The Silent Rifleman! A tale of the Texan prairies

all probable that any opposition would have been made, so completely had he gained the confidence of the whole party, by his promptitude, his gallantry, and his extra

s detached to a hundred yards in front, followed by the three others; two leading the pack mules, and the third having charge of the p

ode together, conversing at times in a l

one, at nearly a hundred yards distance

ordered the Western as well as the Eastern marge of the Bravo del No

, long-drawn whistle, which was the preconcerted signal for a halt; and, after the rest of the party had pulled up their horses, galloped forward himself till he reach

turned with a thoughtful expression on his strongly-marked features, and walked through the little group of dragoons and

" he asked, quietly, "fro

" replied the

, and bring us far too soon into the settled country, quite out of the line of our communications-or we must strike due southward for that extinguished fire, and so strive to make our way down to our posts at Mier and Camargo, which would do well enough did not the whole of that country swarm with guerilleros-or, again, we must drive

hen, is nearly equal," sa

eatest; the ultimate risk the least;

n the back of the good horse Emperor, and then, without setting a foot in th

they pressed onward steadily and swiftly; Pierre, once again in the van,

side of which the smoke rose in grey volumes, having been fed with recent fuel. Here, then, Pierre halted, and caused the pack-

ix men; that there was a large stream at the base of the descent; and that the fire was on this s

le Pierre rode forward some six horse-lengths in advance, and Julia, who had ref

covered them to the sentinel, if there were one, on duty. At this moment, Pierre pulled his horse short up, dismounted silently, and with a gesture to the well-trained and gallant animal, which, it was evident, he understood-

lking to and fro with the escopeta in his hand, the other, a non-commissioned officer, who sat smoki

in of the hapless sentinel, aroused them all, and brought them

s they came, a straggling volley from the escopetas of the lancers, who seeing tha

ross the firm dry prairie, which echoed under the

is pursuer. Ere long, however, the tremendous stride and power of the Anglo-American thorough-bred horse began to tell; and, at every stroke, the Partisan closed on him. Nor was the other slow to perceive the disadvantage. He stood up in his stirrups

red one of his long, dark locks; but it passed onward harmless. Then, seeing the failure of hi

wheeled suddenly to the left, and as the Mexican was borne past him, delivered a straight lounge, en carte

et the prisoner in charge of the two soldiers who had brought up the mules, and the fellow, looking at him hal

noted the accent and half-sneering smile; and the fi

lf a mind to reward him with one ou

"and scarce worth the time. What harm can one poor devil

"I do not know; but right sure I