The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-11-07
The Laughing Hero.

! The line was formed, and then broke into
two colums, when every instrument of mu
sic in the Mexican host sounded merry
march, and they moved away with a quick
step over the prairie towards the west
/ Five minutes afterwards, a singular dialogue
/ occurred between the two leaders of the
| front column of the prisoners.
What makes you walk SO lame, Colonel
! O'Nei? Are you wounded?' asked tall,
! handsome man, with blue eyes, and brave
ly flashing forth in all their beams.
Colonel Fannin, walk lame to keep from
being wounded; do you comprehend o re-
piled the other, with a laugh-and such a
laugh as no words might describe, it was so
loud, go iudurious, like the roar Of the brea-
kers Of sea of humor. 1t was, in short, .
laugh of the inmost heart
Il do not comprehend you, for I am no ar
tist in riddles, rejoined Fannin, smiling
himself at the ludcrous gaiety Of his CON-
panion, so strangely i!l-timed.
You discover that am lame in each leg,
said Col. Neil, glancing down at the mem
bers indicated, and mimieking the move
ments of confirmed cripple, as he laughed
louder than ever. And yet, he added, in
. u-h;sna-, 4 tIarc ucIlner the rheum atISfn
in my knees, nor corns on my toes, but have
two big revOvers in my boots"
That is violation of the treaty by which
we agreed to give up our arms, Col. Fannin
mournfully suggested.
You will see, however, that | shall need
them before the sun is an hour high re-
piled Neil. All! Fannin you do not know
the treachery of these base Mexicans.'
At this instant the sun rose in sky Of
extraordinary brillancy, and million
al
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 Mexican
Infantry and troops Of horses, with loaded
mUskets and drawn swords. And then .
momentary pause, awful IN its stiffness, aud
disturbed only by an occasional shrek OF
terror, as the most timid among the captires
realized the impending storm Of fire and ex-
tinction of life's last hope.
Col Fannin fell among the first victims !;
but not SO with the giant o Neil. With the
order Of the Mexican officer to his men To
Ere, our hero stoopee almost 20 the earth,
50 that the volley passed entirely over HIM
He waited not for second. Ihrusting a
hand into the leg of each boot, he rose with
u couple Of SIX shoOters-the deadly reyo.-
yers-and commenced dschargins them
with the quick rapdity Of lightning into the
thickest ranks OF his foes.
ic-strichen with surprise and fear, the
Mexicans recoilel and opened a passage,
through which O'Ncil bounded viii the
spring Ola pauther and fled away, as If wings
were tied to his heels, while half dozen
hor>emen gave chase. For a while II seem
cd doubtful whether the giant Colonel would
not distance even these, 20 much had the
peril of the occasion increased the natural
elasticity of his i:htv muscle. But pres
emily a charger f-eter than the rest might
be discerned gaining on his human rival,
and approached so neor that the dragoon
raised his sabre for coup dc grace.
O'Ncii became conscious OF his danger,
and hastily Slackcned his speed, TIL the hot
stream Of smoke from the horses noslrils
appeared 10 miugle with his very hair and
then wheeling suddenly, he fired round
from revolver, and the rider tumbled from
his saddle. The victim then renewed his
flight.
\ mad yell Of grief and rage broke firm
the remaining troopers, as they witnessed
the fate of their comrade. and It's effect was
Immediately evident In the augmented eau
ton of their pursuit, for they sa!loped after
wards in one body, greatly retarding their
progress, so that O'Neil reached the river
before them. He paused not a moment
bat plunged head!oDg down the steep bank
into the current, and struck for the other
shore, The dragons scharged their fire
arms Intellectually, and gave over the chase.
In few minutes O'Neil landed, and as
soon as he felt satisfied that lie was perfect
ly safe, burst into an insuppressive convul
ston OF laughter, and exclaimed: at will
kill me, just to see how the yellow devils
looked when hauled my revolvers out Of
my boots.'
Such was Col. Neil; possessing fund
of humor that no misfortune could ever ex
haust, and flow of animal spirits which
would have enabled him to dance on the
grave of his deares; friends, or to have sung
Yankee Doodle at his own execution.