Table of Contents
Editor's Preface xi
Chapter 1 1
Introductory
Birth and parentage
Roving disposition
Rafting on the St. Lawrence
Black Hawk War
Cholera
Visit to St. Louis
New Orleans
Washington
The Delaware
Voyage to Brazil
The chase for pirates
Ship Preble
Newfoundland fishermen
Shipwreck
Arrival in Texas
Chapter 2 7
Unsettled condition of Texas
Origin of the Rangers
Their characteristics
Captain Cameron
First acquaintance with the Comanche Indians
Encounter with the Mexicans
General Davis
Battle of Panta Clan
A stump speech
The sack of Lindville
On the trail
Second introduction to the Comanches
Battle of Plum Creek
The shattered arm
Rescue of prisoners
The death of Cameron
Chapter 3 14
Horse-peddling speculation
Santa Fé expedition
Chills and fever
The call to arms
Jack Hays
The horse Prince
Departure of the Rangers from Bexar
Mexican robbers
The Sevilla scrape
Colt's revolvers
Deer hunting
Encampment at the Forks
Discovery of the enemy
The Ranger's ruse
The Comanches surprised
Battle of Walker's Creek
Sam Taylor wounded
The stern old warrior
The Narrative of Nelson Lee, the Texas Ranger
Chapter 4 21
Custom of the Rangers on the march
Bitten by a rattlesnake
The Spaniard's cure
The alligator of the Aransas
Dread of reptiles
Antonio Perez, the traitor to liberty
Mexican robbers surprised at a grand fandango
The leaders shot
Excursion into Mexico
Description of the Río Grande
Lost in a fog
Capture of a herdsman
Flight from Matamoros
Battle of the Río Frío
Return to San Antonio
Temporary disbandment
Chapter 5 28
John M. Seguin
Mexican robberies
The Black Prince
His escape from his captors
Following the back track
The hacienda of Nevarro
Interview with Marcos Beremindo
Christolphe Rublo, the robber
His early life and character
Milford Day
The journey of discovery
The robber's retreat
Description of their encampment
The council of war
The good genius
The banditti attacked
Their panic and fight
The mistake undiscovered
Return to Seguin
Chapter 6 35
The passes of the Guadaloupe
Blockading the fords
The island retreat
The driftwood breastwork
Swimming the river
Miraculous escape
The Calahan pony
Ranchero, the marauder
The maleta and its contents
Fate of Azaras la Ture, the traitor of Gonzales
The murdered traders
Trip to San Antonio, and meeting with Jack Hays
Excursion to the mission of San Juan
The capture
Ruse of the Rangers
Conducting prisoners across the prairie
Escape of the Ranchero
Death of Christolphe Rublo, the robber
Flight to Seguin
Reflections
Chapter 7 47
Invasion of Vásquez
General Woll enters San Antonio
Resistance of the Rangers
Battle of the Salado
The stampede
Massacre of Captain Dawson's men
Capture of the lawyers
Woll's retreat
Visit to General Houston
The universal feeling
Dispatched to Galveston
Barbecue at Columbus
General Burleson
Somerville's unpopularity and inactivity
Deer killing on the Medina
Post oak bogs
Taking of Laredo and Guerrero
Somerville's retreat
Attack on Mier
The escape
Capture of the herdsman
Return to San Antonio
Chapter 8 63
Excursion to Comanche Peak
Cattle driving
Visit to Fort Jesup
Encounter with General Twiggs
Meet General Taylor
Again Join Jack Hays' Rangers
Accompany the advance under "Mad Walker"
The dash through the enemy's line
Consternation of the "Greasers"
Arrival at Fort Brown
Accompany Taylor to Point Isabel
Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma
The terrible fight at Monterrey
Return to Texas
Set out with Hays new regiment for Mexico
Description of the country, its climate and inhabitants
Entrance into the city of the Montezumas
Incidents connected therewith
Meeting of Jack Hays and General Scott
The chase after Santa Anna
The Mexican chief's wine horn
Return to San Antonio
Chapter 9 73
Visit to the North
Meetings and congratulations
Return to Texas
William Aikens
The joint stock company
Proprietors' names
Picking up an outfit
The silver alarm watch
