Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-01-22
HIS LIFE OR NINE.

Its most lawless period and had occasion
ally to bring some bad characters to JUS
tice. A number of them were hung, and
others escaped unhung, carrying with
them vivid memory of my features and
swearing death to me at sight
After leaving California l went into
Texas. l had been off to the western part
Of the state on business and was return
Ing home in the saddle, when reached a
stream that was crossed by means of a
ferry The boat'was on the opposite side
and by the faint light of the moon, which
was behind the clouds, distinguished
the signal trumpet hanging on the broken
branch of an oak This blew with a
will, and hearing the answer of the ferry
man I led my horse to the brink of the
river and waited with some impotence
the moment when should see the silent
ferryboat move from the opposite shore.
I shouted at last: "Come, hurry up! lam
behind time now"
At last the boat moved into tho stream,
and could hear the mutterings of the fer
ryman, which sounded like those of o sui
len bull. Ere long the punt-for it was
nothing else-grated on the sand, and
after getting my horse in as best could ]
followed and settled down on I'll empty
powder keg, which was the only seat
could find.
AS seen in the dim light, the counte-
nance of the ferryman was not progresses
ing. The nose appeared to be broken, and
one eye was gone. Then tho jaws were
heavy and grizzly mustache, which he
constantly biting, lent most determined
expression to his face.
The revelation of his countenance
warned me that there was work between
us before we reached the shore 1t was the
face of Dick Thurston, whom arrested in
California and whose father was hung
for murder committed under such aggra
waited circumstances that we strung him
up before there could DO any possibility of
escape. Dick broke jail--not u difficult
performance in those days-and swore to
shoot me at sight whenever orwherever he
might chance to meet me.
Here he was at last, and there was /.
Had been the ferryman, and he the pas
senger, think my first sensation would
have been different, but as it was he was
at home in the punt, and 1 assumed the
appearance Of the aggressor. l was not
expecting to meet this desperate in such
place and under just such circumstances
and was taken entirely off my guard. My
opinion was that he failed to recognize
me at first, thinking. perhaps, that was
still acting as sheriff in California, but
now he knew whom he had on board, and
that he would attempt to carry out his
threat had no doubt.
Now, here was the way was situated.
My revolver was in my breast coatpocket,
and it would require time to get it ready
for service. A moment under such cir
cumstances is an hour, and saw that any
precipitate motion on my part, revealing
to him my discovery and my intention,
would draw his fire before could even
unbutton my coat, for / well knew that he
had revolver ready at hand, as such char
acters always have, either to shoot VIC
tim or resist an arrest.
I say that shuddered when the face
was revealed by the moonlight. This did
not last long, and thought best to show
no feeling, but to appear to be perfectly
unconcerned So turned my eyes down
to the river and remarked carelessly:
GA fine sight. S'pose you've been in
these parts long enough to know all the
uookS anu CornerS!
Eyes, and all the contemplate scoun-
drels that cross here too"
This was hitting pretty close, but re-
manned imperturbable.
"Ah So you nab few of 'ein now and
them"
l turned sharply on him when l said
this, and as did SO managed to unbut-
ton my coat with the left hand, which was
on the "off side. /"
. You Internal neck puller, dye think
to fool me againf I've got ye! You know
me, and you'll know something more be-
fore you can say your prayers"'
l looked him calmly in the eye, which
blazed fiercely in the shadow of the moon.
Those who have had to deal with such
characters know that their passions be-
tray them into species of madness, and
the only way to get time Is to treat them
as you would mailman. Assume an
appearance of unconcern, look them stead
lily in the eye and calculate what you have
to do to save yourself. This was my pol
icy at the time, or should not be here to