The North-Carolinian., 1853-01-15

VOL. 13-Nos 226.
they sbow s.i -a.seiss the Llackl~g had ..two
pairs OF aces, and ..rakeI the board. -
The merchant dropped to the Hour ~ IL he
had been shot through the brain, aud that
beautiful young wife Few 20 his aide and
fea shrieking upon his bosom. They
were both borne away insensible to the
ladies' cabin.
pocket. the gambler emitted hoarse laugh sS
that sounded frightfui as the chucklesafA
hend; but he instantly lost color, - low,
calO, voice remarked ia his ear
william. you play strong hand at
many different games, but here stands one p
that can beat you at all Of the"'!"
lie sturnrtl. met the glance oi those keen
shuddere.. but he Immediately gained his
| presence Of n.in.I. for he coward.
and then lie frowned till his shaggy brows
met like the coil of \ serpent, and DC
manded sternly-
"bssyar, wno are 90" to banter gen
tleman thus rudelv
II am James Bowie. Of Texas" the
other answered with rlnsi ING laugh. and
yoM are John Lafitte, bastard ol the old
pirate!"
The gambler reelr.i in his chair as il he
had been struck with thunderbot, but
recovered again from the shock in mo-
ment. and asked in a firm tome
- What Sa"e do you " isl with me ~
p. ker first, and pistols afterwards, if
you play foul!'' replied Bowie.
"Very WE'LL" rejoined the other, and
r they took their seats at the table.
For time the success seemed about
equally balanced, the gain aud loss being
& alternate.-At last the gambler ventured
1 one Of his skiIful manoeuvres i'll dealing.
h Bowie smiled strangely as his quick eye
Y detected the trick. lie said nothing. how
J. ever but looked at his hand, and bet five
e thousand dollars, stalking the money in ten
IS large bills. The gambler went five thou
; sand dollars higher. which resulted III
+" ''call.'
e Bowie held ..four jacks - but. with
his habtua al fient}ish chucklc, his antago mist
e showed -four queens" exclaiming Is hc
r. did su-
n by heaven. the pile is mine:'
IS ..Not yet.' shouted Bowie, as with both
VI hands he raked the heap Of notes TO the
'e tune Of twenty Thousand dollars, into his
~ pocket.
Id Choking. and purple with rage and
u. shame. the gaMbler rOaeed- --~----- .--~
's ITO the hurricane deck, and let pistols
8 be trump this turn!
y. ''Good a, .oid:' replied Bowie. and the
OF two hastily ascended the stairs and assum-
:" cd their separate positions-the gambler
~ over the stern. ard Bowie over the prov.
td At that instant the sun was just rising
n. 10 Il ciOu.IIess sky. Nature looked sub
~ lime-a bride worthy her Almighty Iius-
m band aud God. The woods and waters
on appeared as parts Of one divine picture
m, with the boanLle,s blue Of heaven for its
he back ground. The broad -bosomed rive,
Ter rolled away like an immense sheet OF bur
ke nished silver. >peckled here and there " itI
he flash Of golden bubbles shining tisi,r.
zee gamboiled in the sparkling wave; and al
rus the bright birds-these sweet singers
'Iy whose life is dream, and that dream onl y
he musi1-chaunted their wild anthem to the
'p' new day; while the two great duclists
me the most deadly ever known in the south
w. west, stood with cooked pistols eye Il
'ng eve. and their fingers ixe! on the hai
triggers, prepared aud waiting to slay a".
'ee be slain.
as IL am ready. You give the word.
m cried Bowie, in his clear. ringing voice
'ut and with that inseparabIe smile Of s,rang'
len aiming on his p~.
raj IL am ready. Fire!' shouted the gam
e a bier. in tones. murderous as death.
ot The two pistols roared simultaneously V
n". Bowie did not move, though he hat
rt. barely escaped with his life, for the bule
OK Of hi. foe had cut away one ct the S"lde'
lis. locks of his yellow hair. The gamble
'ed was shot through the heart. and. droPpin
trn on the brink Of the deck, had almost tu",
ara bled into the river. He was buried by th
OF saua,ters at the next wood yard. Aa
. III" thus perished justly bastard son of tn
e" great pirate Latiire.
'ro- There never a jury empanel'ed i
the West who would have brought in
'e. verdict against any man tor killing hi
o" aud more especially under the circumsta'
an" , ces, because public opinion pronounce
RIO. that ''he ought to be killed. And sue
"o, were the desperadoes that Bowie com'noi
az" " extermnated.
axe The generous victor Immediately pr
9 cceded to the ladies' cabin. and restore
''"- the winnings Of the gambler to the youn
DIV" mercha Mt aud his beautiful wife. who bot
oar received the boon gift from heavel
IS .! with as much gratitude as JOY.
heel
card Do,sr-A citizen wh
sing n. ,h, cider Of whom was
." 6n. gentleman and the otner always a
l'"y tsnt;ve to business in his fathers bankin
100" concern. gave to them the appei!auons
m'y Co',,,, and Discoun..