Redskin and Cow-Boy: A Tale of the Western Plains Read online

  REDSKIN AND COW-BOY

  THE MEETING IN THE INN GARDEN AT EL PASO.]

  REDSKIN AND COW-BOY

  A Tale of the Western Plains

  by

  G. A. HENTY

  Author of "Held Fast for England;" "The Dash for Khartoum;" "ByRight of Conquest;" "True to the Old Flag;" "In Freedom's Cause;"&c.

  With Twelve Page Illustrations by Alfred Pearse

  New YorkCharles Scribner's Sons1896

  Copyright, 1891,By Charles Scribner's Sons.

  PREFACE.

  MY DEAR LADS,

  There are but few words of preface needed to a story that is nothistorical. The principal part of the tale is laid among the cow-boysof the Western States of America, a body of men unrivalled in pointof hardihood and devotion to work, as well as in reckless courageand wild daring. Texas, which twenty-five years ago was the greatranching state, is no longer the home of the typical cow-boy, buthe still exists and flourishes in New Mexico and the northern Statesand Territories. The picture I have given of their life can be reliedupon, and its adventures and dangers are in no degree coloured, asI have taken them from the lips of a near relative of my own who wasfor some years working as a cow-boy in New Mexico. He was an actor inmany of the scenes described, and so far from my having heightened orembellished them, I may say that I have given but a small proportionof the perilous adventures through which he went, for had I given themin full it would, I am sure, have seemed to you that the story was tooimprobable to be true. In treating of cow-boy life, indeed, it may wellbe said that truth is stranger than fiction.

  Yours sincerely, G. A. HENTY.

  CONTENTS.

  Chap. Page

  I. An Advertisement, 11

  II. Terrible News, 29

  III. The Wanderer's Return 50

  IV. An Explosion, 67

  V. Across the Sea, 83

  VI. A Horse Deal, 100

  VII. Among the Cow-boys, 119

  VIII. A Rattlesnake Diet, 136

  IX. A Round-up, 156

  X. A Race, 172

  XI. A Fire on the Plains, 189

  XII. An Indian Raid, 206

  XIII. Rescued, 224

  XIV. Surrounded by Redskins, 242

  XV. With the Waggon Teams, 260

  XVI. A Mining Expedition, 284

  XVII. Carried off, 303

  XVIII. The Brigands' Haunt, 321

  XIX. A Fight and a Rescue, 339

  XX. The Avenger, 359