and of individual rights needs no wily counselor to distort its meaning and confound its sense; but each one, with the majesty of nature looking down upon him from her eternal hills, and under the broad gaze of the great eye of heaven, manfully and stoutly, of his own responsibility, interprets for himself, and is his own executive!

66

Ye'r goin' to see after him some, in the mornin', Kern ?" For the bone was picked pretty clean by this time.

"I tell you we are, Bill! The boys will bring Hays and ten men; and now we've got you, I wouldn't take a hundred mules for the chance!"

"I don't care, but I'll be thar. Yer know, Kern, thar's sumthen between us: it's time it war fixed-don't like such things ter stand long; but they don't spile much in my keepin'. Agatone run'd agin ther wrong sawyer when he run'd agin Bill Johnson!"

"That he did, Bill."

"But who'r yer goin' ter send on the trail, at day-break?"

66

Oh, the Tonquoway! you know him." "He'll do. Let's quile up." And with the word he spread his buffalo-robe on the floor, and said, as he threw himself upon it

"Don't like this 'ere sleepin' twixt walls! Too close-can't breathe free! kinder strangulates a man! Don't see how yer can stand it, Kern!"

Óh, a man can get used to a heap o' things, Bill!"

We were all soon stretched upon our respective pallets, and I was nearly asleep, when Bill, who had been tossing from side to side, sniffing, drawing long breaths, and seeming to be very restless, suddenly jumped to his feet, took up his blanket and walked out of the door, grumbling and muttering as he went :

"Cussed hole! 'nough to smother a ground-hog! Wouldn't sleep thar fer a hundred beaver pelts!"

I nearly burst my sides with smothered laughter at the idea of a man's fearing he'd be "strangulated" in a log-house, with both doors open, or rather, with no door at all. But I fully appreciated Bill's uneasiness after six or eight months' tour on the prairies, and recollect being compelled to do the same thing the first time I slept in a house afterward. A sense of suffocation came over me as soon as I lay down-though the room was very open; and after trying in vain to sleep for several hours, I was obliged

to take my blanket, and go out to sleep under a tree! Nothing less than the fanning of the strong wings of the mountain wind, laden with the perfumes of the flowery plains, can lull to sleep these spoiled luxurious children of the wilds.

On

Pul

Just before day we were waked by the arrival of Texas, who made his appearance accompanied by quite a characteristic retinue. It consisted of the lieutenant, his wife and Davis. The woman, very drunk, was mounted on horseback, and was with difficulty held in her seat by the husband, who walked on one side and Davis on the other. the shoulder of this last personage her hand was caressingly rested, while she leaned over his face gabbling and stammering idiotically her maudlin affection. I had noticed at the Fandango a bottle filled with a clear, pale liquor, which I had ascertained to be common American whisky; the movements of which, along with those of the small tin cup accompanying it, had appeared to excite a high degree of interest on the part of the females present. These warm-blooded dames had preferred "whisky," as the more volatile and fiery drink, to the qua," their national beverage. I observed the men to drink but seldom, while the women kept the cup and bottle constantly active among them. Indeed, it is proverbial to those familiar with the general characteristics of a Mexican population, that the women are more loose and licentious than the men. It is not at all astonishing, therefore, that the race should be so miserably degenerate. The most hideously revolting object I know of is a drunken woman. Man may brutalize himself very far-may be prepared even to sell his " birth-right" but so long as God's signature of "angel" signed in the calm purity of woman's brow appeals to him mute and untarnished, he is safethere is everything to hope for him. But to think of a nation whose women are most lecherous, most debauched !-need we be surprised at anything in such a people? And a beautiful woman as this was! To see her lolling her tonguesimpering with dripping lips-blinking and leering her open shame upon this tinseled miscreant-with dark large eyes that might have won back a soul even into him, had they been lit with the soft, lustrous flame of innocent joy!

But sentiment is all thrown away upon this Mexican slut. My cheeks fairly burned, though, to think that the miserable wretch, her husband, was an American, who had drawn the milk of an honest woman, and was yet alive, though so immeasurably sunk-so base a dastard as to play meek-second to a scene like this. Yet this fellow could fight Mexicans and Indians, and was called a man on this frontier. Her domination over the brute was so complete, that she compelled him quietly to submit to seeing her lavish upon Davis those caresses he had sacrificed his position among his countrymen to buy. I hoped this singular passiveness might be traced to some cause more honorable to his manhood, at least; for this person had once held a station of dignity in one of the governmental institutions at home, and had received the diploma of one of our oldest colleges. I was fain to hope that, perhaps, accident, growing out of some wild frontier scene, had placed him thus inexplicably in the power of the " Euphuist"-anything, rather than believe such infamy on the part of a countryman voluntary. Crime and license can strangely distort humanity!

