Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-03
THE LAUGHING HERO

The line was formed, and then broke into
two columns, when every instrument Of music
In the Mexican host sounded q merry march.
and they moved away with a quick step over
the prairie towards the west.
Five minutes afterwards, singular dialogue
occurred between the two leaders Of the front
columns of the prisoners.
What makes you walk so lame. Col. O'Nsil9
Arc you wounded ?'' asked tall, handsome
man, with blue eyes, and bravery flashing forth
in all their beams
4" Colonel Fannin, walk lame to keep from
being wounded; do you comprehend ?" replied
the other, with laugh-and such laugh as
no words might describe, it was so loud, so lux
urious, like the roar of the breakers of sea OF
humor' 1t was, IN short laugh of the inmost
heart.
" do not comprehend you, for am no artist
In riddles, r,jOined Fannin, smiling himself
at the ludicrous gaiety of his companion, SO
strangely i'll timed.
" lou discover that I am lame in each leg
said Col. Neil, glancing down at the members
indicated, and mimicking the movements of a
confirmed cripple as be laughed louder than
ever. " And yet; he added in a whisper. 80
have neither the rheumatism in my knees, nor
corns on my toes, but have two big revoIvers in
my boots. ~
That is violation Of the treaty by which
we agreed to deliver up our arms" Col. Fannin
mournfully suggested.
" You will see, however, that 1 shall need
them before the sun is an hour high" replied
Neil. "Ah, Fannin YOU do not know the
treachery of these base Mexicans"
At the instant the sun rose in a sky of extra
ordinary brilliancy, and million of fower-cups
tung their rich Odors abroad over the green
prairie, as an Offering to the lord of light when
the mandate Of "halt'' was given by one of Santa
Anna's aids, and two columns Of prisoners were
broken up and scattered over the plain in small
hollow squares, encircled on every side by Mex.
lean Infantry and troops OF horses, with loaded
muskets and drawn swords And then a mo-
mentary pause, awful in its Stiffness and dis
turbed only by an occasional shrek of terror, as
the most tlmid among the captives realized the
impending storm of fire and extinction Of life
last hope.
Col. Fannin fell among the first victims but
not 50 with the giant O'Neil. With the order
OF the Mexican officer to his men to fire, our
hero stopped almost to the earth, so that the
vOlley passed entirely over him. He waited not
Tor second. Thrusting hand into the leg OF
each boot, he rose with couple Of six-shooters
the deadly reyOlvers-and commenced dis
charging them with the quick rapidity Of light
ming into the thickest ranks Of his foes
Panic-stricken with surprise and fear, the
Me1icans recolled aHd opened passage, through
which O'Neil bounded with the spring of a pan
ther and fed away, as if wings were tied to his
heels. while half dozen horsemen gave chase
For a while it seemed doubtful whether the vi
ant Colonel would not distance even these, 80
much had the peril of the occasion increased
the natural elasticity Of his mighty muscle
But presently charger heeter than tho rest
might be discerned gaining on his human rival,
and approached so near that the dragoon raised
his sabre Tor coup de grace.
ONeal became conscious of his danger, and
hastily slackened his speed till the hot stream
OF smoke from the horses nOstrils appeared to
mlngle with his very hair; and then wheeling
suddenly, he fired round from a revolver and
the rider tumbled from his saddle The victim
then renewed his flight
A mad yell Of grief and rage broke from the
remaining troopers as they witnessed the fate
OF their cOmrade, and its effect was immedi-
ately evident in the augmented caution of their
pursuit; for they galloped afterwards in one
body, greatly retarding their progress, 30 that
v Neil reached the river before them He
paused not a moment, but plunged headlong
down the steep bank into the current and
struck for the other shore The dragons dis
charged their firearms Intellectually, and gave
over the chase.
In a few minutes 0'Neil landed, and as soon
as he felt satisfied that he was perfectly safe,
burst into an insuppressive conyulsion of laugh
ter, and exclaimed: at will kill me, lust to
see how astonished the yellow devils looked
when hauled my revolvers out of nv boots -
Such was Col. O'Neil; possessing fund OF
humor that no misfortune could ever exhaust.
and q flow Of animal spirits which would have
enabled him to dance on the grave of all his
dearest friends, or to have sung Yankee
Doodle at his own execution,