Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-10-31
what is death to dishonor9"

what is death to dishonor?"
Such was the absurd sen timent in
Texas at that time, and such as, we fear,
Is still too prevalent among civilized
nations.
Toward evening large crowd assem-
bled at the place appointed for the meet
ing. and SO reckless were the people re-
garding fhe mighty issue at stake-a
human life-perhaps two-that there
were all manner of jokes and not few
wagers laid upon the result.
At length. IS the sun sank below the
horizon. the two mortal antagonists,
appeared on the open space with their
citations, standing back to back. At the
waving Of the handkerchief they began
packing of from each other, both step
ping exactly together, MS if they were
keeping time to the tap Of q 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
AS they were separated by consider
able space, they raised their rifles and
paused moment to take 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 mnrderous one-far
more terrible than the severest scovl
could be. Deaf Smith, however. was as
rigid and passlouless as ever. His profile
might have been supposed to have been
cut IN stone, SO expressionless was it
The former was attired in the fines,
broadcloth, and the other was clad in
smoke-tinted leather.
The next instant the two rifles explod-
ed simultaneously. Colouel Morton gave
a smothered shrek, sprang forward and
fell to the ground-dead Deaf Smith
stood unmoved, and began reloading bis
rife, which being done, be turned away
and disappeared in the adjoining forest
Three days after General Houston, &C
companied by Deaf Smith and ten other
men made his appearance in Austin, and
without further opposition removed the
State papers.
Deaf Smith, as I remarked in another
place, was one Of the most extraordinary
men ever known in the West. He ap-
peared in Texas at an early period and re-
sided there until bis death, which occult
red over dozen years ago. He had
many ardent friends, but nothing definite
was ever learned regarding his early his
tory. Whether he ever acquainted Hous.
ton with 1t or not can never be known,
for the old hero never enlightened me,
nor any one else, so far as l can learn,
upon the matter.
When Dea: Smith was questioned up,
on the point, he laid his finger upon bis
lips, and If pressed, his black eyes gave
such rebuke that no one dared question
him further. Although deprived of the
faculty of hearing, nature, as is often the
case. seemed to campensate him with an
eye as keen and far-reaehing as an eagles
and smell as perfect as ravens. he
could discern Comanehes so far off on the
prairies that they we're invisible to the
most experienced rangers, and his friends
declared he could scent an Indian or
Mexican when miles distant.
Gifted in this extraordinary maner, it
qwill be seen that he possessed just the
uallties to make a spy; and his services
Houston during the Texan war for in j.
| dependence were invaluable. He nearly
always went alone. and very rarely failed
to obtain the information desired.
He had many erratic habits. No per-
suasion could induce him to sleep under
the roof of house. With his blanket
wrapped around him, he loved to lie out
in the open air, under the star gemmed
| armament Of the silver moon.
When not engaged as spy, he lived
by hunting. and was often absent for
months upon his excursions. He was a
genuine son of nature at home only
when engaged in the thrilling excite
ment of the hunt, or the more fiery thrill
of the clash of arms and the roar of battle.
Shut out by his inffmities from close
companionship with friends. Wherever
there was land or water, barren rocks or
tangled brakes Of wild cane; there was
Deaf Smiths home, and there he was
happy; but in the streets of great cities,
in all the great thoroughfares of men,
wherever there was Aattery or fawuing,
base cunning Or craven fear, there was
Deaf Smith an alien and an exile.
Strange soul He hath departed on the
long journey, away among those high
light stars which were his night lamps.
and he hash either solved or ceased tc
ponder the deep mysteries of the magical
word. life He is dead; therefore let his
errors rest in oblivion and his virtues bt
remembered with hope.