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

A MEXICAN CAPTURE.
-
Colonel Erastus Smith straighten-
ed up in his saddle and, lifting his
eyes from the 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 wiry enough,
and his face below the part shaded
by the wide brim of his hat had be-
gun to take on q Texas tan. Smith
chuckied and mrmbled something to
himself. The young fellow fingered
the handle of his bowie knife nerv
ously under tho big, rough looking
fellows gaze and unconsciously dug
his spurred heels into the ribs of his
sleepy pony. The pony put back
his ears wickedly and fidgeted about.
Better be keerful, 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 three slouchy looking fellows
who stood under a tree 80 yards
away holding three ponies.
s'Here you, Hawkins he said,
and bronzed, broad shouldered
man sauntered up. ''This young
feller's names Lane General Doug
lass sent him down from Nacog-
doches. Wants to jine Deef Smiths
scouts. y
Likely lookin youngster,'' 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 clo'es
an gifts rugged out in buckskin.
Hawkins grappled Lanes out
stretched hand with a hard grip and
continued, EFF ye come down hyar
fer 'musement, 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 the red clay of the trail he had
followed from Liberty to San Jacin-
to creek. He 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 cheered him up, and u nip from
Hawkins capacious flask completed
the work.
'sThat's something like it, Mr..
Hawkins" he said. smacking his
lips and returning the flask. I've
needed that for hours
Eyes, that's fust rate stuff, - as
sented Hawkins. "One o. the boys
got onter a Greaser outfit :, couple o
days back an got {, dozen TASKS.
They say it come from the private
supply of old Santa Anna hisself
but, see here, young feller, you re
more n welcome to the lush, but rec
ollect that I'm plain Hawkins. We
dom t come tho mister game i'll Texas
list now. We amt got the time.
Lane followed the big fellow 81
lently to the magnolia which shell
tered the otner two Texans and waS
briefly presented to Ned Hall and
Greaser Ear Hatton of Colonel Eras-
tus Smiths scouts.
Greaser Ear Hatton. Lame alter
ward learned, came by his nam.
honestly. He had sliced off one oi
the ears Of a. Mexiuan colonel of cav
airy in an affair at Liberty Creek
few weeks before, recovered tht
trophy, smoked it rs hr used t.
emoke pork back i'll the Gsorgia
piny woods before he came tt
Texas and wore it sewcd to 1iis ahir
as a memento of his skill with thu
bowie.
There's matter O some half s
dozen more Hawkins explained
noting i, surprised look on Lane
face which he rightly ronjcc,'l1et
was caused by the sm;,lnes> Of The
band whose fame already reached
back to the States.
"Them six is out looIin after /;
batch o. Greaser cevalry what cross
ed the creek bout two mile M te