The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1852-11-17
The Texas Rangers hest shot.


ows of night stealing over lake and chap
parel. 81
can hour like this casts spell upon
my spirit" said Cameron. 81 love to see
the glare of day fade and give place to the
dim, placid twilight"
= FL have similar feelings" replied Will
son, 'but like night best when more ad-
vanced toward the small hours, and the
moon and stars are brightly beaming"
Cameron made no reply, and the parties
remained silent. Wilson was first to
speak.
That's heavy rifle of yours" he said,
.glancing at the weapon upon which Cam
eron was leaning 81 dare say it has been
of service to you in its time!"
s.No money could induce me to part with
it, because Ihave proved its metal on
many occasions. Did l ever tell you of an
adventure that had once near Red riverp'
"You never did; should like to hear
it," said Wilson.
Several years ago." resumed Gamer
On, 81 was hunting near Cross Timbers,
not far from Red River. The Indians
were then troublesome, and frequently
committed their depredations upon the
frontier settlements; but was fond of hunt
ing and cared little for them, willing to
trust to my own courage and ingenuity in
any emergency that might occur. l car
ried this same rifle. aud was called one of
the best shots in the country.
MANY people said the piece was too
heavy for common use; but | was accus-
toned to it, and it didn't feel burdensome
to me; and when fired it was sure to do
the right thing, for what animal could car
ry off an ounce and half of lead, skilfully
sped on its Grand!
Having discovered Indian signs one
day, l thought it best to change my hunt
ing ground; and so put considerable dis
lance between me and the spot, and en-
campej on wide prairie, bounded on the
east by the Gross Timbers." Not long
after this event, was sitting on the bank
Of stream, resting my weary limbs after
a long and fatigueing hunt, when L was
fired upon and slightly wounded.
81 was fortunate enough to discover the
marksman, who proved to be an Indian, of
what tribe do not now remember. in
stantly shot him dead, and then perceived
that he was not alone; for one of his breth-
rem was with him, who made good his es-
cape. Time passed on, and was undis-
turbed in my amusements for long time
Zone day, not feeling very well, re-
turned to my camp sooner than usual. l
laid down to sleep, but could not. felt
uneasy and nervous, and so arose and went
out on the prairie The grass was now
very tall, and the hot suns of the season
had dried it until it was crispy, and ratified
as l walked through it. | assembled a gem
tie swell and looked around me- The
scene was a grand one. On one hand
were the "Cross Timbers" dimly seen in
the distance, resembling dense wall of
wood built by human hands; while in
every direction the prairie stretched away
until lost in the distance. The sun was
getting low, and looked like sunset on
the sea. AS my eyes wandered from
point to point, they were suddenly fixed up
on solitary figure several hundred yards
distant, at the footof the long swell or
roll upon which was standing
ale stood in an open space, and at fir;
wondered how that could be, as the grass was
so high in every other place; but the affair
soon explained ITSELF More careful exami-
nation showed me that the solitary object was
an Indian, and his object in plucking up tbs
dry grass was evident; he was going to fire
the prairie! 1t was doubtless the fellow that
had escaped at the time had been fired on
He had discovered my retreat and was about
to revenge his comrade in a singular manner.
"'rhe wind was blowing fresh towards me,
and il the grass had been set on fl e, no pow-
er on earth could have saved me, for the fleet
est horse could not run fast enough to escape
is devouring flames. A terrible dread of that
kind of ceath came over me. | stood like
one fascinated, and gazed at the preparations
of the savage. He stood in the middle of the
open sp ice he had made, with a blazing torch
in his hand. Innumerable thoughts rushed
through my mind in an instant of time. |
was never so completely paralyzed and stupe-
fed before in my life. The power of thought
seemed to be the only power left me, and
that was stimulated to an unnatural degree.
The past, present and future were reviewed
and spcculated Upon in that brief and broken
fragment of time in which the savage stood
waiting for the brand to burn more brightly
before he thrust it into the grass.
"Yes, my destiny was to be burned!-Some
hunter or traveller would find my body char
red and nlackened and others after a time
would pass my bones bleaching in the sun.
al shuddered; my eyes felt hot; my throat
was dry, and imagined that felt the flames
creeping over me. If it had been a danger
that could bave batted with, or if | could
have seen any chance for escape depending
upon my own exertions, it would have been
different; but now all could do was TO stand
and stare the most dreadful of all deaths in
the face.
"You must remember that all these ideas
and reflections rushed through my mind in
the shortest annrpcinhla snace of tirnn. for