IV THE LATE 



of Spain. He obtained a commission in a squadron of 

 lancers then attached to the division of General Diego 

 Leon, and was actively engaged in several of the most 

 important combats of the campaign. For his marked 

 gallantry on these occasions, he received from Queen 

 Isabella II. the cross of the first class of the order of St 

 Fernando, an honour which has seldom been awarded to 

 one so young. On his return from Spain he found himself 

 gazetted to a commission in the 89th regiment ; and 

 it was whilst serving with that distinguished corps 

 in Canada that he first became acquainted with the 

 stirring scenes of Indian life, which he has since so 

 graphically portrayed. His eager and enthusiastic 

 spirit soon became wearied with the monotony of the 

 barrack-room ; and, yielding to that impulse which in 

 him was irresistibly developed, he resigned his com- 

 mission, and directed his steps towards the stupendous 

 wilds, tenanted only by the Eed Indian, or by the 

 solitary American trapper. 



Those familiar with Mr Ruxton's writings cannot 

 fail to have remarked the singular delight with which 

 he dwells upon the recollections of this portion of his 

 career, and the longing which he carried with him, to 

 the hour of his -death, for a return to those scenes of 

 primitive freedom. " Although liable to an accusation 

 of barbarism," he writes, " I must confess that the very 

 happiest moments of my life have been spent in the 