This agreeable trio passed on to the Rancho of the lieutenant, which was a half-mile below on the river. The Texan was in a very surly and stupid mood-the consequence of the over-night's excesses -and we could get but little out of him concerning what occurred at the old dame's Rancho after our hasty departure. A muttered fragment now and then was all we could get such as-" There was the devil to pay when you left!-why didn't you kill Agatone--had as much trouble as if you had-Old hag-like a she wild-cat! Pretty friends you!-left me among five hundred Yellow Bellies. Had to bleed some-break a few heads let me alone then," &c. I concluded he must have had a rough time of it among them all, exasperated as they must have been; but his surly coolness seemed to regard the idea of keeping any number of Mexicans at bay with so much stolid indifference, that I forbore to question his incommunicative humor any farther. When he heard it had been determined we should start to Bexar at once for Hays, he was furious, and swore at first that he would not go. A mule had been provided for me, and I had mounted to start alone, when he called to me gruffly to wait and he would

go with me. He joined me in a few minutes without his gun. My gun was in the house, and I called to the Colonel to bring both his and mine with our holsters, when the fellow snappingly swore that "he would not be troubled with a gun-there was no danger-he warn't afraid-warn't a-going to be troubled with lugging a gun between here and Bexar !" I was annoyed by this insinuation-my boyish pride took fire at once; and although I knew this proposition to be the result of the present splenetic mood, yet feeling a little spleened myself, I determined to see him through on his own terms, and merely said, " Very well, siras you choose." The Colonel, to my astonishment, simply because he was too lazy to go and bring the weapons for us, encouraged this silly resolution by saying, "Yes, go along-there is no danger now-the Comanches have been driven from the country, and you'r less likely to see them now than at any other time." We turned to go, when Bill Johnson shouted after us, “ Boys, I never parts from old Sue myself, nohow-ner goin' now har; no tellin' what'll turn up-best ter keep yer eye skinned, and be always ready!" I saw the good sense of this warning-it was too late, though. The stupid whim of Texas had carried the day, and we must abide the issue; and a sufficiently ridiculous issue it was! We had scarcely gone half the distance, when we met one of those itinerant Jesuit priests who are to be stumbled upon in the most out-ofthe-way places in Mexico-the Far West and North-who gave us the comfortable information, that the whole country between us and Bexar was filled with Comanches, who were scalping and slaying the Mexicans right and left. This was something of a poser. The benevolent priest, in a very impressive manner, urged us to return to the Colonel's Rancho, and offered us the protection of the valiant cohort of dirty, ragged, half-armed Mexicans who accompanied him as a body-guard. I saw and felt at once the entire absurdity of attempting to proceed under such circumstances, and was about to accept the offer so courteously conveyed, when Texas, in the insane and silly spirit of braggadocia, characteristic of himself and his country, and for the purpose of throwing the odium of what might be construed into "a back-out" upon me, insinuated pretty roundly that he " I did not care for the Comanches-wanted to get on to Bexar

-would go back if I was afraid," &c. This was low spite-the result of a lingering reminiscence of the "breakfast scene" for which I-instantly determined to punish him severely; for I knew that these wild, ruffianly fellows who have been accustomed to depend upon their guns for everything, seldom stirring out without them, are always dreadfully panic-stricken when they find themselves in imminent danger and disarmed-so turning my mule abruptly, I merely said, "Come on, sir-I intend to be in Bexar in the shortest possible time!" He grew white as a sheet at this unexpected turn, and dashed past me at desperate speed. The old priest, who perceived there was some boyish pique at the bottom of this madness, waved his hand as I looked back, in sad adieu. Never did two youngsters repent more heartily of a silly whim than we did of this before reaching Bexar. So soon as we had leisure enough to realize the predicament we had placed ourselves in, our imaginations at once assumed the reins; and we had forthwith populated every clump of trees and thicket of underbrush with legions of Indians. I conjured more in one half-hour out of the trunks of innocent trees than I had seen in all my life; and when we suddenly came upon the body of a Mexican they had scalped a short time before, I verily believe my hair would have stood on end had not the feeling of terror which was possessing me been somewhat diverted and alleviated by a glance at the wild work it was making with the Texan's face. It was absolutely convulsed. Had

