“Old Single,” as he was called, _for short_, had several years previous to the late discussion of the annexation question, with singular ’cuteness ascertained the precise line dividing the two territories, and built his cabin thereon in such a position, that, when lying down, _he slept, one half in the United States, and the other half in Texas_, for he lay at right angles with the line. The authorities of both sides had frequently found him in that position, but as their separate claims lay severally on the _entire_ individual, they were not content to arrest _one half of him_ at a time. A great deal of courtesy was at times exhibited by the officers, each pressing the other to break the forms of international law by pulling Old Single bodily over either side of the line. Each was up to trap, and feared the other wished to trick him, and declined the effort which might cause a rupture between Texas and the Union. On one occasion they were exceedingly pressing on the subject, at first politely so, then teasing each other, and then daring by taunt, and jeer, and jibe, until they worked themselves into such furious excitement, that “Old Single,” their pretended victim, had to command and preserve the peace. “Gentle-_men_,” said he, “you may fun, and fret, and quarrel jist as much as you please in my house—but when tha is any lickin’ to be done ’bout these diggins, why “Old Single” is _thar sure_!—so look out boys, ef you strikes you _dies_. Show your sense, make friends, and let’s _liker_. You,” nodding to one, “hand me a gourd of water; and You,” to another, “pass that bottle, and I’ll drink to your better ’quaintance.” The day passed, “Old Single” crosses the line, and one of the _beauties_ on each side his cot, all going it like forty at twenty-deck poker—a sociable game, as Sol. Smith says—and, as remarked our informant, “the old man was a perfect _Cumanche horse_ at any game whar tha was _curds_.” For the last three months “Old Single” had been mightily distressed—“_mighty oneasy ’bout annexation_”—for he knew he would be compelled to travel. Well, the news of the action of Texas on this great question was received in “Old Single’s” vicinity on the 29th of June—the day it reached Fort Jessup. Next morning “the boys” from Boston and De Kalb—a couple of border villages—after a glory gathering about annexation, determined to storm “Old Single,” and “_rout_” him. They accordingly, _en masse à-la-regulator_, started off for his cabin, and on arriving near it, a consultation was held, and it was determined that bloodshed was useless—as it was certain to occur if violence was resorted to—and that a flag of truce should be sent into the fortress, offering terms.