Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-04-17

in as that, do you?"
"Brag on it. I'd like to see such moon
eyed chap as you beat it!
81 don't know as I would be very proud
to beat such bunglin' work as that"
"You don't! don't you?' yelled the fel.
low, now fairly in rage at Jacks coolness.
"You'll try it, won't you? You must try
it! You shall try it. Well see what sort
ola swell you are!'
"Oh, WE'LL" said Jack, interrupting him
as he was proceeding to rave for quantity,
"just set up your board, if you want to see
me put ball through every hole YOU can
make !"
Perfectly astounded at this rash boarding
of the lion-for it was difficult to tell wheth-
er cortcmpt or simplicity dictated jacks
manner-the men set up the board, while
he walked back to the stand, and carclessly
swinging his heavy rife from his shoulder,
fired seemingly as quick as thought.
"It's trick of mine," said he, moving
towards the mark, as he lowered his gun /;
81 caught it from shootin' varments in the
eyes; always takes EN- there. It's notion
I've got-it's my fun"
They all ran eagerly to the target, and
sure enough his ball, which was larger than
1Iinch's, had passed through the same hole,
widening it
Giles humbug! It's all accident. lie
cant do that again % shouted the ruGian,
turning pale, till his lips looked blue, as the
board was held up. I'll bet the cars of a
buffalo calf against his, that lie can't do it
again"
"It you mean by that, to bet your own
cars against mine, III take you up" said
Jack laughing, while the men could not re-
sist joining him. Hinch glared round him
with a fierce chafed look, before those who
know him best quailed, and with compress
cd lips silently loaded his gun. \ new tar
get was put up, at which, after long and
careful aim, he fred The shot was fine
one The edge Of the ball had just broke
the center Jack, after looking at it, quiet
ly remarked
"Plumbing out the center is my fashion;
I'll show you kink or two, Captain Hinch,
about the clear thing in shootin' Give us
another board there boys"
Another was set up, and after throwing
out his gun on the level, in the same rapid
careless style as before, he fired and when
the eager crowd around the target announ-
ccd that he had driven the centre cross clear
out, he turned upon his heel, and with
pleasant nod to IIinch, started to walk off,
The rufIian shouted hoarscly after him.
81 thought you were coward You've
made two good shots by accident, and now
you sneak off to brag that you've beat me-
Come back, sir. You can't shoot before a
mussle half as truc"'
Jack walked on without noticing this NOR
tai insult and challenge, while Hinch laugh
ed tauntiDgly long and loud-jcering him
with exulting bitterness, as long as he could
make himself heard, ga flash in the pan,"
"a dun Chill cock, who had spread his white
feather" while the men who had been sur
priscd into profound respect for Long, and
were now still more astonished at what they
considered his "backiGg out" joined clam
orously in hooting his retreat
The fools! They madea fatal mistake, in
supposing he left the insult unrcsented from
any fear for himself Jack Long had
young and pretty wife at home, and his love
for her was stronger than his resentment for
his own indignity. His passions were slow,
and had never been fully roused-nonc of
them at least but his love, and that presented
her instantly, forlorn and deserted, with her
little ones, in this wild country should he
throw awayhis life with such desperate odds;
and seeing the turn the affair was likely to
take, he had prudently determined to get
away before it had gone too far. But had
any of those men seen the spasm Of agony
which shivered across his massive features,
as these gibing voices rang upon his cars in
insult which no proud free hunter might en-
dure, they would have taken the hint, to be-
ware of chafng the silently foaming boar any
longer.
This was anill-starred day for Jack, though;
from this time troubles began to thicken a.
bout him. The even tenor of his simple
happy life was destroyed, and indignity and
outrage followed each other fast IIinch
never forgave the unlucky skill which had
robbed him of his proudest boast, that of
being the best marksman on the frontier,
and he sworc, in base vindctive hate, to dog
him to death, or make him leave the country,
Soon after this, valuable horse belonging
to rich and powerful planter, disappeared.
He was one of those men who had compro-
missed with the Regulators, paying so much
black for exemption from their depreda-
tions, and protection against others of the
same stamp; and he now applied to Hinch,
for the recovery of his horse, and the punish
ment of the thief. This Hinch, under the
contract, was bound to do, and promised to
accomplish forthwith. He and some of his
men went off on the trail of the missing
horse, and returning next day, announced
that they had followed it with all their skill
through great many windings, evidently
intended to throw off pursuit, and had at
last traced it to Jack Longs picket fence,
and there could be no doubt but he was the
thief. The planter knew nothing of Jack,
but that he was new conner, and demanded
that he should be forced to give up the horse,
and nunisbed TO the extremity of the from