The Ravalli Republican., 1898-09-07
A MEXICAN CAPTU RE.

COlone! Erastus Smith straightcn-
ed up in his saddle and, lifting his
eyes from tho slip Of paper he had
been scanning, critically scrutinized
the young fellow before him. The
young man in question was tall and
slender, but looked why enough,
and his face below the part shaded
by the wide brim of his hat had be-
gun to tako on Il Texas tan. Smith
chucklel and ln1lmbled something to
himself, The young fellow fingered
the handle Of his bowie knife merry
ously under the big, rough looking
fellows gaze and unconsciously dug
his spurrcd heels into the ribs Of his
sleepy pony. The pony put back
his ears wicjzel1y and tidgeted about.
"Bettaz be ]zeerfu], y suggested the
other. ''That brute'll dump ye,'
and Smith folded the paper, stuffed
it into a pocket of his buckskin
jacket, shifted his quid and shouted
to tlreo s!ouchy looking fellows
who stood under tree 80 yards
away holding three ponies
"Here you, Hawkins, - he said,
and q lronzci, broad shouldered
man s2untered up. "This young
feller's names Lane General Doug
lass sent him down from Nacog-
doches. Wants to jine Deet Smith $
scouts.'
"Likely loolsin youngstcr,' OBJ
served Hawkins aside, removing a
corncob pipe from his mouth and
sizing Lane up. "Guess he'll do
after he gets outen them store clio 'es
an gifts riggod out in buckskin. -
Hawliins Srappled Lanes out
stretched hand with a hard grip and
continued, "Ef ye come down hyar
fer 'nusoment, yell git it, shore!'
Night was coming on rapidly, and
the gloom was deepening under the
dripping magnolias and live oaks
It had been raining steadily all day,
and Lanes: clothes were spattered
with tho red clay Of the trail he had
followed from Liberty to San Jacin-
to creek. Iio was good horseman,
but was unused to the rough Texas
trail and the irregular gait of the
sturdy Texas pony General Doug
lass had given him at Nacogdoches,
and every muscle in his body ached
The rough welcome Deaf Smith gave
him choerod him up, and nip from
Hawkins capacious flask completed
the work
"fThat's something like it, Mr.
Hawkins" he said, smacking hi
lips and returning the flask. "I'v'
needed that for hours" "
es, that's. flst rate stuff, y as
senteQ Hawkins zone O the boy
got onter a <4reaser outfit {; couple O
days back an got a dozen TASKS
They say it come from the privat
supply Of Old Santa Anna hisself
but, see here, young feller, your
more'n welcome to the lush, but rec
ollect that III plain Hawkins. W
don come the mister game in Texa
jist now. We amt got the time. y
Lane followed the big fellow s
lently to the magnolia which she
teret! the other two Texans and w;
briefly presented to Ned Hall an
Greaser Ear Hntton Of Colonel Era
tus Smiths scodts.
Greaser Ear Hatton, Lane afte
ward learned, came by his nan
honestly. He had sliced off one
the ears Of Mexican colonel of ca,
airy in an affair at Liberty Creek
few weeks before, recovered Il
trophy, smoked it as he used
smoke pork back in the Georg
piny woods before he came
Texas and wore it sewed to his sh
as a 1iia1ne'ato of his skill with t
bowie.
"There's 11tatter g some half
Dozen more" Hawkins explaine
noting surprised look Oh Lam
:aco which he rightly conjectul
Eas caused by the smallness Of
band whose fame already reach
b:;y!1 to the States.
"Theln six is out 1ookin afte:
batch @ Grcascr cevalry what Gro
eA the creek bout two mile up