The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-02-08

BUT in the popular estimation they
counted as nothing in fixing the charge
of dangerous malice npon poor Long,
in comparison with one other incident.
About this time not only Hinch him
self, bnt every other person who had
made himself conspicuous, by insisting
npon Jacks guilt, and the necessity of
Furnishing him summarily, began to
lose, every day Or two, valuable stock,
which was wantonly shot down some
times in sight Of their houses and it
soon began to be remarked that every
animal lest in this way had been shot
an the eye! This was instantly assoc
ciated, of course, with jacks curious
prediction for that mark in hunting,
and a perfect storm of indignation fol-
lowed. A meeting was at once con-
vened at ee.the store" of which the
planter was the chairman and at it,
by unanimous vote, a resolution was
passed condeming Jack Long to be
whipped and driven out of the country,
and Hinch, with his Regulators, ap-
pointed to carry it into effect He
could hardly contain himself for Joy !;
for now, whatever extreme his pitiless
malignity might choose to indulge it.
self in, he had no fear of after claps or
questioning. The meeting had been a
mere form at any rate. But these
" formalities are all-power every
where; and, unsettled and elementary
as was the condition Of society here,
this ruffian leader of ruffians felt the
necessity of acting under their sanction
though-he himself. had dictated it,
He would andneould have consum-
mated his purposes without it; but
the faint light of conscience within him
by a logic peculiar to itself-felt re-
lieved of the grievops responsibility of
such a crime, in the sense of participa-
ting with SO many Others. Many a
man has gone to the devil in a crowd
who wonld have been Mortified at un-
dertaking the journey alone.
Tt was the third day after this meet,
ing, Jack, during all these. persecu-
tons, had deported himself with the
most stolid Indifference. Avoiding all
intercourse with the. settlers, he had
continued to hunt with even more as
siduity tbanusual, and was in great
measure ignorant of the unenviable no.
toriety he was enjoying He had
heard something of the charges with
which his character had been assail-
ed, but attributed them all to the ,jeal
Gus enmity he had ineurredlatthe shoot
ing match. He could UNDERSTANDINGS
teetly how Ont man could rte anotfl-.
er who had beat him ing shooting, and
thought IT natural enough; but be
could not understand how that hatred
might be meanlY and desperately vim
dictive, and, therefore, gave himself no
uneaslness about it. q. He was only anx.,
iodssthat his wifi. should not hear and
be annoyed by any of these things, and
preserved his usual cheerfulness of &C.
meanor. ....- a.gr,fgx "a .,I.f-s
He'had just returned from hunting
and, laying aside his accoutrements.
partook Of the simple meal her neat
housewifery had prepared for him;
then, stretching himselfupon the buffa-
10 robe on the floor, romped with his
two rosy checked boys, who rolled ov-
er his great body, and gambolled and
screamed in riotous joy around him;
but mother wanted some water from
the branch, and the frolic must be Civ
en- over while Jack would go and bring
it, So, jumping up, he left the little
folks pouting wilfully as they looked
after him from the door, and started.
The stream was only about hundred
yards from the house, and the path
leading to it was through dense thick
ct It was against Jacks religion ev-
er to leave his house without his gun /
but the wife, whom he loved above all
the universe Of sentiment, was In ashur-
ry for the water, and the distance was
SO short, he sprang gaily out with the
vessel in his hand, leaving the rife be-
hind. The water had been dipped up,
and he was returning along the narrow
path closely bordered by brush, when
he felt a light tap on each shoulder,
and his career strangely impeded. He
had Just time to perceive that lasso
had been thrown over him, which would
conhne his arms, when he saw himself
suddenly surrounded, and was rushed
upon by number ofmen. He Instant
" recognized the voice of Hineh shopt-
Ing Down with him Drag him
down ] 2{as the men who had hold 81
the lasso about his body jerked at it
violently in the effort to throw him.
All his tremendous strength was put
forth in one convulsive effort, which
would have freed him, bat that the in.
fernal moose bad fallen too true, and
bound his arms As it was, he drag
ged the six stout men who hello it aftei
his frantic bounds nearly to his own
door befofet'he was Frustrated, and
then it was byaa heavy blow dealt him
s1,,.n H. boaJ 18th +ba brtf of a ort7n