RUINS. 161 



A short distance above this, at a point of timber occupying- a large bot- 

 tom, had been the scene of a fatal duel the previous winter, between two 

 whites by the names of Herring- and Beer. On my first arrival in the 

 country 1 had become acquainted with both of the actors, and felt much in- 

 terested in the details of the bloody affair as related by one present at the 

 time of its unfortunate occurrence. The difficulty between them related 

 to a Mexican woman from Taos, — the wife of Herring. 



Backed by a number of personal friends, and anxious to obtain the lady 

 from her husband, the former had provoked a quarrel and used very insult- 

 ing language to his antagonist. This was received with little or no reply, 

 but soon, however, resulted in a challenge which was promptly accepted. 



The preliminaries were arranged in confident expectation of killing Her- 

 ring, who was considered a poor marksman, especially at an oft-hand shot. 

 The v/eapons selected by Beer were rifies, the distance fifty yards, the man- 

 ner oft-hand, and the time of shooting between the word fire and three. 

 The two met, attended by their friends, at the time and place agreed upon, — 

 at the word "^re," the ball of Beer's rifte was buried in a cottonwood a 

 few inches above the head of his antagonist, — at the word "i'/i?-ee" the con- 

 tents of Herring's rifle found lodgement in the body of Beer, who fell and 

 expired in a few minutes. 



Between this point and Fort Lancaster, I noticed the ruins of another 

 trading post, much dilapidated in appearance, and nearly levelled with the 

 ground. 



Passing along, I could not refrain from musing upon the frequent deeds 

 of mischief and iniquity that had originated within them, in connection with 

 the infamous liquor traffic. Ah, thought I, were those bricks possessed of 

 tongueS; full many a tale of horror and guilt would they unfold, to stand 

 the Ustener's " hair on end," and make his blood run cold ! But, lost in 

 silent unconsciousness, they refuse to ^peak the white man's shame I 



11 