Names of the subordinates
Following the grass
Fernando for the mountains
Manners and customs while on the march
Stampedes
Bell mares
Horse breaking
Description of the country
The Halt among the mountains
Attacked by the Indians and taken prisoner
Chapter 10 82
Indian dress
Discovery of the watch
Half-past three
It strikes the alarm
Gathering up the plunder
A heart-rending sight
Probable cause of being unexpectedly attacked
The infernal pantomime
Blindfolded and lashed to a mule
Departure of the caravan
The uncomfortable ride
Performances on the tightrope
Tremendous applause
The night encampment
Favorite food of the Comanches
Appearance of the captives
Amusements at supper
Horseflesh hissing hot
Put to bed and tucked up
The captives night thoughts
Crossing the river in a buffalo skin
The war whoop
Arrival at an Indian village
The wonderful watch
Original doctrines
The war dance
Description of an Indian village
Chapter 11 96
The chief and his household
The matrimonial relation
Osolo, the Big Wolf
An Indian breakfast
The consultation
Moko, the favorite wife
The watch, once more
Mysterious assembling outside the camp
The captives stripped and bound
Preparations for the sacrifice
March of the warriors
The flint arrowheads
Scalping the prisoners
Sounding the war whoop
The torture
The desire to die
Taunting the victims
Compelled to look at the sufferers
The last act in the tragedy
Indian dogs
Return to camp
Obstinacy
Interview with Aikens
The sorrowful parting
Change of mind
Removal of the camp
Description of the country
Chapter 12 107
The Valley of Mannasaw
Indian agriculture
The watch again
Chemakacho, the good white man
The bloody covenant
Life in a Comanche camp
Hawakakeno, the wide river
Comanche horsemanship
Dressing the buffalo skin
Indian apparel
Supreme nastiness
Marriage
The mode of burial
The accursed white man
Comanche prophets
Religion of the savages
Manner of communicating intelligence
Festival of the roasted dog
Sabonkeno, the Fox
The green corn dance
The white women
Painting the face
Return of the war party
Departure from the Valley of Mannasaw
Chapter 13 120
The journey beyond the mountains
Capturing a bear
The night encampment
Entrance into the valley of Lescoha
The dashing escort
Camp of the Spotted Leopard
Another war dance
No change of programme
The bargain and sale
Renewal of the bloody covenant
Value of a captive
Arrival of Moko with the watch
Attempt to escape
Cutting the knee cord
Buffalo hunting
Battle with the Apaches
Meeting of Rolling Thunder and Spotted Leopard
Flanging by the heels
The arrival of the white women captives
Chapter 14 140
Another bargain and sale
Arrival at the village of Rolling Thunder
Uniformity of Indian villages
Euphonious names of Rolling Thunder's wives
Renewal of the covenant of the square stick
The wisest of the wise
Married to To-ma-no-a-ku-no, the Sleek Otter
The Indian duel
Visit to the ruins
Volcanic eruptions
Ancient architecture
The Indian legend
Mounds on the tablelands
Departure for the Grand Council
Incidents by the way
The tragical death of Rolling Thunder
Chapter 15 156
The flight
Barricades of thorns
Clambering up the precipice
The mountain terrace
The narrow pass
Sense of relief
A wild scene
Entrance into the second ravine
Approach of darkness
The lonely encampment
Melancholy speculations
The demands of appetite
Necessity, the mother of invention
Slaughter of the mule
Preparing provisions
An unusual-vessel
The scent of blood
Surrounded by wild beasts
The impressive lesson
Continuance of the journey
Coursing down the valley
Taking the back track
Toiling over the mountains
Avoiding the Indian towns
Snakes and wild animals
Cloudy days
The north star
A twelve-day halt
Renewal of the journey
Abandonment of the horse
Pain and suffering
Meeting with traders on the prairie
Accompany them to San Fernández
Voyage to Cuba
Arrival in the United States
Conclusion