Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-07-14
NICK C LES GIRL:
ORA BRUSH WITH THE oAMAScHZs.
BY LIEUT.. H., OF TENNESSEE.


BY LIEUT.. H., OF TENNESSEE.
Shortly after the close of the Mexican war
went by my fathers desire to Texas, to look
after some land which he had bought of Cen
eral Sam Houston, several years before, and to
see what could be done with it, pay taxes, etc.
The land lay on the extreme western borders
of the State, and the nearest hacienda, or
plantation, to it was owned by old ssNick Cas-
tie, one of the original rangers who had
fought from the rising of the ssLone STAR" up
to the hour when it was free and ssincorporate'
with our own beloved Union.
Nick hated the ssyellow- bellied greasers''-
as lie termed the Mexicans-con and
II was his boast that he had .laid out'' more
of them than he could count years of his life.
let he hated with more bitterness the copper
colored Camanches, for they would give him
no rest. He had the best cattle range in the
State but he had to keep mounted guards
with his herds constantly, and even then he
frequently lost cattle and sometimes his men
fel. by the hands OF the red thieves. But, as
he said, he had taken chair" from more than
score of them, and they dreaded him and his
six-shooters so much, that when he took sad
die, they were among the suddenly missing, no
matter how large their force
Nick's wife was mild and quiet little crea-
turc-by blood, half Mexican-who looked up
TO him as if he were god to her. He was
rough, bnt then there was good humor in
meant no harm by it.
His daughter, Balbina, was one of the most
magnificent girls, in face and figure, that it
has ever been my lot 10 behold. Tall, full
framed, elegant in every proportion, with eyes
as black as thUnder-cloud at night, and bright
the fire within it-features expressive of
courage and inteiligence-she was just such
one as would choose for my empress, were l
the ruler of continent. Her accomplish
mcnts, it is true, were not precisely such as
distinguished painted belle of the avenue
but in her free and naughty step, she would
have shamed the mincing doll of the city; in
her rich color, her expanded chest, her erect
attitude, given her study which she could
never initiate. Balbina thoroughly understood
everything connected with household affairs
and when released from those cares, she would
spring upon the back of the widest Steed in
her fathers corral, gallop with its utmost
speed over the far spreading prairie; or with
her rife in hand, bring down game just as sure
gy as could her long practised sire.
Such beauty as hers sure to attract ad-
mirers from among the hardy frontersmen
and rangers in that section; but Balbina only
laughed at their advances, and babe them keep
their distance. On one occasion, when
.'grand peace-!alk''-as usual, humbug-waS
held with the Indian chiefs, by the government
officers Nick had attended, and with him car
ried Balbina for the old man was proud OF
his girl. One of the principal chieis-a Ca
manche-whose scars were as numerous as the
hacks on the sign post of a country tavern,
fell so desperately in love with her, that he
offered Nick thirty horses and ten packs of
buffalo robes for her. The answer which the
red chief got was buffet from Nick's heavy
hand, which laid him on the grass ten or
dozen feet from where he had been standing.
The chief sprung to his feet, gave the war-yeii,
and was about to s'pitch in,'' when Nick's sys-
tenn of preparation-a bOwie-knife between
his teeth, so as to be handy, and six shooter
in each hand, and he backed by Balbina, with
Il revolver in each of her hands-cauSed HIM
and his red companions to pause and consider
that the chances of their being dried Indian In
that section, were too good for their comfort
If they went in; so they hauled Oil. NOT,
however, before they had uttered threats of be-
ing even with Nick, which he understood, for
he had been enough amongst them to become
quite familiar with their language.
The old man knew that such threats were
not idly made nor likel. to be unfufiled If
the red devils got chance so he was very
cautious for long time after that, and gave
his daughter strict orders never to ride outside
of the line of his armed and mounted herds
men, and never to leave the house on any oc-
casion whatever without her rifle and revoi-
ycrs !; for he knew that, with Them in her
hands, she was more than equal TO half dozen
Indians, any day, on clear prairie; for she
would ride none but the best of his large stud
of horses.
The incident referred to above, had occur
red nearly year before my arrival at Nick S
hacienda; and as, during all that time, the In
dians had made only one descent into the
neighborhood, killing some cattle, and run
ming off few head of horses, Nick said that
he reckoned they'd got about CROUCH of him,
and would give him the s'go by'' after that.
Nv ride from Red River across had been
hard one. for it was the rainy season; so did
not feel much like refusing to make myseii
comfortable" at the hacienda for Few Gays,
for Nick was excellent company, full OF lun
and anecdote; and then it ieas a pleasure 70
see the stately Balbina gliding about the mouse
and there was music in her ringing laugn'
/ assure you.
One morning, just about sunrise, after haa
been there a week to day. the old man ana
myself were mixing up some toddy-or )uiep,
IF you like the term better-of old bourbon
and wild mint-without any ice-and we had
just taken the dose, when we heard concen-
trated yell outside of the house, almost deal
ening us.
aCamanches, as sure as =" shouted NICK,
as he sprung for his "tools.'
In second l had grabbed my 'sshooting
irons," and we both rushed to the door.
@God They've got Balbina ~ groaned the
old uan, and be staggered up against the door