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

tors LETT him; telling his wife, that If
they were not out of the country in ten
days he should be shot He did go within
the specified time; and, as was said, re-
turned with his family to Arkansas, where
his wife's father lived. The incident was
soon forgotten in Shelby county, amid the
constant recurrence of similar scenes.
About four months after this affair, in
company with an adventurous friend, l
was traversing Western Texas. Our OBJ
jects were to see the country, and amuse
ourselves in hunting for time over any
district We found well adapted for par
ticular sport-as for bear-hunting, deer
hunting, buffalo-hunting, sc. Either of
these animals are to be found in greater
abundance, and of course pursued to
greater advantage in peculiar regions and
sas.we Were anxious tssmake- ourselves
familiar with all the modes of life in the
country, we made it a point in passing
through to stop wherever the promise of
anything specially interesting offered it
self. Prairies, timber and water were
better distributed in Shelby than any 9TH
er county we had passed through-the
timber predominating over the prairie,
though interlaid by it in every direction.
/ This diversity of surface attracted great
er variety and quantity of game, as well
as afforded more perfect facilities to the
sportsman. Indeed, it struck us perfect
hunters paradise {; and my friend hap
pening TO remember man of some wealth,
who had removed from his native county
and settled, as he understood, in Shelby,
we inquired for him, and very readily
found him.
Whatever else may be said or thought
of the Texans, they are unquestionably
most hospitable. We were frankly and
kindly received, and horses, servants,
guns, dogs, and whatever else was neces-
sary to ensure our enjoyment of the sports
of the country, as well as the time of our
host himself, were forthwith at our dis
posal, and we were soon, to our hearts
content, engaged in every character of ex-
citing chase.
One day we had all turned out for a
deer-drive. This hunt, in which dogs are
used for driving the game out of the tim
Der, scatters the hunters very much they
are stationed at different Stands" which
are sometimes miles apart, to watch for
the deer passing out; for this reason the
party seldom gets together again until
night. We divided in the morning, and
skirted up opposite sides of a wide belt of
bottom timber-while the "drivers" and
dogs penetrated it, to rouse the deer,
which ran out on either side by the stands,
which were known to the hunters. We
were unusually successful, and returned
to late dinner at our hosts, the planters
house. By dusk all were in, except my
, friend, whose name was Henry, and a
man named Stoner, one of the neighbOrs
who had Joined the hunt. Dinner was
ready, and we sat down to it, supposing
they would be in, in few minutes. The
meal was nearly over, when Henry, who
was gay, voluble fellow, came bustline
into the room, and, with a slightly iurried
manner, addressed our host.
esquire, this is strange country O.
yours! Do you let crazy people range il
with guns in their hands ?"
r "Not when we know it. Why
, What about crazy people? You look ex
cited"
"Well, think l have had enough tc
| make one feel little curious"
> "What is it? What is it ?" exclaimed
S everybody eagerly.
:, "Why, 1 have met with either the Ole
t Harry himself, a ghos., or madman
. which it is, am confoundedly puzzled
g to tell ?"
f "Where How ?"
a He threw himself into a chair, wipeC
s the perspiration from his forehead, anC
e continued.
: "You know, Stoner and myself, whel
v up the right hand side of the bottom tim
n Der. Well, Stoner accompanied me t.
my stand where we parted he to go Of
It to his, and have seen nothing of hin
n since. Soon after he left me, deer pass
e ed out-I shot-wounded it, and jumpe
y on my horse to pursue it. The deer ha
II staggered at my fire, but he was not S
@ badly wounded as l supposed, and led m
b off, until it suddenly occurred to me tha
n 1 might get lost, and reined up; but
y soon found that this sober second though
W had come too late, and that I was alread
1t out of my latitude. / wandered abou
Is nearly all day, though taking care not
rs go very far in any one direction, before
y came across anything that promised to 81
lie me right again. at last came upon
ct wagon trail, and felt relieved, for kne
j. it must take me to some point where
fe could get information. The trail was ma
row, leading through scrubby thickets
es and was riding along slowly, lookir
lie down, in the hope of detecting the tract
ID of some of your horses, when the violel
e. shying of my horse caused me to raj
ID my eyes. And, by George! it W
d, enough to have 'stampeded' regiment
D. horse On the left of the trail stood
il very tall skeleton figure, dressed in skin
lis one foot advanced, as if he had stopp,
'ir in the act Of stepping across it, and a lol
a heavy gun just swinging down to the le
ok ell bearing on me. OF course my hes
d. leaped into my throat, and my fe
,e, shrank and crept. Before l could thil
to of raising my gun, my eyes met those
n this strange fgure-and what eyes ST.
nd prise at their cold, unnatural expressio
ng suspended my action; burning with
ii, chill, singular brilliancy, in deep sunk
ut sockets, they looked as if they never b
IRE winksd. Dwelling steadily on my ia
Id for moment, they seemed to be satisf,
'or and the gun was slowly thrown back up
ry his shoulder, and plucking at long girls
no beard with an impatient gesture of
on bony hands, the figure made a stri
its across the trail, and without speaking
ey word, plunged into the thicket. was
lis confounded by this dumb show, that
lily was nearly concealed in the brush bef
he found my tongue to shout to him
res stop; but he kept on, not even turn
lile his head. l was provoked, and spur
fu- my horse in after him, as far as col
all, penetrate, but he kept Oh, and l lost siI
! q Of him in a moment, and whether he
it talk at all or not is more than can te
Ill "Did you look at his feet, Henry Pr
at terrupted one of the party. Il expec
yer was old"
ose "Never mind what you expect-h
Inf ma ant ha continued at followad