The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-02-16
A NIGHT AMONG REGULA-
TORS. l-

EfeSluent, anu 0!ielDy county It's iHOSC
lawless section, | had occasion for a
time to be there. 5...+ a.s1 --.g ii
| The population comprised call sorts
and conditions of men"-yagabOnds,
escaped criminals and reckless adven
turers constituting the larger portion.
A man too depraved to be let live in
any other part of Texas, invariably
sought refuge in Selby county.
| Between these desperadoes and the
honest settlers an uncompromising
warfare existed. 1t was no use ap-
[! pealing to the law it hadn't got there
yet. The, state of society was well
exemplified by President Houston S
answer, when asked to interpose his
tcuthority z, Fight it out among your
selves, and be hanged to youw
Both parties were, completely or
ganized-the desperadoes under the
name of :" Regulators their oppo-
nents under that of /" Vigilance Com
mittee."a The former robbed, mur-
dered and stole, the latter lynched.
/ Had / been as well acquainted with
the condition of things as experience
made me afterwards, should certain
ly have thought twice before ventur-
ing out on solitary hunting excursion
as 1 did one morning shortly after my
arrival. But was impatient to try
my luck and new rife and SO, without
stopping to make, sure of being right,
boldly went ahead. Is % sago
lalis: A new hunters luck is proverb
among old ones and the adage in my
case bade fair to be verified. / had
gone but a little way before stumbling
on o herd of deer quietly grazing at a
short distance. For q wonder, they
didn't see me first. Crouehing stealth
lily among the bushes, I singled out
stately buck that lowered sabOve the
flock like Saul above his fellows.
The mark stood fair and inviting.
1t would have been as easy to miss a
barn door. But 1 was trembling with
excitement-in fact, / had violent at
tack of what is known among the
hunters as :. uck-ague." The more L
strove not to, the more / shook, till at
last, in very desperation, taking adj
vantage of favorable wabble, l blazed
away. ~ Grc4sr [pi4Eif5 sa1
Il The herd scampercd, all but the
buck: he gave leap and toppled over
kicking his last, | was fain to believe.
But moment undeceived me. / had
got within a few yards of him, and
already, g in the minds eye," beheld
his tail as O feather in my cap, when,
quick as lightning, he sprang to his
feet, and bounded away as fast as the
rest .+aTIt;f.r 8. .ei-fesfr ,fsTGsf -1.- ~
.fa L followed at the top of my speed.
By the laws of the chase, first blood
gives title. Consequently the game
was mine. 1t was only question of
getting possession, and this was one
of wind aud perseverance,. OIL io .i1l
The buck was soon out of sight.
Still was not discouraged. 1 expect
ed to be distanced at first. Drops OF
blood at intervals ON the dry leaves
enabled me to keep the trail, and the
ultimate exhaustion of the animal L
counted on as insuring success in tic
end. zl .lsHss7s
Hour after. hour 1 kept on. Over
hills, along dales, across Eglades and
through thickets ran, thoughtless of
fatigue and reckless of scratches. By
times at fault, i was compelled to stop
and search narrowly; but fresh drop |
of blood would set me right, and
cause me to press on with renewed
eagerness. bIg iJ93.-aIsl zlGiH l
Once more the trail was lost, and |
this time all efforts to recover it were |
J.
toe absorbed to note the approach of
night, which had stolen on me una
wares in the depths of forest in
tested by hosts of prowling ravenous |
beasts and myriads of venomous rep |
tiles. st $50 T f.af Il
Looking about with vague pur-
pose of seeking place of shelter, !
saw. an opening through the trees,
nd To I'd ttoor in ia,hf Of
a settlers cabin. Cheered at the pros
pect of bed and a,supper, hurried
aud knocked for admittance..
no answer, 1 made bold to
push open the door. There is no mis-.
taking the chill, damp air of deserted
house, and this one [ knew I should I
find without inmates, even before [
explored its disman.led interior by
the light of q match / happened to
have about me. 1t was q long, narrow
cabin, containing but a single room,
having a wide fire. place at the end
with reeesses1 at the si les,a one of
which had been converted into clos
ct by means of a pine board swung on
1eer-skin hinges, which served for
toor.. -, -
N had at last found place to sleep
N safety-no small boon to a tired
nan; and having dispatched the lunch
If jerk" and. jonny-cake, till now
'orgotten in my pouch, | threw my
elf on the floor and soon, in the
and Of dreams, regained the lost
rail Of my buck, "a - ....,.ot s...3s K
A confused sound of voices at length J
sot mixed up in. my dreams, The
udden waking that .dispeIled the
after, brought proof of, the reality of
he former. The voices were, accom- :
,anied by footsteps. moreover; and |
10th were rapidly drawing nearer. {
t might be a company of belated
lunters, or it might be gang of Reg :
Ilators. AT all events it would be :
veil to settle the question before MAX
ng their acquaintance. I.sa s,G III g
1t was too late to leave the cabin !,
but there was the closet. :
Acting on the thought hastily gath h
red my gun and accoutrements, a
Tipped into the recess, and pulled to +,
he door. had hardly done SO when y
everal men, entered; how many it =
vas impossible to discover in the
aIkness. There was less difficulty
4 discovering the character of the
isitors. Their rude discourse, inter-
irded with coarse and brutal oaths, I
elated to some deed of violence ~
ither already done, or nearly contem- :, q
lated. AS they continued, / learned !
, my horror, that my own robbery =
nd murder had been already planned u
nd that these men, by whom / was =
Inspected to have about me consid- y
rable sum had been looking for me -
Il day in the woods. ~ har ~ :,
:, say, Blant Durton,n spoke one - -
t them, ".you'll hey to do better !.
nootin' this bout than you did last u u
me; twont do to miss this yer chap" y
g You needn't brag, Jim Sipple; / ~ -
en- take the consate out O. you, right y
ow, Of you're u mind to try" was
le answer.
" Obi as likes not" replied the a
ther; Zone mans shootin's as good II
notheris in the dark" p