Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-06
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AN
Is 'fllIll gs Y, A 6 :,
RY JEFFERSON RENNETr.

MANY years ago, shortly after the tri-
Itl umphant conclusion Of the revolt of
Texas against Mexico, all eyes seemed
turned in the direction of the newly &C
quired country. The South, in particular,
regarded the wonderful triumph of a hand
full Of hardy, free born citizens, over the
sordid and slavish hosts of the tyranical
Mexican Government, as an ordination of
Providence that they should go in and
possess the land. Accordingly several of
the States-Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee
and Western Virginia in particular-sent
company after company Of stern, r~esolute
men, with their families and wagon-trains
Of household goods and chattels, far into
the interior of their new, rich, and bloom
ing heritage.
Most generally, the emigrating party
consisted of three or four families, who
designed settling in contiguity with each
other, for the purpose of self protection,
and with a view to tne locating of villa
ges and townships; but occasionally asol-
itary traveller, one possessing the extreme
spirit of adventure, well mounted and well
equipped, might be seen quietly pursuing
his way over the rich rolling lands to the
westard of Nacogdoches. It is with one
of the latter our story has to do, but at a
period slightly anterior to the fall Of Ala
mo.
1t was on one of those soft, quiet days,
so peculiar to the. central regions Of Tex
as, wien the very atmosphere, loaded with
its balmy perfumes, seems to incline all
animated nature to repose, that a solitary
traveller was slowly vending his way over
the famous rolling red lands, which
stretch for hundreds of miles beyond the
river Sabine. That he had ridden fast
and far was evident from the appearance
of his horse, whose foaming TANKS and
dropping head eyinced an unusual degree
of fatigue. 1t was a day as we have said
calculated to call forth a dreamy, reflec-
tive mood; the surrounding country was
rich in all the beauties of that delightful
cline; the glorious magnolia, the snowy
cotton wood, tho sweetscented china,
mingling with a thousand other perfumes
from the b~lossoming trees and draping
vines, threw their aromatic odors upon
the slumbering air, and both horse and RI
der for the time seemed to relapse into a
quiescent state corresponding to the
scene. fH
He was a man of apparently small stat
ne; dressed in the style peculiar to the
hardy adventurers of that region. A felt
hat, with its long, broad, slouching brim
threw a quiet shadow over his bronzed,
but somewhat youthful face. His features,
though efeminate to a degree, were like.
wise stern and decisive, and a glance al
his small, keen blue eye. would have as.
Sured any one acquainted with human ma
tnre that he was not an individual to be
trified with, or molested with impunity.-
He wore the usual hunting frock Of the
berderers, and in a belt beneath were
thrust a couple Of brace of silver mounted
pistols. and a long, heavy, peculiarly
shaped knife. to which he was the first tc
give a name that has perpetuated his own.
Trowsers of coarse stuff, with ornamented
buckSkin ieggfngs covering The tops of q
pair Of heavy boots, completed his attire
The day was far advanced; and loom
ing up in the west were few black clouds
which betokened the approach Of one Of
those terrific storms which sometimes
sweep over that country with a desolatine
power. For some half an hour the horse.
men quietly pursued his way, his eye,
bent on the ground, his mind evidently
far away upon other scenes, though, still
feeling the soothing influence Of the one
which surrounded him. At length ht
reached the bank of a small stream, where
the bushes grew thick upon either side 0
the road he was pursuing, when just a
his thirsty animal had bent his head tt
the water, he was suddenly startled BY
the report ola rife, and a tingling sensa
ton on his forehead. as the ball whizzeC
past, assured him how near that momen
had been his last.
Refining up his mettlesome beast. ant
drawing a pistol from his belt, he glancec
c quickly and nervously about him, as if tt
guard himself from the attacks of mum
bers. and then settled his gaze for a few
moments upon the point where the bal
had been fired. He saw nothing except
thin wreath of smoke curling among the
Z clustered leaves, at a distance of perhap
some twenty feet; and not caring longe
to remain a quiet target for his invinci
ble foe, who might ever at that momen
be taking a more certain aim, he plunge,
his rowels deep into the flank of his nobl
horse. and dashing through the strear
and up the opposite slope, soon cleare
the thicket, and went speeding onwar
like the wind.
1t was now, for the FIRST time, that h
! perceived the advancing storm; and awar
from its appearance, and the %sullen, heay
blooming Of its still distant thunders, tia