during which time the
charge against Long was industriously
circula ed by his myrmadons, so as to
attract general attention and expecta-
tomas TO the result Of his Investigations,
--,he proclaimed far and wide that he