Chapter I: Preface

In the series commencing with the present volume GUSTAVE AIMARD has entirely changed the character of his stories. He has selected a magnificent episode of American history, the liberation of Texas from the intolerable yoke of the Mexicans, and describes scenes _quorum pars magna fuit_. At the present moment, when all are watching with bated breath the results of the internecine war commencing between North and South, I believe that the volumes our author devotes to this subject will be read with special interest, for they impart much valuable information about the character of the combatants who will, to a great extent, form the nucleus of the confederated army. The North looks down on them with contempt, and calls them "Border ruffians;" but when the moment arrives, I entertain no doubt but that they will command respect by the brilliancy of their deeds.

Surprising though the events may be which are narrated in the present volume, they are surpassed by those that continue the series. The next volume, shortly to appear under the title of "The Freebooters," describes the progress of the insurrection till it attained the proportions of a revolution, while the third and last volume will be devoted to the establishment of order in that magnificent State of Texas, which has cast in its lot with the Secessionists, and will indubitably hold out to the very last, confident in the prowess of its sons, whose fathers Aimard has so admirably depicted in the present and the succeeding volumes of the new series.

L.W.

CONTENTS.

I. THE RUNAWAY XVI. A POLITICAL SKETCH
II. QUONIAM XVII. THE PANTHER-KILLER
III. BLACK AND WHITE XVIII. LANZI
IV. THE MANADA XIX. THE CHASE
V. BLACK-DEER XX. THE CONFESSION
VI. THE CLAIM XXI. THE JAGUAR
VII. MONKEY-FACE XXII. BLUE-FOX
VIII. THE DECLARATION OF WAR XXIII. THE WHITE SCALPER
IX. THE SNAKE PAWNEES XXIV. AFTER THE FIGHT
X. THE BATTLE XXV. AN EXPLANATION
XI. THE VENTA DEL POTRERO XXVI. THE EXPRESS
XII. LOVE AND JEALOUSY XXVII. THE GUIDE
XIII. CARMELA XXVIII. JOHN DAVIS
XIV. THE CONDUCTA DE PLATA XXIX. THE BARGAIN
XV. THE HALT XXX. THE AMBUSCADE