Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-03-11

OF the Colorado, opposite Austin;
weapons, rifles; and distance a hum
dred yards. Do not fail to be in
time!'
He then took three st cps across
the floor, and disappeared through
the window as he had entered.
WHAT exclaimed Judge Webb,
lis itpossible, Col. Morton, that you
intend to fight that man? He is a
mute, ifnot a positive maniac. Such
ia meeting, I fear, will sadly tarnish
the lustre of your laurels.
'.You are mistaken replied Nor
ton, with smile; "that mute is a
hero whose fame stands in the rec
ord of dozen battles, and at least
half as many bloody duels. Besides,
he is the favorite emissary and bosom
friend Of Houston. If | havesthe
good fortune to kill him, | think it
Will tempt the President to retract
his vow against venturlng any more
on the field Of honor
sYou know the man, then. Who
is he? Who is he?oo asked twenty
voices together.
deaf Smith, ! answered Morton
eoolly.
NThy, no; that cannot be- Deaf
Smith was Slain at San j acinto, re-
marked Judge Webb.
There, again, your honor is mis-
taken" said Morton. 1.-The story Of
Smiths death wa 5 a 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 a spy. I fathomed the
artifiee twelve N months since"
'.If what you say be true, you are
a mailman YOURSELF" exclaimed
Webb. sDeaf Smith was never known
to miss his mark. He has often
brought down ravens in their most
rapid flight, and killed Calnanches
and Mexicans at 4 distance Of two
bandred and fifty yards!'
yssssSay no more,'' answered Col.
Morton, in tones Of deep deter min
alton, s'the thing is already set
tied. / have already agreed to meet
him. There can be 10 disgrace in
falling 6 before such a shot, and, if
succded, my trump il viii confer the
greater glory
Such was the general habit Of
thought ceiling prevalent through
out Texas at that period.
Towards evening vast crowd as
IsemBled at the place appointed, to
witndss the hostile meeting; and Sc
great was the popular recklessness.
| as to affairs of this sort, that hume
rous and considerable sums were wa
gered on the result, At length the
red orb Of the summer sun touched
the curved rim Of the western hori-
zon, covering it all with. crimson and
gold, and filing the air with a flood
Of burning glory; and then the two
mortal antagonists, armed with long
! ponderous rifles. took their stations
back to back, and at preconcerteC
kignal-the waving Of white hand
kerchief-walke4 steadily off in op
posite directions; counting their step.
until each had measured fifty. They
both completed the given number
about the same instant, and ther
they wheeled, each to take aim anC
4 fire when he chose. AS the distance
WAS great, both paused for some sec
bnds-lohg enohghfor the beholderS
to flash their eyes from one to th'
other, and mark the striking con
trast betwixt them. The face 0
Col. Morton wa Is calm and smiling
hut the smile It bore had a mos
murderous meaning. On the con
trary, the coun tenance @f Deaf Smitl
was stern and passionless as ever
,l[A side view Of his features nigh
ha aYe been mistaken for a profile dom
lib cast-iron. The one, too, wa
Idressed in the richest cloth, the 9th
Ter in smoke-tinted leather. Blu
IIthat made no difference in Texa
then; for the heirs of heroic courag
were all considered peers-the elias
, 1of interiors embraced none but COW
| ards,
Il Presently two rifles exploded wit
J simultaneous roars. Col. Morto
gave a. prodigious bound upward:
: and dropped to the earth corps
Deaf Smith stood erect, and immt
diately began to reload his rifle; an
then, having finished his brief tasl