Note: Images of the original pages are available through the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. See http://dbooks.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/books/PDFs/600062502.pdf THE QUEEN OF THE SAVANNAH A Story of the Mexican War by GUSTAVE AIMARD Author of "Last of the Incas," "Red Track," "Prairie Flower," etc. London: Ward and Lock, 158, Fleet Street. MDCCCLXII. CONTENTS. PROLOGUE. I. THE EXPEDITION. II. REDSKINS AND WHITESKINS. III. THE RED BUFFALOES. IV. THE CASCABEL. I. THE ADVENTURERS. II. A NIGHT IN THE WOODS. III. THE SUCCOUR. IV. INSIDE THE HACIENDA. V. THE COUNCIL. VI. GENERAL FRAY PELAGIO. VII. A CONVERSATION. VIII. THE ENVOY. IX. DON MELCHIOR DÍAZ. X. MOTHER AND DAUGHTER. XI. THE SORTIE. XII. ON THE ROAD. XIII. AN ALARM. XIV. THE REDSKINS. XV. COUNT DE MELGOSA. XVI. DIEGO LÓPEZ. XVII. LEONA VICARIO. XVIII. THE INTERVIEW. XIX. THE DUNGEON. XX. SOTAVENTO MAKES A MOVE. XXI. THE COUNCIL OF THE RED BUFFALOES. XXII. THE WAR TRAIL. XXIII. THE SNARE. XXIV. OLIVER CLARY. XXV. THE WOUNDED MAN. XXVI. DOÑA EMILIA. XXVII. THE CHIEF'S PROPOSAL. XXVIII. PREPARATIONS FOR A RESCUE. XXIX. THE REVOLUTION. XXX. ON THE TRAIL. XXXI. THE JACAL. XXXII. THE PRISONER. XXXIII. MOONSHINE. XXXIV. THE TEOCALI. XXXV. IN THE FIELD. XXXVI. A YOUNG HEART. XXXVII. THE AMBUSH. XXXVIII. THE PURSUIT. XXXIX. RUNNING WATER. THE QUEEN OF THE SAVANNAH. PROLOGUE CHAPTER I. THE EXPEDITION. The story begins on May 5, 1805, in one of the wildest and most abrupt portions of New Spain, which now forms the State of Coahuila, belonging to the Mexican Confederation. If the reader will have the kindness to take a glance at a numerous cavalcade, which is debouching from a canyon and scaling at a gallop the scarped side of a rather lofty hill, on the top of which stands an _aldea_, or village of Indios mansos, he will at the same time form the acquaintance of several of our principal characters, and the country in which the events recorded in this narrative occurred. This cavalcade was composed of fifteen individuals in all; ten of them were lancers, attired in that yellow uniform which procured them the nickname of _tamarindos_. These soldiers were execrated by the people, in consequence of their cruelty. They advanced in good order, commanded by a subaltern and an alférez--an old trooper who had grown gray in harness, who had long white moustachios and a disagreeable face. As he galloped on, he looked around him with the careless, wearied air of a man for whom the future reserves no hopes either of ambition, love, or fortune.