the next movement of the Comanches surrounding the ranch home, let us turn aside fo

ates of the Mexican Confederation. At the time Texas became bound to Coahuila there was a clause in the constitution which allowed

inhabited almost entirely by Mexicans who had nothing in common with the Americans, and these Mexicans kept the capital city of the state at Monclova or Saltillo, so that the settlers in Texas had to journey

ese leaders, who were known as empresarios, or contractors. Each settler's grant had to be recorded, and the settlers grumbled at journeying so far to get clear deeds to their po

he frontier, like Mr. Amos Radbury, were never safe from molestation. The Mexican government had promised the settlers protection, but the protection amounted to but little, and at one time only ninety soldiers were out to guard a frontier extending hundreds of miles, and

hip of James Bowie, better known as Jim Bowie, of bowie-knife fame,-this knife having become famous in border warfare. In this struggle the whites were surrounde

Mexican traders, thirteen in number, had gone up to the house of one John Castleman, and during the night the Indians came up, murdered nearly all of the number, and made off with the traders' packs. Castleman hastened to Gonzales with t

ness, erect his rude hut, and then never be heard from again, his habitation being found, later on, either deserted or burnt to the ground. And men were not the only sufferers, for women and children were often eith

on it. Ralph especially was much agitated, for, some six months before, several Indians had stopped at the ranch for the purpose of t

imself. "I'll die first!" And, young as he was

called out Dan, as he finished in

N

be coming up

ought to fire a s

a few minu

day, and outside only a faint breeze stirred the trees, otherwise al

lled, at the to

Ralph joined in the cry, whi

he silence continued. Then his face grew

no shot;

ause it made so much noise it scared all the game. If they've got bows and arrows they could easily crawl up behind father, and--" Ralph did not fin

ck, so he could easily fire a return signal if he wished. Eagerl

oaded, Ralph fir

e deer he would be in sight sure. Either the Indians have surrounded him or killed him, or else they have got betwe

e ridge-pole and two feet high at the edge of the sloping sides. There were windows on al

ost dark. With caution Dan opened one shutter after anoth

several Indians gathered back of some bushes and talking earnestly. Presently the Indians, separated,

portion of the river as it wound in and out among the trees and brush. He waited impatiently for the Indians to reappear, and at last saw

d in this he was right. The Indians and Stiger held a short talk, and

anything?" ca

ians, and Stiger

And what

, I am afraid we are in for

dians really inte

d

ht a

grows dark, especially now, after th

r be ready to bar

for father. He may come

another. But the Indians had disappeared from view, and not

was a tall tree which reared its head a score of feet above its fellow trees. As he turned

t last made out the form of a man, who was wavin

of the window for a minute and swung it vigorously. As he did this, the party in the tree flung up the coat and caug