Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-07-27

possible Col. Norton, that you intend to fight
that manf He is . mute if not a positive
maniac. Such meeting, fear will sadly
tarnish. the lustrc Of ydur hufebs, 'ai
Youafe mistaken, = replied Norton with
smile; ..that mute is . hero, whose fame
stands in the record Of dozen battles, and
at least half as many bloody dhels. Besides
he is the favorite elnisssry and bosom friend
Of Houston. I'LL have the good fortune TO-
kill him, think It will.tempt the President
to retract his VOW saEsinst venturing any
more the field Of honor" a.
E" You know the man then. Who IS he 20
asked twenty voices together. 8ai isB1
"Daf Smith, . said Morton coolly. ri, an
eff what you say be true, you are 4 mad
man yourself exclaimed Webb. deaf
Smith was never known to miss his mark
He has often brought down ravens in their
most rapid fight, and killed Camanches at,
two hundred and fifty yards distance r.
Say no more, answered Colonel Morton,
in tones Of deep determination; |" the thing
is already settled. have agreed to meet
him, there can be no disgrace in falling be-
fore such shot, and if l succeed my tri-
umph will confer the greater glory"
! Such was the general habit of feeling prev
alcnt throughout Texas at that period. hiaa
Towards evening vast crowds assembled
at the place appointed, to witness the hostile
meeting; and SO great was the popular rcck-
lessncss as to affairs Of the sort, that numer-
Gus and considerable sums were wagesed on
the result. .Bssygs .ss5 a xtse.3.I,
! AT length the red of the summers sun
touched the curved rim Of the Western hori-
zon, covering it oil with crimson and gold,
and filling the air with food Of burning
glory and then tho two mortal antagonista,
armed with long pondcrous rifles took their
stations, back to back, and at the preconcert-
ed signal-thc waving Of 4 white handkcr-
chicf-walked. slowly and steadily off in OPP
posite directions counting their steps until
each had measured fifty. They both COM
pleted the given number about the same in
slant, and then they wheeled, each to aim
and fire when he chose As the distance
was great both paused for some seconds
long enough for the beholders to flash their
eyes from one to the other, and mark the
striking contrast. 7si
The face of Col. Morton was calm and
smiling, but the smile it bore had murder
GUS meaning. On the contrary, the counte-
nance Of Deaf Smith was stern and passion
less rs ever. A side view Of his features
might be taken for profile done In cast iron
The one, too was dressed in richest cloth, the
other in smoked tinted leather. But that
made no difference in Texas then; for the
heirs Of heroic courage were all considered
peers, the class Of interiors embraced none
but towards. ~ d3tR sa.Et@ G@14al
Presently two rifles exploded with stimuli
taneous ruars. Col. Morton gave . prOdigi-
GUS, bound upwards and fell to the earth
cOrpsc. Deaf Smith stood erect and imme-
diately began to reload his rife; and then
having finished his brief task he fastened
away into the adjacent forest.
Three days afterwards, General Houston,
accompanied BY Deaf Smith, and ten more
men, appeared in Austin and without further
opposition removed the State papers.