The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-03-16
The Shot in the Eye.
A True story Of Texas Border Life.
BY c. WILKINS ELMI.
Continued.

But in the popular estimation they
counted as nothing in fixing the
charge Of dangerous malice upon
poor Long, in comparison with the
other incident. But at this time not
only Hinch, himself conspicuous by
Insisting on Jacks guilt, but some OF
the other settlers, began to lose every
day some of their valuable stock,
which was wantonly shot down, some.
times in sight of their houses, and il
began to be remarked that every an
imal lost in this way had been shot IL,
the eye! This was instantly associa-
ted, of course with Jack well known
and curious prediction for that mark
when hunting, and perfect storm OF
Indignation followed. A meeting
was at once convened at the ''store, -
of which the planter was the chair
man; and at it, by unanimous vote, n
resolution was passed condemning
Jack Long TO be whipped and driven
out of the country-and Hinch with
his regulators was appointed to carry
it into effect. He could hardly con.
tain himself for joy; for now, whatev-
er extreme his pitiless malignity
might choose to indulge itself in, he
had no fear of afterclaps or question
ing. The meeting had been a mere
form at any rate. But these formal.
tiles are all powerful everywhere, and
unsettled, and elementary as was the
condition Of society here, and the
rullian leader of the rullians felt the
necessity of acting under their sane
tion, though he himself had dictated
it. He would and could have consum.
mated his purpose without it; but the
faint life of conscience within him
by a aspecies Of logic peculiar to him
selfl<Eelt relieved of the grievous re
sponsibility of participating in it
with so many others.-Many q man
has gone to the devil in crowd who
would have been horrifed at under.
taking the journey alone.
1t was the third day after the meet
ing. Jack, during all these perse-
cutions, had deported himself with
the most stolid indifference. Avoid
ing all intercourse with the settlers,
he had continued to hunt with even
more assiduity than usual, and was
in great measure ignorant of the
unenyiable notoriety he was enjoying
He had heard something of the
charges with which his character had
been assailed, but attributed them all
to the jealous enmity he had incurred
at the shooting match. He could
perfectly how one man
could hate another who had beat him
in shooting, and thought it natural
enough; but he could not understand
how that hatred might be meanly and
desperately vindictive, and gave him |
self no uneasiness about it. He was
only anxious that his wife should not
hear and be annoyed by any of these
things, and maintained his usual
cheerfulness of demeanor.
He had just returned from hunting,
and laying aside his hunting accou-
.rements; partook of the ample meal
her neat housewifery had prepared
for him; then stretching himself upon
The buffalo rohe on the floor romped
with his two rosy checked boys, who
rolled over his great body and gam
boiled and screamed in riotous Joy
around him; but mother wanted some
water from the branch, and the frolic
must be given over while Jack would
go and bring it. So jumping up, he
left the little folks pouting wilfuIly
as they looked after him, and started.
The stream was only about hundred
yards from the house, and the path
leading to 1T was through a dense
thicket. 1t was against Jacks re.
ligion ever to leave the house with,
out his gun, but his wife, whom he
loved above all the universe of sen.
timent and everything else, was in a
hurry for the water, and the distance
was SO short, so he sprang gaily out
with the vessel in his hand, leavingI
the rife behind. The water had been
dipped up, and he was returning
along the narrow path closely Dor
dered by brush when he felt a light
tap on the shoulder, and his career
strangely impeded. He had just
time to perceive that lasso had been
thrown over him, so as to conilne his
arms, when he found himself sur
rounded, and was rushed upon by al
number OF men. He instantly recog-
nized the voice of Hinch, shouting
"Down with him (! Drag him down."
as the men who had hold of the lasso
about his body jerked at it violently
in the effort to throw him down.