Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-06-05
Misctl(anruuS.
Life or Death-A Texas Rang.
er's Best Shot.

liSon ana cameron STOOD apart from
their companions. With folded arms and
thoughtful faces, they watched the shad.
ows Of night stealing over lake and chapa-
raj.
An hour like this casts a spell upon
my spirit" said Cameron. Il love to
see the glare of day fade and give place
to the dim, placid twilight" !"
Il have similar feelings replied Will
son, 'but like night best when advanced
toward the small hours, and the moon and
stars are brightly beaming."
Cameron made no reply, aud the par
ties remained silent. Wilson was the
first to speak.
That's heavy rifle of yours he
said, g'ancing at the weapon upon which
Cameron was leaning. Il dare say it
has been Of service to you in its time ~
No money could induce me to par,
with it, because have proved its metal
on various occasions. Did | ever tell
yop of an adventure | once had upon the
cid Red River ?'
You never did; should ike to hear
it" said Wilson.
"Seyeral years ago" resumed Gamer
on, Il was huutin. hear Cross Timbers,
not far irom Red River. The Indians
were then troublesome, and frequently
committed their depreda,ions on the trou-
tier settlements bat | was fond OF hunt.
iag and cared little for them, willing to
trust to my own courage ani ingenuity in
any emergency that might occur. car
rcl tais same rifle, aud WIS called Que Of
the best shots in the country.
Many people said the piece was too
heavy for common use but | was used
to H. and it Jida't feel burdensome TO me-
AMI when fired it WAS sure to do the
right thing for what animal could carry
Oft an ounce anl half of Ie4l, skiIlt'ally
sped on its crranl? Having discovered
Indian signs one day, thought 1t best to
change my ha,in. gtoaanl, AID Sd put
considerable distance between me and the
spot, ani eampel on wide prairlc,
bounded on the castby the Cross Tlm5ers.
Not long after this event was sitting on
the bank OF small stream, resting my
weary limos after long and tatlglin5
hunt, when | was tired upon and s!lgltly
wounded.
Il was fortunate enough to discover
the marksm4n, Who proved to be an lnI.-
an, OF what tribe do not remember. |
instantly shot him dead, aud then per-
ceivel that be was not aloue for one OF
his brethren was with him, who made his
escape. Time passed on, and | was un-
disturbed il my amusements ior long
time.
"Onc day, not feeling very we'll | re-
turned to ny camp sooner taAn usual.
lay down to sleep, but could not. | felt
uneasy aud nervous, auI 40 arose aud
went Oh the prairie. The grass was not
very tall and tac hot sun OF the season
had dried il until it was crlspy, and rat
tied as | walked through it. asceuded
gentle swell and looked around me-
The scene WAS grand one. Ga one
hand were the Cros: .m5e.., dimly seen
IN tie distance, resembling a dense wall
of wood built by human hands, while in
every direction the prairie stretched away
until lost in the distance. The sun WAS
getting low, and looked ike sunset on
the sea. As ny eyes wandered from
point 10 point, they werc suddenly fixed
upon solitary figure several hundred
yards distant, t the foot Of the long
swell or roll upon which | vas standing.
lie stood in open space, aud at first
wondered how taat could be, as the grass
was so high in every other place but
he affair soon explained itself. More
careful examination showed me that the
solitary object was au Indian, and his
manifest object il packing up the dry
grass was to set fire to the prairie 1t
was doubtless the same fellow that es-
capped at the time | had been fired on
He had discovered my retreat. aud was
about to revenge himself in II singular
manner.
The wind was fresh toward me, and
il the grass had been set on lire, no power
on earth could have saved me, Tor the
feetest horse could not run fast enough to
escape from its devouring flames. n ter
rible DIR, al OF that kind OF death came
over me- stood like one tascnated,and
gazed at the preparation OF the savage.
He stood in the middle Of the open space
he had made, with Il blazing torch IN his
hand. Innumerable thoughts rushed
through my mind in an instant OF time
l was never so completely paralyzed and
stupefed In my life. The power OF thot'
seemed to be the only power left me, and
that was stimulated to IN unnatural de-
gree. The past, present and future were
reviewed and speculated upon in that
brief and broken fragment Of time IN
which the savage stood waiting for the
brand to burn more brightly before he
thrust it into the grass. Yes, my destiny
was to be burned, Some hunter or tray-
.eller would fnd my body charred or
blackened and others, after time, would
pass my bones bleaching in the sun
You must remember that all these
ideas ran through my mind in the short
est appreciable space Of time for you
must know that the sudden prospect OF
great danger, from which there is no ap-