The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1853-09-01
A TEXAN RANGERS BEST SHOT.

thoughtful faces, they watched the Shad
ows OF night stealing over lake aud chap
paral.
"An hour like this casts spell upor
my spirits" said Cameron. Il love Il
see the glare OF day fade and give place
to the dim. placid twilight"
II have similar feelings" replied Will
son. "but like night best when more
advanced towards the small hours. and
the moon and stars are brightly beaming.
Cameron made no reply. and the par.
ties remained silent. Wilson was the
first to speake.
THAT'S heavy rife Of yours" he
said glancng at the weapon upon which
Cameron was leaning. II dare say it
has been of service TO YOU in its timer
mo money could Undue me 10 part with
it, because have proved ITS metal on
many occasions. Did | ever tell you oI
an adventure that | had once near the
Red Riverl"
you never did; | should like to hear
it," said Wilson.
Several years ago." resumed Came.
ron, IL was hunting near Cross TImbers.
not far from Red River. The Indians
were then Troublesome, and frequently
Z, committed their depredations on the from
t4ier settlements; but was fond of hun
ting and cared lttle for them. willing to
Irustmy own courage and ingenuity any
emergency that might occur. carried
this same rife, and 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
carry off an ounce and halt OF lead
skiIIIuIy sped on its errand!
Having discovered Indian signs one
day, thought it best to change my hun.
ting ground; and so put considerable
distance between me and the spot, and
encamped on wide prairie, bounded OF
the essl by the Cross TImberS. Not long
after this event, | was sitting on the bank
OF small stream, resting my weary limbs
after long and ialiguing hunt, when
was fred upon and slightly wounded
II was fortunate enough TO discover the
marksman, who proved 10 be an Indian.
of what tribe do not now remember
| Instantly shot him dead. and then per-
ceived that he was not alone; for one OIL
his brethren was with him, who made good
his escape, Time passed on, and | was
undiSturbed in my amusemenlS for a long
time.
"One day. not feeling very well, | re,
turned 10 my camp sooner than usual. |
laid down 10 sleep, but could not, felt
uneasy and nervous, and so arose and
went on the prairie. The grass was now
very tall, and the hot suns OF the season
had dried it until it was orispy, and ratified
as | walked through it. | aScended d
gentle swell and looked around me. The
scene was grand one. On one hand
were the Cross Timbers dmIy seen in the
distance, resembling dense wal! of wood
built by human hands; while in every
other 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 10 point. they were suddenly fixed
upon a solitary figure several hundred
yards distant, at the foot OF the long swell
or roll upon which | was standing
"He stood in an open space, and | at
first wondered how that could be, as the
grass was high in every other PLACES but
the affair soon explained itself Moretare
luI exainaton showed me that the solIta-
ry object was an Indian, aud his object
in packing up the dry grass was evident;
he was gong to fire the prairie 1t was
doubles / e same fellow that had escaped
a, the time had been fired on. He la
discovered my retreat. and was about TO
revenge himself in a singular manner.
The wind was blowing fresh towards
me, and II the grass had been set on fire,
no power on earth could have saved me
for the heetr morse could not run fast
enough 10 escape It's devourlnp 0ames.-
\ TERRIBLE dread OF thai kind OF death
came over me. | stood like one laCina
ted, aud gazed al the preparations OF the
savage. He stood in the middle OF the
open space he had made, with blazilg
torch IN his hand. lnnumefabe lhOuglo
rushed through my mInd in an instant oi
time. | was never SO completely para
Iyzed and stupfed before ia my lie. 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 aud Speculated
upon in that brieI and broken fragment
OF time in which the savage stood waiting
for the brand to burn more brightly be.
fore he thrust il into the grass.
"Yes. my destiny was 10 be burned
Some hunter or traveller would find my
body charred or blackened; and others.
alter time, would pass my bones bleach
ing in the sun.
81 .shuddered; my eyes ielt hot; my
throat dry. and | imagined that fell the
flames creeping over me. II il had been
danger that could have balled with, OF
il could have seen any chance OF es
cape depending upon my own exertIons
il would have been dIfierenti but now all
that could do was TO stand and stare the
most dreadful OF all deaths in the lace.
"You must remember that all these
1 ideas and reflections run through my
mind in the shortest appreciable space o
time; for you must know that The suddeI
prospects OF great danger. flom which
there is no apparent mode Of escape, i'm