The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-09-10

ears OF a puHalO cali against us lnaL ne
can't do it again ''
"If you mean by that to bet your own
ears against mine, I'll take you up" said
Jack, laughing. while the men could not
resist joining him. Hinch glared around
=. him with fierce, chafed look, before
which those who knew him best quailed,
and with compressed lips silently loaded
his gun. A new target was put up. at
which, after long and careful aim, he fred.
The shot was fine one. The edge of
the ball had just broke the center. Jack,
after looking at it quietly, remarked,
plumbing the center is my fashion |;
I'll show you kink or two, Captain
Hinch, about the clear thing in shootin'.
Give us another board there, boys"
Another was set up, and after throwing
out his gun on the level, in the same rap
id, careless style as before, and when the
eager crowd around the target announced
that he had driven the center cross clear
out, he turned upon his heel and, with a
pleasant nod to Hinch, started to walk off
The ruffian shouted hoarsely after him.
al thought you were ID coward
You've made two good shots by accident,
and you now sneak off to brag you've beat
me. Come back, sir You can't shoot
before muzzle half as true !''
Jack walked on without noticing this
mortal insult and challenge, while Hinch
laughed tauntingly long and loud deer
ing him with exultfRg bitterness as long
as he could make himself heard, as "a
fash in the pan"-"a dunghill cock who
had spread white feathers" while the men,
who had been surprised into profound re-
spect for Long, and were now still more
astonished at what they considered his
"backing out" joined clamorously in hoot-
ing his retreat.
The fools! They made fatal mis-
take in supposing he left the insult unre-
sented for any fear for himself. Jack Long
had young wife at home, and his love
for her was stronger than his resentment
for his own dignity. His passions were
slow, and had never been fully aroused
none of them, at least, but his love, and
that presented her instantly, forlorn and
deserted, with her little ones, in this wild
country, should he throw away his life
with such fearful odds; and seeing the
turn the affair was likely to take, he pru-
IDENTIFY determined to get away before it
had gone too far. But had any of those
men seen the spasm of agony which shiv-
cred across his massive features, as these
gibbering voices rang upon his ears in in-
suit which no proud, free hunter might en-
dure, they would have taken the hint, to
beware of chatting the silently foaming
boar any longer.
This was an ill-starred day for Jack,
though from this day troubles began to
thicken about him. The even tenor OF
his simple, happy life was destroyed, and
!, dignity and courage followed each Other
fast. Hinch never forgave the unlucky
skill which had robbed him of his proud
est boast, that of being the best marks
man on the frontier; and he swore, in
base vindictive hate, to dog him to death
, or make him leave the country. Soon af-
ter this valuable horse, belonging to g
rich and powerful planter, disappeared
He was one of those men who had com.
f promised with the regulators, paying SC
I much black mail for exemption from their
depredations, and protection against 9th.
ers Of the same stamp; and he now ap
piled to Hinch for the recovery of hi
/ horse and the punishment of the thief
: This Hinch, under their contract wa,
!. bound to do and promised to accomplish
! forthwith. He and some of his men wen
i off on the trail of the missing horse, ant
: returning next day, announced that they
! had followed it with all their skill through
: a great many windings, evidently intend
: : ed to throw off pursuit, and at last traced
it to Jack Longs picket fence, and ther
;, could be no doubt he was thief. Th
n planter knew nothing of Jack, but that h
= was new conner, and demanded that h
e should be forced to give up the horse, an,
: punished to the extremity of the frontie
4 code. But this was not Hinch's polio,
+ yet awhile. He knew the proofs wer
not strong enough to make the charg
= plausible, even before the Lynch court, o
which he himself was both prosecutor
:, judge and executioner His object wa
Iss first to get up hue and cry against Lons
and, under cover of general excitemen
accomplish his devilish purposes withou
IS question or mock trial even. So that, al
X ter great deal of maneuvering, for eigf
= or ten days, during which time the charg
Is against Long was industriously circulate
ie by his myrmidons, SO as to attract gener'
ie attention and expectation as to the resu
er of his investigations-he proclaimed fl
"a and wide that he had found the horse
y last, hid in timber bottom near Long
y, This, of course, seemed strong confirms
IN ton of his guilt, and though the mob wei
ne most of them horse thieves, to all intent
u n yet it was an unpardonable crime for an
"a one to practice professionally among then
70 selves, so that Long was loudly denoun
lis ed, and threatened on every side, and o
:, dered to leave the country forthwith.
'k These proceedings Jack by no meal
'u comprehended, or felt disposed to
moved by; but gave them one and all
lu understand, that he meant to rema
where he was until it entirely suited b
" convenience to 60; and if his time al
theirs did not happen to agree, they mig
make the most of it-and Jack was SUI
an unpromising, snaggish looking som
10 body, and his reputation, which had nc
spread everywhere--of possessing SUI
he consummate skill with the rifle, that
KS thought it condescension to shoot gan
. anywhere else than in the eyes-was
lat formidable, that no individual felt dispos
to push the matter to personal collisic
I'm He might therefore, have been left
ty' quiet, but Hinch had unfortunately tax
zee up the impression, from Jacks conduct
an the shooting-match affair, that he must
coward, and if this were true, then
I'd, his skill amounted to but little; and Ii
'eli any other bloody, selfish brute, he folio
TED ed him up the more eagerly for the We
ard reason which would have disarmed
md generous foe. Besides, Jack had Civ
ON fresh aud weightier matter of offense,
as that he had refused to obey, and def
his authority as regulator. The very
ing ing of that authority seemed to requ
IN now that wholesome example should
the made of him, for the awing of all refr
no tory persons hereafter. The wretch, v
was cunning and ferocious, and had sw'
and IN his inmasf haorf IN rnin and Isc0r