on one
side of them, and the murderous Indians on the other, nothing was safe
from molestation.

The contest was fought largely by men who knew little or nothing of the
art of war, but men whose courage was superb. At first only defeat
stared the intrepid band in the face, and hundreds were lost at the
Alamo, at the massacre of Goliad, and elsewhere, but then there came
upon the scene the figure of the dashing and daring General Sam
Houston, and under his magnetic leadership the army of the Mexican
general, Santa Anna, was routed utterly, and the liberty of Texas was
secured beyond further dispute.

EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE HOME ON THE FRONTIER 11

II. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE DEER 19

III. A QUARREL AND ITS RESULT 28

IV. SOMETHING ABOUT THE INDIANS IN TEXAS 36

V. THE ATTACK ON THE RANCH 44

VI. POKE STOVER TO THE FRONT 53

VII. IN AND OUT OF THE BURNING CABIN 62

VIII. AN UNSUCCESSFUL PURSUIT 71

IX. BIG FOOT AND THE MISSING PAPERS 81

X. THE SITUATION IN MEXICO 89

XI. THE OPENING OF THE WAR 97

XII. THE MARCH ON SAN ANTONIO 105

XIII. A FIGHT WITH A PUMA 113

XIV. THE BATTLE OF CONCEPCION 121

XV. DAN TURNS THE TABLES 129

XVI. AFTER A MISSING MUSTANG 137

XVII. THE GRASS FIGHT, AND WHAT FOLLOWED 145

XVIII. DAN COMES TO GRIEF 154

XIX. THE CAVE IN THE RAVINE 161

XX. FLIGHT AND PURSUIT 169

XXI. WHAT HAPPENED TO RALPH 177

XXII. THE ATTACK ON SAN ANTONIO 185

XXIII. THE SURRENDER OF THE CITY 194

XXIV. A MIDNIGHT DISCOVERY 204

XXV. MARCH OF SANTA ANNA INTO TEXAS 212

XXVI. WILD TURKEYS AND ANOTHER TRAIL