"Harpies and hydras-all the sooty fiends

"Twixt Africa and Ind"

been flapping their scaly pinions about his ears, he could not have looked more desperately frightened. I was greatly comforted and relieved at this sight, and forgot in a great measure my own burden in reveling over the agonies with which he bore his. The case was bad enough, certainly. We, on an open plain, entirely unarmed, when such work as this was going on around us! The predicament was too much for Texas at last; and in a whining voice he proposed that we should turn aside, and stop at some Mexican Ranchos several miles off until night set in. I was sufficiently relieved at having this proposition come from him, not to render it necessary for him to repeat it. Off we

started at a killing pace, and, as we neared the Ranchos, had the gratification of nearly losing our scalps at the very gate. The Indians were driving in a party of Mexicans before their lances, and but for a rush-such as only desperate men could have made-by which we were enabled to rush in pell-mell with the Mexicans, we should have been shut out, and paid for our rashness with our blood on the very lintels of the door of safety. In addition, we had to run the risk of being shot by the frightened people inside, who, astounded by our sudden appearance, took us for Indians, and were banging at us through windows and port-holes with their rusty fusees on every side-fortunately for us-with their usual bad aim. We could get no arms from them, and were fain to wait till night set in, dark, cold and stormy, and then creep out and make our way with fluttering hearts, chattering teeth, and otherwise in a most pitiable plight, to Bexar, where we arrived about midnight.

Late as it was, we found the Rangers up and collected in Johnston's bar-room, for a carouse. They received us merrily, and greeted the account of our lugubrious adventurings with shouts of laughter. They had been in pursuit of the Comanches at the summons of the half-frantic Black; and in the effort to intercept had missed the party, concerning which we gave them first the information in possession of the reader. When they heard the fate of the poor boy, they sobered down instantly, and deep curses and stern mutterings were heard through the room in place of boisterous laughter." Poor he has been like a madman ever since he Black!" said Hays; "his is a hard case; joined us; I am afraid this will make him one sure enough. Castro will pay them fellows off in full-he'll receipt 'em." We then told him about the affair at the Fandango, and of the arrival of Bill Johnson. Hah! Bill is there? He's worth a dozen common men! Agatone will have to look sharp. There's Bill, Black and the Colonel-all splendid trailerseither of them would give his right hand for a fair shot at that fellow! Boys, we'll go at day-break! Some of you let Black know. He's at Navarro." The thing was settled as coolly as if it had been a fox-chase we were going upon; and we separated to get a few hours' sleep. We were up before daybreak; and in about half an hour the yawning, drowsy members of the party, who came straggling in

through the lanes, and meeting us at the corners of the streets, were all collected on the bank of the river, and ready to start. Looking over the party, which consisted of eight Americans, Hays remarked, "Black is not here!" It was a raw, misty morning, and at the moment we turned at the sound of a horse's feet, and saw a dim figure emerging from one of the lanes of the suburb, which was approaching us at full speed. "There he is!" and in another instant a rider, muffled in a coarse green blanket, with a wolf-skin cap drawn down over his eyes, dashed through our party, and without speaking a word plunged into the water at the ford. "Poor fellow, he's wild this morning!" said Hays, in a low voice, as we all followed him into the water. In perfect silence the man lashed and urged his horse up the bank, and when we reached the top we could see him going at full speed over the plain, sitting stiffly in the saddle, with his chin fallen upon his breast and his rifle lying balanced across the pummel before him. In a short time he was out of view, though we were in a brisk gallop. In about an hour, at a sharp turn of the trail, among the thickets, we came close upon him, sitting in the same rigid position, while his horse crept along at a snail's pace. As we clattered by him, he roused himself an instant, urged his horse into the same headlong speed, and before he again passed out of sight his figure seemed once more frozen in the seat. No word had passed. There was something inexpressibly mournful and, to me, exciting in this strange ride. That stricken, fitful man seemed madly flying before us, as if we personated to him the shades of his murdered family, chasing him with wails for vengeance-shades that he felt could not be laid ever again, but with blood! The whole party were chilled and saddened by it, and as no time was lost in conversation, we were at the Rancho before I realized that half the distance had been gone over.

They were all ready and met us; the Colonel, with the grin of "a belly-pinched wolf," who had caught the scent of slaughter on the air, and Bill with a smothered, chuckling "He! he! Glad yer came, boys! Kern's blooded him!"

"Who-Agatone?"

"Yes! Tonque's found whar he laid down jest er little er the dye-stuff about!" "We'll get him, Bill, won't we?" "Can't tell, Captain Jack-cussed sly

varmint, that Agatone! He's tuck to water, and the Tonque lost him!" "Oh, we'll bring him out of that, Bill! Come, boys-all ready!" "All ready!"

1 saw Black sitting on a log by his horse, his head bowed on his knees, his rifle across his lap. When he heard this, he sprang to his feet, and at one bound was in the saddle and off.

