Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-02-11
AN ADVENTURE IN TEXAS.
BY EMERSON BENNETT.

as against Mexico, all eyes seemed turn
ed in the direction of the newly acquir-
ed country. The South, in particular,
regarded the wonderful triumph of a
handful 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. Ac-
cordingly, several of the States-Ala-
bama Georgia, Tennessee, and Western
Virginia in particular-sent company
after company of stern, resolute 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 purposes of self-protection, and
with view to the locating of villages
and townships; but occasionally solita-
ry traveller, one possessing the extreme
spirit of adventure, well-mounted and
well equipped, might be seen quietly pur-
suing his way over the rich rolling lands,
to the westward, of Nacogdoches. 1t is
with one of the latter our story had to
do, but at period slightly anterior to the
fall of the Alamo.
1t was on one of those soft, quiet days
80 peculiar to the central regions of Tex
as, when the very atmosphere, loaded
with its balmy perfumes, seems to incline
all animated nature to repose, that SOL
itary traveller was slowly vending his
way over the famous rolling red lands,
which stretch for hundreds of miles be-
yond the river Sabine. That he had
ridden fast and far was evident from the
appearance Of his horse, whose foaming
fanks and dropping head, evinced an
unusual degree of fatigue. Itwas day,
as we have said, calculated to call forth
a dreamy, reflective mood the surround
ing country was rich in all the beauties
of that delightful cline; the glorious
magnolia, the snowy cottonwood, the
sweet-scented china, mingling with a
thousand other perfumes from the bios
soming trees and draping vines, threw
tEeir aromatic odors upon the slumber-
ing air, and both horse and rider for the
time seemed to relapse into quiescent
state corresponding to the scene.
He was a man of apparently small
stature, dressed in the style peculiar to
the hardy adventurers of That region.
A felt hat, with IFS long, broad, slouching
brim, threw a quiet shadow over his
bronzed, but somewhat youthful face
His features, though effeminate to de-
gree, were likewise stern and decisive.
and a glance at his small, keen blue eve.
would have assured any one acquainted
with human nature that he was not an in
dividual to be trifed with, or molested
with impunity. He wore the usual hunt
ing-frock of the borderers, and in a belt
beneath were thrust a couple of brace
of silver-mounted pistols, and long,
heavy peculiarlyshaped knife, to which
he was the first to give name that has
perpetuated his own. Trowsers of coarse
stuff, with ornamented buekskin leggings
covering the tops of pair of heavy
boots, completed his attire.
The day was far advanced and loom
ingup 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 desolat-
ing power. For some half an hour the
horseman quietly pursued his way, his
eyes bent upon the ground, his mind evi.
IDENTIFY far away upon other scenes, though
still feeling the soothing influence of the
one which surrounded him. AT length he
reached the bank of small stream, where
the bushes grew thick upon either side O.
the road he was pursuing, when, just a;
his thirsty animal had bent his head to
the water, he was suddenly startled by the
report of rife, and tingling sensation
on his forehead as the ball whizzed past
assured him how near that moment hat
been to his last.
Refining up his mettlesome beast, anC
drawing pistol from his belt, he glanced
quickly and nervously about him, as if t.
guard himself from the attack ofnumbers
and then settled his gazefor few mo
ments upon the point whence the ball ha,
been fred. He saw nothing except
thin wreath of smoke curling among tn,
clustered leaves, at distance of perhap
some twenty PAGES; and not caring lon
ger to remain quiet target for his invis
ible foe, who might even al that momen