THE LATE GEORGE FREDERICK RUXTON. ix 



" The scene where La Bonte joins the Chase family is so far 

 true, that he did make a sudden appearance ; but, in reahty, a 

 day before the Indian attack. The Chases (and I wish I had 

 not given the proper name *) did start for the Platte alone, and 

 were stampedoed upon the waters of the Platte. 



" The Mexican fandango is true to the letter. It does seem 

 difficult to understand how they contrived to keep their knives 

 out of the hump-ribs of the mountaineers ; but how can you 

 account for the fact, that, the other day, 4000 Mexicans, with 

 1 3 pieces of artillery, behind strong intrenchments and two lines 

 of parapets, were routed by 900 raw Missourians ; 300 killed, 

 as many more wounded, all their artillery captured, as well as 

 several hundred prisoners ; and that not one American was killed 

 in the affair ? This is ijositive fact. 



" 1 myself, with three trappers, cleared a fandango at Taos, 

 armed only with bowie-knives — some score Mexicans, at least, 

 being in the room. 



" With regard to the incidents of Indian attacks, starvation, 

 cannibalism, &c., I have invented not one out of my own head. 

 They are all matters of history in the mountains ; but I have, 

 no doubt, jumbled the drainatis 'personcB one with another, and 

 may have committed anachronisms in the order of their occur- 

 rence." 



* In accordance with this suggestion, the name was changed to Brand. The 

 mountaineers, it seems, are more sensitive to type than to tomahawks ; and poor 

 Ruxton, who always contemplated another expedition among them, would some- 

 times jestingly speculate upon his reception, should they learn that he had shown 

 them up in print. 



