The Shasta courier., 1867-10-19

lie then held up the paper before the spec
tators, as sort of natural apology for his
seeming discourtesy.
Judge Webb then took up the pen and
wrote:
'Will you be obliging enough as to inform
us what your business is with this meeting? ?n
The stsanger answered this question by
handing letter to the Judge, whose super
scriptio1 was, Z" To the Citizens of Austin -
The seNl was broken and it was read aloud ::
" FE1.ow CITIZENS Though in error,
and deceived by the arts of traitors, | will
give you three days more to decide whether
you will surrender the public archives. At
the end Of that time, you will please let me
know your decision. SAM HoUsToN."
After the letter was read, the deaf man
waited a moment or two for a reply, and
then Turned to leave the hall. At this iunc-
ture Colonel Morton, interposing with a
lowering brow, beckoned him to the table,
The stranger obeyed, when Morton wrote
= You were brave enough to insult me by
your threatening looks ten minutes ago; are
you brave enough now to give me satisfac-
ton ?i
The stranger instantly penned the reply:
q am at your service"
The Colonel again wrote:
= Who will be your second ?'
This was the answer:
@ 1 am too generous to seek an advantage,
and too brave to fear any on the part of
others; therefore, |. never need the aid of a
second"
Morton wrote:
Name your terms"
The stranger wrote, without second s
hesitation:
= Time, sunset this evening place, the
left bank of the Colorado, opposite Austin :;
weapons, rifles distance, hundred yards.
Do not fail to be in time"
The last sentence was not calculated to
soothe the feelings of the irritated Colonel,
and he compressed his lips as he read it.
The next moment the stranger strobe
across the floor and disappeared through the
window in the same manner that he had en-
tered.
rs it possible, Colonel Morton, that you
intend to fight that man ?' exclaimed Judge
Webb. /" He is mute, if not a maniac
Such meeting, | fear, will tarnish the lus
tire of you laurels.'
g You are mistaken" answered Morton,
with smile ''that mute is hero whose
fame stands in the record of dozen battles,
and nearly as many bloody duels. Besides.
he ss;he tavorite emissary and%bosom friend
-o3 fusf. If | hags4Sae good cort4ne to
kill him, think the President will retract
his vow against venturing my more on the
field of honor
8 You know the man, then Who is he ?"
asked several
Deaf Smith"
g Impossible; that cannot be. Deaf
Smith was slain at San Jacinto," replied
Judge Webb.
There again your honor is mistaken"
smiled Morton. !" The story of Smiths
death was mere fiction, gotten up by Hous-
ton himself for the purpose of saving the life
of his favorlte from the VS. geance of several
Texans, on whose conduct he had acted the
part of spy. | learned the artifce over
year ago."
3" Then you are madman yourself, Col
onel. Deaf Smith was never known to miss
his mark. lie has been known to bring
down ravens in their flight. and has picked
off Comanches and Mexicans at the distance
of two hundred and fifty yards"
. The thing is settled. fancy | can do
little of that business myself"
8 But for Gods sake" persisted Judge
Webb, becoming excited, q don't want
you to be murdered"
WHO is going to be?" asked Colonel
Morton, as he smoked his cigar and smiled
in his usual way.
Why You, if you undertake to fight
Deaf Smith"
g The thing is all arranged, as l said a
moment ago, and | wouldn't back out of it if
l were certain of being shot; for what is
death to dishonor ?'
Such was the absurd sentiment in Texas
fhok
prevalent among civilized nations.
Toward evening large crowd assembled
at the place appointed for the meeting, and
so reckless were the people regarding the
mighty issue at stake-a human life-per-
haps two-that there were all manner of
Jokes, and not few wagers were laid upon
the result.
AT length, as the sun sank below the
horizon, the two mortal antagonists appear
ed on he open space with their ponderous
rifles Hfd tooktheir stations, standing back
to baeLi AT the waving of handkerchief,
they began pacing off from each other, both
stepping as exactly together as if they were
keeping time to the tap OF drum. They
completed the distance at the same second,
when they wheeled so as to face each other,
and to fire as soon as possible.
40 ehSy "CiS Dy SOOuly us
tance, as they raised their rifles they paused
moment to make their aim The pause
was long enough for the crowd to glance from
one to the other, and note the expression of
their faces
Colonel Morton was calm and smiling
but the smile was murderous one-far
more terrible than the severest scowl could
be. Deaf Smith, however, was as rigid and
passionless as ever. His profile might have
been supposed to be cut in stone, so expires.
sIonless was it. The former was attired in
the finest and most expensive broadcloth,
and the other in smoke-tinted leather.
The next instant the two rifles exploded
simultaneously. Colonel Morton, with
smothered shrek, sprang upward and fell to
the ground dead. Deaf Smith stood unmov.
ed, and began reloading his rife, which
being done, he turned and disappeared in the
adjoining forest.
Three days afterward, General Houston,
accompanied by Deaf Smith and ten other
men, made his appearance in Austin, and
without further opposition removed the State
papers.
Deaf Smith, as l remarked in another place,
was one of the most extraordinary men ever
known in the West. He appeared in Texas