The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-05-26
MISCELLANY.
LIFE OR DEATH.
a TEXAS nAsoER's BEST SHOT.

Wilson and Cameron stood apart from their
companions. With folded arms and thought
full faces, they watched the shadows Of night
steal over lake and chapparal.
An hour like this casts spell upon my
spirit,r said Cameron. ~ love to see the
glare of day fade and give place to the dim,
placid twilight"
" have similar feelings" replied Wilson,
& but like night best when advanced toward
the small hours, and the moon and stars are
brightly beaming.''
Cameron made no reply aud the parties re-
manned silent Wilson was the first to speak.
"That's heavy rifle of yours" he said,
CHANGING at the weapon upon which Cameron
was leaning. ~ dare say it has heen of
service to you in its timer"
{. No money could induce me to part with
it, because have proved its metal on various
occasions. Did ever tell you of an adventure
that once had near the Red Rivers"
"You never did /; should like to hear it, !"
said Wilson.
"Several years ago." resumed Cameron,
81 was hunting near Cross Timbers not far
from Red River The Indians were then
troublesome, and frequently committed their
depredations on the frontier settlements but
them, willing to trust to my own courage and
ingenuity in any emergency that might occur.
I carried this same rifle, and was called one Of
the best shots in the country.
MANY people said the piece was to heavy
for common use but was used to it, and it
didn't seem burdensome to me-and when
fred it was sure to do the right thing, for
what animal could carry off an ounce and a
half of lead, skillfully sped ON its errand ?
Having discovered Indian signs one day, l
thought 1t best to change my hunting ground,
and so put considerable distance between
me and this spot, and encamped on wide
prairie, bounded on the east by the Cross
Timbers. Not long after this event, / was
sitting ON the bank of a small stream, resting
my weary limbs after long and fatiguing
hunt, when was fired upon and received a
slight wound.
ri was fortunate enough to discover the
marksman, who proved to be an Indian, Of
what tribe do not remember. instantly
shot him dead, and then preeeived that he
| was not alone, for one of his brethren was
with him, who made good his escape.
| 'One day, not feeling very well, returned
to my camp sooner than usual. / laid down
to sleep, but could not. I felt uneasy and
nervous, and so arose and went to the prairie.
The grass was not very tall, and the hot sun
of the season had dried it until it was crispy,
and ratified as walked through it. l as
cended gentle swell and looked around me.
The scene was grand one. On one hand
were the Cross Timbers, dimly seen in the
distance, resembling dense wall Of wood
built by human hands, while in every direction
the prairie stretched away until lost in the
distance. The sun was getting low, and
looked like sunset Oil the sea. As my eyes
wandered from point to point, they were sud-
denly fixed on a solitary figure several hun
dred yards distant, at the foot of the long
swell or roll upon which was standing.
~He stood m open space, and at first
wondered how that could be, as the grass was
50 high in every other place but the affair
soon explained itself. More careful examine
tion showed me that the solitary object was
"a Indian, and his object in packing up the
dry grass Was to fire the prairie. It was
doubtless the same fellow that had escaped at
the time had been fired on. He had dis
covered my retreat and was about to revenge
himself in singular manner.
"The wind was fresh towards me, and II
the grass had been set on fire, no power on
earth could have saved me, for the feetest
horse could not run fast enough from its de.
vouring flames. A terrible dread Of that kind