The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-01
A MEXICAN CAPTURE.

Colonel EraStuS Smith straiEhtCn-
ed up in his saddle and, lifting hia
eyes from tho slip of paper lie had
been scanning, critically scr,itinized
tho young fellow before him. The
young man III question was tall and
slender, but looked wiry enough,
and his face below the part shaded
by tho wide brim of his hat had be-
gun to tako ON IL Texas tan. Smith
chuckled anu mumbled something to
himself. The young fellow fingered
the handle Of his bowie knife ncry.
ously under tho big, rough looking
fellow. gaze and uncuIsciollSly dug
his spurred heels into tho ribs of his
sleepy pony. The pony put back
his ears wickedly and fidgctcd about.
Better bo kcerful, suggested the
other. That br,itc'll dump ye'
and Smith folded the ruprr, stuffed
it into Il pocket of his blckskin
jacket, shifted his puid and shouted
to three slouchy looking fellows
who stood under Il tree 80 yards
away holding three ponies
Here you, Hawkins, he said,
and Il bronzcd, broad shouldcrcd
man sauntcred up. This young
feller' $ names s. Lane. General Doug
lass sent him down from Nacug
dochos. Wants to jino Deof Smith s
scouts.
Likely lookin younsstcr,' oh
served hawkins aside, removing a
corncob pipe from his mout,. ami
sizing Lame up. Guess he'll do
after he gets ollten them store clio 'es
an gifts rugged out in buckskin.
Hawkins grappled Lanes out
stretched hand with hard grip and
continued, "Ef yo come down hyar
fer 'musement, yell git it, shorc!'
Night was coming Oh rapidly, ami
the gloom WAS deepening under tho
dripping magnolius and live oaks.
1t had been raining steadily ull day,
and Lanes clothes were sputterel
with tho red clay Of tho trail he had
followed from Liborty to San ,Jacin-
to creek. Hc was good hors0n,un,
but was unused to tho rough Texas
trail and tho irregular gait Of tho
sturdy Texas pony General Doug
lass had given him at Nac0gdoches,
ami every muscle in his body ached.
The rough welcome Deaf Smith gave
him choerea him UP, and nip from
Hawkins ca!incious fiuNl. completed
the work.
That's something like it. Mi.
Hawkins, he said, smuckiny his
lips and returning the flask. I've
needed that for hours
"AeS, that's inst rate stuff, MS
sentcd Hawkins. 'Onc q the lovS
got "ntcr Il tirc:,Ser outfit :, couple q
days back an got dozen flask
Ihey say 1t come from tho private
supply of old Santa Anna lissclf;
Dut, soc h"rr. young Teller, you're
more II welcome to the lush, but re-
ollcct that IN plain Hawkins. W.
don t come thu mister game III Tex;;,
jlst now. We ain't got the time.
Lane followed the big fellow ST
lently to the magnolia which shri.
tered tho other two Texans and WIS
briefly presented to Ned Hall and
Grenser Ear Hutton of Colonel Eras-
tus Smiths scouts.
t3reaser Rlr HuttUn. Lane alter
ward learned, caiiir by his na.:..
honestly. He hail sliced off one Of
the ears Of "a MHxiuan t:ol0nel of cav
airy in an affair at Liberty Greek !.
few weeks before, recovered the
trophy, smoked it Az hn ;i>ed tn
smoke pork back in thu Georgia
piny woods before he came ia
Texas and wore it sewcd to- his shirt
as a memunto uf his skill with the
bowie.
There's Il matter q son.u half q
dozen more. Hawkins explained,
noting II surprised lopk Oh Lanes
face which he rightly ronjcct,rcti
WAS caused by the smallncsS of the
band whose fame already reached
back to the States.
Them six is ont lookin after 1,
batch q Greuscr CO valry what cross
cd the creek bout two mile un 10