The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-04-19

Morton wrote: "Name your terms"
The stranger wrote, without moments
hesitation: "Time, sun set this evening
place, the left bank Of the Colorado, oppo-
site Austin weapons, rifles and distance
a hundred yards. DO not fail to be in
time"
He then walked across the floor, and dis
appeared through the window as suddenly
as he had entered.
What" exclaimed Judge Webb, ''is it
possible you intend to fight that man, col
onel2 He is n mute, if not maniac
such a meeting, | fear will sadly tarnish
your laurels."
you are mistaken" said Morton, with
a smile; "that mute is hero whose name
stands in the records of dozen battles,
and at least half as many bloody duels-
Besides, he is a favorite emissary and
bosom friend of Houston. If l have the
good fortune to kill him, / think it will
tempt the president to retract his VOW
against venturing any more upon the field
| of honor"
You know the man, Them Who is
he?"
Deaf Smith"
mo, that cannot be. Deaf Smith was
KILLED at San J"uinto," said J~ase Woi,h
There, again, your honor is mistaken"
said Morton. The story of Smiths death
was mere fiction, got up by Houston to
save the life of his favorite from the sworn
vengeance of certain Texans, on whose con-
duct he had acted as spy. found that
out twelve months ago."
Then you are mailman youself!" ex-
claimed Webb. Deaf Smith was never
known to miss his mark"
1.-THE thing is settled" said Morton, C
have agreed to meet him. There can be no
disgrace in falling before such shot, and
If Kill him it will be the greatest feat of
my life"
Towards evening vast crowd assembled
to witness the meeting, and so great was the
popular recklessness as to affairs of this sort
that bets were offered and taken on all sides
upon the result. At sunset the two men az
rived, with long, heavy rifles, took their
places, back to back, and at signal walk
ed slowly and steadily off in opposite direc-
tions, counting their steps until each had
measured fifty. They both completed the
given number about the same instant and
wheeled around. AS the distance was great
both paused for some seconds. The face of
wa %'A'io was cain SllllllHp. Inc
face of Deaf Smith was as stern aud i'm
passive as eyer. The colonel was in broad
cloth, the scout in smoke-tinted leather.
The two rifles exploded at the same in
slant. Col. Morton sprang into the air and
dropped to the earth dead Deaf Smith
quietly reloaded his rifle, and walked away
into the forest.
Three days atterward Gen. Houston, ac-
companied 10y Deaf Smith and ten other
men, appeared in Austin, and removed the
state papers.
Deaf Smith was one of the most extraor-
binary characters ever known in the West.
lie made his advent in Texes at an early
period, and continued to reside there until
his death, which occurred about 1885,
But, although he had many warm friends,
no one ever learned where he had been born
or any particulars of his previous history.
When he was questioned on the subject, he
laid his fingers on his lip. His eye was
quick and tar-seeing as an eagles, and his
nose as keen as ravens. He could discern
objects miles away on the prairie when
others saw nothing but earth and sky; and
the savages used to declare he could catch
the scent of IL Mexican or an Indian at as
great distance as buzzard his dinner
lie could never be persuaded to sleep un-
der the roof of Il house, or even tent cloth.