The stranger penned his reply:  “I am at your service!”

Morton wrote again:  “Who will be your second?”

The stranger rejoined:  “I am too generous to seek an advantage; and too brave to fear any on part of others; therefore, I never need the aid of a second.”

Morton penned:  “Name your terms.”

The stranger traced, without a moment’s hesitation:  “Time, sunset this evening; place, the left bank of the Colorado, opposite Austin; weapons, rifles; and distance, a hundred yards.  Do not fail to be in time!”

He then took three steps across the floor, and disappeared through the window, as he had entered.

“What?” exclaimed Judge Webb, “is it possible Colonel Morton, that you intend to fight that man?  He is a mute, if not a positive maniac.  Such a meeting, I fear, will sadly tarnish the luster of your laurels.”

“You are mistaken,” replied Morton, with a smile; “that mute is a hero whose fame stands in the records of a dozen battles, and at least half as many bloody duels.  Besides, he is the favorite emissary and bosom friend of Houston.  If I have the good fortune to kill him, I think it will tempt the president to retract his vow against venturing any more on the field of honor.”

“You know the man, then.  Who is he?  Who is he?” asked twenty voices together.

“Deaf Smith,” answered Morton, coolly.

“Why, no; that can not be.  Deaf Smith was slain at San Jacinto,” remarked Judge Webb.

“There, again, your honor is mistaken,” said Morton.  “The story of Smith’s death was a mere fiction, got up by Houston to save the life of his favorite from the sworn vengeance of certain Texans, on whose conduct he had acted as a spy.  I fathomed the artifice twelve months since.”

“If what you say be true, you are a madman yourself!” exclaimed Webb.  “Deaf Smith was was never known to miss his mark.  He has often brought down ravens in their most rapid flight, and killed Camanches and Mexicans at a distance of of two hundred and fifty yards!”

“Say no more,” answered Colonel Morton, in tones of deep determination; “the thing is already settled.  I have already agreed to meet him.  There can be no disgrace in falling before such a shot, and, if I succeed, my triumph will confer the greater glory!”

Such was the general habit of thought and feeling prevalent throughout Texas at that period.

Toward evening a vast crowd assembled at the place appointed to witness the hostile meeting; and so great was the popular recklessness as to affairs of the sort, that numerous and considerable sums were wagered on the result.  At length the red orb of the summer sun touched the curved rim of the western horizon, covering it all with crimson and gold, and filling the air with a flood of burning glory; and then the two mortal antagonists, armed with long, ponderous rifles, took their stations, back to back, and at