HUENS. 209 



A short distance above tliis, 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 tirst arrival in the 

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

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

 time of its unfortunate occurrence. The dilBcuhy between them related 

 to a Mexican woman from Taos, — tlie 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 six>n, 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 oti-haud shot. 

 The weapons selected by Beer were rilies, the distance tifty yards, the man- 

 ner off-hand, and the time of shooting between the word lire and three. 

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

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

 few inches above the head of his antagonist, — at the word "//ire«" the con- 

 tents of Herring's ritle found lodgement in tlie body of Beer, who fell and 

 expired in a few minutes. 



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

 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 tliem, in connection willi 

 the infamous liquor tralRc. Ah, thought I, were ihose bricks possessed of 

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

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

 ■ilent unconsciousness, they refuse to speak the white man's shame ! 



18* 



