Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XLIX. BORDER RUFFIANS -- A LITE OF PRIVATION AND DANGER--THRILLING PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. Fugitives from Justice -- Escaped Criminals -- Beyond the Settlements -- Commencing Life Anew -- An Exploring Expedition in Northern Texas -- Thrilling Incident in My Early Military Life -- My Camp near the Squatter's Cabin -- Alone with a Frontier Ruffian -- A Dangerous Companion-- He Threatens my Life -- Strange Hospitality -- A Reckless Frontiersman -- The Monomania of Assassination -- A Wonderful Two-handed Shot -- Desperate Combat of Two Border Ruffians -- Dying Happy -- Slade, the Notorious Desperado -- An Arrant Coward -- The Influence of Drink -- Strange Freak of a. Man of Wealth -- A Tender Heart Beneath a Rough Exterior -- Burying Himself in the Wilderness -- A Lawless Life. i N the "good old times" there was a class of frontiersmen, behind the trapper, trader, and squaw-man, but though in many cases actual settlers, tillers of f) the soil, yet carefully keeping as far as i possible in advance of the tide of actual settlement. These were fugitives from justice and escaped criminals. These . DEGREESJ men would go beyond the line of settlements as far as they dared, build cabins, send for their families, and under assumed names commence life anew. They were a peculiar people. Almost all were extremely inquisitive and suspicious, but many had humane, hospitable traits, while others were as savage and dangerous as their Indian neighbors. The latter as a rule moved forward as the frontier 620 THE SQUATTER. advanced; the former, in many instances, living down the haunting fear of the officers of the law, became respected members of the communities which grew up around them. In my earlier military life on the frontier I met numbers of these...
