The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-10-26

"You were brave enough to insult m
by your threatening looks ten minutes age
are you brave enough to give me satisfae
ton ."
The stranger instantly penned the reply
al am at your service"
The Colonel again wrote:
"Who will be your second %
This was the answer:
GO am too generous to seek an advan
tage, and too brave to fear one on the par
of others, therefore never need the aid o
second ?''
Morton wrote:
"Name your terms"
The stranger wrote without moment
hesitation:
"Time, sunset this evening; place, tn
left bank of the Colorado, opposite Austin
weapons, rifles; distance, a hundred yards
Do not fail to be in time"
The last sentence was not calculated tt
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 he hat
entered.
els it possible that you are going tt
fight that man ?" exclaimed Judge Webb
"He is mute, if not a maniac. Such ;
meeting l fear will tarnish the lustre O
your laurels."
"You are Mistaken" said .he Colonel,
with SMILE 'sThat mute is a hero whose
fame stands in the records of a dozen OF
battles and almost as many bloody duels
Besides, he is the favorite emissary and
bosom friend of Houston. If I have the
good fortune to kill him, l think the Presi
dent will retract his VOW against venturine
any more on the field of honor"
"You know him then? Who is hep
asked several
Deaf Smith"
Impossible. 1t cannot be. Deaf Smith
was slain at San Jacinto," replied Judge
Webb.
"There again your Honor is mistaken, y
said Morton. "The story of Smith death
is a mere fiction, gotten up by Houston fol
the purpose of saving his friend from the
vengeance of several Texans, on whose
conduct he had acted the part of a spy. l
learned the artifice year ago."
"Then you are mailman yourself, Col
onel. Deaf Smith was never known ia
miss his mark. He has been known to
have brought down ravens in their flight,
and has picked off Comanches and Mexi-
cans at distance of two hundred yards"
"The thing is settled. fancy l can do
a little of that business myself"
'But for Gods sake" persisted the
Judge, becoming excited, 81 don't want
you to be murdered.
"Who is going to be ?" asked the Colo
mel, as he cody smoked his cigar and smil-
ed in his usual way.
"Why, you, if you undertake to fight
Deaf Smith,
"This thing is all arranged as I said a
few moments ago, and l wouldn't back
out if was certain to DO shot; for what is
death to dishonor?"
Such was the absurd sentiment in Texas
at the time, and such, we fear, is too prev
alent among civilized nations.
Toward evening large crowd assembled
at the place appointed for the meeting and
SO reckless were the people regarding the
issue at stake-a human life, perhaps two
that there were all manner of jokes, and
not a few wagefs laid upon the result.
At length, as the sun sank below the
horizon, the two mortal antagonists ap-
preached on the open space and stood back
to back. At the waving of the handker-
chief they began pacing off from each 9TH
er. both stepping exactly together, as if
they were keeping time to the tap of
drum They completed the distance at the
same instant, when they wheeled so as to
face each other and fire as soon as possible.
AS they were separated by consider
able distance, they raised their rifles and
paused a moment to take aim. The pause
was long enough for the crowd to glance
from one to tue other, and note the express
sion of their faces. Colonel Morton was
calm and smiling; but the smile was a
murderous one-far more terrible than the
severest scowl could be. Deaf Smith, how
ever was as rigid and passionless as ever.
His profile might have been supposed to
b,y l,aa in "
it. The former was attired in the finest
broadclotL, and the other in a smoke
tinted-leather.
The next instant both rifles exploded
simultaneously. Colonel Morton gave a
smothered Shrek, sprang upward, and fell
to the ground-dead. Deaf Smith stood
unmoved, and began reloading his rifle,
which being done he turned away and dis
appeared in the adjoining forest.
Three days after, Gen. Houston. accom-
panied, by Deaf Smith, and ten other men
made their appearance in Austin, and
without further opposition removed the
State papers.
bCdl lOliothOa OSAoASi "oo
one of the most extraordinary men ever
known in the West. He appeared in Tex
as at an early period, and resided there
until his death, which occurred over doz-
Ell years ago. He had many ardent friends,
but nothing definite was ever learned re-
garding his former life. Whether he ever
acquainted Houston with it was never
known, for the old hero never enlightened
any one as far as l can learn, upon the
matter.
When Deaf Smith was questioned upon
the matter, he laid his finger upon his lips,
and if pressed, his dark eyes gave such a
rebuke that no one dare question him
further. Although deprived of the facul
ty of hearing, Nature, as is often the case,
seemed to compensate him, by giving him
an eye as keen and far-reaching as ar
eagles and a smell as perfect as a raven S
He could discern Comanches so far off OIL
the prairie that they were invisible to the
eye of the most experienced rangers anG
his friends declared he could scent Mexi
can when miles away.
Gifted in fbiS extraordinary manner i