Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-02-04

On Its conscious stfength5 and thes
? men, without exactly knowing why
, felt some little disinclination 10 wa
r king him. He had evidently neve
been reused to knowledge of him
self, and others felt just as uncertain
t what that knowledge might bring
| forth as he did, and were not specially
J Jealous of the honor Of having. /
| first tested upon their own persons
J $50 that Jack Long might have beer
left for many day in quiet, even il
this for midable neighborhood, to cul
, tiVate his passion for MAJ rkmanship
at the expense Of the dumb, wild
things around him, but for an unfor
tunate display he was accidentally
induced to make of it.
! Happening to fall short of ammu-
milton, he went one day to the store
for fresh supply. This cabin, to-
gether with the blacksmith's shop
and one or two other huts, constitu-
ted the county town, and as powder
and liquor were only to be obtained
there, it was the central resort of the
Regulators. Jack found them all
collected for great shooting match,
in preparation for which they were
getting drunk as fast as possible, to
steady their nerves. Hinch, the Reg
ulator captain, had always been the
hero of such occasions; for, in addi-
ton to being first-rate shot, it was
known that it would bea dangerous
exertion, Of skill for any man to beat
him. For he was furious and vim
dictiye bully, and would not fail 70
make personal affair of it with any
one who should mortify his vanity by
carrying off the prize from him. In
addition, the band of scoundrels. he
commanded was entirely at his ser
vice in any extreme, SO that they
made fearful odds for single man to
contend with.
Everybody else in the county was
aware of this State Of things but
Jack Long, and he either didn't
know or didp'tcare. After they had
fired several rounds, he went loung-
ing listlessly into the crowd which
had gathered around the target; ex-I
claiming in admiration over the last
brilliant shot Of Hinch, which was
triumphantly the best. The bully
was as usual clustering vehemently,
taunting every one around him, and
when he saw Jack looking very coolly |
at the famous shot, with no grain of
that deferential admiration in his ex-
preston which was demanded, he
snatched up the board, and thrusting
it insultingly close to his face, roared |
out
Here? You Jack Long-shanks
look at that. Take good look!
Can you beat it?' Jack drew back
with quiet laugh, and SAID good
humoredly-
Psha! You don't brag on such
5hootin' as that, do your
'Brag on it, I'd like to see such
a moon-eyed chap as you beat it?'
4 don't know as ID be very proud
to beat such bunglin' work as that
you don't don't your yelled the
fellow, now fairly in a rage at Jack
,oolness, You'll try it, won you? 4
You must try it! You shall tryit,
BY Cd. We'll see what sort of
swell you arel'
oh, well!' said Jack, interrupting
lim Jas he was proceeding to rave for
luantity,- Just set u P your board,
f you want to s ee II ne put a ball i
through every hole you can maESe!r t
Perfectly astounded at this rash |
'earding of the lion-for it was diff
'ult to tell whether contempt or sim '
'licity dictated Jack's manner the I
nen set up the board, while he walked IS
'ack to the stand, and carelessly I
winging his heavy rifle from his t
houfder, fred seemingly quick as 5
hought. Its a trick Of mine, said f
e, moving towards the mark, as he ?
owered his gun; 4 caught it from |
Aootin varments in the eyes;;---al- b
'ays takes 'em there. It's ga notion P
We got-it's my fln. They all q
an eagerly to the target, and sure II
nough his ball, which was larger d
nan Hinch's, had passed through the lC
ame hole, widening it, la
Hes a humbug! TIT all accidentl Itt
lie can't do that again!' shouted the al
lffian, turning pale, till his lips et
'oked blue, as the board was held b
P. I'll bet the ears Of a bufalo K