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Article SCENES IN AMERICA. ← Page 7 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scenes In America.
" Now you know , Ball "—said Hinkle , about to remonstrate against Jack's interference . " Hoi' your gab , Jack , " helloived Ball , in a tone that effectually checked both . " Now , down wi' that gun ; " he added , in a manner that showed there was to be no further delay . " AVell—then ; " uttered the scoundrel , with apparent resignation ; and then lowering his hand half way to the ground , he suddenly sprang behind
the tree . " Now , Ball , " he exclaimed , in tones of defiance , " keep off , or you are a dead man . " Jack and Hooked at each other in utter amazement ; for we had considered Hinkle completely in the power of his antagonist . Now , as if by magic , he had the advantage in the conflict ; for besides being much the younger and the more active man , he was behind a tree , while Ball stood in the pathway unprotected .
" Make for the tree , daddy , behin' the bolt , " cried Jack . " No , I sha ' n't , you fool ; " with feigned disdain ; and quick as lightning gained the very position indicated by Jack . For a moment after this movement not a syllable was uttered . Each ofthe combatants seemed undetermined what to do . Fearing that Hinkle might take it into his fiendish head to shoot Jack , who stood now in the direct line between the other two , I beckoned to him to remove to my safer position , which he did . As he joined me ,
comprehending my motive , he said , " He's too big a coward to shoot at me ; he knows if he was to empty his gun at me , daddy would have him certain . " Ball and Hinkle , with their guns elevated ready to be levelled at the first advantage , were engaged peeping and drawing their heads back behind their
respective trees ; both no doubt still undecided as to further steps , should their present position continue much longer . " I wish , " said Jack , in an undertone , " he was a leetle bit furder from where he shot at daddy , I'd git his rifle . " " You really think he had two guns ?" " May be he had n't ! that's jist like a coward ; for fear he could n't load quick enough , if he did n ' t hit first time . " They were still watching each other ; peeping , drawing back , half levelling
their guns as they thought some advantage existed , and then ' shrinking suddenly back as it passed away ; while Jack , whose solicitude for his father ivould not allow him to be an idle spectator , put the colt ' s halter into my hand , and then throwing himself on his hands and feet , stole , noiselessly as a cat , towards the spot where he supposed Hinkle had left his rifle . I began to reflect that two guns in the hands of brave men , ought not to be opposed to one in the hands of a coward , however criminal , or fiendish he had been ; and ! felt gratified with the conviction that the brave old hunter would not give Jack the means of loading the gun if he should find it . At last , Hinkle , worn out with fruitless watchings to gain some
advantage , or to escape from his adversary , and hearing something moving behind him , from the spot where he had fired , called out , in a voice that rang through the woods— " Ball ; promise me you won't touch me with your rifle , and ' pon the honour of a mau , I'll give up fair . " The old hunter took not the least notice of this overture ; thinking , perhaps , how little confidence was to be placed in the words of so perfidious a wretch . The next mo . nent Jack , with a face flushed to crimson , dashed out , bearing the rifle uplifted in his hand ; and , filled with vengeance at the sight of the gun which had just been discharged at his father , he exclaimed , as he made his way to the old man , "here daddy's the lyin' coward ' s rifle , gi' me a load . "
Hinkle not doubting that he was to have two armed adversaries , dashed off—and at the same moment Ball's gun was discharged after him . But the bushes continued to crackle , and I saw Hinkle making his way with prodigious strides . Ball was already in pursuit , reloading his gun as he ran , VOL . II . M
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scenes In America.
" Now you know , Ball "—said Hinkle , about to remonstrate against Jack's interference . " Hoi' your gab , Jack , " helloived Ball , in a tone that effectually checked both . " Now , down wi' that gun ; " he added , in a manner that showed there was to be no further delay . " AVell—then ; " uttered the scoundrel , with apparent resignation ; and then lowering his hand half way to the ground , he suddenly sprang behind
the tree . " Now , Ball , " he exclaimed , in tones of defiance , " keep off , or you are a dead man . " Jack and Hooked at each other in utter amazement ; for we had considered Hinkle completely in the power of his antagonist . Now , as if by magic , he had the advantage in the conflict ; for besides being much the younger and the more active man , he was behind a tree , while Ball stood in the pathway unprotected .
" Make for the tree , daddy , behin' the bolt , " cried Jack . " No , I sha ' n't , you fool ; " with feigned disdain ; and quick as lightning gained the very position indicated by Jack . For a moment after this movement not a syllable was uttered . Each ofthe combatants seemed undetermined what to do . Fearing that Hinkle might take it into his fiendish head to shoot Jack , who stood now in the direct line between the other two , I beckoned to him to remove to my safer position , which he did . As he joined me ,
comprehending my motive , he said , " He's too big a coward to shoot at me ; he knows if he was to empty his gun at me , daddy would have him certain . " Ball and Hinkle , with their guns elevated ready to be levelled at the first advantage , were engaged peeping and drawing their heads back behind their
respective trees ; both no doubt still undecided as to further steps , should their present position continue much longer . " I wish , " said Jack , in an undertone , " he was a leetle bit furder from where he shot at daddy , I'd git his rifle . " " You really think he had two guns ?" " May be he had n't ! that's jist like a coward ; for fear he could n't load quick enough , if he did n ' t hit first time . " They were still watching each other ; peeping , drawing back , half levelling
their guns as they thought some advantage existed , and then ' shrinking suddenly back as it passed away ; while Jack , whose solicitude for his father ivould not allow him to be an idle spectator , put the colt ' s halter into my hand , and then throwing himself on his hands and feet , stole , noiselessly as a cat , towards the spot where he supposed Hinkle had left his rifle . I began to reflect that two guns in the hands of brave men , ought not to be opposed to one in the hands of a coward , however criminal , or fiendish he had been ; and ! felt gratified with the conviction that the brave old hunter would not give Jack the means of loading the gun if he should find it . At last , Hinkle , worn out with fruitless watchings to gain some
advantage , or to escape from his adversary , and hearing something moving behind him , from the spot where he had fired , called out , in a voice that rang through the woods— " Ball ; promise me you won't touch me with your rifle , and ' pon the honour of a mau , I'll give up fair . " The old hunter took not the least notice of this overture ; thinking , perhaps , how little confidence was to be placed in the words of so perfidious a wretch . The next mo . nent Jack , with a face flushed to crimson , dashed out , bearing the rifle uplifted in his hand ; and , filled with vengeance at the sight of the gun which had just been discharged at his father , he exclaimed , as he made his way to the old man , "here daddy's the lyin' coward ' s rifle , gi' me a load . "
Hinkle not doubting that he was to have two armed adversaries , dashed off—and at the same moment Ball's gun was discharged after him . But the bushes continued to crackle , and I saw Hinkle making his way with prodigious strides . Ball was already in pursuit , reloading his gun as he ran , VOL . II . M