We were off at a canter-the Tonquoway and Bill leading after Black, who kept on far ahead-the Indian on horseback, and Bill, who scorned a horse, swinging those massive limbs of his along with marvelous ease in huge, rapid strides. It was a most picturesque scene, that party, mounted on horses of all sizes and colors-the Colonel had by this time obtained a very good one for me; our costume a singular blending of civilized backwoods and Mexican taste; our arms gleaming in the sunshine, and our steeds curveting and plunging over the wavelike undulations of the ocean meadows. We had progressed in this way over a lovely region for about two hours, when, just as we were getting among the hills, and the scenery becoming wilder, we unexpectedly found ourselves drawn up on the bluff bank of the San Antonio river. Here the trail was lost. When we descended to the water's edge, there were evidences on this side of a camp, and the tracks led from it to the water; but there were no traces on the other side of their coming out. This puzzled all parties the more, as the banks of the river were bluff and very high on both sides for a

number of miles above and below, and the gorge just at this point was the only place where it could be crossed. Bill said the "varmint" must have been turned to an otter, and that there was some sly hole in the bluffs he had swum to and hid. We crossed and scattered up and down on both sides of the river, to look for the trail; but after an hour's search we all met again, and concluded we were nonplussed in that quarter, at least. This gorge opened into a deep winding valley, flanked on either hand by knolls, forming an irregular ridge covered with live oak. Bill thought that, "unless Old Harry had flew'd away with him, he must leave a sign across this here ditch !"-which, by the by, was from a half-mile to a mile in width-so the orders were to stretch our line from foot to foot of the ridges and breast it up the valley.

The spies went on ahead, while we breasted up the valley-Black, in his moody, headlong, silent way, accompany ing them. The only incident for several hours was the pulling down of a fine buck, in full view of us, by two large wolves. They had been running the gallant animal, I suppose, for many hours, and when he broke suddenly into the valley they were but a few paces behind, and so intent as not to notice us. Their tongues were all out, and they ran very slow. We stopped. One of the wolves seized his haunch-he wheeled and plunged heavily at them with his fore-feet and antlers. They avoided his charge, and one of them rushed at his throat; in an instant he was down and killed. The men were very anxious to shoot, and the Colonel and Hays tried to prevent them; but bang! bang! went two guns, and the wolves tumbled over.

We were getting tired, and had despaired of finding the Mexicans, and discipline-never at any time much regarded-was at an end. We were riding very slowly, waiting for the spies, who were still on ahead, when I, utterly worried out by the fatiguing slowness of our progress, galloped off in advance; and seeing, some distance farther, a very remarkable-looking knoll, covered with cedars, which rose abruptly from the centre of the valley, I made for it alone, with the intention of enjoying the view from the top and joining the party as they passed. My horse climbed the steep sides with difficulty, and when I reached the top, a more paradisaical view never burst upon the eye of mortal than this which rewarded my trouble and risk. As I stood gazing enraptured over it, my eye was attracted by some object moving on the comb of the opposite ridge, just where it was defined clearly against the sky. I felt my heart jump, and on looking steadily I could clearly distinguish the outline of a horseman wearing the Mexican sombrero, who seemed to be endeavoring to screen himself behind the tree from objects below that he was trying to get a good look at.

There was something even in the distant outline that reminded me of the cloaked figures at the Fandango. I understood the whole thing in an instant. The Mexicans had out-witted us, and our whole course had been watched by their spies, of whom this was one. The cedars concealed me, and my resolve was taken in an instant. I descended on the side opposite, and happily met our party

just rounding the hill on that side. My news was told and the action instantaneous. We were out of sight of him now, and he would wait our coming out on the other side of the hill.

Hays-who now waked up and showed what he was-with the Bravo and myself, plunged under cover of the bush at the foot of the ridge, where the dry bed of a stream ran, and rode back with the intention of crossing the valley when we were high enough up to be out of his view-and then mounting the ridge he was on, to come up on the other side, while the rest of the party rode slowly and carelessly on as they had been doing before. We thought that if we got the spy hemmed in and frightened, he would dash right for his camp and lead us in.

The manœuvre was admirably carried out. The fellow suspected nothing, but cautiously crept after the advancing party, who laughed, and talked, and sung with the best possible affectation of unconsciousness. His chuckling consciousness of successful cunning was most unpleasantly broken in upon when we shoutedwhich was to be the signal to the other party-and he saw himself inclosed on both sides and no chance to run for it, but the top of the ridge, which kept him in full view of each. He broke off, though, at his best speed-the two parties keeping parallel with him. The object was not to catch him at once; but after testing our speed sufficiently to see that we could close with him when we pleased, we held up, and let him think he had some chance of escape-believing he would make for camp if we gave him play.

Hays was right, as usual; and in a little while after we had fallen back, he left the ridge suddenly and made across the plain, on the side we were, towards a blue and hazy line of timber.

"There's the camp, in them woods!" said Hays, joyfully. "Go to the top of the ridge and beckon to the boys, Kentuck!"

I complied. They were just hesitating what to do, when, seeing my gestures, with a shout they took the hill. Now we had it. The fellow had got a half-mile the start, and it wouldn't do to let him get in before us and give the alarm.

"We must close up and go in on his heels!"

A single figure was perceived galloping down from the ridge after us, with tremendous speed. He soon joined us