The Silent Rifleman! A tale of the Texan prairies

a single horseman might have been seen making his way to the westward, across the high dry pr

ich gave promise of great agility and capability of enduring fatigue, the

g in the least degree handsom

about his waist, he had hung a long, straight, two-edged sword in a steel scabbard with a silver basket hilt on the left side, which was counterbalanced by a long, broad-bladed hunting knife with a buck-horn hilt, resting upon his right hip. There were holsters at the bow of his large Mexica

n blanket of blue and scarlet strapped upon it, and a large leathern bottle with a horn drinking-cup swinging from it on one side; while

s well-appointed rider was

west plain, he set his spurs to his horse, and put him from the high slashing trot which he had hitherto mainta

long gentle slope for some six miles toward the west, at which distance it was bounded by a long continuous line of hills, whose range seemed interminable. At the base of this range appeared a dense line, lookin

t them to the forest jus

led its pellucid waves, rapid, and deep, and st

h or margin of pure white sand, as firm, and almost as hard as marble; and springing into the cool clear water till it laved the heaving flan

n girth, around which the grass grew unusually tall and luxuriant, tied his companion

some dry leaves and branches, and, striking a light from the ready flint and steel, soon had a clear bright fire glancing and flashing in a shelt

of fat venison, each with a biscuit under it imbibing the delicious gravy, and a second with salt and pepper,

through the forest, our traveller had prepared his simple couch, spreading his

in which his charger ceased from feeding, snuffed the air eagerly, and uttered a low whining; the traveller started to his feet and listened anxiously for

his rifle from the branch on which it hung, loosened his wood-knife in its scabbard, and passed the handle of the hatchet through a loop in his sword-

tely, he stooped and laid his ear to the ground; nor did

tered to himself at intervals.

s ear to the gro

red; and then, after a pause, he added: "But two of them ar

his rifle lock, an

if they know the forest, they will not turn, that's certain; for here's the only place whe

stened again, and then a smile c

are dragoon horses; I can tell their managed pace; though, what

d his hatchet on the grass, and, instead of concealing himself in ambush, unarmed, except his wood-knife, ste

ning, before he discovered the little band of travellers just entering the belt of timber, at not abo

e, evidently, of the superior classes, forming one of the party, which, beside herself, consiste

I believe they will cross it without notice. However, I'll give them a fright anyhow-so here goes," and with the words, he clapped his hand to his mou

ant, and two or three were instinctively cast up, and

ions of hostility, but stepped calmly forth from his co

friends, so carelessly

at him within twenty paces, the ball of which sang past his head, perhaps at a foot's distance. But, ent

unsoldierly act to fire a shot at all, without

n that wild fashion, for the purpose of creating an alarm, and the

! command, truly; a couple of camaudus, or one of Jack Hays' men would make

d who are you,

croix, at yo

is commonly kn

ng just now, there is a good fire burning, and some venison steaks ready by this time, if they be not over done, and a flask of good sherry wine and some cool water; and if you and your fair lady will share the

advice. This is the famous soldier, Julia," he continued turning to the lady who accomp

had selected for his bivouac; but, as they did so, an exclamation of

rs immediate

ng all the charms of a figure, tall as the tallest of her sex, voluptuous and fully rounded, yet slight withal, and delicate and s

own to the river, and water him; and then conducted her respectfully to the place where he had spread his poncho on the grass, and with the aid of that and his large saddle, arranged for her an extemporan

unbuckling the bags and cases which they carried, produced camp-kettles and canteens, and a small India-rubber tent and camp-bed,

the Partisan, "and I fancy you have the Spartan s

ward her young husband, whose attention had been fixed on another portion of

ort from you all that I wished to know. I should have imagined, Jule, that you would have found tongue enough by this time to make yourself known to Major Delacroix, but since it seems you have not done so, better late than never. Allow m

the words, Julia Forester, he

and oldest friend, Colonel John Forester? I recol

as he spoke, and then in an i

I never saw her either, at least not within my recollection. Yes, Major Delacroix, I am Colonel John Forester's wild

ave a better, Lieutenant Gordon, allow me to shake your hand, and congratulate you; your father-in-law, and your sweet lady's father, was, I may say, to me

hat would at any other time have been sufficiently apparent to a man of his keen and intuitive sagacity, that ther

Partisan did the honours of his camp with a singular blending of the fro

a few minutes, as he said, to inspect his sentries, while Pierre Delacroix filled his Indian pipe with kinnikinnick, and, stretching himself at full length on his blanket, in the warmth of the fire, rested his