THE LAW OF THE PLAINS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2058, 3 August 1893, Page 42

THE LAW OF THE PLAINS.

The outfit of 12 waggons bad stopped at a point on the Rio Pecos river about seven miles above the town of Anton Ghico. We had supper and were smokiDg our pipe?, and it was between sunset and dark, when a young fellow about 20 years old came iiding up from the direction of the Oomanche country. He was dressed like a cowboy, and what few words be spoke were in good English. He rode up to a camp fire around which five or six of us were sitting, and after a " Good eveniDg " to all dismounted and let his gaze .wander about. Teamster No. 5 was a Mexican half-breed known as Big Pete. He gave a start of surprise as the Btranger rode up, and I heard him cursing and muttering to himself. By-and-bye the boy fixed his gaza on Pete and kept it there for a long half minute. There was a sorb .of smile on bis face which made one think of the look of a wolf who had pur-

sued a victim for hours and hours and was finally near enough to seize it. " Rifle, pistol, or knife ? " he asked of Pete in a low even voice. The big fellow looked around uneasily. He was no coward, as we all knew, bub the sudden appearance of the boy had rattled him for a moment. A full moon was coming up, and there would be light enough for firearms. He was a good shot, but that long, sharp knife was his favourite weapon; Besides, he was a giant* compared to ' that Blender but active-looking youth. < "The knife, and I will give you one minute to say your prayers 1 " shouted Pete as be sprang up. " Very well. Just as you please 1 " quietly replied the young man as he unbridled his horse and sent him away. Not a word was spoken by any of the rest

We all rose up, but made no other

move. Not a question was asked of either man. It was the law of the plains. One man had the light to demand satisfaction of another by rifle, revolver, or knife. As to the cause of the quarrel, why should we ask or care ? Pete removed his belt and jacket and sombrero, and tied a handkerchief around his head. The stranger removed the belt, in which he carried a couple of revolvers, threw asidehis sombrero, and walked off to a distance

of 50ft. Pete followed. Everyman in camp formed a circle about the pair. The moon made everything as plain as daylight. ' The horses and mules were all to the right of us. So far as I could see, every one stopped feeding and gazed steadfastly at the circle.

"Ready!"

It was the stranger who called out, and at the word both moved into the Jcentre of the ring and menaced each other. A fight to the death with knives is a horrible thing to look at, and yet there is a magnetism about it which forces you to stand and look till the end come?. Boxers ? move about — feint, advance, retreat, rush at each other, and grapple., So it is with men*who fight, with knives. , Back and forth across the circle,

round and round it, their knives now and - then clashing together, and it was 10 long

minute^ before blood was drawn. With the < first drop came death, 'No man called out. No man in the circle moved out of his tracks. Some of thehorse3 came nearer and whinnied softly, as if asking what it was all about, but this we remem-

bered afterward. Big Pete was working to

make his great strength bring him An advan- ■ tage. If he could seize that boy's right arm with bis left hand and hold it for five seconds the duel would be ended. Thrice he attempted it and thrice he failed. Suddenly the boy found the opening he had been seek- ' ing. So swiftly that none of us could follow him he sprang forward under the uplifted right arm, there was the flash of a knife, and Big Pete uttered a groan and sank down. "You are witnesses that, it was a fair fight," said the stranger as he stood over Pete and looked around the circle. ' It was fair, bub no man answered. He called bis horse by a low whistle, slipped on the bridle, and half a minute later was cantering away to the east. Big Pete bad wronged him. The law of the land would not give him satisfaction. The law of the plains had avenged him. A grave beside the §|ecos— a guess or two as to the stranger's identity— that was all.— New York Sun.