The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1850-04-11

ite cmissary and bosom friend of Hous-
ton. If | have the good fortune to kill
him. l think it will tempt the President
to retract his vow against venturing any
more on the field of honor"
"You know the man, then. Who is
hes Who is he w asked twenty voices
together.
"Deaf Smith," answered Morton,
coolly.
.Why, no; that cannot be. Deaf
Smith was slain at. San Jacinto," re-
marked Judge Webb.
sThere again, your honor is mista-
ken,n said Morton. The story OF
Smiths death was mere fiction, got
up by Houston to save the life of his
favorite from the sworn vengeance of
certain Texans, on whose conduct he
had acted as spy. l fathomed the
artifice twelve months since"
"If what you say be true, You are 4
madman yourselfw exclaimed Webb.
"Deaf Smith was never known to miss
his mark He has often brought down
ravens in their most rapid flight and
killed Camanches and Mexicans at Il
distance of $50 yardsr'
"Say no more" answered Colonel
Morton, in tones of deep determination !;
"the thing is already settled. / have
already agreed TO meet him. There
can be no disgrace in falling before
such a shot, and if / succeed, my
triumph will confer the greater glorym
Such was the general habit of thought
and feeling prevalent throughout Texas
at that period.
Towards evening a vast crowd assem-
bled at the place appointed to witness
the hostile meeting; and so great was
the popular recklessness as to affairs OF
the sort. that numerous and considera-
Bile sums were wagered on the result.
At length the red orb of the summer
sun touched the curved rim of the
western horizon, covering it all with
crimson and gold, and filling the air
with food of burning glory; and then
the two mortal antagonists, armed with
long, ponderous rifles, took their station.
back to back, and at preconcerted
signal-the waving of white handker-
chief-walked slowly and steadily off
in opposite directions, counting their
steps until each had measured fifty
They both completed the given number
about the same instant, and then they
wheeled, each to aim and fire when he
chose. As the distance was great, both
paused for some seconds-long enough
for the beholders to flash their eyes
from one to the other, and mark the
striking contrast betwixt them. The
face Of Col. Morton was calm and
smiling, but the smile it bore had a
fierce and most murderous meaning.
On the contrary, the countenance OF
Deaf Smith was stern and passionless
as ever. A side-view of his. features
might have been mistaken for profile
done in cast-iron. The one, too, was
dressed in the richest cloth, the other
in smoke-tinted leather. But that made
no difference in Texas then; for the
heirs of heroic courage were all con-
sidered peers-the class of interiors
embraced none but towards.
fresen.ly Two Ines ceiIno, ehploIeN Mo~,an @
simuilaneous ioa's So,onu, ~ u aud
gase Plou,Saous .D.h pJa.a opn nprnsa s nest
cropped 70 ,he eaIn "a. oE,psu .a;a,e1,- eH-
Sml'n s.oou ,as siso +. aa .;ao. . md. .hen
peeah 20 lsioa4 Is aHe 80 "' :, bas
naving nnls.ea .is u.1G. I;a..n, .aS fa.es, @
'ensu nj away m.0 VIC auIa cnasai Iii Ho,s
inree daysal'e'n va aiIs' Es ueHs. Un;,h ous ond
Ton, accoHpaineo uy Dcai ..n and I
zen more msn,aPPea:eu ~ i Ausi , ,ha
~lInouI Iulsnel oPPoSi'ioh feho'ou 'no
S'a.e PaPeIs -. - f az f,re
Inc nls'oly oi .ne nelo oe e .he INC LUZ, .o.e
gong anecuo'e was ono - ~ IL W., VS.
eH'laoluinsly Ever enIrn T ~ .no "". =. -.
ne maoe ms aussn. - ieAas - :. 1n ,hars &
Pe.iod, anu .n con'.nbeI h;ah - h,nnaned u - souae
un.a ..,s 'ea. M W., ~ ai,happh % he had
IWo years aso ~. I s1a - 80 80
many Malln s peas.na, a;,Sar S ,ha az ,snd and
ccula th essI as'en s;na,e % n,a.m % &C h;s
Oh ms ulf'h h VI s" wIea % hs was s
previous auaos ,sp s,h;;oo. ha laid his
4ues'lonea ou ..'o sutt assad moro
enhse1 on u: *, nu and h;s