Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-22


IDENTIFY pronounced him match for any flve men on the
deck, without any aid from lead or cold steel.
At length, after many failures he prevailed on wealthy
younp merchant of Natchez join him at game OF po6a
They sat down beside small table near the bar, and were
soon absorbed in that most perous OF all excemeE'
which the two alluring ingredients are the vanity anu
pride OF individual skill, and the uncertainty OF general
hazard A. first the stakes small, and the run ot the
cards seemed wholly favor of the merchant but present.
y they bet more freely and gold eagles and hundred doia
notes were showered down the Board with exravaan1
ardor and then the current fortune changedebbed away
from the vounr meIchant and flowed to the Professional
gambler in stream like the ocean S tide. As usually hap
mems in such cases. his want of success only pqued and
maddeued the ser and he sought TO recover himself ny
venurnr such desperate could not but deepen
and confirm his ruin And thus they continued during
that long summer night. The intensity OF their exctmen'
became equivalent to insanity Every was strung
every energy Of the brain taxed to the utmost-ther
teeth were set hard as those of antagonists in the tug OF
mortal srfe-the sweat rolled from their brows like great
| drops of rain.
The passengers formed circle around the players and
looked on with that interest which such extraordinary con-
centaton ofn,eec and passion fails 10 inspire even
in bosoms that shudder at its excess. The merchant and
gambler atrated all eyes, and kept many awake and gaz
inc till morning. Among the latter was one presenting
piteous that might have melted hearts oi
marble to tears pale and exqusey beautiful face peep
ed necessarily from the opened door ofthe ladies' cabin,
weeping all the while as foppressed by some dreadful SEN
sation of mmedicable sorrow twas the merchants love-
y wife weeping her farewell to departing hope
There was one spectator Also, whose appearance and ac-
tons excited almost much curiosity the players did
themselves He was talh spare man of about thirty,
with handsome features golden hair keen blue eyes Of
petua brightness and his rm thin s, wore perpetual
snlea mysterious smile Of the srange the most inscru
table meaning With the exception of his red calico shirt,
his person was dressed wholly in buckskn, ornamented
with long swalng tasses and wild figures wrought out OF
yaregated beads after the fashion Of some western indians
He stood close beside the cardtabe, and held in his left
hand sheet of paper, in his right large pencil, with
which ever and he dashed of few words as en-
gagged in tracing the progress of the game.
Still the merchant and the gambler persevered in their
mental and physical TOLL The dial of the stars, with its
thousand fingers Of golden fire, pointed to the wodshad
ows of midnight but still they did not pause still was
shule and cut and pass ante up, and call you, and
rake down the pile.'' Towards morning tremendous
poured like frozen caaracthe great river roared till it
rvaed the luudest thunders of heaven and the very pilot
at the wheel was alarmed But the players heard it not
What was the umult Of the raging elements to them whose
destiny hung on the turning ola card And the smiling
blue eyed stranger in buck skin still stood by them with
his pencil and paper calmly noticing the developments OF
the game.
Finally the storm passed as the beautiful daybreak came
out like thing Of glory in the great grey east Then the
infatuated merchant distracted with his heavy losses, dar
ed the climax of folly He saked five thousand dollars,
comprising his last cent money in the world on two pairs
of kings The whskered gambler Called him; they
showing hands the baceg had two pairs OF aces, and
raked the board" The merchant dropped to the flnor
as he had been shot through the bran and that beautiful
Young wife flew his side and fell shrekng upon his bosom
They were both borne away nsensbe to the ladies' cabin
As he deposited the winnings in his pocket the gambler
emitted hoarse laugh that sounded nghtnl as the chucke
of tiend but he instantly lost color as low, calm voice
remarked in his ear "Villain, you play strong hand
a, many different games but here stands one who can beat
you at any OF them!"
He turned met the glance of those keen blue eyes pre-
ternaturay bright, and shuddered But he immediately re-
gained his presence of mind for he cowad,and then
he Prowned ill his shaggy bows met like the coil OF SER
pen and demanded steny-"Beggar who you TO ban
ter gentleman thus rudey 2"
81 am James Bowie, of Texas, ,'the other answered with
ringing laugh; "and you are John Lafiite, bastard OF
the old pirate"
The gambler reeled in his chair il he had been struck
with thunde!bo but recovered again from the shock IN
moment, and asked in firm :-"Whal game doyou
wish with me?"
PokeY iits and pistols afterwards if you play foul "
replied Bowie
Every well, rejoned the other, and they took theI
seats at the table.
For time the success seemed about equally balanced
the oan and loss being alternate. At last, the gambler
ventued one of his skilfu in dealing Bowie
smiled strangely as his quick eye detected the trick lie
said nothing however, but looked at his hand and bet five
thousand dollars stalking the money in ten large bills The
rambler went five thousand dollars higher which resulted
in sca," Bowie held "ou jacks 5" but with his habltu
=, eDdsh chucke, his antagonist showed 'four queens
exclaiming as he did So
"By heavens the pile is mine !"
"Not yet.n shouted Bowie, with both hands he
rked the heap Of to the tune of twenty thousand dol
lars into his own pocket.
Choked and purple with rage and shame the gambler
roared-
"To the hurricane deck, and let pistols 90 'rumPs tS
! turn !"
'GOOd as gOldl" replied Bowie and the two hastily as
cended the stairs and assumed their separate poslonShe
gambler over the stern and Bowie over the Prov
At that instant the was just rising in cloudess SKY
Nature looked sublime The woods and waters appeared
as parts of one divine picture, with the boundess blue
heaven for its back ground The broad bosomed river roll
ed away like an sheet of FURNISHED silver peeked
here and there with the flash of golden bubbles shining
fishes gambced in the sparkling wave and all the bright
brdsthose sweet singers, whose life is dream, and thai
dream only musc-chauuted their wild anthem TO the new
days while the two great duests, the most deadly eve
known in the south west stood with cooked pistols, eye