, 1860-05-25

What will any Of you bet that cannot hit
yonder id Greaser, with the blue flag in his
handi' asked Tom McCirab, as he pulled out his
revolver and coOlly pointed it at the Mexican.
Il stand you treat for the crowd, answered
one Of his comrades; "you can't do It, Tom; its
too far to bring down game in notion"
"Done !" exclaimed McGrab, as he touched
the tfigger-a loud report followed, and then a
scream Of agony and despair, and the Mexican
turnbled from his horse mortally wounded.
81" 1 have won," said the heartess murderer, as
he carelessly returned the weapon to its place in
his belt '.G la ~
The blood of young Rivers literally boiled, as
he murmured to himself "HorribIel horrible
Is this land Of savages or fiendsi"
He had little time, however, for reflection or
solioquy, for the group Of homicides now moved
forwards, and when they came within few
PAGES abreast, so as to obstruct his passage com
pletely, while their leader put the question in an
imperious tone Of voice. which made Il sound
like command" Stranger, will you join our
partyI We can assure you Of the finest
sporti" .r aa3 at
The youth, although fully sensible as to the
instantaneous peril that he must incur by pro-
voking those mercilcss men, could not suppress
tho indignant reply-"Do you call murder sport
in this countryG If so; l beg leave; with oil due
respect, to decline my share Of the fun 20
McGrab's yellow eyes blazed out with fury
that seemed more diabocal than human, as he
cried, in a voice hoarse and screeching-' Do
you mean to accuse me Of tnurderfn a#
!. The next grand jury viii accuse you Of II,
il they arc honest men, and II you receive JUS
tIce on the trial, your doom viii be the death Of
a dog was the contemptuous answer i
"This to me :" shouted the enragcd desperate,
as with the spur he made his horse bound sud.
denly forward, and grasping Rivers by the breast
Of his coat endeavofed to drag him from the sad
die and hurl him to the earth but the latter, at
the same instant also seized his enemy by the
throat and they both fell 10 the ground together
In moment they were on their feet, with their
hands clinched in such manner as to render II
very difficult for either to draw a weapon. Nc
Grab attempted to unsheath his knife, but IN the
act it fell to the ground, and he was unable to
recover il. The other tried TO get out his own
blade, but the string which fastened It chanced
to encircle the handle in such a way as to defeat
the effort. AS to using pistols, while struggling
at such close quarters that was evidently impos-
sible. Thus each was forced 10 depend on his
physical strength and activity for triumph in the
emergency. II appeared, therefore, that IN such
contest victory would inevitably declare IN "a
vor Of the powerful rullan, who looked as IL he
might be twice as strong as his enemy, as he
was undoubtedly third larger Indeed, several
times he threw Rivers to the earth, butthe latter
always retaining his undroken hold, at every iali
McGrab went down with him, and second or
two afterwards both would be on their feet. At
length the youth managed TO gripe the murder.
er's windpipe firmly with the fingers Of his
right hand. This decided the contest Eor very
soon McGrabs eyes began to roll fcarfully and
to protrude as II about to burst from their sock.
cts; bis jaws fell open, and his infamed, fiery
tongue was thrust out Of his mouth, as if in NOR
tai aagony his face, in the meantime turned first
purple and then black. until he lAy like log On
the earth, unconscious and offering no resistance
to his foe, who continued 10 sullocate him with
ono hand aud to pound his visage numerically
with the other. At last however, the bystand-
ers pulled him away from his PROSTATE enemy,
and the latter slowly recovered the exercise Of
his limbs and senses ei si aiss san3 %
II may appear strange that the companions Of
McGrab should remain quicscent spectators Of
the fight without interfering to assist their friend
and header Butto do all the southwestern des.
pcradoes, as well as the particular ones alluded
to, naked Justice, among the very few things that
can be related IN their praise, Il must BE- said
that they possess an instructive love Of fair play
and also boundIess admiration for true courage,
even in an enemy. And these sentiments united
tended TO prevent any extraneous aid from med
ding in the contest. Besides, the rencontef had
been in progress but a few moments, when, at
tfacted BY the crack Of the pistol which killed
the poor Mexican, hundreds came rushing to the
spot, and the mans life, who might have offered
TO help either party, would not have been worth
q copper. riH' la lsgHs Hf7i,si ae ~
As soon as the affair was ended, the first Object
that met the eyes Of young Rivers was the burly
form Of his recent acquaintance Pete Whetstone,
who slapped him rapturously on the back, with
the exclamation, Hurrah old hossi You did
give him jessy in splendid style. But wasn't a
true prophet Didn't | tell you that you would
have to fight for your neutralityi"i trs
81 must confess that your prediction has been
verified by the event singular as It seems to me-,
said the youth, with a smile naS II
"Ies and this is only the commencement Of
it remarked milestone, with q sly wink, i'm
plying the necessity for caution. ~Come this
way, | wish to see you a few minutes on private
business;n and without waiting for an asserting
response, he seized the others arm, and walked
him OF to vacant lot close at hand, with the
air Of confidential and familiar friend He then
asked in low voice, burdened with exceeding
gravity -"Woll, stranger, do you know what will
grow out Of your fight with bully Mc6rabl"
Rivers replied, acknowledging his entire ignor-
ance on the subject. 4
"a duel" said the other, laconical1y.
But canuot recognize MeGrab as a gentle
man. | will not meet an assassin on the field Of
honor" answered the young man, his face red
dening with indignation. 80 f
:" thought you might he endued with some
old-iaShloned notions Of the kind and therefore
wished TO talk you out Of them before it should
be too late, ryjoined Whetstonc.
"Whatl would you have INC fight murderer
on equal termsI' exclaimed Rivers with look
Of AstOnishment
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