The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-11-23
From the Ledgei.)
Night Among the REGULATORS"
By d CLARK.

dependent Hepubllc sam f1oustohl'
President, and Shelby county its mos
1awless section I had occasion, for
time, toabe there. /. = ifssqrs - !.
The population comprised call scr
and conditions of nen"-vagabond
escaped criminals and reckless a.lven
turers constituting the larger portion
A man too deprayed to be let live il
any other part of Texas, inyarinbll
sought refuge in Shelby county. z
BetYeen these d~esperadoes and tn
honest settlersan uncompronising wal
fare existed. 1t was no use appealing
10 the law; it hadn't got there yet
The state of society was exemplifed
by President Houston's answer when
asked to interpose his authority
eight it among yourselves, and be
hanged to- you Poll 8; rt
Both parties were completely organ.
izedAthe d~esperadoes under the name
of Regulators" their opponents un.
der the name of Vigilance Commit
tees.ni The former robbed, murdered
and stole, the latter lynched.
HadI been well acquainted with
the condition of things as experience
made me afterward, / should certain
" have thought twice before yentnr-
ing out onHa solitary hunting lexeur-
sion. as I did one morning, shortly
after my arrival. 2 ButI was impaC
tient to try my luck and new rifle )
and so, without stopping to make sure
of being right, boldly went ahead.
A. new hunters lpck" is q proyerb
among old ones; and the adage, in
my case, babe fair to be verified. l
had gone but little way before
stumbling on a herd of deer quietly
grazing at a short distance. I@For a
wonder, they didn't SCENE first
Crouching stealthily among the basho
es, Isingled out q stately buck that
towefedaboye the flock ike Saul
above his fellows eios ad-4i~ zrt
Themark stood fair and inviting
1t wonid have been as easy. to; miss a
barn door But was trembling
with excitement-in fact had aravlo-
lent attack of what is known among
hunters as @buck ague." .o.zt - 3.
The more strove not to, the more L
shook, till at last, in very desperation
taking, advantage of a favorable wabr
BILE, Ifblazed away. aaf7I f ~ 20 4
Theehefd scampered, all but the
buck; he gave a leap and toppled
yer kicking his last, 1 was fam to
believe. But moment ~undeceived-
me. Is had got within a few yards of
him and already, Gin the minds eye
beheld his tail as a feather in my. cap
when quick as lightning, he sprang to
his feet and bounded away as fast as
the rest.
1 followed at the top of my speed.
By the laws of the chase, first blood
gives title Consequently the game
was mine It was only question oil
getting Possession, and that was one1
of wind and perseverance.
The buck was soon out of sight =
Still 1 was not discouraged? T expect-
ed to beadistanced5at first. Drops of
blood at intervals enabled me1tokeep
the trad, and the ultimate exhaustion
of the wounded animal L counted on
insuring success in tbs, end. odl i
Hour alter hourI Kept on oyeE
hills, along daIes, across gIades; and
through thickets I ran, thoughtIess of
and reckless of scratches. By
times at fault. I was compelled to
searchharroviy5z butfa fresh drop0f
bleed sonld setme right and cause1
me to Pfsss on1Wfth renewed eagef0
ness. -es2ibaI brs sisqaqsyQ Il
Once more the trail was lost, and !,
this time all Efforts to recover It were
foiled by the darknss& Ehad been
too ahseEbedst to note the approach fof
night, Which had stolen on me una,
wares ~ thgdepths ola forest ipfest7l
ed by hosts of prowling ravenous
beasts and myriads of xenomous- rep4
tiles. -aU
Looking about with a vague pur-l
pose Of seekng place Of shelter I'll
saw an opening through the trees, and
going toward it, came inxsight of al
settlers cabin. Cheered at the pros
pect Of bedaud supper Hurried for5
ward andiEnocked for admittanee.-E
receiving noeahswer, i made boldd to
push open the edoor. There is. mo
the chill, damPiatr Off del
serted nous, and tbs one-I hnew / |
should find without inmates, even be-
fore 1 had explored its dismantled in
terror BY the light of a match I hap
penedt to have about me. 1t was al
long, marrow cabin, containing but a
single fa6m,s having a wide fireplace
at oae end with recssses at the sides, I
one of which bad been converted into
q closet By means Of a pine board, B
swung on .deer-skfn hinges, which j
served Tor a door. 3 = DIS aoofi
1 had at least found a place tnsieep !
safety-no small boon to a tired i