St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-08-05
THE LAW OF THE PLAINS.

NU1ONs Oh. i AmME f
THE LAW OF THE PLAINS.
TArinlng Account ef Dael to tie DeaaA
With Knives foaght bv the Aooa's Light.
The outfit Of twelve wagons had
stopped at . point on the Rio Pecoa
river about seven miles above the town
Of Anton Chico. We had supper and
were smoking our pipes, and it was BE-
tween sunset and dark when . young
fellow about twenty years old came
riding mp from the direction Of the Co
manche country. He was dressed like
. cowboy. and what few words he spoke
were in good English. He rode mp t. .
campfire around which five or six Of
us were sitting. and after Good even
ing to all dismounted and let his gaze
wander from man to man.
"Teamster No. was . Mexican half
breed known rs Big Pete. He gave .
start Of surprise rs the stranger rode
up. and l heard him cursing and mutt
tering - himself. BY and by the boy
fixed his gaze on Pete and kept it there
for long half minute. There was .
sort Of smile on his face which made
one think of the look of wolf who has
pursued his victim for hours and hours
and was finally near enough to seize It.
"'Rifle. pistol or knife? he queried
of Pete in low, even voice.
''The big fellow looked around un-
easily. He was NO coward, as we all
kne ", but the sudden appearance Of
the boy had ratified him for u moment.
A full moon was coming up. and there
would be light enough for firearms
He was . good shot, but that long,
sharp knife was his favorite weapon.
Besides, he was . giant compared to
that slender but active-looking youth.
1.-THE knife, and l will give you one
minute to say your prayers" shouted
Pete as he sprang up.
every well; just as you please,
quietly replied the youug man, rs he
unbridled his horse and sent him away.
mot word was spoken by any Of
the rest of MS. We all rose up, but
made no other move. Not . question
was asked of either man. 1t was the
law of the plains. One man had the
right to demand satisfaction Of
another by rife, revolver or knife.
As to the cause of the quarrel, why
should we ask or care? Pete removed
his belt and jacket and sombrero and
tied . handkerchief around his head.
The stranger remove 4 the belt in
which he carried q couple of rcvolvers.
threw aside his sombrero, and walked
on to . distance of fifty feet. Pete
followed. Every man in camp formed
. circle about the pair. The moon
made everything rs plain as daylight.
The horses and mules were all to the
right of us. So far rs all could see
every one stopped feeding and gased
steadfastly at the circle.
'Ready:'
1T was the stranger who called out,
and At the word both moved into the
center Of the ring and menaccd each
other. A fight to the death with knives
il horrible thing to look at, and yet
there is . magnetism about il which
forces you to stand and look till the
end comes. Boxers move about-feint
-advance-retreat- at each other
and grapple. So it is with men who
fight with knives. Rack and forth
across the circle-round and round it.
their knives now and then clashing to-
gether, and It was ten long minutes
before blood was drawn. With the first
drop came death.
mo man called out No man in the
circle moved out Of his tracks Some
of the horses came nearer and whinn:ed
softly, rs if asking what it was all
about, but this we remember after
ward. Big Pete was working to make
his great strength bring him an ad-
vantage. II he could seize that boys
right arm with his left hand and hold
it for five seconds the duel would
be ended. Thrice he attempted it
and thrice he failed. Suddenly
the hoy found the opening he had
been seeking. So swiftly that none of
rs could follow him he sprang forward
under the uplifted right arm, there was
the fash Of . knife, and Big Pete ut
tered . groan and sank down.
"'You are witnesses that It was fair
Pete and looked around the circle.
''It was fair, but no man answered.
He called his horse by low whistle,
slipped on the bride, and half . min
ute later was cantering away to the
east Big Pete had wronged him.
The law of the land would not give
him satisfaction. The law of the plains
had avenged him. A grave beside the
Pecos-a guess or two At the strangers
that was all. l."-Chicago