Tales of the Southern Border (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1855. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE FIGHT OF THE PINTO TRACE. But while these sentimental and mysterious affairs, mentioned in our last chapters were being enacted, the author, who, it will be found, has been in one way or another mixed up with the whole apparently disconnected train of events heretofore gives in this series, was engaged, a little farther south, in a rougher and somewhat different amusement. I was still with the Rangers, who had lately enjoyed a longer period of idleness than was usual; and although we had quite fallen into listless and loaferish habits, the news that the Camanches were down in considerable force, and ravaging the settlements, was sufficient to drive us to the saddle in double-quick time. The dusky marauders of the mountains had been unusually audacious on this new foray, and we heard, from all the settlements within fifty miles, alarms of their bloody visitation. They move from point to point with such surprising rapidity, that a long line of frontier is frequently swept by them before the alarm can be spread sufficiently to permit a rally of its defenders in time to intercept the mischief. They can then only pursue; and as these robber horsemen are, though laden down with plunder, often as prompt and cunning in their return as in the descent, the pursuit is frequently bootless. We had usually been quick enough for them--since our Ranger organization had been perfected by Havs in view of immediate efficiency in these very emergencies--bat this time we somehow missed the figure. We were promptly enough under way when we heard the news--perhaps in fifteen minutes we were all mounted and off But the reports which came in were confused and vague, which caused us to lose a great deal of time in finding the true seat of operations. We started wrong, and lost a who...