oom and the second as a bedchamber. From the bedchamber a rude ladder ran to a loft, used as extra sleeping-quarters when the Radburys had company, and also as a storeroom. There were

chairs was home-made, and consequently rather primitive

eta, or cavalry musket, which Dan intended to take along on his expedition to the spot where Ralph had brought down the

ly, leaving everything open, and had never suffered, excepting as previously mentioned. Once, on returning, they had found that some other settlers from fifty miles away had stopped there over night, but this was explained in a note stuck to th

Dan, as he reached the dooryard. "I don'

e won't be gone long, and no Indian

fered himself to be led away; and soon they were hurrying for the river. There was quite a clearing to cross, and

broken off a top or a heavy branch. Closer to the stream was a stately row of cottonwoods, with here and there a fragrant magnolia, which reminded the lads of the form

be a long while before Texas is as

ing to Brossom, that he never thought it would be,-so long as Texas was joined to

well enough for the Mexicans living in Coahuila to belong to the Confederation if they want

to have us come in, weren

or himself, one for his wife, and more land for each child or servant, and they were mighty glad to have other empresarios bring in emigrants, too, so I'

deer had been brought down he ran on ahead, and so the talk on State affairs came to an end

lain many a towering pine low. Beyond this burnt and barren spot were the pecan-trees overhanging th

The deer

g eyes he ran in under the pecan-trees and gazed at the

e brother. "Then yo

rned him over after he was shot. Could

r sized animal to tote a deer, especially if he was as

bank of the stream, and soon d

right about that Indian. He was watching you, and af

ller boy, angrily. It cut him to the heart to have his

le. You shouldn't have left your game without leaving something on top of

is fathe

the Indians don't recognis

son as that was." Ralph heaved a sigh. "I wish I was a man,-I'd go after that redskin

han likely. But if you wish, we can follow this track

bank for the best part of half a mile. Here they came to a creek, leading directly west, and saw that the footprints followed th

aught him by the arm, bringing him to a halt. In silence Dan pointed to the oppo

in a low tone from Ralph's lips. "And se

e right

away in this fashion!" went

at meat, or I'm going t

nk Stiger is a bad

nything?" demanded Ralph. "I'm sure you woul

our claim as strongly as we c

re the half-breed had crossed. He went over, with Ralph at his heels and both boys

hat deer?" demanded Dan, as he came closer,

own face fell sullenly. He was a short, stocky fellow, with a tangled head of hair and wol

rdly knowing what to say, so comple

ell. This is my brother Ralph, and he

breed. "I brung that deer down m

deer is mine, I brought him down ov

this creek, two hours ago. He limped off after I hit him, but I followed the trail e

t was I struck him in the neck, Hank Stiger, and the deer bel

remonstrated Dan, in low tones. "You'll

half-breed let out a

en I bring down a deer. The deer is mine, and if y

all out of proportion to the deer and man mounted on him. His gun was slung over his shoulder

he frontier had given him the appearance of being ten or more. Rushing in fro

UNTIL YOU GIVE UP THAT DEER, A

"You sha'n't leave this spot until you give