Volcano weekly ledger., 1855-12-29

the field of honor.n
You know the man, then? Who is he?"
Deaf Smith" answered Morton, coolly.
Why, no that cannot be- Deaf Smith
was slain at San Jacnto," remarked Judge
Webb.
There again your honor is mistaken, !" said
Morton. The story Of Smiths death was a
mere tctlon, got up by Houston to save his
iayorite from the vengeance of certain Tex
ans In whose conduct he had acted as a spy"
| III what you say be true, you are mad
man yourself !" exclaimed Webb. Deaf
Smith was never known to miss his mark. He
has often brought down ravens in their rapid
flight, and killed Camanches and Mexcans
at distance Of two hundred and fifty
yards !"
Say no more" answered Colonel Morton,
in tones Of deep determination the thing is
already settled. have agreed to meet him.
There can be no disgrace in falling before such
shot, and if l succeed, my triumph will con-
fer the greater glory
Such was the general habit Of thought and
feeling prevalent throughout Texas at that
period
Towards evening vast crowd assembled at
the place appointed to witness the hostile
meeting, and so great was the popular reck-
lessness as to affairs of the sort, that numer-
GUS and considerable sums were wagered on
the result At length the red orb of the
summer sun touched the curved rim of the
western horizon, covering it all with crimson
and gold, and filling the air with food of
burning glory and the two mortal antago-
nists, armed with long, ponderous rifles, took
their station. back to back, and at a precon-
certed signal--the waving Of handkerchief
walked slowly and steadily in opposite di-
reetions, counting their steps, until each had
measured fifty. They both completed the Civ
en- number about the same instant, and then
they wheeled, each to aim and fire when they
chose. AS the distance was great, both paus-
ed for some seconds-long enough for the be-
holders to fash their eyes from one to anoth-
er, and mark the striking difference between
them The face Of Colonel Morton was calm
and smiling, but the smile it bore had most
murderous meaning. On the contrary, the
countenance OF Deaf Smith was stern and
passionless as ever. A side view of the fea-
lures might have been mistaken for profile
done in cast iron. The one, too, was dressed
in the richest cloth, the other in smoke tinted
leather. But that made no difference in Tex
as then for the heirs of heroic courage were
all considered peers-the class of interiors
embraced none but towards.
Presently two rifles exploded with simulta-
neous roars. Colonel Morton gave a prodg-
ious bound upwards, and fell to the earth
corpse. Deaf Smith stood erect, and imme-
dately began to reload his rife and then
having finished his brief task, he hastened
away into an adjacent forest
Three days afterwards, Houston, accompa-
MED by Deaf Smith and ten more men, ap-
pearcd in Austin, and without opposition re-
moved the State papers
The history of the hero Of the foregoing
anecdote was one of the most extraordinary
ever known in the West. He made his ad
vent in Texas at at an early period, and con-
tinued to reside there until his death. which
happened about two years ago; but although
he had many warm personal friends, no one
could ever ascertain either the land of his
birth, or a single CLEAN Of his previous biog-
raphy. When he was questioned on the sub
ject he pressed his finger on his lip, and if
pressed more urgently, his brow writhed, and
his dark eye seemed to shoot sparks of livid
fire lie could write with astonishing cor
rectness and facility, considering his situation;
and although denied the exquisite pleasure
and priceless advantages of the sense of hear
ing, nature had given him ample compensa-
ton, by an eye quick and far-seeing as an ca
giles, and scent keen and Incredible as that
of raven. He could discover objects miles
away in the far-of prairie, when others could
perceive nothing but earth and sky, and the
rangers used to declare that he could catch
the scent of Mexican or Indian at as great
distance as buzzard could distinguish the
odor of dead carcass.
1t was these qualities that fitted him so
well for a spy, in which capacity he rendered
invaluable service to Houston's army during
the war of independence He always went
alone, and generally obtained the information
desired His habits in private life were equal
ly singular. He never could be persuaded to
sleep under the roof of house, or even to
use tent cloth. Wrapped in his blanket, he
loved to lie out in the open air, under the blue
canopy of pure ether and count the stars, or
gaze with yearning look at the melancholy
moon When not employedas a spy or guide
he subsisted by hunting, being often absent
on solitary excursions, for weeks and even
months together, in the wilderness. lie was
I genuine son Of nature, grown up child OF
the woods and prairie, which he worshipped
\ with a sort of Pagan alteration. Excluded
ply his ipfrmities from cordial fellowship with
his kind, he made the inanimate things of the
eafthshjs friends, and entered by his hearts
wntdtIopton into brotherhood with the lu-
minaries of heaven. Wherever there was
land or water. barren mountains or tangled